Recognition

"Sister, sister, wait for me!" Just as the father and son were talking, a voice they had only recently heard reached them.

Is it Liu Wenqian?

Liu Tian turned his head to look at the approaching person. As expected, it was the one who had struck up a conversation on the train. Ahead of him was someone he hadn't seen before, dressed in a simple uniform resembling a school uniform for girls from the Republic of China era on Earth. She had long black hair tied into two braids, one on each side. Though not beautiful, she was pleasant to look at.

This girl with a cold expression was likely the Sister Wenhan Liu Wenqian had mentioned.

"Huh, that girl looks familiar? Wait, I remember now, isn't that your Second Uncle's daughter?" Liu Yun's attention was immediately diverted. His good eyesight allowed him to see the girl's appearance clearly even from a distance. It was his niece, whose photo he had seen the last time he returned home. "Were those two the ones who struck up a conversation on the train?"

So they are relatives after all? Liu Tian wasn't surprised at all. He watched impassively as the child dragged a suitcase, chasing after the young lady ahead.

"Son, you already guessed?" Liu Yun turned his head abruptly to look at Liu Tian, who had his arms crossed.

"Isn't it obvious?" Liu Tian replied. "Same generation, same destination, plus their inexplicable interest in the distant Hundred Flowers Kingdom. If there wasn't some connection, how could it be?"

"I didn't expect them to be children of the Second Uncle you mentioned, Dad. If I had known, I should have come up with a better excuse to brush them off." Even though he knew they were relatives, Liu Tian still appeared indifferent. Naturally cold towards relatives he had never actually interacted with, only sharing blood ties, he didn't consider these two strangers as part of his circle of friends.

"Your mother is at Second Uncle's place resting and waiting for the baby?" Liu Yun sighed as he walked forward. "When are you going to change your ways? You'll suffer sooner or later if you continue like this."

"Second Uncle is doing you a favor, not me," Liu Tian replied indifferently. "Besides, this is just how I am. I can't change and I don't want to."

"I reminded you when you came back last time." Although angry, Liu Wenhan, being his own sister, only lost her temper for a moment before stopping to wait. "You must keep an eye on your belongings. Don't let valuables out of your sight."

"That was a gift I specifically bought from the Capital City for your Fifth Aunt. You said you'd just look, that it wouldn't get lost. Now you're telling me it's gone?"

"I didn't expect anyone to actually steal things on the train!" Liu Wenqian, seemingly too well-protected, looked dejected. While apologizing, he thought of a solution. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Sister! Why don't we not go back for now? Let's buy something here?"

"I still have some New Year's money saved up, it should be enough. If not, consider it a loan from me, and I'll pay you back at the end of the year."

Good upbringing prevented Liu Wenqian from giving up. Instead, he earnestly thought of a feasible remedy.

"Money is a small matter, but that item is only available in the Capital City. It was just restocked from the Morning Star Alliance, and I picked it out carefully. How could I possibly find anything similar in a small town like Pei Commandery?" Liu Wenhan sighed again as she spoke. "I thought you would have improved your forgetful habit after studying outside, but you're still the same?"

"Losing things everywhere! And didn't I tell you before? Don't just strike up conversations with strangers outside! No matter how excited you are! Be careful when you go out, pay attention to safety!"

"Look at what you've done on the train?"

"Little brother, you're not so little anymore, are you? You should think more. You're going to military academy next year. When people from all over the country are together, if something happens, your family might not be able to protect you."

"Got it, got it." Liu Wenqian sounded a bit impatient. "Sister, you keep bringing up small matters over and over, my ears are going to fall off…"

"Is this a small matter? This is for your own good!" As she spoke, Liu Wenhan moved her hand at a speed unattainable by ordinary people, instantly bypassing Liu Wenqian, who instinctively tried to defend himself, and precisely grabbed his ear. "You even tried to fight back? You've gotten brave?"

"Heh heh…" With his weak spot grabbed, Liu Wenqian became obedient. "I was wrong, I was wrong, Sister, good sister, obedient sister, it hurts, it hurts, it really hurts!"

"Let's think about how to find a new gift."

"No need to think about it. I had prepared a gift for you. I heard Fifth Uncle's son is also coming, so I'll give this gift to him then."

"Sometimes, giving a gift to the mother is less effective than giving it directly to her son. Consider it a lesson for you."

"Excuse me, are you Liu Zhengde's daughter and son?" While the two were talking, Liu Yun also walked up and asked.

"It's the silent uncle from the train!" Upon seeing Liu Yun, Liu Wenqian got excited and squirmed, breaking free from Liu Wenhan's half-hearted grip on his ear, and changed the subject. "How do you know our father's name?"

"My name is Liu Zhengyun. By seniority, you should call me Fifth Uncle." After introducing himself, Liu Yun immediately turned and pointed at Liu Tian. "This is my son, Liu Wen Tian. You met him on the train."

"Just call me Liu Tian." Since it couldn't be avoided, Liu Tian didn't intend to keep hiding. "I didn't name myself according to seniority."

"…" Not fully believing him, despite Liu Tian's distinctive blood-red eyes, Liu Wenhan, naturally cautious, pulled her brother back a step. "If you are truly Fifth Uncle, why didn't you recognize us on the train earlier?"

As expected, I'm being suspected. Liu Tian glanced at his father and didn't answer. He turned to look in another direction. A black car was slowly approaching. "That should be someone coming to pick us up. Do you recognize them?"

"I only saw a photo of you, my niece, so I didn't recognize you right away." Liu Yun scratched his head as he explained, then heard Liu Tian speak, "Where? Let me see!"

By the time he turned his head, the car had slowly stopped in front of them.

The car window rolled down, revealing a square-faced man with a scar on his face, whom everyone except Liu Tian knew very well. "You're all together. What a coincidence! Come, don't stand in the sun, get in the car quickly. Lunch is already prepared at home."

"Dad?" *2

"Second Brother!"

Judging by the responses from the three, it was clear that this square-faced man with a scar was indeed Liu Zhengde, the person Liu Yun had mentioned.