When Song Kangcheng arrived the next day, he kept a low profile, bringing only one personal attendant with him.
After the carriage entered the village, he lifted the curtain and looked outside. It was still Dashi Village, but it was no longer the same as it used to be.
It wasn't that impoverished village, but one of the wealthiest villages in the world.
Half of the country's sugar comes from here, and I don't know why, since it's all made from the same sugarcane.
The crops grown in Dashi Village have a higher yield and sugar content than those grown in other places.
Some people also say that the sugarcane in Dashi Village grows straighter and taller than that in other places.
Seeing it today, I can confirm it's no exaggeration. The straight sugarcane stalks stand like soldiers guarding the village, a sight that brings a sense of comfort.
The village of Dashi has changed dramatically, and Song Kangcheng no longer knows where the Xu family lives.
Not long after entering the village, I was about to ask someone for directions, but instead of seeing any adults, a group of children ran towards me.
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Upon seeing the unfamiliar faces, they were wary yet curious, and none of them stepped forward.
Song Kangcheng spoke first, "Children, don't be afraid. I'm here as a guest of the Xu family. Do you know where the Xu family lives?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he realized he must have asked the wrong person. What could such a young child know? Besides, if it was the Xu family, who knows how many Xu families there were in this village?
Unexpectedly, the children all pointed to a road, saying, "There, go that way, and you'll see a really big courtyard. That's the Xu family's house."
Song Kangcheng teased them, "Do you know which Xu family I'm talking about?"
“Yes, I know, it’s the Xu family, the same family as Sister Man’er,” said one of the slightly taller girls.
Upon hearing the name Fu Man'er, Song Kangcheng knew it was her.
"Thank you, go and have fun." After expressing his gratitude, Song Kangcheng had his attendants drive the carriage inside.
The village is full of large courtyards with red walls and green tiles. Anyone who enters for the first time would not think it is a village.
The carriage swayed along the stone-paved road until it arrived at the Xu family's old residence.
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Although there are many large houses in the village, the Xu family's house can be considered the largest in the village.
Who would have thought that such a wealthy family lived deep in this village?
The gatekeeper must have been instructed yesterday, so as soon as Song Kangcheng arrived, the gatekeeper led the man inside while sending someone inside to inform him.
The Xu family took the governor's visit very seriously, but they dared not have the whole family present, since Song Kangcheng's main purpose for the trip was to see Fu Man'er.
Besides Mr. and Mrs. Xu, there were also Mr. and Mrs. Xu Genshan and Xu Genshu. Only the younger generation of children remained at home.
Upon hearing that people had arrived, Old Mrs. Xu hurriedly led her entourage to the front hall to greet them.
She had only taken a few steps when she turned back to look, "Where's Man'er?"
Everyone turned around to look, and wondered, "Where's Man'er?"
Just as Xu Yi was about to turn around to look for someone, he heard a silvery laugh coming from the front yard, mixed with heavy breathing.
When the Xu family members walked over, they saw Fu Man'er playing in the garden with Roubao.
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Who is it? Isn't it Governor Song Kangcheng?
Fu Man'er muttered to herself, but dared not say it aloud. Such a high-ranking official could not be addressed by his first name; that would be considered insubordination.
Before Fu Man'er could speak, Song Kangcheng answered on his own, "Man'er, I am your uncle."
Uncle? Yes, Lord Song is Consort Ru's sister, so he's her uncle.
“Man’er, I am your uncle.” Song Kangcheng repeated himself, afraid that she wouldn’t understand what he meant.
Those teary eyes looked at Fu Man'er with expectation.
The little girl looked at him, her lips moved slightly, and she uttered two words, "Uncle."
For some reason, she couldn't bring herself to call Madam Ru "Mother," but she could easily utter the word "Uncle" to Song Kangcheng.
Then he saw Song Kang-sung grinning foolishly, "Hey, hey."
He had already heard from his sister when he was at the Song residence that the child was unwilling to call her "mother," and he was quite nervous when he came today.
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He was worried that the girl would be distant, but to his surprise, the thought of her calling him "uncle" made Song Kangcheng feel completely relaxed.
Xu Yi, who had been standing nearby, walked over at the opportune moment and led Song Kangcheng toward the flower hall.
During this short stretch of road, Song Kangcheng kept talking to Fu Man'er, not giving Xu Yi a chance to interject at all.
At the dinner table, he even made Fu Man'er sit next to him, while Xu Yi, who had been sitting next to Fu Man'er, was moved to the opposite side.
Xu Yi looked at Song Kangcheng, who was talking excitedly, and thought, "Never mind, he's my uncle, he's my uncle."
After retiring from officialdom, Song Kangcheng was indeed quite down-to-earth. In addition, with Fu Man'er and Xu Zheng, two lively characters, at the table, the whole meal was quite enjoyable.
Fu Man'er was very accepting of him, and the little girl was good at coaxing people, calling him "Uncle" this and "Uncle" that made Song Kangcheng almost regret the decision he made yesterday.
His family only has boys, not a single girl. Now he understands why some people say that daughters are like warm little cotton-padded jackets.
After the meal, the Xu family specially cleared out space for Song Kangcheng, allowing Fu Man'er to take him for a walk in the yard.
Fu Man'er chattered on and on, introducing him to everything in the courtyard.
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“Uncle, look at this swing. My brother made it for me. The flowers on it have all withered now, but it will be especially beautiful when the flowers bloom.”
"When I plant new flowers this year, I want to plant the kind that grows very long vines."
Song Kangcheng chimed in, "Your uncle will have someone send you flower seeds then."
"Thank you, Uncle." Fu Man'er accepted without hesitation.
The two walked around the courtyard, and Fu Man'er talked for a while, mostly about what she wanted to do in the future. Listening to her from beginning to end, it was clear she truly had no intention of leaving the Xu family mansion.
She was even thinking about what kind of fish would be raised in the Xu family's pond next year so she could go into the water and catch them.
"Uncle?" Fu Man'er noticed his drooping brows and turned her head to ask, "Are you unhappy?"
Song Kangcheng shook his head. "Man'er, are you happy here?" Actually, this question was unnecessary. Man'er was as happy as anyone else.
"Of course I'm happy!" the little girl said with a smile, her eyes shining like the stars he had seen last night.
At this moment, he had to admit what Xu Yi had said: the stars here were bigger and brighter than those in other places.
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The children here are happier, more independent, and more fortunate than those in the capital.
Song Kangcheng felt a lump in his throat, and after a while, he finally spoke.
"Man'er, if you don't want to go back to the capital, then live a carefree life here."
This place suits her better.
"Okay." Fu Man'er replied crisply, her starry eyes crinkling into crescents with joy.
She didn't press Song Kangcheng to ask why she didn't have to go to the capital, which relieved Song Kangcheng.
But my guilt towards her only intensified; after all, I still felt I had let this child down.
Before leaving, Song Kangcheng had a private chat with Xu Genshan and the others. No one knew what they talked about, but Song Kangcheng came out with red eyes.
Fu Man'er followed Xu Yi to the door to see him off. "Man'er, I'll be returning to the capital in a few days. Your uncle will try his best to spend time with you during this time."
"And, and your mother too," Song Kangcheng said as he was about to get into the carriage.
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He couldn't really comment on the things his younger sister had done, given how powerful she had become in the Marquis's mansion over the years, but she was still Man'er's birth mother.
Fu Man'er thought for a moment and then nodded, "I'll come to see you tomorrow." As long as she wasn't allowed to go to the capital, everything would be fine.
Song Kangcheng agreed, looking forward to their meeting the next day.
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