Exiled!? Ha! I have Chapter 76 -

Chapter 76: Chapter

By the ti we returned, the small campsite was already quiet.

The fire in the middle burned steadily, and the sll of simple food filled the air. The rest of the family were gathered around it.

As soon as we stepped closer, Fu Sheng lightly supported my arm and helped

sit beside the fire.

Then he sat down next to .

The mont we settled, two small figures rushed over.

"Papa!"

Fu Jin and Fu Jun ran straight to him and hugged his arm.

Fu Sheng’s expression softened imdiately. He raised his hand and gently stroked their heads.

I looked at them and just clicked my tongue. Very stubborn sons Fu Sheng had breeded, they still haven’t acknowledged

as their mother after all these days I’ve been so good to them

Seeing this, Fu Lin and Fu Tong suddenly started coughing loudly.

"Ahem... Ahem!"

The fake cough sounded very exaggerated.

Fu Teng frowned and bumped Fu Tong’s shoulder with his own.

"Stop it," he muttered under his breath.

But Fu Tong only grinned.

I crossed my arms and looked at them suspiciously.

"Why are you coughing like that?" I asked.

The two of them imdiately looked away.

"Nothing," Fu Tong said quickly.

"Yes... nothing," Fu Lin added, trying to look serious.

Just then, Fu Fei spoke while stirring the pot near the fire.

"Don’t mind them, Sister-in-law," she said with a small smile. "They just wanted to know where you and brother went that took so long."

Hearing that, I laughed awkwardly.

At the sa ti, I glanced at Fu Sheng.

He also looked at

for a brief second before calmly looking away again, his expression perfectly composed.

If soone didn’t know him well, they would think nothing happened.

I cleared my throat.

"Well... we just walked a little deeper into the forest," I said casually. "The river there was cleaner."

The excuse sounded weak even to my own ears.

Fu Tong and Fu Lin exchanged naughty grins.

Then they quietly laughed.

Mada Fu glanced at them and frowned slightly.

"That’s enough," she said calmly. "Stop troubling your sister-in-law."

They both imdiately sat properly.

Then Mada Fu turned to Fu Fei.

"Fei’er, serve the food to your sister in-law and brother."

Fu Fei nodded, "Yes, Mother."

She quickly began sharing the food into bowls.

Soon she gave us our own share and so Fu Sheng and I quietly began eating.

Not long after, Fu Fei stood up.

"Co on," she said to the boys. "You two need to wash up."

Fu Li also stood and stretched her arms.

"I’ll go with you."

Fu Jin and Fu Jun obediently followed them.

The four of them soon walked toward the river nearby, their voices fading as they left the campsite.

The fire crackled softly as the rest of us continued eating in the quiet night.

By the ti Fu Sheng and I finished eating, Fu Fei, Fu Li, and the boys had already returned.

Fu Jin and Fu Jun looked clean and sleepy after bathing.

As usual, they could barely stay awake.

Fu Li quickly spread a blanket beside Master Fu.

"Lie down," she said softly.

The boys obediently laid down.

Fu Li tucked the blanket around them carefully so the cold night air would not reach them.

Not long after, the two of them were already asleep.

Their quiet breathing could be heard beside the fire.

With the boys asleep and everyone now present, Master Fu cleared his throat.

"I have sothing important to tell you all," he said.

His tone was serious.

Everyone imdiately paid attention.

The fire crackled softly between us.

Master Fu looked at us for a mont before continuing.

"The barren lands... I have been there once."

Fu Tong raised his brows slightly.

"You’ve been there before, Father?"

Master Fu nodded.

"Yes. About a year ago."

He looked into the fire as he spoke.

"At that ti, I was still working at the court. I was sent there briefly to inspect so matters."

"It was not a long visit," he added, "but it was enough for

to see how people live there."

Fu Sheng finally spoke.

"What kind of place is it?" he asked calmly.

Master Fu sighed softly.

"The land is dry and rough. Good farmland is very rare."

"Most people survive by hunting or trading small things."

Su Long leaned forward slightly.

"Are there many villages there?" I asked.

"A lot," Master Fu answered. "But they are scattered and poor."

Mada Fu spoke quietly beside him.

"The winters are also colder than here."

Fu Tong scratched his head.

"So life there won’t be easy," he muttered.

Master Fu nodded.

"No, it won’t."

Then his expression slowly turned more serious.

"There is another matter you all must know."

Everyone beca attentive again.

Master Fu’s gaze slowly moved toward Fu Teng and Fu Tong.

"There is sothing that happens there," he said slowly. "Sothing you young n must be careful about."

Fu Tong frowned.

"What do you an?"

Master Fu sighed.

"In the barren lands, so corrupt generals often pass through with soldiers."

"They forcefully take young n to join the army."

Su Long blinked.

"They just take them like that?" I asked.

Master Fu nodded grimly.

"Yes. Especially the ones who are strong and unmarried."

The fire suddenly felt quieter.

"Married n are usually spared," he continued. "They prefer to take those who have no wives yet."

As he spoke, his eyes settled on Fu Teng and Fu Tong again.

The aning was obvious.

Both of them were already over sixteen.

Mada Fu also looked at them.

Her expression beca thoughtful.

"Then we must get you two married as soon as we arrive there," she said firmly.

"That way those soldiers will leave you alone."

Fu Tong and Fu Teng both froze for a mont.

Then they slowly looked at each other.

It wasn’t that they had never thought about marriage before.

But hearing it said like this... as sothing tied to their safety... felt strange.

Fu Tong rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

Fu Teng remained quiet.

From where I sat, I noticed his reaction.

He didn’t look surprised like Fu Tong.

Instead, he lowered his eyes slightly, as if sothing was already on his mind.

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

Sothing about his reaction felt... different.

But I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.