Chapter 23

People are not plants or trees; who can be without feelings?

Chu Huan and Linlang had spent a few days together, and it was naturally impossible for him to have no feelings at all. However, he knew that the two of them were not on the same path, and this parting might mean they would never meet again.

As the sun set and the sky grew dim, Chu Huan, relying on the deep memories in his mind, walked along the small path to the west. After more than an hour, it was already completely dark, and a crescent moon rose from the horizon.

Chu Huan climbed over a hill, and in front of him appeared a lake. The water was clear, and under the moonlight, it shimmered with a cold, eerie light. Seeing this lake, a look of joy appeared on Chu Huan's face. The deep memory in his mind told him that he was getting closer to home.

He walked to the lakeside, put down the wolf skin and the package, and then cupped the lake water in his hands, drinking a few mouthfuls. Under the moonlight, his appearance was reflected in the water. Upon closer inspection, he was unkempt and truly looked quite messy. He shook his head and sighed. Returning home in such a state, his family would surely be shocked. He immediately took off all his clothes, placed them in the grass by the lake, and jumped into the water to wash himself thoroughly.

In late autumn, the lake water was very cold, but Chu Huan's physical condition was excellent, and he felt no chill. He washed the dust off his body and even combed his hair carefully. Just as he was about to get out of the water and tie his hair, he suddenly heard a faint cry from not far away. Chu Huan immediately frowned and moved closer to the lakeside, where the tall grass quickly concealed him.

He looked in the direction of the crying, and under the moonlight, he saw several figures appear on the small path not far from the lakeside. The crying was coming from that group of people.

Chu Huan frowned and focused his gaze. The figures gradually approached, and he saw that the first person was stout and was carrying someone on his back. Behind him were three or four others, armed with bows and iron forks. These people did not notice Chu Huan in the lake and walked past. Chu Huan, however, saw clearly that the person crying was a young man of about fifteen or sixteen.

Chu Huan was very puzzled, not knowing what had happened. At that moment, he was naked and could not come out. He watched as the group gradually moved away, and the crying gradually faded until it could no longer be heard.

Although Chu Huan found it strange, he did not think much about it. He got out of the water, put on his clothes, and used the lake as a mirror. He tore a strip of cloth from his already tattered clothes, tied his hair at the back of his head, and then picked up the wolf skin and the package, continuing westward along the lakeside.

After about half an hour, he saw a village ahead. The autumn night was bleak, the moonlight was cold, and the village was quiet in the darkness. The fields were silent, and a few lights were still on in the village, indicating that some families had not yet gone to bed.

Chu Huan stood on a small hill, looking at the village, lost in thought.

After a long time, he took a deep breath, looked up at the moon, and walked toward the village. For some reason, the closer he got to the village, the more uneasy he felt.

The village had about thirty to forty households, not a small village, but the houses were all low and old, clearly having been built many years ago.

Compared to the scene in Chu Huan's memory, the village had not changed much. He walked through the village, and in the dark and windy night, he found his home without encountering anyone.

It was a very dilapidated mud house, clearly an old house that had withstood many years of wind and rain. It was even more dilapidated than Chu Huan remembered. According to his memory, the middle room of the mud house was the living room, and the two sides were bedrooms. The left side should be where his parents lived, and the right side, before this body left home, should be where he and his brother lived.

Chu Huan steadied his emotions and finally walked up to the door, put down the wolf skin, and gently knocked. There was no response inside, so he knocked a little harder, "Knock, knock, knock."

Soon, he heard movement inside. The sound indicated that someone inside was in a panic. Then he heard footsteps approaching the door.

Chu Huan waited, and he could hear the footsteps reaching the door, but the door did not open. He found this strange and knocked again. A cold female voice came from inside, "Who is it?" The voice was filled with caution and hostility.

Chu Huan was taken aback. In his memory, there were no other women in the house besides his mother, and this voice was clearly that of a young woman, not his mother. Had he come to the wrong door?

He took two steps back and, relying on his memory, clearly remembered that this was the right house. He stepped forward and said softly, "I am Er Lang, open the door quickly!"

"What Er Lang or San Dog, get lost!" the voice inside laughed coldly. "Trying to take advantage of me? Think again!"

Hearing this, Chu Huan was puzzled. He was sure he had not come to the wrong door and said firmly, "Is this the Chu Yuan family?"

The woman inside did not answer.

Chu Huan thought that after returning, there would be a touching reunion, but he never expected to be blocked at the door. He knocked and called out, "Big Brother, I am Er Lang, open the door quickly. Er Lang is back!"

He knocked a few more times, but there was still no response inside. He frowned and pushed the door, which had been unlatched at some point, and it opened. The room was dim.

Chu Huan frowned and was about to step in when a figure suddenly appeared in front of him. Before he could see clearly, the figure raised a hand. In the moonlight, he could see that the person was holding a kitchen knife and swung it mercilessly at him.

Chu Huan was shocked. He never expected to be greeted with a kitchen knife upon entering. He quickly stepped back, and the person did not pursue him, standing at the door with one hand holding the knife and the other on their hip.

Chu Huan, under the moonlight, saw that the attacker was a woman. She was wearing a green autumn jacket and a coarse floral skirt, very simple. Although she was not extremely beautiful, she had a fair complexion and was about the same age as Chu Huan, around twenty-two or twenty-three. Her skin was naturally fair and smooth, and her hair was tied in a bun, indicating that she was married.

The woman was tall and slender, and her chest was prominent, especially in the tight autumn jacket. However, her eyes and brows carried a cold expression, and her eyes were filled with hostility. Before Chu Huan could speak, the woman, with her hand on her hip, raised the other hand, the knife in front, and said coldly, "Get lost, or I'll cut you up and feed you to the dogs!" Her voice was slightly hoarse but still very pleasant.

Chu Huan frowned, as if thinking of something, and asked respectfully, "Are you Sister Su Niang?"

The woman was taken aback and then laughed coldly, "What's the matter, coming to my door in the middle of the night? Do you think I, Ye Su Niang, am easy to provoke? Get lost!"

"Sister Su Niang, I am Er Lang!" Chu Huan took a step forward, and Su Niang immediately tightened her grip on the knife and said sternly, "Don't come closer!"

"You don't recognize me?" Chu Huan said with a bitter smile. "I am Chu Huan, Chu Er Lang!"

"Chu Huan?" Su Niang, with her hand on her hip, laughed coldly. "My little brother-in-law has been dead for seven or eight years. Could he have come back to life?"

Little brother-in-law?

Chu Huan was taken aback and quickly understood. His earlier guess was correct; this woman had indeed become his brother's wife, making her his sister-in-law.

Seeing that Su Niang did not recognize him, Chu Huan knew his experience was very strange and hard to explain. He said, "Sister Su Niang, it doesn't matter if you don't recognize me. Go call Big Brother out; he will surely recognize me!"

"Big Brother?" A hint of sadness crossed Su Niang's eyes. She gritted her teeth and said angrily, "Who are you? Did Feng Er Dog send you? That scoundrel Feng Er Dog, may he be struck by lightning and die a miserable death!"

Chu Huan was confused, and it was even stranger that, despite the commotion outside, the house remained silent, and his brother did not come out.

Seeing that Chu Huan was standing there, not planning to leave, Su Niang was both angry and anxious. She was about to scold him when a voice finally came from inside, "Su Niang, what's happening outside?"

Su Niang, hearing the voice, quickly said, "Mother, nothing, just a stray cat at the door. I'll drive it away. You go back to sleep!"

Chu Huan, hearing the voice, suddenly darted to the left window and called out, "Mother, it's me, Chu Huan, your Er Lang. Mother, Er Lang is back!"

Seeing this, Su Niang's face changed, and she raised her knife to go over, but she stopped after one step, her face showing confusion as she looked Chu Huan up and down, her eyes filled with a strange expression.

Inside, a voice was heard, "Is... is it Er Lang... really Er Lang?" The voice was trembling.

Chu Huan, without hesitation, rushed to the door and entered the house. Su Niang, for some reason, only opened her mouth but did not say anything, allowing Chu Huan to enter.

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