mtl008 Chapter 416 Can I ask you for a favor?
Chapter 416 Can I ask you for a favor?
As the fog dissipated, Lao Guo led them around a bend in the mountain valley, where the outline of a village could be vaguely seen in the distance.
"This is enough," Old Guo said, squinting and pointing ahead. "Just follow this road down, and you'll reach the village in half an hour."
Li Xiangyang wanted to say something, but for a moment he didn't know where to begin.
This veteran, who once fought valiantly, now lives in seclusion in the mountains, isolated from the world. The hardships he endured are probably beyond words.
"Old Guo, are you really not coming down the mountain with us to take a look?" Wang Ergou couldn't help but ask again.
Old Guo shook his head and patted Wang Ergou on the shoulder: "The mountains are good, quiet. You young people should cherish your lives; the country is getting better and better."
He paused, his gaze lingering on the distant village for a moment, then pulled a small cloth bag from his robes and handed it to Li Xiangyang: "This is a medicinal wine I made with several kinds of mountain herbs. It's good for injuries and fractures. Take it with you in case you get hurt."
Li Xiangyang accepted it with both hands and solemnly placed it in his pocket: "Thank you, Elder Guo."
"And..." Old Guo hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a small wooden box from inside his clothes. "This is something I've treasured for decades. I originally intended to take it to my grave, but seeing that you are all good young people, I thought it would be good to leave you with something to remember me by."
Li Xiangyang took the wooden box, gently opened it, and inside was a bronze medal so worn that the design was no longer legible.
"This is......"
"It was sent after Xifengkou." Old Guo's voice was low and calm. "Giving it to you is a way of ensuring it finds its rightful place. A keepsake."
Li Xiangyang was speechless for a moment, and could only nod vigorously as he accepted the medal.
As they parted, Li Xiangyang couldn't help but ask, "Old Guo, are you really not considering going back for a visit? I can...?"
Old Guo interrupted him, saying, "Forget it, some things can only be resolved with time."
After saying that, he turned and walked up the mountain, his figure gradually disappearing into the morning light.
Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou stood there, watching the old soldier disappear into the mountains and forests until he was no longer visible.
"Let's go," Li Xiangyang said softly, carefully putting the wooden box into his pocket, and walking down the mountain side by side with Wang Ergou.
The two remained unusually silent throughout the journey.
Last night's experience and Lao Guo's story left them with mixed feelings.
Especially Wang Ergou, who is usually very talkative, was silent at this moment, his brows furrowed.
"What are you thinking about?" Li Xiangyang asked.
Wang Ergou sighed: "I was thinking, if we had been born in that era, would we have..."
Li Xiangyang patted him on the shoulder: "Don't think too much. Everyone has their own destiny. What we can do now is to live our lives well and not let down the efforts of those who came before us."
As the two talked, they unknowingly arrived at the village entrance.
Although they returned empty-handed from the hunt, their chance encounter with Lao Guo brought them something more precious than the prey.
Back home, Li Xiaoyun was airing out her bedding in the yard.
Upon seeing Li Xiangyang return, she hurried forward, her eyes filled with concern: "Why did it take you so long to get back? Are you alright?"
Although she didn't say it explicitly, Li Xiangyang knew she was worried about him being in danger.
"It's nothing, we just encountered bad weather and met an elderly person living alone in the mountains, so we asked to stay the night," Li Xiangyang replied with a smile, gently stroking his wife's slightly protruding belly. "How are you feeling today?"
Li Xiaoyun smiled broadly: "It's great! I felt it kick me this morning, it was really strong."
After the two finished speaking, they went inside. Li Xiangyang carefully took out the medicinal wine and medal given to him by Old Guo from his pocket and placed them on the cabinet.
Although the medals have become faded and worn with the passage of time, they seem to possess an invisible power that commands respect.
Li Xiaoyun curiously picked up the small wooden box, and after seeing what was inside, she couldn't help but let out a soft "Ah!": "This is..."
“A military medal, a gift from an old man in the mountains.” Li Xiangyang’s voice was low as he turned and walked towards the kitchen, not wanting this heavy topic to affect his wife’s mood.
In the kitchen, Li Xiangyang deftly started a fire, washed vegetables, and cut meat.
"Xiaoyun, sit down and rest for a while, you don't need to help," Li Xiangyang called out while chopping vegetables.
After becoming pregnant, Li Xiaoyun often felt tired, and Li Xiangyang always tried his best to share the housework so that she wouldn't be too overworked.
"I'm fine, I'll help if I can." Li Xiaoyun still took the bowls and chopsticks into the kitchen, a gentle smile on her face.
Li Xiangyang glanced at her, knowing he couldn't stop her, so he didn't insist any further.
The couple worked together, one cooking and the other setting the table, their movements practiced and harmonious.
The food was served quickly: a plate of braised pheasant, a dish of stir-fried bok choy, and a bowl of egg drop soup—all delicious and visually appealing.
"Eat it while it's hot." Li Xiangyang served Li Xiaoyun a bowl of rice and then put a piece of pheasant meat in her bowl.
Li Xiaoyun took a bite and praised, "Your skills are improving!"
After the meal, Li Xiaoyun went to clear the dishes, and Li Xiangyang sat in his chair, feeling a wave of weariness wash over him.
"Go lie down for a while, you must not have slept well last night," Li Xiaoyun said softly, noticing her husband's fatigue.
Li Xiangyang wanted to help, but he couldn't hold on any longer, so he nodded and said, "Then I'll take a nap. Don't work too long either."
Back in his bedroom, Li Xiangyang took off his shoes, got into bed, and fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
I slept soundly until I heard a knock on the door and slowly woke up.
"Brother Xiangyang! Is Brother Xiangyang home?" A clear female voice came from outside the courtyard.
Li Xiangyang opened his eyes and saw that the sun was already setting outside the window, indicating that he had slept for several hours.
"Who is it?" Li Xiaoyun's voice rang out, followed by the sound of the door opening.
"Sister Xiaoyun, I'm Chu Qingxuan. My grandfather asked me to invite you to our house for dinner tonight."
"Oh, Qingxuan, come in and sit down."
Li Xiangyang quickly got up, put on his shoes, and left the bedroom.
"Hello, Brother Xiangyang." Chu Qingxuan greeted Li Xiangyang politely as he came out.
Li Xiaoyun poured Chu Qingxuan a glass of water: "Sit down and have some water."
"Thank you, Sister Xiaoyun." Chu Qingxuan took the water glass and took a small sip. "By the way, where are Auntie and Xiaohua? Let's go together. Grandpa has prepared a lot of dishes; it'll be more fun if it's lively!"
Li Xiaoyun was refilling her tea when she heard this and replied with a smile, "She went out to visit neighbors early this morning, and probably won't be back for a while..."
Before the words were finished, familiar footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate.
Chu Qingxuan immediately stood up and said sweetly, "Auntie, my grandfather invited Brother Xiangyang and Sister Xiaoyun to our house for dinner. Why don't you and Sister Xiaohua come too?"
Li's mother smiled and shook her head to politely decline, saying, "Please thank your grandfather for me. We'll just have something simple to eat at home tonight. You young people can go and have some fun."
Li Xiaohua waved her hand in response, "Thank you, Sister Qingxuan. I still have to help my mother pick vegetables. I'll go again next time!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Chu Qingxuan took Li Xiaoyun's arm, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "Sister Xiaoyun, let's hurry, or the food will get cold!"
She winked mischievously at Li Xiangyang, "If you don't leave soon, Xiangyang-ge, I'm going to share all the good food with Xiaoyun-jie's baby!"
Li Xiaoyun was amused and covered her mouth to laugh. She let the little girl pull her forward, and Li Xiangyang quickly followed and closed the courtyard gate behind him.
After leaving the house and walking for a while, Chu Qingxuan seemed to have made up her mind and suddenly spoke up: "Brother Xiangyang, could you please do me a favor?"
Seeing her troubled expression, Li Xiangyang was somewhat surprised: "What kind of help?"