"Come in, please! Master Fang, have you had lunch? The food in the pot's still warm..."
"I've eaten, Sister-in-law. Don't trouble yourself..."
"Don't you go treating us like strangers!"
"Listen to you... Guangzong, come here. See what Uncle Fang brought you?"
Fang Ke's voice woke Yang Ge, who had been dozing with his chin propped on his hand. He opened his eyes and instinctively glanced at the Old Shopkeeper on the bed. Seeing that he was still asleep, Yang Ge rose and tiptoed over, bent down to take his pulse, then released a few wisps of true qi to carefully examine the vitality within his body. After a moment, he tucked the blankets around him and quietly went outside.
Outside the door, Fang Ke, wrapped in a thick cloak, held Little Guangzong by the hand. Bundled up like a ball, Little Guangzong had his cheeks puffed out around some unknown sweet.
The snow in the courtyard had yet to melt. Little Yellow lay in his kennel some distance away, his eyes fixed on Fang Ke.
At the sight of Yang Ge, Little Guangzong immediately let go of Fang Ke and threw himself into Yang Ge's arms, mumbling, "Second Uncle."
Yang Ge bent down and picked him up, passing a thread of true qi into him to warm his body. He asked softly, "The people sent to the Capital City are back?"
"They're back..."
Fang Ke nodded, then noticed the dark circles under Yang Ge's bloodshot eyes. He could not help advising him quietly, "Sir, the old gentleman's health matters, but you have to take care of yourself too... How about I send a couple of careful men over to lend a hand?"
"I'm fine."
Yang Ge smiled. "Everyone looks like this when they've just woken up... How are things in