137: Chapter 137 Where is my home?

"Dad, Mom! I'm back!" Zhang Wen pushed open the door, his voice filled with uncontrollable excitement.

However, only silence met him. The living room was empty, the familiar furniture nowhere to be seen, with only the sound of his footsteps echoing through the room.

He froze for a moment, then took two steps back to check the house number. "That's right, this is my house..."

Just as he was about to pull out his phone, the door next door opened with a creak. A neighbor poked their head out and, upon seeing it was Zhang Wen, showed a look of realization.

"Little Wen, you don't know yet? Your parents moved out a few days ago."

"Moved out?" Zhang Wen was stunned. "When did this happen? Where did they move to?"

The neighbor seemed slightly surprised. "They didn't tell you? Just a few days ago, a group of people came and said it was for your parents' safety, so they took them to Glorious Garden in the city center."

Zhang Wen understood immediately.

It must be that the Old Marshal and the others were worried the people from the Soul Devouring Hall would target his parents, so they secretly moved the elderly couple to a safe location. "Thank you, I'll head over there now."

Zhang Wen thanked the neighbor and turned to hurry toward Glorious Garden.

Zhang Wen gripped the doorknob, turned, and quickly headed downstairs.

Just as he turned the street corner, a military-green off-road vehicle approached, and a soldier gave a perfectly standard salute.

"Second Lieutenant Zhang Wen, this way please. Your parents have already settled into the Glorious Garden villa district."

The car drove into the tree-lined villa area and finally stopped in front of a two-story villa with a small courtyard.

As soon as Zhang Wen got out of the car, he heard Wang Guihua's raised voice coming from a second-floor window.

"Zhang Jianguo! Pull that clothesline a bit higher! This villa's yard is big, and the wind is stronger than at the old house. Whose fault will it be if the clothes get blown onto the ground?"

"I can't reach it!"

Zhang Jianguo's voice sounded a bit strained. "Besides, this villa's balcony is so wide, can't we just dry them there? Why do we have to mess around in the yard!"

Holding back a laugh, Zhang Wen pushed open the courtyard gate. As he poked his head in, he saw Wang Guihua "glaring" at Zhang Jianguo, who was standing on a ladder, while she held a clothes hanger with a plaid shirt on it.

Both turned around at the sound. The hanger in Wang Guihua's hand hit the stone table with a "clatter," and her eyes instantly lit up.

"Little Wen? Why are you back! Why didn't you say something beforehand! This villa yard is so big, I didn't even hear you come in!"

Zhang Jianguo also forgot about the clothesline. He nearly twisted his ankle coming down the ladder but said stubbornly:

"You're back just in time! Your mom was just saying the villa's kitchen is so big that she had nowhere to put the chicken soup she stewed. Since you're here, you can help drink it!"

"Who told you there's no place to put it!"

Wang Guihua shoved Zhang Jianguo aside and pulled Zhang Wen into the house.

"A few days ago, some people came and said you've done well for yourself at school, so they gave us this villa.

But your dad—yesterday he was watching TV in the living room and dropped the remote into the sofa crack. He spent half an hour trying to get it out and still insisted, 'Villa sofas are just Advanced; even the cracks are deep!'"

"I just couldn't see clearly!"

Zhang Jianguo followed behind, arguing, "Besides, this villa has so many rooms. When you come back in the future, you can have your own room. Isn't that better than being cramped in the old house?"

Watching the two of them bicker over trivial things in the villa, Zhang Wen couldn't help but laugh out loud.

By the time he finished showering and came out, the bickering at the dining table hadn't stopped—Wang Guihua was complaining that Zhang Jianguo was "wasting electricity" by using the villa's large oven to toast steamed buns.

Zhang Jianguo complained that Wang Guihua had polished the villa's floor-to-ceiling windows so brightly they were "blinding," yet both were simultaneously piling food into Zhang Wen's bowl.

"Mom, the chicken soup you made in the villa's kitchen smells much better than before!" Zhang Wen scooped a spoonful of soup and intentionally raised his voice to smooth things over.

Wang Guihua beamed immediately and placed another piece of chicken in his bowl.

"If you like it, drink more. Next time you're back, I'll use the villa's big stove to make you braised pork and have your dad tend the fire—that's about all he's good for!"

Zhang Jianguo gave a "harrumph" but silently moved the chicken leg from his own bowl to Zhang Wen's: "Eat this; it builds strength."

Just after refilling Zhang Wen's soup, Wang Guihua suddenly put down the ladle, nudged Zhang Jianguo with her elbow, and narrowed her eyes.

"Hey Little Wen, where's Siyi? Why didn't she come back with you? Last time she came to our old house, she even helped me clean vegetables. Such a sensible girl."

"I already tidied up the room with the balcony on the second floor of the villa. I even changed the sheets to the light blue color she likes."

Zhang Jianguo also put down his chopsticks, for once not arguing with Wang Guihua, and nodded in agreement: "Exactly. Last Lunar New Year, Siyi even gave me a jar of Aged Medicinal Wine, saying it was good for my old aching legs."

"Since you two are back on break from Qinglan University, why didn't you bring her? The orange trees planted in our villa's yard are full of fruit; it's the perfect time for her to pick some and try them."

Zhang Wen's hand paused while scooping soup, a helpless smile appearing on his face: "Dad, Mom, how could I not ask her? It's just that Siyi's Family is very strict."

"As soon as the assessment ended, her Family's car was already waiting at the school gate. They said there was an urgent Family matter she needed to handle. I walked her to the car, and she kept telling me she'd definitely come to see you next time."

"Urgent Family matter? So rushed?"

Wang Guihua frowned, then immediately smoothed her expression and put a chicken leg in Zhang Wen's bowl.

"That's fine then! Once she's done with her business, you must bring her over as soon as possible."

"I'll make her that sweet and sour pork ribs she liked last time. Our villa's kitchen is big, so it's convenient to stew some silver ear and lotus seed soup too. Girls love that."

Zhang Jianguo chimed in, his tone carrying a bit of a "scheme."

"When the time comes, I'll wipe down the stone table in the yard and bring out my new tea set to have a good chat with Siyi."

"Even though this villa might not be as nice as her Family's place, we can't be lacking in hospitality!"

"Dad, you're being too formal." Zhang Wen couldn't help but laugh. "Siyi told me she likes how lively our Family is; there are much fewer rules than at her house."

"We still have to be thorough!"

Wang Guihua slapped the table, then as if remembering something, turned and walked toward the kitchen.

"Oh right, I bought some red dates and longans a few days ago. I'll pack a bag for Siyi. Next time you see her, take them to her. They're good for nourishing her Qi and blood!"