Farewell
As cup after cup of water was served, Cui Zhijun looked at the men who were leading the charge, feeling a sense of awe. He looked up at Taishi Zheng, who was also struggling to protect herself. The young couple sighed. Taishi Zhengjiang, however, appeared before everyone with a sullen expression and a commanding presence.
At that moment, it was as if the God of War had returned. Even Qi Liyuan didn't dare to question him. He could only whisper to Zheng, "Who has offended him again?"
Zheng shook her head and smiled bitterly, not daring to speak.
Zheng feared nothing, except perhaps someone provoking Taishi Zhengjiang while she was cooking. This old mischievous child was usually easy to talk to, but when it came to things he loved, he was incredibly stubborn and wouldn't listen.
Today is a good day. When Zhao Heiyuan first entered the family, the first meeting with Taishi Zhengjiang touched his most stubborn spot.
Zheng didn't know what to do.
Taishi Zhengjiang's face darkened as he glanced around until his gaze landed on Qi Liyuan. He demanded sharply, "Emperor, is it salty?" Qi Liyuan was stunned by his uncle's expression as soon as he uttered the word "Emperor." He shook his head repeatedly in denial, "Not salty, not salty."
Taishi Zhengjiang got the answer and turned to look at Xiaoyu, who was in his arms. "Little girl, is it salty?"
Xiaoyu was used to reading people's expressions and she also shook her head like Qi Liyuan.
After asking this question all the way around, no one dared to offend. Taishi Zhengjiang stroked his robe proudly and sat down. He'd even asked Cui Zhijun, but he'd left out one person. This made Zhao Heiyuan, looking at the table full of people speaking insincerely, sink into self-doubt. She picked up her chopsticks and muttered, "Isn't it salty?"
Zheng hurriedly waved her hand to signal, but Zhao Heiyuan couldn't understand anything.
Zhao Heiyuan persistently and sincerely picked up the lotus root slices on the table. After taking another bite out of disbelief, he exclaimed, "Salty! How can this dish not be salty?"
Zheng slapped her forehead when she heard that.
It's over,
It's completely over.
Dad has met his match today.
Unexpectedly, Taishi Zhengjiang injured one thousand enemies and lost eight hundred of his own.
He picked up the dish he had cooked without a word, chewed it fiercely, and swallowed it down, suppressing the salty taste that numbed his tongue. "Is it salty? I don't think it's salty at all. It must be that your taste is too bland, Hei Yuan. You'll just have to get used to our Bianjing food. Eat more, eat more."
Taishi Zhengjiang's face became ferocious and his speech became less clear.
Although Zheng hadn't eaten, she felt choked by the sight of her father. She raised her hand and asked Cui Zhijun to pass her a glass of water. Zheng said, "Dad, no, you should drink some water. It's cold in December, and you're sweating from eating..."
Taishi Zhengjiang was really stubborn. He pushed his son-in-law's hand away and said, "Why drink water? I'll drink soup. You guys eat—"
Once the head of the family spoke, no one dared to speak.
At that moment, Zhao Heiyuan held her chopsticks, completely convinced of Taishi Zhengjiang's words. Perhaps... this was the flavor of Bianjing's food. She seemed to remember the food but not the punishment, happily picking up another piece of food with her chopsticks.
only……
I'm not gonna lie, this dish is really salty!
A home-cooked meal that seemed to have fallen into a salt shaker filled everyone up.
Qi Liyuan and Xiaoyu put down their chopsticks and monopolized the jar of candied dates, stuffing them non-stop. Taishi Zheng tried to spare two, but couldn't. Helplessly leaning against Cui Zhijun, Zheng felt like a dried-out salted fish, choking and saying to those around her, "Erlang, I've really wronged you. I've been home three times, and every time there's been a new situation."
Cui Zhijun also felt it was salty, but he didn't show it on his face.
Cui Zhijun reached out and lifted the loose hair from Taishi Zheng's forehead, smiling silently. However, compared to last time, he felt that the poisonous mushroom soup was better.
The family sits opposite each other, each with their own taste.
Seeing that no one was talking, Zheng stood up from Cui Zhijun and started a conversation to avoid making the atmosphere awkward.
She cast her gaze towards Qi Liyuan, snatched the candied dates from his hand, took out one and held it to Cui Zhijun's lips, saying, "Hey, Tenth Brother, aren't you here today to give my nephew a name? Do you have any good ideas?"
Qi Liyuan's mind went blank from the salty food. It was all gone, completely gone. His thoughts were completely obliterated by the food.
Qi Liyuan looked at Taishi Zheng with empty eyes and shook his head woodenly.
Xiaoyu suddenly raised her hand and said, "Xiaoyu knows! Xiaoyu has a good idea!"
Zheng was surprised, but didn't want to discourage the little girl's enthusiasm. She wanted to know more and asked, "Oh? Yubao knows? Then Yubao, tell me, what should my brother be named?"
Xiaoyu put down her arms and looked at the chubby little boy in Zhao Heiyuan's arms. She squinted her eyes and smiled, "Sugar Ball. My little brother's head is red and round, just like the sugar ball my aunt bought. Let's call him Sugar Ball—Xiaoyu likes my little brother and also Sugar Ball."
"Taishi Sugar Ball?"
As soon as these words were spoken, laughter broke out in the corner pavilion, and the awkward atmosphere was eased by the little girl's words.
Zhao Heiyuan rubbed his son's head. After everyone's laughter died down, he actually accepted Xiaoyu's suggestion. "Little girl, your idea is good. The name Tangqiu sounds friendly. Let's give it to this kid as a nickname. Thank you, little girl."
The little guy clapped his hands happily after getting a new name. Xiaoyu felt a little embarrassed because it was the first time she felt such positive recognition.
Zheng picked up Xiaoyu from Qi Liyuan's arms, and was extremely happy. "Sugar Ball, Sugar Ball. This name is nice. Look, only our Yubao can come up with such a cute name. Since our Yubao likes sugar balls so much, when we get home later, auntie will buy Yubao a bunch of them and let him eat as much as he wants."
"Aunt is so nice. Xiaoyu likes her."
Upon hearing this, Xiaoyu put her arms around Taishi Zheng's neck and rubbed her face vigorously. The uncle and nephew were very close. Zheng stroked the little girl's head and turned to look at Cui Zhijun, "Erlang, you are the most knowledgeable among us. Why don't you come up with a name? My family doesn't care about the rules of generation names."
Cui Zhijun said modestly, "Names should be chosen by the elders themselves, as they represent inheritance and expectation. So, father-in-law, you should be the one to choose the name."
Taishi Zhengjiang sat upright and looked at his son-in-law, and was satisfied no matter how he looked at him.
After all, he was a man of fine learning, and he was supposed to be more refined than these rough-and-tumble folks in his family. With two fake coughs, Taishi Zhengjiang dipped his finger in water and began to draw circles on the table, shaking his head as he did so. Everyone at the table watched intently, eager to hear what shocking name the elders would come up with for this youngest of the family.
Unexpectedly, after everyone waited for a long time, Taishi Zhengjiang raised his eyes and glanced casually, but only said: "I can't think of it."
"Go." Everyone dispersed when they heard this.
So he thought about it for a long time but couldn't come up with anything?
That's really interesting.
Zheng shook her head. She knew this would be the outcome. It was pointless to ask.
After all, her own father couldn't even read. But since Cui Zhijun had declined and Taishi Zhengjiang couldn't be relied upon, Zheng turned her gaze to her eldest sister-in-law, "Sister-in-law, don't you and eldest brother have any favorite names for the child?"
"?"
Zhao Heiyuan blinked at Taishi Zheng. She thought that before her husband came, he just asked her to come to Bian Jing and ask her family to give the child a name.
Nothing else was said?
How to answer this?
"No, right? I know." Zheng had anticipated what Zhao Heiyuan was going to say. She smiled and nodded, but just as she was about to turn around and look for someone else, Zhao Heiyuan suddenly blurted out, "Neihe."
"Neihe?" It sounded like the language of Khitan, and Zheng didn't understand it.
Taishi Zhengjiang continued, "Taishi, you're pinching brown? What's the purpose of that?"
Intention? Zhao Heiyuan shook his head and replied, "No. It's just that many things in our area are named after animals. This is just something I came up with. Niehe means dog. Didn't my sister ask me to answer that?"
“…”
Zheng was silent, but Zhao Heiyuan was frank.
But she wasn't satisfied with the name, and presumably Taishi Zhengjiang wouldn't be either. If she really used it, Qi Liyuan's reputation would be in jeopardy in the future. Zheng tried to smooth things over, "Oh, everyone, put your heads together. Let's pick and choose. We still need to be careful about this name."
Zhao Heiyuan said nothing more.
Zheng began to look up again, searching for a new target.
Fu Yuanzi waited expectantly for Taishi Zheng to ask her questions. She nodded repeatedly, her eyes filled with "Ask me, ask me." But Taishi Zheng slowly shifted her finger. This Fu Yuanzi was just like Taishi Zhengjiang; it was pointless to ask. He simply passed by.
Everything returned to the starting point. Zheng looked at Qi Liyuan and frowned.
How come this is still salty...
It seems that relying on heaven and earth is not as good as relying on oneself. Zheng gave up the search and crossed her arms stubbornly. Even if she had to use all her life's skills today, she would come up with a resounding name for her only nephew. She narrowed her eyes and thought for a long time before finally coming up with a word.
"A great start."
Zheng observed the expressions of the people around her and asked, "How about calling him Taishi Sheng?"
Simple and generous, the meaning is good. Now Zheng wondered what else they would say? As the words fell, no matter what others said, Cui Zhijun was definitely the first to support his wife. In front of everyone, he added an explanation: "Winning a hundred battles and defeating the enemy. Xiao Zheng's idea is indeed a good one."
Upon hearing this, Zheng raised her eyebrows and looked at her own Erlang, thinking that he had good taste.
"Well, she's worthy of being my daughter. The name is quite interesting."
Taishi Zhengjiang naturally had no objection to his daughter.
He turned his gaze to Zhao Heiyuan, "What do you think, Heiyuan? What do you think, Tangqiu?"
Sugar Ball shook his hand to show his agreement.
Everyone had gradually gotten used to Zhao Heiyuan's temperament, so they were not surprised by the word "good" that she replied after a long while.
Thus, the child's name was decided.
Even at this moment, Qi Liyuan, who had said he would come to name the child, was still brimming with salt. But no one paid much attention. Taishi Zhengjiang asked, "Hei Yuan, how long do you plan to stay in the capital this time? That way, I can arrange for preparations."
Taishi Zhengjiang thought they would stay for at least three to five days. Who would have thought that Zhao Heiyuan would actually reply, "Oh, General Taishi, no need to bother. We'll be leaving soon. I have matters to attend to in Weizhou. I already agreed with you not to stay any longer."
Zheng was surprised when she heard this. "Ah? Sister-in-law, you came for such a long time, and you left in the time it takes to eat a meal?"
Zheng couldn't believe it.
Her sister-in-law is really in a hurry, which is not like her slow-paced personality at all.
However, before Taishi Zheng could finish her words, Zhao Heiyuan stood up even more angrily, bidding farewell to everyone. Taishi Zhengjiang and Taishi Zheng were shocked, but they didn't want to force him to stay. After all, the person in front of them couldn't be forced to stay.
Just like that, Zheng pulled Cui Zhijun and followed her father out to see someone off, and the group arrived at the front yard where they first met.
Standing in the front hall, Zhao Heiyuan scratched his head.
...Where is my horse?
But when the old man cried out in surprise, everyone turned to look and saw that the warhorse had broken free from its reins and was feasting on a hearty meal under the right porch. "Oh my God, who has brought the horse into the yard? My top-quality imperial tribute magpie is gone."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
