klisemfg Chapter 453 The closer to home, the more timid one becomes.
Chapter 453 The closer to home, the more timid one becomes.
Old Lu sighed and then hugged Wu Yuan into his arms.
He repeated the same actions as Grandpa Xu.
Sanchuan, standing beside him, was looking at him with expectant eyes.
After a while, Lao Lu raised an eyebrow and said as if nothing had happened.
"Aren't you going to pack your bags yet?"
Si Hai was completely confused when he heard this. "Grandpa Lu, where are we packing our bags to go?"
"Take Wu Yuan to the prefectural city. I know a very skilled physician there."
Xu Yiyi noticed that Lao Lu was acting strangely earlier, but she still obediently went inside to pack her luggage and came out.
"Sanchuan and Sihai, where in Anyang should we send you to stay?"
She came out and pinched Sihai's cheek.
"Can't you take us with you?"
The child pouted, looking unhappy.
Just as Xu Yiyi was about to speak up and coax him, Sanchuan's hand immediately covered Sihai's mouth.
"Big sister, don't worry about going out. I'll take good care of Sihai."
They gave Sihai no further chance to speak.
After sending the two children to Xu Anyang's house, she and Lao Lu took Wu Yuan to the dock.
"Aren't you going back to pack some clothes or something?"
Xu Yiyi stood on the dock and looked at Lao Lu next to her. He looked so nonchalant and didn't even stand properly.
Old Lu raised an eyebrow, curled his lips into a smirk, and said with a look of utter disdain, "Is that really necessary?"
After saying this, he handed the household registration book to the officers and soldiers to board the ship.
Xu Yiyi shrugged and stopped trying to persuade him, then carried Wu Yuan up to the second-floor cabin.
The sky turned exceptionally blue, and the sun shone warmly, dispelling the dampness and apprehension of the past few days.
The sea was so calm, like a giant blue mirror; it was absolutely beautiful.
Wu Yuan nestled in her arms, his little hand tightly gripping her index finger, his eyes sparkling as he gazed at the cargo ship moored beside them.
The ship was rather old, with a deep draft, and was clearly fully loaded with cargo. It was now bobbing gently on the waves, making creaking noises.
This immediately drew Wu Yuan's attention.
After Lao Lu boarded the ship, he disappeared without a trace.
The cargo ship cast off its moorings and slowly sailed away from the shore.
The wind was just right, billowing the patched gray sails high. The bow of the ship cut through the smooth, mirror-like sea, carving out streaks of snow-white waves as it sailed toward the prefectural city.
Only then did they see Lao Lu carrying their bundles, a blade of grass he'd somehow managed to dangle from his mouth, slowly emerging from the bottom of the group, still looking completely unenthusiastic.
Wu Yuan's round little head was originally nestled on her shoulder, but he poked his head out after the boat stabilized. He was immediately drawn to the splashing waves chasing each other along the side of the boat and the occasional silver flying fish leaping out of the water.
The little head was tilted high, and the mouth was wide open.
"It's windy, wrap him up in a blanket."
As he spoke, Lao Lu opened one of the bundles and threw Wu Yuan's small quilt up.
The aim was excellent, completely obscuring her head.
After she had gathered Wu Yuan up, Lao Lu had already found a comfortable position on the pile of sacks and lay down halfway, with a blade of grass still in his mouth and his hat on his face, as if he were asleep.
Because it wasn't a ship specifically for carrying passengers, the only sounds on board were the occasional conversations of the crew, making the voyage rather peaceful.
Half a day slipped by quietly in this reassuring tranquility and azure blue.
The cargo ship slowly approached the bustling dock.
The sounds of people, shouts, and vehicles, along with various smells, rushed towards us, creating a stark contrast with the pure blue and stillness of the sea, as if we were in two different worlds.
Old Lu slowly stood up, brushed the grass clippings off his clothes, and his cloudy eyes swept over the crowd of people at the dock, his gaze seemingly filled with new emotions.
He breathed a sigh of relief, carried his bundle and household registration book, disembarked, and walked up to the officers and soldiers.
Once we got to the dock, I suddenly felt a bit nervous.
"What? Are you becoming more timid the closer you get to home?"
Xu Yiyi said with a smile, teasingly.
"What a joke! Me, afraid?"
Old Lu rolled his eyes at her, which immediately amused Wu Yuan.
The child's mouth was open, and drool kept dripping down.
"Let's go! Let's eat first, I'm starving."
I ate a flatbread on the boat, but it was so dry and hard that it wasn't filling at all.
The old man skillfully led the way, turning this way and that, until they finally entered a small eatery.
“I know this place well. Why don’t you go in and make something for Wu Yuan to eat? We’ve been on the boat for most of the day. Even an adult would be exhausted, let alone a child.”
As he spoke, Lao Lu put down his bundle.
"Give me a hug."
As she spoke, she carefully took Wuyuan into her arms.
After Xu Yiyi followed the boss into the kitchen, Lao Lu sighed again.
"Oh, Wuyuan, please hurry up and be able to make a sound! You're driving me crazy!"
He had never seen Xu Yiyi like this in all the time he had known her.
With a gurgling sound, Wu Yuan's dark eyes immediately fixed on the few sparse but rather smug white hairs on Lao Lu's chin.
Suddenly, she reached out and grabbed his beard.
"You little rascal! You've got a pretty strong grip."
This little brat was quick; he grabbed the tuft of beard and pulled it down with all his might!
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! My little darling, let go!"
Caught off guard, Lao Lu winced in pain and howled. He tried to pry Wu Yuan's little hands open but dared not use too much force, afraid of hurting him. He could only tilt his head and follow the little guy's strength.
He looked somewhat disheveled for a moment.
Who would have thought that as soon as the hand that was pulling on the beard let go, it immediately pulled on the hair again.
Just as things were getting out of hand, the restaurant owner came out from inside.
He was still carrying a wine jug in his hand. When he saw this scene, he was stunned for a moment, and then he couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Ah Jin? Has your beard and hair been damaged?"
As she spoke, she quickly stepped forward and put the wine jug down.
With practiced ease, he pried open Wu Yuan's small hands and rescued Lao Lu from the clutches of evil.
Old Lu rubbed his reddened chin, ran his fingers through his hair several times, gasped, and muttered, "This little brat, he's got some serious strength..."
There was little blame in his eyes, but rather a helpless smile.
"Your granddaughter and grandson?"
Old Lu nodded smugly. "Envious, aren't you?"
Fang Zhongyuan's eyes were full of surprise. "When did you get married? Why didn't you tell me?"
Old Lu waved his hand dismissively, "What nonsense are you talking about? I'm not married. These two kids are my adopted children."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Yiyi hurriedly lifted the curtain and came out from the kitchen, carrying a small bowl in her hand.
The bowl contained steaming hot, well-cooked fish porridge.
"Here you go!"
Old Lu pretended to be disgusted as he stuffed Wu Yuan back into Xu Yiyi's arms.
As soon as Wu Yuan was in her arms, he smelled the aroma of the fish porridge and immediately shifted his attention to the bowl.
His expression was so aggrieved, as if he wasn't the one who had just committed the crime.
"You still haven't explained what happened."
Fang Zhongyuan tapped the table lightly, signaling Lao Lu to continue.