Looking at the emerald green jade in Jing'er's hand, Shiyi Niang was about to cry.

All along, she was most worried that her son would be spoiled by everyone and develop a domineering character, willful, indifferent, ungrateful, and not knowing what tolerance and forbearance are. But now it seems that although her son is domineering and stingy, and has various minor flaws, he has not lost his innocent heart.

Her worries disappeared and she walked forward and hugged her son's shoulders with relief.

Jing'er was just scared after being severely reprimanded by his mother for pulling flowers and weeds. Now his mother hugged him as usual, and he couldn't help but look up at his mother, smiling with the corners of his mouth raised, feeling indescribably happy and joyful.

Eleventh Lady also looked down at her son and smiled.

Warmth flows between mother and child.

The lady's eyes were already filled with tears. She said softly, "Good child, grandma doesn't want your things. Grandma has something to give to your cousin as a reward." Then she loudly ordered Mother Du, "Pick the lotus flower!" Compared with her previous carelessness, her tone was firm and decisive.

Mother Du's eyes were also a little moist. She smiled and said "yes", then was about to go out holding the stone bonsai.

Wu Niang became anxious.

She glanced at her son who was standing there at a loss, and was filled with anger.

After glaring at Xin'er fiercely, Wu Niang hurried over to pull Mama Du. Before she could say anything, her face was already red as blood: "Madam, it's my fault that I didn't teach the child well. The child lost his sense of responsibility..." Then she turned her head and looked at Jing'er, "It's all your cousin Xin's fault. Put the things away quickly."

Eleventh Lady, now free of her worries, has already come up with an idea.

She called out "mother" and said, "Don't try to break the stone bonsai." She then said to Wu Niang, "Don't stare at Xin Ge'er." Then she smiled and said, "Jin Ge'er bit someone, it was Jin Ge'er's fault, and Jin Ge'er should apologize to Xin Ge'er. But Xin Ge'er took other people's things, it was also Xin Ge'er's fault, and Xin Ge'er should apologize to Jin Ge'er!" As she spoke, she squatted in front of Xin Ge'er with a smile and held Xin Ge'er's hand, "Xin Ge'er, tell me, is what your aunt said right?"

Brother Xin nodded quickly: "Brother Jin bit me!"

Eleventh Lady smiled and waved at Jin Ge'er: "Hurry up and apologize to Cousin Xin!"

Jing'er pouted and said to Xin'er reluctantly, "I was wrong. I will never bite you again."

Eleventh Lady looked at Xin Ge'er with a smile.

Xin lowered his head and whispered, "I, I don't want your things anymore!"

Eleventh Lady held Jin Ge'er in one hand and Xin Ge'er in the other: "You are both good children. Come, hold hands, and never quarrel again, let alone fight! Do you understand?"

Xin Ge'er took the initiative to hold Jing Ge'er's hand.

Jing'er hesitated for a moment before holding hands with Xin'er.

The lady looked at Mother Du and signaled her to put the stone bonsai back.

Shiyi Niang had already sorted out the matter. If she insisted on breaking the lotus, it would only highlight the disrespect of Wu Niang and Xin Ge'er. But they were Shiyi Niang's family after all. If they lost face, it would be Shiyi Niang's loss of face. How could she go to smear Shiyi Niang's face?

The lady laughed and said, "Our Eleventh Lady has a solution. She neither neglected our guests nor let our Jing'er suffer any injustice."

Although his words were more in favor of Jing'er, at least he didn't continue.

Wu Niang breathed a sigh of relief.

If she really gave the lady's lotus to Xin'er, she would have no chance of living as a human being.

Her son was a well-behaved and sensible child since he was young, but somehow, he became more and more disobedient and naughty as he grew older. If the child developed a character that didn't know when to advance or retreat, she would have a hard time explaining it to Qian Ming when he came back. You know, Qian Ming wrote to her several times asking her to go to Dengzhou because she disliked the hard life in Dengzhou...

Thinking of this, she stepped forward and pulled Xin Ge'er, ready to say a few polite words before leaving. Unexpectedly, Shiyi Niang continued to talk to Xin Ge'er.

"Xin'er is so good!" she said with a smile, "I'll give you something as a reward!" After that, she told Zhu Xiang, "Go and get the Hetian jade Buddha's hand on my desk for my cousin." She originally wanted to let Xin'er choose one, but she was afraid that Xin'er would insist on having Jing'er's lotus leaf, which would cause another dispute, so she picked a jade piece similar to Jing'er's and gave it to Xin'er.

Xin Ge'er smiled and nodded.

Eleventh Lady smiled and patted his head, then said to Jing'er, "Jing'er is not only generous today, but also knows how to be filial to your grandmother. Mother is very happy, and I will give you something as a reward."

Jing'er laughed when he heard this.

His eyes curved, sweeping away the unhappiness just now.

Considering that she usually suppresses her son and doesn't allow him to do this or that, Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Tell me, what do you want?"

Jinger immediately shouted, "I want to pick oranges."

Last year, on the Double Ninth Festival, Shiyi Niang took Jinge'er to climb Lingqiong Mountain Villa in order to celebrate the occasion. Jinge'er found golden oranges next to Lingqiong Mountain Villa and shouted that he wanted to pick them. Shiyi Niang saw that the orange tree grew on the cliff and was too dangerous. She was also afraid that the servant would take risks to please Jinge'er, so she not only refused, but also specifically instructed that no one was allowed to pick those oranges. Jinge'er was depressed for a few days because of this, until the chestnuts in the back garden were ripe, Shiyi Niang took him to pick chestnuts, and he forgot about those oranges. This year, Jinge'er became fascinated with rowing.

I didn’t expect he still remembered!

Eleventh Lady was a little amused and helpless.

But she had already said it, so she naturally couldn't break her promise to Jing'er.

"Okay, I'll have someone take you to pick oranges in a couple of days!"

Jing'er immediately became happy and ran to the lady and said, "Grandma, Grandma, I picked some oranges and will offer them to the Buddha for you!"

On the first day of every month, the lady would bring her daughter-in-law and grandson to the Buddhist temple to burn incense to the Buddha.

"Oh!" The lady happily hugged Jing'er, "Our Jing'er is so filial!"

Jin Ge'er smiled, looked up and saw the second wife standing beside him, and said hurriedly: "Second aunt, I will offer the Buddha to you too!"

Because it was Eleventh Lady's family affair, Second Lady had been standing by and watching. Although she did not set up a Buddhist temple, she could not help laughing when she heard this, and she could not bear to reject Jin Ge'er's kindness. She smiled and said, "Okay, Second Aunt is waiting for your oranges."

Eleventh Lady had a headache.

This guy, he doesn’t even know where the oranges are, but he’s making random promises everywhere.

What’s even more worrying is that I don’t know who to ask to take Jing’er to pick oranges!

Not everyone can go to that place!

While he was thinking, Zhu Xiang walked in panting.

She held up a jade Buddha hand that was the same size as Jinger's lotus ball.

Eleventh Lady handed it to Xin Ge'er: "Do you like it?"

Xin took it in his hand and broke the leaves of the Buddha's hand. He said, "I like it!" Then he ran to Wu Niang with a smile and said, "Mom, mom, look, my aunt gave it to me!"

Wu Niang glanced at Shiyi Niang sheepishly and pushed her son's back: "Hurry up and thank your aunt!"

Xin Ge'er thanked Shiyi Niang loudly.

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "As long as Xin'er likes it."

Wu Niang hurriedly stood up and said goodbye.

After this incident, Eleventh Lady said a few polite words and took Jing'er to see Fifth Lady and Xin'er off.

When he turned around, he saw Yuban with two little maids.

"Fourth Madam," she bowed to Eleventh Lady with a smile, "Madam Tai said that you have a lot of things to do over there. Let me take the Sixth Young Master over there. You can focus on managing the affairs, and Madam Tai will have someone to accompany you."

Eleventh Lady knew that the Lady Dowager liked Jing'er, but she didn't care. She smiled and gave Hongwen and Ajin a few instructions, then handed Jing'er over to Yuban.

Back in the flower hall, Grandma Lin came to congratulate Xu Siyu on his wedding.

"Congratulations, you're going to be a mother-in-law!"

Eleventh Lady couldn't help sweating: "Congratulations, congratulations."

Two days ago, Grandma Lin’s eldest son got engaged.

The two of them sat down according to their status and exchanged a few words. Then the fourth wife of the Tang family arrived.

As the few people were looking through the dowry, Third Lady Huang came over and brought the dowry list of the Xiang family. Because there were people outside, she sat until Grandma Lin and Mrs. Tang left. Eleventh Lady spent some time looking at the dowry list. By the time Third Lady Huang left, it was time to light the lamps.

Eleventh Lady hurriedly asked, "Is the Marquis coming back for dinner?"

There are also many guests in the outer courtyard these days.

"The Marquis didn't send anyone to report." Zhu Xiang said, and then she saw Xu Lingyi come in. She hurriedly told the maid to serve the meal and help Xu Lingyi wash and change clothes.

Eleventh Lady sat on the big kang by the window in the inner room and talked to Xu Lingyi: "...The Xiang family's dowry is seven or eight thousand taels of silver. There are not many utensils and other things, but they are all good farmland. It looks like a lot of income every year."

Xu Lingyi said "hmm", and came out after washing up: "Master Xiang has always been pragmatic, so this arrangement is not surprising." As he said this, he saw that the dinner table had been set, but there was no sign of his son, so he couldn't help but ask: "Where is Brother Jin?"

"Mom, stay over there and play." Eleventh Lady took the food from the maid and placed it in front of Xu Lingyi. "She told us to pick it up when we pay our respects in the evening."

Xu Lingyi sat down and talked to her about his son: "I think I'll let Jing'er start his education next year. What do you think?"

Most children start their education at the age of six or seven, but some start two years earlier or later. It depends on each individual.

Next year, Jinger will be five years old, six years old in lunar calendar, and still not old enough to go to primary school.

"Isn't it a little too early?" Eleventh Lady said, and asked the maid to serve her a bowl of soup.

"Jin'er is smart, let him start learning early." Xu Lingyi smiled, "He is in good health and full of energy, so find him a master to teach him martial arts. If it's too late, his body will be too stiff and he won't be able to learn any real skills!"

Eleventh Lady laughed: "Does the Marquis want Jin Ge'er to learn martial arts or study?"

"Learn them all!" Xu Lingyi said, "You need to 'beat the mad barbarians on horseback, and write cursive script when you dismount.'" There was a hint of anticipation in his tone.

Eleventh Lady's mind flashed with the image of Jin Ge'er playing in the mud. She couldn't imagine Jin Ge'er being both literary and martial. She couldn't help but laugh: "What if he doesn't like it?"

"You can't let a boy do whatever he wants." Xu Lingyi disagreed. Thinking of how Eleventh Lady often hugged her son and kissed him, he said, "You can't spoil him." Then he thought for a while and said, "It's settled. I'll start his education next year." He looked like he wouldn't allow Eleventh Lady to refuse.

Eleventh Lady is also afraid that Xu Lingyi will spoil the child.

Since he has made up his mind, she will naturally support him.

"Then let's do as the Marquis wishes!" Eleventh Lady smiled and drank a sip of soup.

The two of them ate in silence and went to the lady's place.

※

There were several sudden power outages, and some of my manuscripts were often lost. I had to rewrite them over and over again. I was impatient and the updates were much late. I’m very sorry!

I'll post a draft first and correct the typos later.