Journey to the West: The Immortal Clan Begins by Feeding Monkeys at Five Elements Mountain

Chapter 114 Grandson Returns Home, Double Happiness Arrives

Upon receiving the letter, Liu Xiulian finally felt a little relieved.

I sleep more soundly at night and no longer toss and turn three times a night.

However, the number of times he looked towards the village entrance during the day did not seem to decrease.

That gaze seemed to be an inertia; no matter what was happening, it always had to sweep towards the end of that road before it could feel at ease.

After all, they won the battle and made great contributions. Logically, they should take a vacation and come back for a visit to chat with their families.

But time flies, and more than a month has passed.

At the village entrance, there was still that same willow tree. When the wind blew, its branches brushed against the grass, making people dizzy, but no one came.

It wasn't until the fifth day of the third lunar month, before dawn, that a new letter finally arrived.

The envelope was made of the kind of communal cardboard issued by the military headquarters, with clear creases and slightly curled corners, as if it had been squeezed and crumpled.

The words were few, the tone as formal as ever, and the first sentence stated:
"The post-war period is complicated and I am swamped with affairs, so it will be difficult for me to get away for the time being. I am afraid I will not be able to return to my hometown to visit my relatives until after the New Year."

The beginning was uneventful, without any major ups and downs.

But at the end of the letter, he suddenly added: "There may be a little surprise on this trip home."

The word "surprise" was written with slightly heavy strokes and a slight tremor in the brush, as if it had been written and revised repeatedly before finally being written down.

The family fell silent. Liu Xiulian read the phrase "there may be a surprise" over and over again. Although she didn't say it, a smile was hidden in her eyes and brows.

Jiang Yi simply snorted and put the letter on the table.

The family calmed down and continued with their daily routines, such as cooking and cleaning, and peacefully celebrated the New Year.

With the Lunar New Year over, Jiang Xi has turned fourteen.

She has straightened her waist and her face has blossomed; she is now a beautiful young woman with a refined demeanor.

The New Year celebrations weren't even over yet, and the sounds of firecrackers still echoed throughout the village.

Liu Xiulian stood at the entrance of the courtyard early in the morning, her eyes fixed on the village road leading to the foot of the mountain.

Sure enough, a few days later, a familiar carriage swayed and drove in.

That's the Li family's car; I recognize the pattern on the front.

Upon seeing this, Liu Xiulian quickly called her family to come down the mountain to greet her.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Jiang Liang jumped down.

He was still young and his appearance hadn't changed much, except for a scar on his face, which ran diagonally from his forehead to his cheek. The scar was still fresh, as if it had just scabbed over.

He was only eighteen years old, but he already showed signs of being able to "hold the fort and control the situation".

The scar brought out a composure rarely seen in a young man.

Behind him was Li Wenya, holding a chubby baby in her arms, with red lips and white teeth, and a very good complexion.

The child nestled in his mother's arms, neither crying nor fussing. His eyes were bright, and his cheeks were rosy. The dust and grime of the journey hadn't dampened his spirits.

Wenya walked slowly and steadily, her breathing long and deep, clearly showing that her breathing technique was working.

This was the first time Jiang Yi had ever truly seen his eldest grandson, Jiang Feng.

The child was only a little over two years old, but he was sturdy and well-proportioned, a chubby little ball with round arms and legs.

They move with precision and speed, seemingly possessing inexhaustible energy.

Liu Xiulian saw it at a glance and her eyes lit up with laughter.

Before he could even speak, his hand reached out and snatched the doll into his arms, holding it tightly as if it were some precious treasure.

Li Wenya gently reminded him from the side, her voice warm: "Come on, call him Grandpa, call him Grandma."

The child was quite clever; his eyes darted around, and he wasn't shy at all. He called out "Grandpa" and "Grandma" in a clear, childish voice, but it was very loud.

Jiang Yi took the person in his arms, supporting their bottom with one hand and protecting the back of their head with the other, holding them securely and comfortably.

Hearing that "Grandpa," he responded loudly, and a smile spread across his face.

Seeing everyone laughing so happily, the boy also became happy.

With a flick of her finger, she began to babble towards Jiang Ming and Jiang Xi, calling out "Uncle" and "Aunt" in her childish voice. This made everyone in the yard laugh, and they quickly responded one after another, circling around the baby.

Liu Xiulian clicked her tongue and muttered to herself incessantly:

"His appearance is just like his father's when he was a child... His eyes, his nose, they are practically identical."

Before she could finish speaking, the girl Jiang Xi couldn't help but reach out and grab the doll.

"Come, come, let your aunt teach you books, recite poems, and learn martial arts!"

They were shouting happily, but their feet were already so fast they disappeared from sight.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiulian's heart tightened, and she hurriedly called out from behind:
"Hey, take it easy! Don't run down to the foot of the mountain! The spiritual energy there is too strong; his little body can't handle it..."

Before the words were even finished, the figure had already disappeared into the old house, leaving only a few people standing in the courtyard, looking at each other and bursting into laughter.

At this moment, Jiang Yicai led the people into the house and slowly began to speak:

"Didn't the letter say there would be a surprise when you came back? Now you're back, and you've brought the baby back, but where's the surprise...?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang first let out a long sigh, drawing out the sound with great gesture:
"Alas... there should have been a pleasant surprise, but life is unpredictable, and fate is cruel."

He paused mid-sentence, then deliberately glanced at Li Wenya.

Li Wenya simply smiled, neither responding nor pointing out the truth, but a hint of mischief in her eyes.

Jiang Liang felt a little uneasy after being captivated by her gaze. He chuckled awkwardly, scratched the back of his head, and immediately dropped his airs.
"As a result, before the road was even over, this one case turned into two."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the courtyard stiffened and turned their gazes toward him.

Jiang Liang's face broke into a smile as he listened, and he stopped teasing him and simply said:
"The first one is nothing special. The battle was fought quite well, and thanks to a bit of luck, I got a small merit. I should have only been promoted to the rank of Grand Master."

"Who would have thought that the captain, in his excitement, loosened his grip and said he would promote me to be a border fortress commander."

He paused, then glanced at Jiang Yi again:
"Fortunately, I managed to turn down the job and get transferred to Longshan County as a county lieutenant. Although I have less to manage, it's closer to home, so I can come back to visit more often."

After saying this, he wasn't in a hurry to see everyone's reaction.

He simply reached out and picked a piece of fruit, took a bite casually, as if he really considered this promotion as a trivial matter to be mentioned casually.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi's smile faltered slightly.

Although the border guard and the county guard were both of the same rank of 200 shi (a unit of grain measure), their official ranks were roughly equal.

But the road ahead is two different paths.

Especially in a small border town like Longshan County, having two county constables, with power divided in half, and dealing with a multitude of miscellaneous tasks, makes promotion difficult.

If someone were ambitious and determined to climb the social ladder, they would never choose to sit in this position.

He raised an eyebrow, but before he could speak, he did.

Jiang Liang, as if he had already figured out his tricks, leaned closer with a grin, his voice a few decibels lower:
"Before he left, didn't Father tell me to send Feng'er back to recuperate for a while?"

“I was thinking that the child is still young, and my wife needs some peace and quiet while she practices her martial arts... Besides, it's my turn to take care of my parents at the old house, isn't it?”

He paused deliberately at this point, then changed his tone:
"In the future, Wenya and Feng'er will live in the village permanently. The spiritual energy will nourish them, they will have no worries about food and clothing, and their training will be easier. With the help of their family, life will be much more stable."

He spoke fluently, as if he had rehearsed it several times in his mind beforehand, every sentence flowing smoothly, exuding a sense of self-assurance.

Jiang Yi listened without changing his expression, but nodded inwardly.

When people get old, they fear two things most: a cold and lonely house and a restless heart.

Now that my granddaughter-in-law is around and my youngest son can come back often, I feel more at ease and settled. Even if the future isn't so glamorous, it's still a safe and secure path.

He simply hummed in agreement, his tone light but carrying a sense of approval:
"Alright."

Seeing that he didn't object, Jiang Liang's smile widened even more.

He paused, glanced around, and then slowly uttered the next sentence:
"The second piece of good news, I only found out on the way here."

As he spoke, he suddenly put one hand on Li Wenya's shoulder and the other hand on her lower abdomen.

The barely concealed smile on his face stretched almost to his ears:

"Wenya... is pregnant again."

(End of this chapter)