Xu Rao said, "Can't you analyze such a simple question? If she didn't have anyone in her heart, would she insist on going to the Northwest? If she didn't have anyone in her heart, how could she compare to these young masters in the capital? I don't believe that all the young masters in the capital are so weak and scholarly; many of them have practiced martial arts since childhood."

After listening, Zhang Zhaoci thought about it carefully and said, "You know what, that makes a lot of sense. But our Xiao Jiu is only a little over ten years old. How could she know who she likes?"

Xu Rao said, "This child has a lot on her mind. Alright, don't worry. She's very careful. Although she's not a talkative person, when have you ever seen her suffer a loss? We should trust her."

Zhang Zhaoci sighed and said, "How come I, as a mother, know nothing? Sigh, I'm such a failure."

Xu Rao said, "I think you're a great mother. Look, the wife you found for Xu Di is very good. She's capable and has a good temper."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhaoci laughed and said, "Only you can magnify my little merits so many times over and keep praising me."

Xu Rao smiled and said, "You are my wife. In my heart, you are the best. If I don't flatter you, whose face should I flatter?"

Two people, married for decades, naturally have a level of understanding in each other that others cannot match.

Zhang Zhaoci said, "Take advantage of this time before dinner and get some sleep. When the Marquis comes back later, he'll probably want you to go to the study in the front yard to talk."

Xu Rao was really tired. He lay down and closed his eyes, and soon began to snore. Zhang Zhaoci lovingly covered him with a thin quilt, picked up a book from the kang table, and read it while looking at the man lying opposite him.

Xu Bai was picked up from the Zhang family by the Xu family in the afternoon. Xu Di was getting married, and his teacher gave him a few days off. The old servant who picked him up was a gatekeeper who was assigned to pick up people from the Zhang family once every two weeks. Xu Bai was a talkative and not stubborn child. Seeing that the old servant was old and knew that he had two grandsons at home, Xu Bai would buy some snacks for the children on his way home, taking some with him and giving some to the old servant.

Because of Xu Bai's generosity and friendliness, the old servant liked him very much. After receiving the man, the old servant said to Xu Bai, "Seventh Young Master, our Third Master has returned."

Upon hearing this, Xu Bai exclaimed with delight, "My dad's back? Oh, he's finally back! Let's hurry on our way; I haven't seen him in so long!"

The carriage returned to the Marquis's residence. As soon as it stopped at the gate, Xu Bai jumped off the carriage and ran towards the backyard with his schoolbag containing his homework on his back.

Just as he ran into the hanging flower gate, Xu Di grabbed him. Xu Di frowned and looked at Xu Bai, saying, "Why are you running? Running around like this without thinking, aren't you afraid of bumping into someone?"

Xu Bai said, "Big brother, big brother, Dad is back, and I'm anxious to see him."

Xu Di said, "Father is tired from the journey and has fallen asleep. Don't disturb his rest when you go. Just take a look. We can talk about it when he wakes up, understand?"

Xu Bai kept agreeing, and as soon as Xu Di let go, Xu Bai bowed to him and turned to run towards the inner courtyard.

Xu Di smiled as he looked at Xu Bai's much thinner and more agile back. Over the past year, Xu Bai had probably adapted to the teaching intensity of the masters and teachers at the Zhang family. He had lost a lot of fat and looked more energetic. Most importantly, he was much more polite than before.

Xu Bai rushed into the old lady's courtyard. Granny Shen was there and saw that Xu Bai was covered in sweat. She quickly took a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his head and face and said, "Seventh Young Master, you're all sweaty from running. Be careful not to catch a cold."

Xu Bai said nonchalantly, "Granny, you underestimate us martial artists. We are strong and healthy, why would we be afraid of catching a cold? Don't worry."

Upon hearing this, Granny Shen clasped her hands together and muttered softly, "Children's words are just that—children's words. Let them go with the wind. Don't take offense."

Xu Bai looked at it and said with a smile, "Grandma, I'm going to see Grandmother now."

The old lady had already heard the commotion outside from inside the room. She stared longingly at the curtain hanging by the door, and only smiled when Xu Bai lifted the curtain.

Xu Bai took off his shoes, climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed) in a few quick movements, and took out a somewhat stiff piece of paper from his schoolbag. On it was stuck a large, dried flower.

Xu Bai said, "Grandma, these are flowers that bloomed at my maternal grandfather's house. I thought they were blooming so beautifully that I picked them for you to wear. But the flowering period is too short, and I can't come back whenever I want. So I thought I'd make these flowers into dried flowers and then stick them together like this. You can put them in your room, and they'll look nice, won't they?"

The old lady smiled as she watched Xu Bai chatter away, and then she watched with great interest as Xu Bai took out various patterns made of dried leaves from his schoolbag and examined them.

Xu Bai said, "These are leaves that I think are beautiful, but they can't be preserved for long. Grandmother, if we do this well, we can put them in the house and see them anytime."

The old lady said, "Thank you, Brother Bai. Grandmother likes it very much."

Xu Bai said, "If you like it, I'll take care of any pretty flowers and plants I see and bring them back to you like this."

The old lady said with a smile, "Our Bai-ge'er is really thoughtful. Thank you, Grandma. Bai-ge'er, your father is back. Go back and see him quickly. Come and eat with Grandma after dinner, okay?"

Xu Bai then stood up, put on his shoes, bowed to the old lady, and skipped away.

The old lady looked out the window at Xu Bai, who had already walked away, sighed, and said to Granny Shen, "Look at what our Bai-ge'er made for me. I must say, it's really beautiful."

The old lady held a piece of paper covered with leaves, looking at the first little rabbit pattern made by sticking together a few leaves.

Granny Shen smiled and said, "Seventh Young Master is thinking of you, Old Madam."

The old lady sighed and said, "I don't know how many more years I have to live. I really want to watch these children grow up."