Chapter 807: A Gathering in the Small Courtyard

Just then, the sound of the courtyard gate being pushed open drew everyone's attention.

"Father! Sanguinius!"

Jaghatai immediately stood up straight, his expression becoming much more serious.

Yingxin hopped down from the stone steps, opened her little arms, and lunged toward Yingzhou and Sanguinius.

"Uncle! Brother Sanguinius! You're back!"

Yingzhou bent over, but he didn't expect Yingxin to throw herself into Sanguinius's arms, her little hands even reaching toward the snowy white wings on Sanguinius's back.

Uh... how awkward...

Yingzhou took the opportunity to smooth his hair, stood up, and asked with a smile as Sanguinius picked up Yingxin.

"Mm, we're back. Has Xin'er been good today?"

"Xin'er has been very good! Grandmother said so!"

Yingxin shook her head and tattled in a milky voice.

"Brother Jaghatai hasn't been good! He snuck out to play again! And he told stories about fighting monsters to scare me!"

She pointed her little finger at Jaghatai with an expression that said, "I'm reporting you."

Jaghatai awkwardly made a fist with his right hand, coughed twice, and spoke up.

"Father, I had my reasons for doing that; I can explain..."

Yingzhou, however, waved his hand with a smile, cutting Jaghatai off.

"It's fine, I heard from Horus that it is precisely because of your presence that our soldiers' casualties have dropped significantly; you have made no small contribution in this war."

Jaghatai lifted his head and said in a slightly more relaxed tone.

"Thank you, Father!"

Sanguinius folded his snowy white wings slightly, a gentle smile on his face, and walked before Grandmother while holding Yingxin, bowing slightly.

"Grandmother, we are back."

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

Seeing Yingzhou and Sanguinius, the worry on Grandmother's face immediately turned into a happy smile; she took Sanguinius's hand and looked him over carefully.

"Sanguinius, you must be tired from fighting out there, right? Sit down and rest for a while."

"It's alright, Grandmother, it wasn't very tiring."

Sanguinius set Yingxin down, sat on a stone stool to the side, and said.

"No, Mom. What about me? I'm back too."

Yingzhou walked over to a rattan chair and sat down, saying with a smile at the corner of his mouth.

"You, Xiaozhou, have you finished your business? If there's anything urgent, don't let it be delayed."

Hearing his mother say this, Yingzhou replied with an apologetic smile.

"I just finished handling some things, and I have some free time. It's... quite lively at home, isn't it?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "lively" and looked toward Jaghatai.

Seeing this, Jaghatai hurriedly explained.

"Father, when I came back, I saw that Xin'er was a bit bored, so I... I told her some little stories to help her pass the time."

He specifically emphasized "little stories."

"Oh? Little stories?"

Yingzhou raised an eyebrow, looking at Yingxin, who was making a face at Jaghatai.

"Are they about how to crawl through ventilation ducts and fight little bugs?"

"Uncle! Brother Jaghatai said he isn't afraid of the dark, he's so amazing!"

Yingxin chimed in eagerly.

"That's right, your Brother Jaghatai runs fast and is very brave."

Yingzhou smiled, his tone gentle with no intention of scolding, just looking at Jaghatai.

"However, next time you want to go out, remember to tell Grandmother or leave a message. The elderly worry about you, you know?"

"I understand, Father."

"Sanguinius,"

Mother Ying turned to Sanguinius with concern.

"You went to the Fourth Defense Zone, is it... stable there too? Are you getting used to living there?"

"Don't worry, Grandmother,"

Sanguinius smiled and said in a calm voice.

"The Fourth Defense Zone has already stabilized; I went there to handle some reconstruction and pacification matters.

I am leaving tomorrow morning, and today I will stay at home to keep you and Xin'er company. I have no problems with the accommodations there."

He answered every one of Mother Ying's questions attentively.

"Tomorrow..."

Mother Ying patted his hand with some reluctance.

"Then what do you want to eat tonight? Grandmother will make you something you like! Xin'er, stop pestering your Brother Sanguinius, come down quickly and let your Brother Sanguinius rest."

Yingxin obediently jumped out from behind Sanguinius but then hugged Sanguinius's leg.

"Xin'er still wants to hear Brother Sanguinius tell a story! A story about an Angel with beautiful wings!"

Sanguinius chuckled and reached out to pat Yingxin's head.

"Alright, I'll tell you tonight. I'll tell you a story... about an Angel who guards their home, how about that?"

"Okay!"

Yingxin clapped her hands happily in Sanguinius's arms.

The last trace of the setting sun sank completely below the horizon, and the lights of the Family Residential Area began to twinkle like stars.

The small courtyard was completely shrouded in night, the glow of the storm lantern softly enveloping a large table; the thick, soy-colored broth of the stew steamed in the basin, and the emerald green vegetable leaves glistened with oil.

The air was filled with the warm fragrance of grease, flatbread, and the unique scent of a wood-burning stove.

Just then, heavy footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate, the door was pushed open, and Angron saw Yingzhou and Sanguinius returning, a hint of a smile appearing on his face.

"Grandmother, Father, I'm back."

"Brother Angron!"

Yingxin was the first to cheer as she ran over, her small hands tugging at the rough fabric of Angron's work pants.

"It's good that you're back, hurry and wash your hands and sit down, we were just waiting for you!"

Grandmother Ying greeted them with a chuckle, looking at this child who was unexpectedly delicate in his thoughts, her eyes full of affection.

Angron bent down, touched Yingxin's head with his finger extremely gently, and then walked toward the faucet in the corner of the courtyard to wash his large, fan-like hands.

Almost at the same time he finished washing, another set of footsteps sounded, and Perturabo's figure appeared at the doorway.

His face was expressionless, his gaze sweeping over the layout of the dining table, the placement of the dishes, and everyone's seats.

"Father, Grandmother."

Perturabo greeted them simply, then walked straight to an empty seat at the table.

That position was neither too far nor too close to Yingzhou, with a wide field of view, allowing him to observe the entire courtyard and the entrance.

He pulled out the chair, sat down, and held his back straight.

"Brother Perturabo!"

Yingxin called out as well, but seeing his expressionless face and posture, she didn't pounce on him like she had with Angron, only blinking her eyes curiously as she looked at him.

"Perturabo is back too, good, good, everyone is here! Quickly, everyone sit down, let's eat!"

Grandmother Ying clapped her hands happily and began to serve soup to everyone.

Sanguinius sat next to Yingxin, carefully helping the little one tear the flatbread into small pieces.

Jaghatai sat on the other side of Grandmother, helping to pass the bowls and chopsticks.

Yingzhou sat in the main seat, looking at this family with such an extremely non-uniform "specification," his eyes filled with a smile.

"Let's start."

Yingzhou picked up his chopsticks and said.

The dining table immediately became lively.

Yingxin ate until her mouth was shiny with oil, her small finger pointing at the dishes.

"Grandmother! Meat! I want that big piece!"

"Alright, alright, eat slowly, it's all yours."

Grandmother Ying chuckled happily as she picked up food for her.