Chapter 85

Growing at this rate, perhaps by the time they reached adulthood, they would be much larger than ordinary tigers.

When he arrived before Diao Chan and Dong Yi, Duan Yu placed Da Hei and Xiao Hei on the ground.

"Go play." Duan Yu gave each of the little guys a kick on the butt.

Afterward, the two little guys roared and ran off to one side to play, playfully biting each other.

Duan Yu did not greet Dong Yi immediately.

Instead, he stepped forward first, untied the apron from Diao Chan, and then said gently, "Didn't I tell you?"

"Don't do heavy or tiring work from now on. Let Shitou and the others do it."

"You've been dragged down by the family for too many years and your body is too weak; you need to rest and recuperate properly."

"Didn't the physician say that you need to rest well so you can bear me children?"

Duan Yu's actions and words made Diao Chan blush with shyness.

"Husband, Miss Dong is still..."

Dong Yi stood to the side, smiling, a flash of imperceptible envy crossing her beautiful eyes.

Duan Yu turned his head and smiled at Dong Yi: "Miss Dong is not an outsider. I just heard her say that you two are going to be sisters from now on."

"That's right." Dong Yi took hold of Diao Chan's other arm at the appropriate moment and said, "From now on, we are sisters. Diao Chan is the elder sister, and I am the younger sister."

Duan Yu didn't respond, just smiled.

Diao Chan looked up at Duan Yu and then said, "Husband, you and Miss Dong talk first. I'll go see how the lunch is coming along."

"Our home only has simple fare, but if Miss... Sister Yi doesn't mind, please stay and eat here."

Dong Yi narrowed her beautiful eyes and nodded with a smile: "Thank you, Sister Diao Chan."

Diao Chan turned and left.

Only Duan Yu and Dong Yi remained in the courtyard.

In the distance, Tie Shitou, Wang Hunu, and the others appeared to be busy with their own tasks, but their eyes were all fixed in the direction of Duan Yu.

Once Duan Yu caught their gaze, they immediately looked away.

Duan Yu gestured with his chin toward the carriages outside the courtyard and the servants who were moving gifts from the carriages.

"Miss Dong, this is..." Duan Yu looked at Dong Yi and asked, "Could it be that you've come to offer me a dowry?"

As soon as Duan Yu spoke, Dong Yi beside him was instantly amused.

"If Young Master Duan thinks so, that's not impossible, but I just don't know if this is enough."

As soon as Dong Yi spoke, Duan Yu knew he wouldn't get the better of her.

It was nothing more than idle banter.

"I'm joking." Duan Yu said with a smile, "In all seriousness, Miss Dong, what is your purpose in coming here today?"

Dong Yi composed herself.

Then she took a deep breath and said, "Last time when my father returned, I told him about the words you said to me."

"My father was moved."

"But I know that my father probably cannot truly let go for the time being."

"Therefore, I have decided."

"Rather than staying by my father's side without being of any help, it would be better... better if I return to my hometown and guard the family foundation there."

"If it is truly as Big Brother Duan said, and there is a great upheaval in the imperial court in the future,"

"at that time, my father will at least not be homeless."

"Also, recently, things have not been peaceful at home, so I want to go back."

When she said this, Dong Yi paused.

Duan Yu had also more or less guessed what Dong Yi wanted to say.

"It's just..." Dong Yi hesitated and said, "It's just that I am a woman, and after all, I cannot compare to a man."

"And with no helpers by my side, I fear I will be unable to guard the family business."

"Therefore..."

Dong Yi looked at Duan Yu seriously and earnestly.

She had been pondering this matter for several days.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt that what Duan Yu said made sense.

A foundation is everything.

Her family started on the frontier, and their roots are on the frontier. If they lose their foundation, they will have no retreat in the future.

Therefore, she had decided.

Since her father refused to go back,

then she would go back.

She would guard the foundation for her father and for this family.

"So you have decided to invite me to go to your hometown with you?" Duan Yu said directly what Dong Yi wanted to say.

Dong Yi nodded without denying it: "Big Brother Duan knows my heart."

"I originally wanted to recruit Big Brother Duan to work for my father," Dong Yi said softly, "but... but I feel that Big Brother Duan might not be willing."

"If Big Brother Duan were willing, he might have stayed in Jinyang that day."

"Therefore, I am not prepared to recommend Big Brother Duan to my father."

"I want Big Brother Duan to return to my hometown with me and help me guard the family business."

Dong Yi extended a sincere invitation: "Big Brother Duan, rest assured. Once you are there, I will resolve all your worries, and life will certainly be better than it is here."

"Moreover, whatever Big Brother Duan wants to do, I will support it."

"I don't need Big Brother Duan to acknowledge me as his master; if possible, we can also have a cooperative relationship."

"With Big Brother Duan's abilities, I presume you wouldn't be content with mediocrity, right?"

While speaking, Dong Yi looked at the pile of bows and arrows that Duan Yu had snapped.

"Big Brother Duan, I have heard my father say," Dong Yi looked at the pile of scrapped bows and arrows and said, "only those with great aspirations and great ambition in their hearts can possess strong perseverance."

"Big Brother Duan practices archery every day, and his archery is god-like. If it were just for hunting, that would have been enough long ago."

"Yet Big Brother Duan continues to practice without stopping every day."

"Could it be that Big Brother Duan's wish is to stay in these mountains and hunt forever?"

Duan Yu looked at Dong Yi, his heart churning.

It must be said that Dong Yi was no ordinary woman.

She possessed a boldness, vision, and decisiveness that ordinary women lacked.

More importantly, she was intelligent.

If he were truly only seeking enough to eat and wear, would he need to work so hard?

Obviously not.

This world was a world where the strong preyed on the weak.

There were always some troubles that would find their way to your door even if you didn't go looking for them.

Not to mention being in the midst of a torrent of great change.

In one year, the Taiping Dao would rise, and the world would be in chaos.

The Son of Heaven would pass away, and the warlords would contend.

There would be no place on this land that could be spared.

If he wanted to live,

if he wanted to live according to his own heart without being plundered by others, he had to become a person above others.

But where was his opportunity?

If he had transmigrated as a royal relative or a descendant of a great clan, that would be fine.

But he wasn't.

He was just a person without a household registration.

From a small mountain village, wanting to become a warlord—if he followed the normal steps, how could that be possible?

Let alone one year, even if he were given ten more years, it would be useless.

Talent, population, territory, money, food, supplies, status, position.

These were all indispensable.

Otherwise, he would just be a subordinate to those warlords. ===== CHAPTER 87 =====