After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1174 - 1156: Reunion

After settling matters in the mountains, Fu Chang struggled for a long time. He suppressed the grief in his heart and, without any change in his expression, traveled along the Fen River to the Yellow River with Shen Ruhui before bringing his two sons and Shen Ruhui back to Luoyang.

Two days later, he stood in front of the gates of Luoyang City. As soon as the carriage stopped, he immediately saw Fu Xuan waiting at the gate. He could no longer contain the grief in his heart and tears streamed down his face. He staggered toward Fu Xuan and rushed into his arms, crying out loudly, "Elder Brother!"

Fu Xuan, always as calm as still water, couldn’t help but have red-rimmed eyes. He embraced his brother, whose hair was slightly graying, and choked out, "It’s good to be back, it’s good to be back."

Fu Yong and Fu Hong, the brothers, followed closely behind their father, unable to stop themselves from glancing at Fu Tinghan and Zhao Hanzhang nearby.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded at them and looked toward Fu Tinghan.

Fu Tinghan stepped forward to advise, "Father, Second Uncle has had a long journey. Let him and the two younger brothers go home to rest first."

Only then did Fu Xuan pat Fu Chang on the shoulder, wipe his tears away, and look at Fu Yong and Fu Hong, unable to help but exclaim, "Second Son and Third Son have grown so much. Have they been given courtesy names?"

Fu Yong and Fu Hong immediately stepped forward to greet Fu Xuan.

Fu Chang finally lowered his head to wipe away his tears, raising his red and swollen eyes, he said, "Second Son has been given a name, but Third Son just grows in body, not in intelligence, so he hasn’t been given one."

He also noticed Fu Tinghan and Zhao Hanzhang standing nearby, wanting to salute but felt it inappropriate, so he looked toward Fu Xuan.

Fu Xuan introduced, "Don’t you recognize them? This is Changrong, whom Father gave the courtesy name Tinghan. This is Tinghan’s wife, Madam Zhao Hanzhang, who is also the Great General of Jin State."

Fu Chang nodded to Fu Tinghan, then bowed to Zhao Hanzhang, "Greetings, Great General."

Zhao Hanzhang quickly returned the greeting, "I do not dare to accept Uncle’s salute. Second Uncle has had a long journey; please go home and rest first."

Fu Chang shook his head and refused, "I must first pay respects to Father."

Fu Xuan knew he would insist on this and sighed, "Everything is ready. Let’s go up the mountain now."

Zhao Hanzhang turned back and gestured to the trusted aides, who brought over the carriage and led over the horses.

In the time it took them to get on the carriage and mount the horses, Zhao Hanzhang looked toward Shen Ruhui, who had been standing quietly on the side.

Seeing her glance over, Shen Ruhui immediately stepped forward, clasping his hands in salute, "Great General."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Today is a day of rest. You’ve had a long journey; go and rest today. Come see me tomorrow."

Shen Ruhui breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he could have a good night’s sleep. He bowed and complied. As soon as Zhao Hanzhang left, he straightened up happily and called over his follower Shen Xian, "Let’s go home."

He told the subordinates following behind him, "You all can go home as well. Today we’re lucky enough to catch a day of rest. Enjoy a two-day break."

The subordinates were all glad and responded with a salute, then headed in the same direction with their bags as soon as they entered the city.

Shen Ruhui casually glanced over and smelled an indistinct sweet fragrance in the air, which brightened his eyes instantly. He headed in that direction, "It seems like there’s something delicious."

Shen Xian said, "It’s a pastry shop."

Shen Ruhui marveled, "They’re really kind to themselves, going to buy pastries as soon as they enter the city. Let’s go too."

Shen Xian said, "My lord, they aren’t buying the pastries for themselves; they’re for their wives and children at home. You don’t have a wife or children, so you don’t need to buy any."

Shen Ruhui: "... Can’t I buy some for myself?"

He insisted on going, so Shen Xian had no choice but to follow.

Fu Yong and Fu Hong, riding on horseback, couldn’t resist sneaking glances at Fu Tinghan and Zhao Hanzhang.

Their elder brother was even more stern than in the portrait, and also more handsome. Zhao Hanzhang, however, appeared gentler than in the picture, with clearer eyes that seemed to see straight into one’s heart, as if their thoughts and intentions could not be hidden from her gaze.

Fu Tinghan, thinking they might be hungry, thought for a moment, then took the pouch from his waist and handed it over, "These are pastries; you can have a little snack. When we get up the mountain, I’ll cook some porridge for you."

Fu Yong’s face flushed, and he quickly waved his hands, "Elder Brother, we’re not hungry."

Fu Hong, however, had already grabbed it quickly. Hearing his brother say so, he was momentarily at a loss, not knowing whether to return it or not, his clever eyes darting about.

Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but laugh at the sight, thinking that if Second Son were still in Luoyang, they would surely become good friends, "Eat it. It’s what I usually use to stave off hunger; it’s not very sweet."

Fu Hong opened it. The pouch wasn’t large, but it contained two pieces of pastry. He took one out: it was round, covered in a light white layer... paper?

Fu Hong was amazed and released the reins for a moment to use his other hand to unwrap the packaging. Inside was a pastry that looked like a bun but had a crispy skin.

Why did he feel as though he had been isolated from the world for thirty years, even though he had only been in the mountains for a little over three years?

Seeing the pastry Fu Hong took out from the pouch, Fu Yong couldn’t help but spur his horse closer, holding the reins in one hand while taking the other pastry from him, "What’s this layer?"

Fu Tinghan glanced at it and said, "Oiled paper."

As hostilities subsided and the people gained stability, many new paper mills had opened across various regions. Coupled with the increased capacity of the old mills, the craftsmen had time to experiment with other types of paper.

Not only did they create various sanitary papers, but someone also took inspiration from oilcloth, applying tung oil and other oils to different papers, thus producing various oiled papers.

Fu Tinghan received data and samples reported by paper mills from all over, informing them of the potential uses for different oiled papers, and encouraged them to discover more uses.

So, in less than six months, oiled paper umbrellas and coarse oiled paper for wrapping food, as well as fine oiled paper, began to appear among the populace.

Now, what’s used to wrap pastries is fine oiled paper. This method is much more sanitary than directly using the pouch to hold pastries.

Fu Hong rotated the pastry in his hand, then carefully took a bite. His eyes brightened, "Elder Brother, what is this pastry called?"

Fu Tinghan: "Green bean cake."

Fu Hong finished the pastry in two bites, but it was unexpectedly dense, causing him to be unable to swallow it for a moment. He could only mumble, "So delicious. I’ve only eaten green bean pastry before."

Fu Tinghan untied the water pouch hanging from the horse and handed it to him, "The cook added more flour when making it, and it’s baked dry. You have to eat it in small bites, or you’ll choke."

Fu Hong washed down the pastry with water, while Fu Yong examined the oiled paper repeatedly, gaining a deeper understanding of this new world, "I didn’t see paper like this in Liang County."

Fu Tinghan said, "It probably hasn’t been distributed there yet. Fine oiled paper came out only two months ago, and the populace has just started using it."

Fu Yong carefully finished the green bean cake, not discarding the oiled paper but folding it neatly to keep. He looked up toward the mountain and asked, "Did Grandfather get to see these?"

Fu Tinghan lowered his eyes and said, "There wasn’t time, but when he left, the world was at peace, and everything was thriving."