Upon Li Changsen's return, the Li household was quieter than usual. Most people there held a certain fear towards him.
In contrast to the warm and cheerful reunions happening in other households, where families welcomed their returning members with open arms and special treats, the atmosphere in the Li household was subdued.
That evening's dinner at the Li household was simpler than usual. Old Madam Li added a bit more broth and prepared a few extra pieces of dry bread, and that was it.
Li Changsen looked at the plain meal, his expression unchanged. He picked up the dry bread and began eating.
However, Jin Yue'e's expression held a hint of frustration. After all, Li Changsen had been away for several months, yet even with the chickens they kept, his mother couldn't bring herself to spare an egg to help him regain his strength.
It wasn't until after dinner that Jin Yue'e's expression finally relaxed.
"It's okay, don't be upset. I've come to terms with this over the years," Li Changsen said, soothingly comforting his wife once they were back in their room.
Jin Yue'e felt sorry for her husband, her eyes welling up as she said, "They're all your siblings, yet compared to my second and third brothers, your mother doesn't seem to care about you at all."
"It's not just about the food. You've been back for a good part of the day, and she didn't even ask how you're doing at the military outpost or whether you've been injured."
Li Changsen smiled indifferently, "I've stopped expecting much from them. As long as I know that you and our four children care about me, that's enough."
Upon hearing this, Jin Yue'e felt her heartache, and her eyes began to mist over.
Quickly, Li Changsen reached out to wipe away her tears, teasingly saying, "Why the tears? Are you dropping golden beans?"
Jin Yue'e turned her head away, wiping her own tears, "Don't mess around. If the children come in and see, what will they think?"
Li Changsen chuckled and pulled his wife into his embrace, "Let them see. Are they going to mock their own father?"
Jin Yue'e rolled her eyes at Li Changsen, resisting his embrace.
Seeing her mood settle, Li Changsen spoke gently, "I've long given up on expecting anything from my parents. Having you and our four children is enough for me. Don't be sad anymore. Perhaps I'm just not destined to have a close relationship with my parents."
Jin Yue'e moved her lips as if to say something, hesitated for a moment, and then swallowed her words.
What was there to say, anyway?
Both she and her husband had tried their best. They had sought their in-laws' approval and affection, but unfortunately, whether it was her husband or herself, they had both failed.
Once a person's heart was set, all efforts became in vain.
The couple held each other in a tender embrace for a while. Then Jin Yue'e showed Li Changsen the spoils that Li Wuya and her siblings had obtained at the relay station.
"This box of medicine can't be hidden. Everyone in the family knows about it. Mother wanted to take it, but I told her that it was for you. Sanlang intervened, persuading Father. In the end, Father spoke up to stop Mother."
Li Changsen smiled, "Sanlang has grown up. He can protect our family now."
Jin Yue'e's expression also softened. She was quite satisfied with their eldest son, "You were injured several times before, and those injuries weren't properly treated. I got some good medicine a few years back through my father and the pharmacy owner. The owner told me about a special bathing recipe that's good for strengthening the body. Tomorrow, I'll prepare a pot for you."
Knowing that his wife was worried about his health, Li Changsen didn't decline. He smiled and said, "I'm truly lucky. Now I have children who care for me."
Jin Yue'e chuckled, "That's true." Her tone turned proud, "Looking at the entire military village, which family's children can compare to ours?"
As she spoke about their children, Li Changsen's eyes brimmed with warmth.
Jin Yue'e took out three pouches of money, two daggers, as well as a bundle of blood ginseng, blood fungus, and a small number of cordyceps, all wrapped in cloth. "These are things the family doesn't know about."
This time, Li Changsen was taken aback, especially when he saw the blood ginseng and blood fungus.
Jin Yue'e explained, "I counted the silver in the pouches; there are over thirty taels. It's a bit of money, but I've grown up all these years and earned less than many children."
Li Changsen fell silent for a moment. He was in the same situation.
Jin Yue'e said, "With this money, you don't need to bring back so much salary in the future. After all, we won't get to eat much of it. Most of it goes into others' pockets."
"If the children are hungry, I'll have them take the money to the relay station to buy something. If you're going to the battlefield, you need to eat more. Don't let your health suffer."
"When you return to the outpost this time, take ten taels of silver with you for emergencies. Don't end up like before, getting injured without money to see a doctor and having to tough it out."
Li Changsen listened quietly as his wife made these arrangements, feeling a warm sensation in his heart.
This was his family – caring for him, worrying about him. He didn't have to bear everything alone, as he did when he was younger.
"Oh, by the way, can you use these two daggers?"
Li Changsen took the knives handed to him by Jin Yue'e, and as he twirled them in his hands, he exclaimed, "These knives are much better than the ones from the outpost." He skillfully demonstrated a few beautiful knife moves, "Impressive!"
Jin Yue'e chuckled, "As long as they're usable. When you leave, take one with you, and leave the other for Sanlang. He's been practising martial arts with you for a good two or three years now, and I think he's doing well. He should be able to handle a knife too."
"As for these blood ginseng and blood fungus... They're too precious. I don't know how to use them yet, so let's leave them for now."
Li Changsen smiled, "I'll follow your lead. You're the boss of our home."
Playfully rolling her eyes at him, Jin Yue'e smiled and didn't say anything.
At that moment, Li Sanlang and his four siblings, who had purposely roamed around the village, returned home.
Once Li Wuya and Li Qilang entered the house, they kicked off their shoes and climbed onto the kang (a traditional heated bed platform).
Li Qilang was playful; once he was on the king, he wanted Li Changsen to play with him.
Li Sanlang and Li Erya saw this and also climbed onto the kang.
In no time, the room was filled with laughter and playful noises.
Watching her husband and children bonding, Jin Yue'e locked away the silver and the blood ginseng in a cabinet and headed to the kitchen to boil water.
Seeing Jin Yue'e return with hot water, Li Sanlang and Li Erya were quick to help their younger siblings the Kang and take them back to their room.
After Li Changsen finished his bath and changed into clean clothes, Li Wuya reemerged, climbing onto the Kang, saying, "Dad, let me give you a massage."
Li Changsen looked at his young daughter and appreciated her filial nature but replied, "You're still so small, you can't apply enough pressure. Go back to bed."
Li Wuya wasn't giving up. She came forward and had her dad lie down.
Li Changsen sighed in amusement and obediently lay down on the kang, allowing his little daughter to give him a massage.
With her psychic abilities, Li Wuya first scanned her father's body and discovered not only several hidden injuries but also some new ones.
While massaging, she focused her healing abilities on these areas.
The medicinal properties of the few pieces of blood ginseng and blood fungus weren't abundant, and considering they had been used for Li Sanlang and Li Erya's treatments earlier, Li Wuya's psychic energy was running low quickly, forcing her to stop.
"Dad, Mom, you should go to sleep early."
Watching her daughter return to her room, Li Changsen sat up and stretched his body, "I have to admit, after the massage from Wuya, I do feel much more relaxed."
Thinking he was praising his daughter's filial piety, Jin Yue'e chuckled, "No matter what your daughters do, you always think it's wonderful."
Li Changsen laughed heartily, not refuting it, his gaze fixed on his wife as he waited for her to come to bed.
The next morning, Jin Yue'e woke up later than usual. When she did, she found Li Changsen had already taken Li Sanlang out to the yard for some morning exercise. Li Erya, Li Qilang, and Li Wuya had gone for a run.
"Indeed, once the eldest son returns, the wife becomes radiant," a familiar voice said as Jin Yue'e entered the kitchen.
It was Xue Caihua, Li Changlin's wife. Like her husband, they were both talkative and annoying.
Jin Yue'e ignored her, passing her by and heading straight to fetch water.
The best way to deal with Li Changlin and his wife was to ignore them; otherwise, anything you said would only make them more eager to talk.
By the time Jin Yue'e had washed up and changed, Li Changsen and Li Sanlang had finished their exercise. Li Erya, Li Qilang, and Li Wuya had returned from their run.
At that moment, the children from the second and third households of the Li family were starting to wake up as well.
Li Changsen's father, Old Master Li, was squatting at the doorway of the main room, washing his face. He observed the energetic and proactive demeanour of his eldest son's four children, in contrast to the lazy and lax behaviour of his other grandchildren from the second and third households, and he couldn't help but feel discontent.
"Dalang, Erlang, if you're not busy, why don't you join Sanlang and learn some martial arts from your eldest uncle?"
As the eldest grandson, who was highly regarded by both Old Master Li and Old Madam Li, Li Dalang quickly replied, "Grandfather, I can't squat in a horse stance. Last time I tried to follow Sanlang, my legs hurt for several days."
Li Erlang also echoed the sentiment that they weren't suited for martial arts.
Seeing her son's lack of enthusiasm, Old Master Li sighed inwardly but didn't say much. He turned and went back into the main room.
Once inside, he was met with an unpleased look from Old Madam Li.
"Why did you let Dalang and Erlang practice martial arts? We have the eldest and third grandsons to learn, that's enough. Second and third households should just stick to honest work in the fields."
Old Master Li glanced at his wife, moved his lips, and then sighed. In the end, he didn't say anything.
After breakfast, Li Changsen took Li Sanlang and headed out. He visited a few families in the village with whom he had good relations to strengthen those connections. He often wasn't home and worried that his wife might face difficulties on her own. He couldn't rely on his parents and younger siblings. He hoped that these relatives and friends could lend a helping hand when needed.
Li Changsen was a person of loyalty and integrity, coupled with his skills, so his reputation in the village was quite positive.
"Mother, what are you planning to do?"
Inside the eastern chamber, when Li Wuya saw Jin Yue'e take out several herbs from a box, she quickly asked, "Mom, what are you preparing?"
Jin Yue'e replied, "I want to brew a medicinal bath for your father."
Upon hearing this, a gleam of excitement flashed in Li Wuya's eyes.
What a timely opportunity! Back when she was collecting herbs at the relay station, she had planned to brew a few batches of body-strengthening medicine to enhance her family's constitution.
She hadn't quite figured out how to do it yet, and her mother was creating a chance for her.
Li Wuya followed behind Jin Yue'e eagerly, seizing the moment when her mother wasn't looking to secretly switch some of the herbs.
In her previous life, the process of body-strengthening could comprehensively improve a person's constitution, unlocking their hidden potential. For ordinary people, multiple rounds of body-strengthening greatly increased the chances of awakening supernatural abilities.
Even if no supernatural abilities were awakened, the body would be reinforced, enhancing various aspects like strength, reaction speed, and sensory perceptions.
In this world, due to the limited availability and potency of medicinal herbs, Li Wuya could only create a lower-grade version of the body-strengthening medicine bath. Nevertheless, it was sufficient.
"Mom, Grandma and Uncle will surely covet our medicine. How about we brew a few more batches today and have the whole family soak?"
Jin Yue'e hesitated. Brewing a medicinal bath required a significant amount of herbs.
She still wanted to use some herbs to brew more baths for her husband.
However, she understood her mother-in-law's character. Even though things were calm now, she knew that whenever someone in the Li family had a headache or fever, her mother-in-law would surely demand medicine again.
"Alright, since this medicinal bath is for improving health, all four of you siblings can soak in it."
"Mom, you should soak too. Our whole family should soak together, without anyone left out."
Just as Jin Yue'e was about to say she didn't need to soak, Li Changlin's wife, Xue Caihua, and Li Changmu's wife, Zhou Zhaodi, entered the kitchen.
"Hey, sister-in-law, what are you brewing?" Xue Caihua lifted the pot lid and found a large pot of medicine.
"Oh my, sister-in-law, you're being quite extravagant. Even with a whole box of medicine, you shouldn't waste it like this."
Her exaggerated exclamations immediately drew the attention of Old Madam Li.
Before Old Madam Li could say anything, Jin Yue'e intervened, "My husband has returned with several new injuries this time, and this medicine bath is for his recuperation."
Old Madam Li furrowed her brow, "Even so, you shouldn't waste medicine like this."
"Nana, is my father's life more important, or a bit of medicine?" Li Wuya chimed in, "Nana, do you want to see your eldest son die on the battlefield? Are you really his mother?"
Hearing this, Old Madam Li was like a cat with its tail stepped on, her fur bristling, "You little brat, what nonsense are you talking? Am I, not your father's real mother? Who else could I be?"
Li Wuya looked puzzled, "Then why did you stop my mom from brewing medicine for my dad? Which mother doesn't want her child to be well?"
Old Madam Li was somewhat fierce, "Who stopped her? I just didn't want you all to waste medicine. Forget it, forget it. I'm just meddling again. Even with a whole box of medicine, let's see how many times you can waste it."
With that, she quickly left the kitchen.
Li Wuya watched as her grandmother scurried away, narrowing her eyes.
Last time, it was only after her third brother asked her grandfather if her father was really his biological son that her grandmother finally quieted down. It seemed to be the same this time.
Seeing her grandmother retreat, Xue Caihua and Zhou Zhaodi, who hadn't benefited from the situation, could only leave with sour expressions.
Once the two were gone, Li Wuya turned to Jin Yue'e and earnestly asked, "Mom, could it be that my father really isn't Grandfather and Grandma's biological son?"
Jin Yue'e covered the pot and gave her daughter a stern look, "Don't talk nonsense. When your grandma was carrying your father, many people in the military camp knew."
Li Wuya rubbed her chin, "But still, my father is so tall and impressive, while Grandfather, Uncle, and Second Uncle are all short and unremarkable. Grandfather and Grandma have plain appearances, yet my father has sharp features."
She touched her own small face and grinned, "Even the four of us siblings have inherited good looks, surpassing all the other children in the camp."
Amused by her daughter's vanity, Jin Yue'e chuckled, "Your father is undoubtedly a son of the Li family. Don't talk about this anymore."
Li Wuya shrugged and didn't continue, but she went to the kitchen entrance, silently observing the main courtyard.
There might actually be something fishy about her father's background!
After Li Changsen returned with Li Sanlang, the first batch of body-strengthening medicinal baths had just finished brewing.
"I heard that Grandma caused a commotion while you were brewing the medicine."
Jin Yue'e helped Li Changsen find his clothes and smiled, "Yes, but your youngest daughter managed to handle it with just a couple of words."
Seeing Li Changsen's furrowed brow, Jin Yue'e continued, "Don't worry. Both I and the children know your mother's temperament well. We won't suffer any losses."
Li Changsen fell silent for a moment, then said, "You said this medicinal bath is for strengthening the body. How about you and the children soak as well? These years, you've endured a lot by being with me. Even the four children have suffered."
"With so many people in the Li family, you and the four children are the most delicate."
"That box of medicine will only cause trouble. While I'm home these two days, let's use up the medicine to prevent them from coveting it. Who knows what kind of trouble they might cause."
Jin Yue'e pondered for a moment, "Alright, I'll listen to you. Actually, I also thought of letting the children soak."
The process of brewing body-strengthening medicinal baths required a significant amount of herbs. With a whole box of medicine, they could brew around eight baths.
During Li Changsen's three days at home, he soaked three times, while Jin Yue'e and the four children each soaked once.
"When soaking in the medicinal bath, there's a bit of stinging, but afterwards, the whole body feels much lighter."
When he left, Li Changsen clearly felt that his previously somewhat sluggish body had become much more agile. Even the occasional aches from hidden injuries were no longer painful.
Upon returning to the outpost, Li Changsen continued his regular training routine.
Half a month later, during a sparring match, he defeated a junior officer who was equally skilled as him with just three moves.
Li Changsen was momentarily stunned, and then a surge of joy filled his heart.
In the past half month, he had vaguely felt that his strength and reaction speed had improved, whether it was an illusion or not. But now, he knew for certain that his martial arts had advanced again.
It seems that the medicinal bath really works!
Li Changsen's eyes sparkled with radiance. Advancing in his martial arts meant an increased chance of surviving on the battlefield.