Chapter 1371: The Primarch Returns to Xiuluo Holy Star (2)

When Perturabo arrived, he was wearing a grey work jacket, with a dark blue shirt and dark trousers underneath.

As he walked into the Spaceport, his gaze swept over the crowd, and seeing Yingxin talking to Horus, his pace quickened slightly.

But halfway there, he slowed down again, pretending to observe the starships nearby.

Mother Ying saw him.

"Perturabo, come over."

Perturabo walked over.

"Grandmother."

Mother Ying looked at his hands.

"Take off your gloves; you're still wearing them even after coming home."

Perturabo took off his gloves and stuffed them into his pocket.

"The construction in the East District hasn't wrapped up yet, I just came back while I was at it."

Mother Ying said.

"There is dust on your clothes; no matter how impressive a person with great military achievements is on the battlefield, they must be clean when they come home to see their family."

Perturabo lowered his head.

"Understood."

Dorn walked out of the dining room, holding a plate in his hand, with a few pieces of dim sum on it.

His gaze met Perturabo's in the crowd.

Dorn walked over.

"Perturabo, you're back?"

Perturabo looked at him.

"Just got back."

Dorn nodded.

"Did you design the sewer system for the East District?"

Perturabo frowned.

"Is there a problem?"

Dorn shook his head.

"No, I just happened to pass by and take a look; the diameter of the main drainage pipes could be increased by another five centimeters to facilitate future expansion."

Perturabo's brow furrowed even tighter.

"The current diameter is already sufficient; adding another five centimeters would increase costs by fifteen percent, it's unnecessary."

Dorn said.

"It's enough now, but not necessarily later. The population of Xiuluo Holy Star is growing; the drainage needs fifty years from now cannot be estimated by current data."

Perturabo said.

"Pipes for fifty years from now can be replaced fifty years from now; reserving expansion space in advance will lead to corrosion and aging, which instead increases maintenance costs."

Dorn said.

"Corrosion and aging are material issues, not design issues. Switch to better materials, and the problem is solved."

Perturabo said.

"Better materials cost more; do you know the price of nanocomposite pipes? They are three times the current cost."

Dorn said.

"You get what you pay for; infrastructure has to last for hundreds of years, you can't skimp on it."

Perturabo took a deep breath.

"You're someone who deals with defensive fortifications, why are you running over to manage my drainpipes?"

Dorn said.

"Drainpipes are also part of defensive fortifications; when a flood comes, the drainage system is the city's line of defense."

Horus, standing nearby, was already bent over laughing.

Guilliman pretended to be looking at a Data Pad, but the curve of his mouth betrayed him.

Jaghatai whistled.

Young Fulgrim took a sip of tea.

Young Leman Russ laughed so hard he nearly spat out the roasted meat in his mouth.

Perturabo's face turned bright red.

"This is not a laughing matter!"

He roared.

Mother Ying soothed him.

"Dorn is concerned about the city, he isn't targeting you."

Perturabo took a deep breath.

"I know."

He looked at Dorn.

"I will recalculate the design of the drainpipes."

Dorn nodded.

"Do you need help?"

Perturabo said.

"No need, I'll do it myself."

Dorn did not speak again.

Yingxin climbed down from Horus's arms and ran over to take Perturabo's hand.

"Brother Pertu, Grandma made the stew you love. Come eat quickly."

Perturabo lowered his head to look at her.

"Fine, then I shall reluctantly eat a little."

In the dining room of the Primarch Residential Area, the long dining table was filled with all kinds of delicacies.

Roasted beast meat, stews, fresh fruit, exquisite desserts, and Yingxin's favorite little cookies.

Mother Ying sat at the head of the table, Yingxin sat at her right hand, and Horus sat at Mother Ying's left hand.

Angron had already returned early; he was wearing a light gray cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and was busy helping set the tableware.

His physique was not the most burly among all the Primarchs, but standing there, he still looked like a wall.

"Angron, thank you for your hard work."

Angron raised his head, a gentle smile on the corners of his mouth.

"Grandmother, I am not tired."

Yingxin poked her head out from Horus's arms.

"Brother Angron! Did you help me set the chopsticks?"

Angron pulled two chopsticks from a stack and placed them on Yingxin's placemat.

"All set."

Yingxin nodded in satisfaction.

"Brother Angron is the most thoughtful."

Leman Russ leaned over and whispered to Fulgrim.

"Angron helps Grandmother with chores every time he returns; he's more diligent than any of us."

Fulgrim elegantly opened his napkin.

"Please do not include me, thank you."

Leman Russ was in Silence for a second, then picked up a rag and began to wipe the table.

Fulgrim watched his movements, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Leman, your technique for wiping the table is wrong; wipe along the wood grain, not in circles."

Leman Russ glared at him.

"Mind your own business? As long as I can wipe it clean, that's enough."

Angron took the soup ladle from Mother Ying's hand and served her a bowl of soup.

"Grandmother, you eat first; it's not good for your stomach if the soup gets cold."

Mother Ying looked at him, her eyes full of love.

"Angron, are you doing well out there? Were you injured?"

Angron shook his head.

"No."

Yingxin raised her head from her plate.

"Brother Angron, serve me a bowl too."

Angron stood up and served her half a bowl.

"Careful, it's hot."

Yingxin blew on it and drank it in small sips.

After two sips, she looked up again.

"Brother Angron, have you seen the Zerg? Are they very scary?"

Angron thought for a moment.

"I've read the battle reports; they aren't as scary as the brothers."

Yingxin was stunned.

"Huh?"

Leman Russ chimed in from the side.

"Angron means that no matter how scary the Zerg are, they aren't as scary as your Brother Horus when he's angry."

Horus laughed and kicked Leman Russ's chair.

"Say less."

Leman Russ almost slid off his chair, quickly grabbing the edge of the table to steady himself, the roasted meat almost spraying out of his mouth.

He glared at Horus and mumbled vaguely, but no one heard clearly what he said.

"This stew is made for you."

Mother Ying pointed to the plate in front of Horus.

"Eat more; you've suffered out there."

Horus nodded with a smile.

"Thank you, Grandmother."

Mother Ying pointed to Vulkan as well.

"You too, eat more."

A high stack of meat was already piled on Vulkan's plate.

He smiled honestly.

"Grandmother, I have been eating."

Mother Ying looked at Lion.

"Your hair has grown long."

Lion said.

"Little sister likes it, so I plan to keep it."

Mother Ying smiled and said.

"Keeping it is fine too; you liked to keep long hair when you were little, and every time I asked you to cut it, you wouldn't."

Mortarion ate the stewed meat in Silence, and Mother Ying raised her arm to pick up a helping of vegetables for him with her chopsticks.

"Eat more vegetables."

Mortarion said.

"Okay."

Corax sat in the corner, with only a simple salad in front of him.

Mother Ying had Angron fork a piece of meat for Corax.

"Eat more meat, you are too thin."

Corax looked at that piece of meat.

"Thank you, Grandmother."

Magnus smiled.

"Grandmother, you are biased. Corax's piece of meat is bigger than mine."

Mother Ying looked at him.

"You have eaten enough; if you eat any more, your face will be even rounder."

Magnus retorted.

"Is my face very round?"

Leman Russ, sitting nearby, laughed so hard he nearly fell off his chair.

The youths Alpharius and Omegon raised their glasses at the same time and whispered.

"Cheers to Magnus's face."

Magnus glared at them.

"I heard that."

The twins shook their heads in unison.

"No."

"We didn't say anything."

Magnus looked at them.

"You were clearly talking just now... forget it, I won't hold it against you."