Old Man Yun blinked, then nudged Da Man, "Go see who's knocking!~"
Many people had come to their home these past few days, not just neighbors and relatives, but also inexplicable individuals like Steward Song...
"If it's that person buying the house, just kick him out, don't waste time with him!" Old Man Yun reminded.
Yun Da Man acknowledged, put down his rice bowl, and trotted out.
The sound of neighing horses came from outside the main gate. Through the cracks, a few figures could be vaguely seen, looking somewhat familiar...
"Who is it? What's so important at this hour?" Yun Da Man asked.
Silence from outside the gate for a few seconds, then excited laughter echoed in, "Haha, is that Big Brother? It's San Man!~"
"San... San Man?" Yun Da Man's mouth fell open. After a long moment of stunned realization, he quickly pushed open the main gate.
He saw Yun San Man supporting Yun Er Man on the steps, while Yun Si Man, leading a horse-drawn sled, walked over with a smile.
The three Yun brothers had finally returned to the village.
They had been traveling day and night, without rest, dozing on the sled when tired, and continuing their journey upon waking. No amount of wind or snow could stop their path home...
Due to the cold weather, Yun Er Man's feet had been frostbitten, causing him to limp.
Yun Da Man was so excited he could barely speak, rubbing his hands, his face beaming with a simple smile.
"Oh, Big Brother, stop smiling. Is Sister at home? Hurry and get her to put some frostbite cream on me. My feet are about to freeze off..." Yun Er Man said with a wry smile.
Upon hearing this, Yun Da Man quickly stepped forward and carried Yun Er Man, "The family is all here. Shan Shan hasn't slept or eaten well these days, worrying about you constantly. We just roasted lamb at home, come in and have something to eat!~"
As soon as they heard about the roasted lamb, the three brothers licked their lips. After unloading the sled, they hurried towards the main hall...
Little Xi Tian, intending to get a clove of garlic from the kitchen, bumped into Si Man right at the entrance of the main hall.
"Bang!~"
"Ouch!"
The little dumpling sat on the ground, clutching her head. Before she could recover, her body suddenly felt lighter as Yun Si Man scooped her up high...
"Haha, Sister, look who's back!" Yun Si Man laughed heartily.
Little Xi Tian blinked her big eyes. Seeing her brothers all safely home, she was overjoyed, "Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, you're back!~"
Yun Er Man and Yun San Man pinched Little Xi Tian's cheeks simultaneously, "We're back..."
However, having endured so many setbacks and hardships, their safe return was already a great fortune.
Hearing the commotion, Old Man Yun and Madam Gu also quickly put down their bowls and looked over.
Shangguan Fang'er, Du Tie Shan, Gao Jing De, Yun Xiao Bao, Yun Jin Shan, and Jin Xiao Lou also stopped eating and rushed to the doorway, blocking the three brothers from entering...
Old Man Yun tutted, frowning, "What are you all doing? Come back, come back, let them in!"
A moment later, the three brothers, wrapped in the chill, lifted the curtain and entered the main hall.
Seeing that Yun Er Man's feet were frostbitten and he had to be supported to walk, Du Tie Shan began to sob, "Wuwuwu, Er Man, it's all my fault. I didn't take good care of you..."
If she hadn't returned to her ancestral village for the memorial rites, Er Man wouldn't have been captured by those ruffians. To this day, Du Tie Shan still felt immense guilt.
Upon hearing this, Yun Er Man stepped forward, wiped Du Tie Shan's tears, and comforted her with a smile, "Shan Shan, why are you crying? My feet are fine, it'll get better with medicine. Besides, those soldiers were unreasonable, what does it have to do with you? Look, I'm back safe and sound..."
After speaking, he hugged Yun Jin Shan, Yun Xiao Bao, and Du Tie Shan tightly, offering words of comfort while himself sobbing uncontrollably.
Madam Gu looked at Er Man's feet and sighed, "Er Man, take off your shoes first and let Doctor Guan take a look!~"
Frostbite was not to be trifled with. If not treated properly, there was a risk of amputation...
Yun Er Man cried for a while, wiped his tears, and turned to look at Doctor Guan, "Who is this?"
"Let's look at your feet first!~" Guan Zhong Bo, with his high professional standards, didn't exchange pleasantries with Yun Er Man and stepped forward to remove his shoes.
After Jin Xiao Lou brought the medicine box, Guan Zhong Bo began to treat his frostbite...
Several parts of Yun Er Man's big toe and the top of his foot had frostbite, with severe areas already festering.
Although Little Xi Tian could also treat such frostbite, her technique was not as skilled as Guan Zhong Bo's, so she could only assist from the side.
Gu Ming Yan, holding a wine bowl, glanced at Yun Si Man, seemingly asking with his eyes what had happened.
Yun Si Man shrugged and mouthed, "I'll explain to the Marquis later..."
Who could have imagined that while on a mission in the Northern Frontier, he would encounter his second and third brothers.
If it were any other trivial matter, Yun Si Man wouldn't bother to intervene, but Er Man and San Man were his own brothers, and he couldn't abandon his family.
"San Man!~"
"Daddy!~"
Shangguan Fang'er and Gao Jing De rushed to Yun San Man's side, linking his arms on either side...
Previously, Da Man had gone out with him to collect hides and accidentally caused a homicide case. The family's worry for San Man far exceeded that for Er Man.
They had thought he would be brought to justice, or even executed, but unexpectedly, he had returned home completely intact today.
"Fang'er, Jing De, how have you been recently!~" Yun San Man hugged them tightly, his voice choked with emotion.
Shangguan Fang'er pouted, looking wronged, "Not good at all, San Man. I thought you didn't want me anymore. You're a big scoundrel..."
Gao Jing De's eyes were also red with tears, "Daddy, I heard Uncle say you killed someone outside, and I was so scared I didn't dare to come back to the village. I've been worried sick about you every day. If, if something really happened to Daddy, what would happen to Fang'er sister and me?"
Hearing this, Yun San Man's tears flowed like a broken dam, and he held the two of them even tighter, "Don't worry, Daddy won't be in trouble. Daddy promises, I'll never leave you and Fang'er again..."
Madam Gu felt very comforted seeing the family reunited.
Seeing Si Man gnawing on a lamb chop from the basin, Madam Gu smiled slightly, walked over, and poured him a cup of water, "Fourth, you must have had a hard time on this journey!~"
She didn't need to guess that he had escorted the second and third brothers back.
If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have written to her brother for help in the first place...
Moreover, it had been so long since the letter was sent, and there was still no news.
"Mother, we're all family, *hic*, we're all family, no need for formalities, *hic*!" Yun Si Man was so choked he kept hiccuping.
Just then, a strange cry suddenly came from the other side of the dining table.