He was wearing a somewhat worn cotton robe, perhaps having just returned from some inspection without changing into his casual shoes. On his feet were a pair of standard Ming border army leather boots, reaching up to his knees, with horse spurs nailed to the heels—a typical image of an old soldier.

The Young Family also had graying hair, a woman in her fifties, dressed simply, with a very kind and gentle demeanor. Seeing her, Samuel Howard was reminded of his mother from his later life. The eldest and second sisters supported her on either side.

All three sisters were dressed in bijia, which was the fashion among young women of the Ming dynasty at the time. Henry Howard's two concubines, The Lewis Family and The Walker Family, were both wearing beizi, another popular style of clothing for Ming women.

As soon as The Young Family entered, she smiled and said, “Samuel, Grace, what were you two siblings up to just now?”

Lucy Howard sweetly called out “Mother,” then rushed into The Walker Family’s arms, acting spoiled as she said, “Mommy.”

The Walker Family patted her little head dotingly and said, “Good, good, my sweet daughter.”

Everyone nearby smiled. Although Lucy Howard was the daughter of the third wife The Walker Family, she was the joy of the household, loved by all. And though The Walker Family already had a nine-year-old daughter, early marriage was common in the Ming dynasty, and she herself was only twenty-six.

Samuel Howard said with a smile, “It’s nothing, I was just joking around with little sister.”

He straightened his clothes and stepped forward to respectfully salute Henry Howard and The Young Family, saying, “Your son greets father and mother!” Without much thought, the memories from Samuel Howard’s previous mind naturally surfaced, and he instinctively adopted the Ming manner of speaking and etiquette. His salute was also given with genuine sincerity.

Henry Howard, with the tough demeanor of an old soldier, was a man of few words. When his son saluted, he merely nodded and grunted “Mm,” but a trace of gratification flashed in his eyes. Samuel Howard had always been rather careless and impatient when speaking with his parents, but after being away for nearly a year and after this recent incident, today he seemed much more steady and mature. Henry Howard felt comforted.

As for The Young Family, needless to say, seeing her son like this, she was both happy and affectionate. She said repeatedly, “Good, good, my son, no need for so much formality. Are you feeling better?”

Samuel Howard smiled and said, “Thank you for your concern, mother. I am completely recovered.” He moved his body a bit to reinforce his words.

The Young Family breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good, then I can rest easy. Thinking of how you looked that day, you really scared me.” As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, and she took out a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe them away.

Second sister Grace Howard and third sister Claire Howard hurried forward to comfort her in low voices.

Henry Howard frowned and said, “Alright, isn’t the child fine now? Stop crying all the time, you’re such a woman.”

The Young Family immediately stopped crying and scolded him, “You old thing, you’re one to talk! These past few days, haven’t you been even more anxious than me? Every day you ask me several times how the child is, how the child is, and now you’re blaming me.” Everyone covered their mouths and laughed.

Henry Howard looked a bit embarrassed, coughed once, and The Young Family snorted, sensibly dropping the subject.

Samuel Howard felt a warmth in his heart and said, “It’s all my fault for being unfilial and making father and mother worry!” He was now fully immersed in the role of this body.

Eldest sister Violet Howard laughed and said, “Oh, little brother, after bumping your head a few times, you’ve actually become sensible and know that father and mother worry about you?” She was straightforward and always spoke her mind. A few days ago, when she and second and third sisters heard about Samuel Howard’s accident, their sibling bond brought them rushing back from out of town to visit. These past days, they had been worrying about Samuel Howard’s condition at the thousand-household residence.

Samuel Howard stuck out his tongue in embarrassment, then immediately despised himself—he was already thirty-five in his previous life, and who knows how old in this one, yet here he was still acting childish.

The Young Family gently patted eldest sister Violet Howard on the head. “You’re the elder sister, how can you talk about your brother like that?”

Eldest sister cried out, “Oh, mother, the children are all here, and you’re still hitting me.”

The Young Family laughed and said, “Look at you, do you act like a mother at all? Your oldest child is already ten, yet you still behave like you never grew up.”

Everyone burst out laughing. The eldest sister’s two children, ten-year-old daughter Annie Kent and eight-year-old son Charles Kent, started chanting together, “Mommy got hit by grandma, mommy got hit by grandma.”

Eldest sister said in embarrassment, “You two little rascals, what are you saying? Go, go, go…” and shooed the two children out.

Henry Howard coughed and said, “Alright, that’s enough. It’s good that Samuel has recovered. It’s almost noon, let’s all go to the main hall for lunch.” Unlike the Han and Tang dynasties, people in the Ming dynasty had three meals a day, and lunch was already considered a very formal meal.

Samuel Howard said, “Alright, I’m hungry too. I wonder what delicious food there will be.”

The Young Family smiled and said, “Samuel, knowing you’ve recovered these past two days, I had the servants prepare all your favorite dishes in advance.”

Samuel Howard said, “Thank you, mother.”

Lucy Howard cheered, “I want to eat chicken drumsticks!” and dashed out ahead. In the courtyard, eldest sister’s ten-year-old daughter Annie Kent called out, “Auntie, I want some too!” and hurried after her. A ten-year-old calling a nine-year-old ‘auntie’—the family hierarchy really is something…