Chapter 85: Little Boy with Big Smile

Day 2

The servant of "Fushengbanhe" came to the Wen Mansion in a hurry to look for Nianxi, "Miss, the young man from yesterday came again. He said that he ate our food and had vomiting and diarrhea. His family wants us to give an explanation and won't leave."

Father and brother were both at the government office. Nianxi didn't want to worry her mother, so she went to the shop first to check, "Where's cousin Mu?"

"I have sent someone to invite the Marquis of Pingyang."

When Nian Xi went there, she saw two men, one big and one small, standing at the door of "Fu Sheng Ban Hu". They were allowed to be stared at by the female relatives passing by.

The tall man was wearing a royal blue robe with rolling cloud patterns, looking noble and elegant. His facial features were outstanding, but the first thing you noticed was his gentle and extraordinary demeanor, which was profound, majestic and unhurried.

It seemed that to him, being in a bustling street or in a beautiful palace made no difference.

His eyes are calm, peaceful and profound.

But the young man standing beside him didn't have such good self-control. He shrugged his face and looked away, obviously trying hard to hold back tears, and he was afraid that he would run away in the next moment.

It was the mischievous little boy from yesterday.

However, the young man could not escape, because there was a big hand on his shoulder. The big sleeves covered the back of the hand, revealing a long and delicate knuckle.

Nian Xi thought to herself that it didn't look like they were here to cause trouble. She got off the carriage and walked in front of the two of them.

When the young man saw him, he first showed joy, but then he lowered his head again as if ashamed.

Although Nianxi was the owner, she was an unmarried woman after all, so it was not easy for her to speak rashly. The sensible manager of the store came forward and explained the situation one by one.

It turns out that this tall man is the little boy's father.

Nian Xi invited the two of them in to talk.

The young man spoke timidly, no longer arrogant in front of his father, "This is a women's shop. My father is a man, so he can't enter."

The father and son stopped and looked at Nianxi.

Nian Xi was nervous for a moment when she saw the two people's similar expressions, as if she had done something immoral. She stuttered when she spoke, "No, it's okay."

She brought the two of them into the room she and her cousin Mu usually lived in.

Firstly, it was difficult to talk because there were so many people coming and going on the street; secondly, the private room was on the first floor, only an aisle away from the door, and would not disturb the women in the inner chamber.

The three of them sat down.

Before Nianxi could speak, the man said, "My name is Lu. I am sorry for coming to your house today. Please forgive me, Miss Wen."

He has a pleasant voice, neither fast nor slow, like spring water falling into a clear lake, revealing a gentle feeling:

"This is our little boy Lu Huai. He ate a bowl of ice cream at a restaurant yesterday. After returning home, he had diarrhea and vomiting. The elders in the family were very worried about this, so I came here to verify it."

Nian Xi couldn't help but look at Lu Huai.

The latter was so embarrassed that his face turned red and he could not even lift his head. With a "plop", tears fell on the table, but he did not dare to cry loudly and just stubbornly remained silent.

What else does Nianxi not understand at this moment——

Yesterday, cousin Mu clearly only gave him a bowl of almond yogurt. Where was the ice cream?

This young man Lu told a lie and was brought here by his father specifically to embarrass himself.

Nianxi had never given birth to a child, but she felt sorry for Lu Huai, who was looking down at him, wiping his tears with his hands and not daring to speak. However, the father was still unhurried and was drinking tea leisurely.

She was silent for a moment.

Lu Wensheng was a long-time official, and he could see Nianxi's kindness almost at a glance. He calmly put down the tea bowl, as elegant and calm as the breeze and the bright moon, and asked, "Excuse me, Miss, did my son drink ice in your restaurant yesterday?"

"I didn't eat!"

Without Nianxi saying anything, Lu Huai wiped his tears and looked up at his father, "I lied! Father, please punish me! A man should take responsibility for his own actions and not make things difficult for others!"

He spoke with great lofty ambition, but with his crying voice and occasional hiccups, he showed the unique cuteness of a child.

"Your lie caused the old lady to worry about you all night, and you almost hurt others. If I hadn't confronted you face to face today, you would have refused to admit it. Let me ask you, who taught you these evil tricks?"

Lu Wensheng's expression remained unchanged, and he did not lose his temper. He even said the last sentence with a smile, but the anger and disappointment in his eyes could not be concealed.

Lu Huai was frightened for a moment.

He could no longer maintain his manly airs and started to cry, "I don't want Miss Shu to be my stepmother. She doesn't like me. When no one is around, she only lets the maids accompany me. When someone comes, she pretends to be close to me."

He cried anxiously, his words incoherent, "But the old lady likes her and asks her to play with me all day long. Even you like her! Oh, oh, I have no choice but to do this to myself."

While crying, he did not forget to complain, "She took me out and couldn't even keep an eye on a five-year-old child like me. Maybe she wanted me to be beaten up by a beggar. She told me not to occupy the position of the eldest son!"

Children are outspoken, and Nianxi was caught off guard and heard other people's secrets, which made her feel a little embarrassed. But if she went out at this time, it would seem even more deliberate. She could only try her best to reduce her presence, look straight ahead, and pretend to be very interested in the pattern of the teacup on the table.

"Oh, oh, father, I was wrong. I shouldn't have been so willful as to joke about my own body and even blame others."

Seeing his father's gloomy eyes, Lu Huai panicked. He stood up from the rose chair, put his arms around his father's waist tightly, and looked up at his father.

"If Miss Shu comes in, she will definitely bully, insult, and beat me. Father, I'm scared..."

He said it in a pitiful way, but from Nian Xi's perspective, she just happened to see the snot bubbles coming out of Lu Huai, and the next moment, he rubbed against the hem of his father's dark blue robe without hesitation.

Nian Xi withdrew her gaze, but unexpectedly bumped into Lu Wensheng. Seeing the smile in his eyes, Nian Xi was slightly stunned. It seemed that all of Lu Huai's little tricks were seen by his father.

“If one lacks determination, one will not be wise; if one lacks credibility, one will not be successful.”

Lu Wensheng softened his tone, lowered his head, and taught the child word by word in his clear voice, "A gentleman should be virtuous and should not commit the same mistake again."

Lu Huai said respectfully, "Yes, Xiao Qi has made a note of it."

Only then did Lu Wensheng turn around and nod to Nianxi, "My child is naughty. I am sorry for bothering you today. I will come to your house to apologize another day."

Lu Huai was much more honest, "It's all Xiao Qi's fault. I almost ruined the reputation of my sister's store. Please don't hold it against me."

Nian Xi naturally declined the offer.

Mr. Lu was a polite man, and after the matter was explained, he immediately stood up and said goodbye. Lu Huai fell behind him, following slowly, and just as he was about to leave, he tugged at his father's sleeve with his little hand.

"Grandma worked hard for me last night. I want to buy some almond cheese to take back. Her almond cheese is sweet but not greasy, and it tastes very good... Grandma will definitely like it. Dad, I want to buy some to honor her."

Under his father's gaze, he spoke in lower and lower voices.

It was obvious that he wanted to eat it, but it was amazing that at his young age he could come up with such an irresistible excuse.

Nian Xi just found it funny and couldn't help but look at Mr. Lu.

Lu Wensheng lowered his eyes and said nothing until Lu Huai became uneasy. Then he asked, "Do you want to eat?"

“…I want to eat.”

Lu Huai lowered his head again, "Father, I'm sorry, I was being clever again, I shouldn't have used my grandmother's name."

"My grandmother said that she is old and eating too much sweet food will make her mouth sour easily. When I was eating almond butter yesterday, I thought of my grandmother. I really want to bring her here to try it some other day."

A child who can correct himself in time and is filial is always smart and open-minded.

Lu Wensheng touched Xiaoqi's head and smiled slightly, then turned to Nianxi and said, "Excuse me, besides almond yogurt, what other signature snacks and drinks does your restaurant have? Make two for me to take away."

It should be good to think about it.

After all, this was a shop that entertained female relatives. Having said that, he refused to stay any longer and walked out with Lu Huai.