Chapter 65 Extra

In the blink of an eye, Li Minghua and Tang Xiaoning have been married for over three years.

The days have not faded with the passage of time; instead, like fine wine aged in a cellar, they have become more mellow and lingering.

They still lived in the meticulously maintained courtyard of the Tang family mansion, their lives remaining the same, yet always sweet as if tinged with fine honey.

Li Minghua remains Tang Xiaoning's strongest support and an indispensable asset to the Tang family's business, especially when dealing with some "unconventional" troubles.

Her sword was still always by her side, but in addition to the crooked blue-gold tassel on the scabbard, there would occasionally be one or two delicate little flowers that Tang Xiaoning had just picked, still covered with dew.

Tang Xiaoning was still the same lively and spirited young lady, but her brows now held a touch more of the gentleness and maturity of a married woman.

Her needlework... well, under Li Minghua's years of "close" guidance, she has finally progressed from "abstract" to "impressionistic." At least when she embroiders a handkerchief or a purse, you can barely tell whether it's a flower or a bird.

That morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten, and the thin mist had not yet dissipated.

As usual, the two prepared to go out to try out the newly opened breakfast shop in the city.

I had just pushed open the courtyard gate when I stopped in my tracks.

On the stone steps in front of the door, there was an inconspicuous bamboo basket lined with soft old cotton cloth. A baby girl, who looked to be a newborn, was sleeping peacefully inside, her little face rosy and her breathing even.

There were no words beside the baby, only an ordinary-looking safety lock, quietly pressed in a corner.

The two looked at each other and saw surprise and pity in each other's eyes.

Tang Xiaoning carefully squatted down, stretched out her finger, and very gently touched the baby's soft cheek.

The baby seemed to sense something, smacked its lips, and unconsciously grabbed Tang Xiaoning's finger.

An indescribable tenderness instantly struck Tang Xiaoning's heart.

She looked up at Li Minghua, her eyes filled with inquiry and longing.

Li Minghua's gaze fell on the baby's defenseless sleeping face, then looked at Tang Xiaoning's loving eyes.

She paused for a moment, then slowly nodded, her voice low and firm: "Since we've met, it must be fate."

Without much hesitation, as if it were preordained, they took the baby girl back to their mansion and named her "Li Xin'an," meaning "meeting her brings peace of mind," and hoping for a peaceful and smooth life for her. Tang's mother initially had some reservations, but seeing the little girl's adorable appearance and the obvious tenderness in her daughter and daughter-in-law's eyes, she ultimately just sighed and acquiesced. Instead, she began arranging for a wet nurse and baby supplies, showing more care than anyone else.

From then on, in addition to the sounds of swords whistling and laughter, the small courtyard of the Tang family was filled with the babbling of babies and their clear cries, making life more vibrant and busy.

Three more years have passed in a flash.

On a late summer evening, the setting sun bathed the bluestone slabs of the courtyard in a warm gold. Under the large tree in the courtyard, Li Minghua was patiently teaching Xiao Xin'an how to hold a sword—using a small wooden sword that she had specially carved for her.

"Keep your wrist steady and your mind calm." Li Minghua's voice remained calm, but when speaking to Xiao Xin'an, it would unconsciously soften a bit.

Xiao An imitated it quite well, her little face serious, but her bright eyes, which were very similar to Tang Xiaoning's, couldn't help but glance to the side.

Not far away, Tang Xiaoning was "fighting" with a piece of fabric at a stone table, her brows furrowed and muttering to herself, "This sleeve... why is it sewn crooked again..." She was trying to make a summer shirt for Xiaoxin'an, and although the process was still bumpy, her enthusiasm remained undiminished.

Just then, Xiaoxin'an saw a plate of freshly chilled, bright red watermelon slices on the stone table. She immediately lost interest in the "profound" swordsmanship, threw down her little wooden sword with a "thud," and wiggled her little body as she ran towards the stone table.

She first ran to Li Minghua, tilted her little face up, and said in a sweet, soft voice, full of dependence, "Mommy! An'an is thirsty! I want to eat melon!"

A smile appeared in Li Minghua's eyes. He bent down, picked her up, and gently patted off non-existent dust from her body: "Okay."

Xiao An struggled to get down, her little legs carrying her to Tang Xiaoning's side. She stretched out her little arms and hugged her tightly, calling out in a sweet, childish voice, "Mommy~ hug me! An'an will eat melon with Mommy!"

Tang Xiaoning's heart melted instantly at the sound of "Mother." She immediately put down the needlework that was giving her a headache, pulled Xiaoxin'an into her arms, and kissed her soft cheeks hard: "Okay~ Mother hugs me! Let's eat together, don't give any to Mother!" She winked mischievously at Li Minghua.

Li Minghua looked at Xin'an, who was nestled in Tang Xiaoning's arms and smiling like a little sun, then looked at Tang Xiaoning's bright smile, shook her head helplessly, but couldn't help but smile herself. She walked to the table, picked up the sweetest slice of watermelon, carefully removed the seeds, and then handed it to the mother and daughter.

Xiao An took the melon from Li Minghua with her left hand and picked up the melon from Tang Xiaoning with her right hand. She looked at it from left to right, then took a big bite of each one with satisfaction. Juice covered her mouth, and she smiled so much that her eyes narrowed into slits.

The afterglow of the setting sun enveloped the three of them, elongating their shadows and making them intertwine intimately. The air was filled with the sweet scent of watermelon, the gentle intoxication of the summer evening breeze, and a warm and comforting feeling that felt like "home."

The world of martial arts may still be far away, but their world of martial arts has long been condensed in this small courtyard, gathered in the eyes of each other, and engraved on the little one who sweetly calls out "Mother", "Mother".

Peaceful times and a promising future await us.

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