Yi Shuyuan's return was naturally a major event for the Yi Household. Yi Baokang prepared to send someone to Moon Province to call Yi A Bao back from Moon Province Academy, while lamenting that his elder brother had not been home for his seventieth birthday. Otherwise, they would certainly have celebrated it in grand style.
Of course, Yi Shuyuan stopped him from sending anyone to Moon Province. Some of the people from Moon Province Academy were currently on Broad South Mountain, and he had already met them before returning home, so there was no need to send another message.
Yi A Bao would certainly be home by later that day at the earliest, or within a day or two at the latest.
Everyone was bustling about in the Yi Household's large courtyard. Yi Baokang personally took up a knife to slaughter chickens and ducks, while the others hurried about their tasks. Yi Shuyuan could not even lend a hand.
Yi Yong'an had an angler's heart. He insisted on taking his rod, net, and other fishing gear to catch some fresh river fish for Yi Shuyuan. Stoneborn gleefully brought Hui Mian along and insisted on going to watch.
With the entire Yi Household pitching in, a sumptuous dinner was already assured. There was also the food carrier Yi Shuyuan had brought back, one of the two he had previously rented from Tongxin Pavilion and the Drunken Guest Pavilion.
That very afternoon, Yi A Bao returned home with Li Congyun.
They were still at the village entrance when villagers began greeting them one after another, and the two answered as they walked.
"Young Master Yi, your granduncle is back."
"I already know!"
"A Bao! Your granduncle is back!" "Hurry home!"
"I already know, Great-Uncle!"
"Who's this?"
"Teacher Li from the academy!"
Whenever