Chapter 170: Should We Go to Jingcheng?

After helping their daughter stand up for herself, the whole family headed home together.

Juanjuan held her parents’ hands, one in each of her own. Before doing so, she even asked her brothers if they wanted to hold hands too.

Unsurprisingly, all three brothers politely declined.

What a joke. Did they look like they needed to hold their parents’ hands like a little kid? Strolling down the road, one on each side?

Bai Yunqi: 【Tsk… Ugh… That kind of lovey-dovey hand-holding happiness, better let Juanjuan enjoy it herself. Way too mushy!】

Juanjuan: Huh? What’s mushy about it? It’s just pure happiness!

Bai Yunxing: 【As expected of a child—carefree and full of joy!】

Juanjuan nodded. Holding her parents’ hands was more than enough to make her happy.

Not to mention, her three older brothers were walking ahead, and they’d just stood up for her. The feeling of being cared for and protected was something Juanjuan couldn’t resist.

Bai Yun’an: 【Holding hands with our parents makes her this happy? Tsk, if I transmigrated into parents body, winning her over would be a piece of cake!】

【Wait, no, it should be Dad’s body. Mom’s would be a bit awkward. Being a woman and all, that feels a little inappropriate.】

Juanjuan glanced at her third brother, then turned to look at her cheerful father.

Dad still had no idea that Third Brother wanted to replace him and become her dad.

This was what you’d call—

“Great trea—trea…”

Bai Tian: “Treason!”

Up ahead, Bai Yun’an: ?!

【Why did Dad suddenly say that? Why does it feel like he’s calling me out?!】

Bai Yun’an turned to look at his father walking behind him, still trying to figure it out.

Then he saw his little sister looking up and asking, “Daddy, what does ‘treason’ mean?”

Bai Tian gave the simplest example: “For instance, if a son beats up his father, that’s called treason!”

The three sons walking ahead: …

That was actually a pretty good explanation.

Juanjuan: “Then what if a father beats up his son?”

Bai Tian: “That’s called perfectly justified¹!”

The three sons: …

Bai Yunqi: 【This little rascal is just going back and forth with dad and son beatdowns, huh?!】

The next second, Bai Yunqi heard Juanjuan’s follow-up question.

Juanjuan: “What if you beat yourself up?”

Bai Tian: “That means you’re seriously unwell!”

Bai Yunqi fell silent: 【Why are we back to beating yourself up again?! Sometimes I really want to crack open a kid’s head and see what’s going on in there!!!】

Juanjuan blinked and ignored her eldest brother. After all, he wouldn’t really crack open her head.

Jiang Dai, holding Juanjuan’s other hand: …

She suddenly felt like letting go of Bai Tian’s hand.

“Mommy, what’s the idiom for when brothers get along well?”

Unexpectedly, Juanjuan stopped asking Bai Tian and turned to question her instead.

Jiang Dai: “Brotherly love and respect².”

“What about when the whole family gets along?”

Jiang Dai: “A happy and harmonious family.”

The little one, holding her parents’ hands and skipping along, said earnestly, “Then our family is one of brotherly love and respect, and happy and harmonious too!”

Bai Yunxing glanced back at Juanjuan, just in time to meet her eyes. She gave him a sweet, gentle smile.

Bai Yunxing couldn’t help but smile back.

He thought about the kind of life this child had before. Could it be…

【Is this her first time being firmly protected? First time someone stood up for her? And that’s enough to make her this happy.】

Juanjuan: Of course! Having family who choose her without hesitation—what could be better?

As Bai Yunxing pondered, a wave of heartache and tenderness washed over him.

To be honest, even in ordinary families, kids might fight or argue when they’re young, but when outsiders are involved, the family always stands united.

Siblings can squabble among themselves, but no one else is allowed to bully them.

But for Juanjuan, that kind of protection seemed rare.

Bai Yun’an slowed his pace slightly, watching his parents and siblings ahead.

Suddenly, he realized—

This feeling wasn’t bad at all. It was fun, and he could just go with the flow. Perfect for someone like him, who just wanted a little entertainment in his retirement life.

…

Back home, Jiang Dai and Bai Tian huddled together in their room, plotting their next steps. What was the main storyline of this transmigration? What about the side quests?

Even though their three sons were all quite capable, the couple still preferred to rely on themselves. After all, relationships were a two-way street. You couldn’t just sit back and expect others to help you all the time.

As people who had once been out in the world and taken their fair share of society’s “beatings,” they understood this all too well.

Their original plan had been to stay in Taoyuan County for two or three years. They’d wait until they had enough funds and Sweet Potato cultivation was well-established before considering a move to Jingcheng.

But now, things in Taoyuan County were getting complicated.

First, there was Kang An, who tried to cause trouble but died early. Then came the Northern Barbarians’ spy, who had already been captured. And now, there had been major upheaval within their own household.

Aside from the two of them—clear-headed modern souls—their three sons were each more impressive than the last!

Not to mention, their second son even had family in Jingcheng, and not just any family—he was a Great General!

It wasn’t just Jiang Dai, who had always loved martial arts, who was excited.

Even Bai Tian, who usually preferred staying home, was filled with admiration and awe for the General’s Estate!

He’d grown up listening to tales of the Yang family generals³. Although the Great Yu Dynasty was fictional, the Mu family really did remind him of the Yangs from those stories!

How could he not want to go and pay his respects?

Who hasn’t dreamed in their youth of becoming a Great General, galloping across the battlefield, earning glory and sealing their name in legend⁴?

As for whether the second son would return home…

Bai Tian and Jiang Dai hadn’t asked yet. The moment the question left their lips, it would feel like they were trying to stop him from going back.

If their second boy truly wanted to return home, of course they’d feel a bit reluctant. But it’s not like they’d never see him again.

Let him go. Those were his real parents, the ones tied to his soul. Who wouldn’t want to return to that?

If they had a chance to go back to the modern world, they’d want to as well.

But they’d miss the children here too.

Isn’t that perfectly normal?

When people spend enough time together, bonds naturally form. And when those bonds run deep, who would willingly choose to part?

So whatever decision their second son made, they would support him.

Just then, they heard a knock at the door.

“Dad, Mom, it’s me, Yunxing.”

Bai Tian and Jiang Dai exchanged a glance. Speak of the devil.

Bai Yunxing stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Looking at the two people before him, he spoke with calm assurance, putting their hearts at ease.

“Dad, Mom, Mu Qinyun is dead. Everyone knows it. Since I’ve become Bai Yunxing, then I am the second son of the Bai Family. This is fate, and I will stay with this family.”

“But when I grow up, I still want to join the army and return to the battlefield.”

Compared to reunion, legacy meant more in the Mu Family.

Whether he returned to the Mu Family or not didn’t really matter. The people of the Mu Family had long grown used to separation.

As long as he was alive, that was the best news, the greatest joy.

“Of course! Do whatever you want. We won’t try to control you!” Bai Tian said.

Then he scratched his head awkwardly, clearly finding the next part a little embarrassing to say. “Just… stay safe. That matters more than anything.”

Bai Yunxing looked at his father and suddenly let out a soft laugh.

Sometimes, Dad was really adorable.

It was obvious that the world his parents came from must have been peaceful and beautiful. Only such a place could raise people like them—older in years, yet still so pure, lively, and kind-hearted.

“Also, should we go to Jingcheng?”

Bai Yunxing asked seriously.

Translator’s Notes