After staying for one night, Zhou Jiang still took Zhou Xiao and Zhou Ying away, however, it wasn't a permanent farewell because the New Year was approaching. They needed to go back for the ancestral rituals and to pay respects at their mother's grave, so their return was unavoidable. But after the New Year, Zhou Jiang would be stationed at the Northern Frontier, and by then he would bring the children back again.
Moreover, now that the children had been found, Zhou Jiang was finally in the right frame of mind to deal with his elder brother and sister-in-law's family. He couldn't just let things end there.
Everyone, though reluctant to part, knew that such a separation was inevitable.
"Mengmeng, wait for me," Zhou Xiao said, holding Sanni's hand. "I will come back soon."
Sanni nodded, "Okay, I'll wait for you."
Zhou Xiao smiled, reassured, then she went to Zhou Jiang's side.