Ding Heli and Qin Yilin no longer eat lunch here. They go out early and return late every day to collect medicinal herbs, which they then give to Ding Jiajia to dry, grind into powder, and store in oil paper bags.
I waited until Fan Zhaodi's matter was over before I felt relieved enough to go out this morning.
Ding Heli loves to gnaw on braised pig's trotters, so Shuiqing saved one for him. Qin Yilin loves to eat braised pork intestines, so Shuiqing also cut a plate of them and put them away separately, so that Jiajia could take them back for the two of them to have as an extra meal that evening.
The remaining portion was also plentiful. The whole family finished eating in a lively atmosphere, and Fan Zhaodi naturally got up to clear away the bowls and chopsticks.
Fan Jin stood up and called out, "Zhao Di, come with me."
After speaking, he looked at Shui Qing.
Shui Qing immediately understood that this meant she should join in, and she stood up in perfect unison.
Fan Zhaodi put down the dishes she was cleaning and followed the two of them towards the main house without saying a word.
There is a covered walkway in the courtyard, which shields you from the scorching sun. A breeze blows over the spring, bringing with it wisps of water vapor, making it fresh and comfortable.
Fan Jin led the two men into the tea room and stood before the desk, where paper, ink, brush, and inkstone were all laid out.
Fan Zhaodi looked at her second uncle standing in front of the desk and knew that he had something to tell her, and might even need to write a document or something. She didn't ask and waited quietly.
Her second uncle and aunt have done so much for her, so it's only right that she does whatever they ask of her.
"Although it's an adoption, it's just a temporary measure. Your second aunt and I are still your second uncle and aunt, and you can call us whatever you want."
"As for your elder brother and sister-in-law, whether you address them as you always have or follow Yan Qiuxing's lead is up to you. You can decide for yourself; we won't interfere, understand?" Fan Jin spoke gently, each word as warm and refined as jade.
Fan Zhaodi didn't expect her second uncle to say this right away. She had been very nervous all morning, not knowing how to address him.
If she doesn't call them "father" and "mother," won't people think she's ungrateful, considering how much they've helped her and she doesn't even call them "father" and "mother"?
But if we call them "father" and "mother," wouldn't that mean we're taking away our older sister's parents?
Furthermore, she knew that her aunt's family had servants, and those servants addressed her as "Miss" to both her eldest and second eldest sisters. Since she called them "Father" and "Mother," they could only treat her as a "Miss" as well, even though she wasn't a real "Miss"...
"Can I still call you Second Uncle and Second Aunt? As for Father and Mother, I'll call them like my eldest and second eldest sisters from now on." She knew they were her parents, but after today, they would have neither the title nor the reality of being parents.
She only acknowledged her second uncle and aunt in her heart. They were not her biological parents, but in her heart they were more important than her own parents and herself.
Fan Jin agreed: "That's fine. The form of address is just a formality; there's no need to worry about it too much."
Then he asked, "You said before that you didn't like your name, do you want to change it now?"
Zhao Di opened her mouth, her little face full of surprise.
This was the first time she learned to read from her second uncle, and her eldest and second eldest sisters asked her about it.
The eldest and second eldest sisters even asked their second uncle to help her choose a new name, but he didn't agree at the time.
I can't believe my second uncle still remembers! He has always remembered.
Fan Jin noticed her confusion and explained gently, "Back then, you were just staying at your second uncle's place, and everything was decided by your parents. Even if they gave you a name, you wouldn't be able to use it. But now, things are different."
"If you want, you can have a new name, just like your older sisters. Do you want to change it?"
Fan Zhaodi was so excited that she couldn't make a sound, and could only nod heavily.
The little head kept nodding.
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