Using the light filtering through the crack in the door, Jiang Shuyue walked to the door and threw the tinder back into her spatial storage.

"Xu Dong, is that you?"

“It’s me. Xu Dong has been busy all day, so I told him to go back to his room and rest.”

Jiang Shuyue opened the door and saw Nangong Zeyue standing outside with an oil-paper umbrella in her hand.

The tall figure loomed over her petite frame.

"You've come at the right time. Help me run out of the city again tomorrow."

Jiang Shuyue moved aside and casually recounted the origins of the potatoes, sweet potato seedlings, and seeds.

"Call me next time the vendors deliver. It's too tiring for a woman like you to do all this work."

Jiang Shuyue stepped out of the clinic. "No need. Just this once. I'll just watch from the side. It's not tiring."

After locking the door, Nangong Zeyue opened her oil-paper umbrella.

Just as the oil-paper umbrella was about to fall over her head, Jiang Shuyue quickened her pace and walked ahead.

As dusk fell, the taverns, inns, and brothels were brightly lit, illuminating most of the street.

Under the lamplight, one could vaguely see the light drizzle.

"The rain has subsided a lot, so there's no need to use an umbrella."

Nangong Zeyue hummed in agreement and put the umbrella away.

The two walked one after the other.

Nangong Zeyue made conversation by saying, "I've already given Sui Sui a bath, and he and Shui Sheng are reading right now."

“Miss Jiang, as you grow up day by day, there will come a day when he will live alone.”

Jiang Shuyue turned around and smiled, saying carefree, "Nangong Zeyue, I didn't expect you to know about parenting. You'll definitely be a good father in the future."

Nangong Zeyue: "..."

"It won't be too late to arrange a separate room for Sui Sui when I return to the capital."

Jiang Shuyue had already thought this through; she had enough money to buy a two-courtyard house in the capital.

The rain stopped the next day.

Nangong Zeyue personally drove the carriage behind the delivery convoy.

Once outside the city, two small heads peeked out of the train window.

"Wow! It smells so good, Sui Sui, take a breath. It really smells like fresh grass, like the scent of Lingyun Village." Shui Sheng leaned against the window and sniffed.

Sui Sui also sniffed like him, her phoenix eyes lighting up: "It smells so good! So what the book says is true. Not only flowers have fragrance, but grass does too!"

Sui Sui is learning to read so fast; he can already recite the Three Character Classic backwards. Jiang Shuyue also bought him some travelogues and other books to read for fun.

Seeing that the two children were confined to the courtyard all day, and that Shui Sheng was working hard to learn kung fu, Nan Gongze took them out of the city for some fresh air.

As we approached the temporary government office, we saw the elderly, women, and children lining up to receive supplies.

Huh! Why haven't I seen any young homeless people today?

Nangong Zeyue read it several times to make sure she hadn't misread it.

He jumped off the carriage, lifted the curtain, and instructed Shui Sheng, "Wait for my senior brother for a moment. I'll hand the goods over to the officers and then come back."

A short while later, Nangong Zeyue returned.

He now had a fishing net in his hand.

"Uncle, are we going to catch fish?" Sui Sui's little head peeked out from behind the carriage curtain.

“Yes, let’s go catch fish. There’s a small riverbank ahead. The villagers say there are lots of fish and shrimp there after it rains.”

"Sheng Sheng, I want to eat shrimp."

"Okay, I'll catch more later."

Back when they lived in the village, Shuisheng would go to the fields with Sunan to catch fish and shrimp.

Soon, the carriage arrived at the riverbank.

This is a stretch of riverbed; the water is shallow, and it's somewhat murky after the rain.

The three of them took off their shoes and placed them on the carriage shaft. Nangong Zeyue helped Sui Sui roll up her trouser legs, while he himself lifted his robe and tied it around his waist.

Before long, the adult and two children were having a great time playing in the shallow water.

Shuisheng swirled the fishing net in the water for a while, then lifted it up and saw two small shrimp jumping around inside.

Shuisheng turned around and saw Suisui sticking her butt out in the water, feeling around.

She reminded him, "Sui Sui, stop touching it, or you'll get your sleeves wet."

Nangong Zeyue gently lifted Sui Sui by the back of her collar, "Are you done?"

"I found it. I'll take it back for my mother to play with."

Sui Sui straightened her back, holding a mottled stone in both hands.

“Sui Sui is so filial. This stone is beautiful. Your mother will definitely like it.”

Under Nangong Zeyue's indulgence, Sui Sui played in the water splashing with her feet.

The shallow river water didn't even reach his knees.

Shui Sheng spent quite a while scooping shrimp out of the water, but only managed to catch half a bowl of small shrimp.

Sui Sui found several more beautiful stones. Seeing that Sui Sui was having fun, Nangong Zeyue couldn't hide the smile on his lips.

...

"Did you fall into the river?"

As soon as the three entered the courtyard, Jiang Shuyue saw that they were carrying shoes, barefoot, and their trouser legs and sleeves were half wet.

"Aunt Yue, look at the little shrimp I caught." Shui Sheng raised the fishing net in his left hand.

"Mommy, I brought you some fun stones."

As Sui Sui spoke, he made a move to rush into his mother's arms, but as soon as he stretched out his paw, he saw that there was mud on the back of his hand, so he stopped.

Nangong Zeyue patted the hem of the robe in her hand: "Here, there are several pieces, all found by Sui Sui."

Nangong Zeyue's trousers were soaked, and the hem of his robe was wrapped in a bulging lump held in his left hand, while he held his shoes in his right hand. His former dashing image was completely gone.

Jiang Shuyue's forehead throbbed as she watched that unreliable demeanor.

Jiang Shuyue stepped aside. "Go inside and wash up. Sui Sui is naughty and playful, so don't always indulge him."

Jiang Shuyue couldn't possibly criticize him for helping her deliver things out of the city and taking care of her child.

Back in the courtyard, Qiuju helped bring hot water, and Shuisheng and Suisui changed into clean clothes after washing up.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!