Rebirth of the Three Kingdoms: Da Qiao doesn't want to be a widow anymore

Chapter 379 Will you still feel that spark when you see someone you once had feelings for again?

Qiao Rong had finally stayed for nearly two months before leaving Jingkou. The young Zhou Xun and Zhou Yin, led by Qiao Wei and Zhou Yu, bid farewell to Qiao Rong.

"Mother, when will you come back to see me again?"

Zhou Xun clung to Qiao Rong's leg, refusing to let go, determined to get a definite answer.

Even though he seemed to like his mother's departure more than his father, Zhou Yu, he still felt a deep sense of reluctance.

During Qiao Rong's time in Jingkou, she would take him to his teacher's place every day, pick him up personally after school, and prepare delicious medicinal meals.

Whenever the brothers and sisters in the mansion saw him, they would cast envious glances at him. Qiao Rong brought a lot of food, so the brothers and sisters could get some. Everyone ate happily, and Zhou Xun was also very happy.

Qiao Rong squatted down and stroked Zhou Xun's cheek. "The return date is unknown, but don't worry, I will write to you often, so you should learn to read more with your teacher."

Zhou Xun silently agreed, but many questions lingered in his mind. "Why can't Mother take me with her to Jiaozhou?"

He had never even seen what Jiaozhou looked like.

Children are like that, full of boundless curiosity. They are not afraid of places they have never seen before, even if they are described as eerie and terrifying.

Qiao Rong had considered taking Zhou Xun away, but if he were not Zhou Yu's son, but just a child of the Qiao family, she would definitely take him away.

But Zhou Xun also carried the future of the Zhou family on his shoulders.

This is probably the helplessness of not being able to have your cake and eat it too.

"The journey to Jiaozhou is very long, taking at least six or seven hours each day. With your love of running and playing, it's quite a challenge for you."

Besides, this is my first time going there, so I don't know what fun places there are. Let me go and check it out first, and then I can take you with me next time.”

Zhou Xun was still somewhat unwilling, his eyes were even red and tears were still hanging in the corners of his eyes, and his mouth was flat like a duck. His aggrieved appearance was heartbreaking.

In fact, Qiao Rong wasn't the only one who couldn't bear it; Zhou Yu was too.

For Zhou Yu, everything Qiao Rong did from the moment she chose to leave the Zhou family was perplexing, causing him to constantly rethink his opinion of her.

He wanted to ask Qiao Rong to stay countless times, but no matter whether he spoke up or not, Qiao Rong's decision would no longer be swayed by his attitude. This realization angered him, but after his anger subsided, he had no choice but to accept this fact.

“Your mother has her own things to do, and as a filial son, you shouldn’t be an obstacle to her.” Zhou Yu pulled Zhou Xun back to his side.

Zhou Xun didn't understand, but since his father and aunt had both said so, they were probably right. No matter how reluctant he was, he could only hug Qiao Wei's legs and wipe away his tears.

Qiao Rong waved goodbye to Qiao Wei and Zhou Xun and boarded the caravan heading to Jiaozhou. But the last moment before closing the car door, her gaze involuntarily fell on Zhou Yu.

When their eyes met, Qiao Rong felt as if her own heartbeat skipped a beat.

Even if she is scarred and many years have passed, the person who once made her heart flutter will still make her heart pound. Those memories and moments she once shared are past experiences she cannot discard or deny.

The silent gaze held many unspoken words, which were ultimately withdrawn and completely shut out by a car door.

After returning to his post, Zhou Yu, in order to cultivate good relations with the local gentry, took the initiative to marry the daughter of the Yuan family of Runan. Yuan Langlang also sent many congratulatory gifts. Hearing that the wedding was very grand, although it was a concubine's marriage, its scale and etiquette were in no way inferior to that of a wife's marriage.

"Looks like he's given up!" Qiao Wei said, his tone still carrying a hint of uncertainty.

Yuan Langlang picked out a jade item from the return gifts sent by the Yuan family and handed it to Qiao Wei, saying, "I don't think so."

Otherwise, it would be marrying a wife instead of taking a concubine.

Zhou Yu wanted to win over the local gentry of Runan for Jiangdong, so taking the step of marriage alliance was inevitable. However, Qiao Wei never expected that Yuan's daughter would agree to be his concubine.

"Are the elders of the Yuan family also willing?"

Yuan Langlang's smile carried a hint of helplessness. "Originally, she was unwilling, but unfortunately, my younger sister is widowed and unable to have children. Even though she is exceptionally talented, the elders of the Yuan family can hardly fight for any more titles for her."

"To exchange a widowed woman for connections in Jiangdong, the elders of the Yuan family must be laughing in their sleep; they wouldn't care about anything else."

As Yuan Langlang finished speaking, her tone became more disdainful.

Therefore, she is now increasingly grateful that she chose to stay in the Sun family to raise her young children after Sun Ce's death, thus preserving her status and earning the respect of the Sun family and the generals of Jiangdong.

She wouldn't have to be used as a bargaining chip in a marriage alliance by the elders of the Yuan family, being passed around like an object.

"I heard that the Lieutenant General did not initially agree to the Yuan family's offer. Later, some busybody revealed the Eleventh Sister's hidden illness to the Lieutenant General. It was thought that the marriage would probably fall through, since a woman who cannot bear children would have little future. But unexpectedly, the Lieutenant General found out and immediately agreed to the marriage, even sending a matchmaker to present the betrothal gifts."

The elders in the family were naturally overjoyed, and no longer cared whether she was a wife or a concubine.

However, Zhou Yu also went through the motions of etiquette and decorum, with both the ceremony and the betrothal gifts being no less than those for a principal wife. But Qiao Wei and Yuan Langlang were well aware that Zhou Yu had probably seen Gu Lingyun's behavior and harbored resentment towards her.

Therefore, taking a concubine who is infertile but of good birth to manage the affairs of the inner quarters can also ensure the safety of other offspring.

Qiao Wei didn't want to pay attention to Zhou Yu's thoughts. At this moment, Ou Bei's wife, Huang Qiling, personally delivered two exquisite wooden bows. The smaller one was for Zhou Xun to use for practicing archery.

With a touch of emotion, Yuan Langlang recalled that the small bow was personally designed by Qiao Wei.

Zhou Xun was young and weak, and he could never draw the bow properly when practicing. His older brothers laughed at him, and he cried so hard that one day he didn't even eat dinner. Sun Deng had to rub his nose and coax him for a long time before he calmed down.

Qiao Wei then drew several blueprints overnight, revised them repeatedly, and made a small bow, which he sent to Huang Qiling for polishing.

“You treat Xun’er much better than Deng’er. Aren’t you afraid that Deng’er will be jealous if he sees this?”

After all, Sun Deng also learned archery and horsemanship when he was young, and he cried because he couldn't draw the bow. Qiao Wei was not so meticulous.

After coaxing and comforting him for a long time, they still stayed with Sun Deng and let him continue to train with the martial arts teacher.

"Don't say such things. These two brothers each have one." Qiao Wei picked out the larger bow. "If Xun'er has one, Deng'er will naturally have one too."

The larger bow naturally requires more force and was specially made to suit Sun Deng's current condition.

Qiao Wei handed the bow he had given to Zhou Xun to Yuan Langlang, "Want to try it out?"