Chapter 11 Tea Ceremony Competition
After the elderly neighbor left, the room returned to silence, with an eerie atmosphere.
Ji Zishen stopped pretending and stood behind with a blank expression, while Ji Zhiqi went from looking confused to frowning slightly, his expression becoming extremely complicated.
Only Ji Yanyan, the carefree one whose heart was only set on her little rabbit apple, ran over and hugged Ji Zhi Qiu's leg, gently shaking it: "Brother is back, can I eat my little rabbit apple now?"
Ji Zhi Qiu finally came to her senses, looked at her silly son with mixed feelings, and said softly, "Go tell your brother to wash his hands, then you can eat."
The three-year-old child didn't understand anything. Upon hearing this, he immediately turned around to find Ji Zishen and pulled him towards the bathroom.
Ji Zishen wanted to avoid Ji Yanyan's chubby hand, but because Ji Zhiqi was still there, he forced himself to stand still and pretend to be very friendly.
Ji Zhi Qiu watched the two children eat fruit together in silence. Ji Zi Shen was indeed a responsible older brother, always taking care of Ji Yan Yan, and didn't seem to harbor any resentment.
But Ji Zhi Qiu wasn't so easily fooled; he gradually figured it out.
The time he spent with Ji Yanyan gave him immense confidence, leading him into a misconception that Ji Zishen was just a child and that as long as he was sincere, he could be subtly influenced and taught well.
He was too arrogant. Ji Zishen was extremely precocious, with a strong personality and a sound worldview, as well as a specific way of thinking and behavioral habits. He could not be shaken in a short time.
He had to change his approach and strategy, treating Ji Zishen as an equal adult, but not treating his still immature mind roughly, and guiding him slowly while maintaining the status quo.
Ji Zhi Qiu couldn't help but sigh.
In short, he was just a naive and foolish college student. Although he lived more than ten years longer, in terms of cunning, he couldn't even compare to one of Ji Zishen's fingers. He was more like a mentally challenged person who could only shout "Aba Aba Mickey Mouse Clubhouse." Even if he was cured, he would still drool.
In fact, that's really how he is perceived by Ji Zishen.
Ji Zhi Qiu felt increasingly troubled, his future seemed bleak, and if things continued like this, he would eventually face the ending of the original book.
But he was only down for a short while before regaining his fighting spirit.
In Ji Zishen's mind, there's nothing wrong with being a drooling idiot. As long as Ji Zishen doesn't put up with him, he can use any tricks he wants.
In terms of intelligence and cunning, he can't compare to Ji Zishen, but he still has a lot of room for improvement in tea ceremony!
As her thoughts wandered, Ji Zhi Qiu saw Ji Zi Shen sitting upright on the sofa, looking like a well-behaved child. She smiled and walked over, casually revealing a small wound on her finger. Even if Ji Zi Shen wanted to pretend he didn't see it, it would be difficult for him.
If Ji Zishen wanted to stay in this family, he had to play the role of a well-behaved and sensible person. He immediately went over and showed a concerned expression, "Dad, how did you get hurt? How deep is the wound?"
Ji Zhi Qiu looked at the small wound that would have healed on its own in a second, her smile froze for a moment, and she secretly shook her hand behind her back, but there was still no bleeding.
The visual effects were a bit lacking, so they could only make up for it with their acting. Ji Zhi Qiu forced a smile and said, "I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me."
Seeing Ji Zhi Qiu's tired expression, Ji Zi Shen's survival instinct, which he had developed since childhood, kicked in, and he subconsciously said, "It's all because of me that Dad is working so hard."
Ji Zhi Qiu knew it was time for a friendly tea ceremony, so he grabbed Ji Zi Shen's hand and said, "How could that be? It's the greatest luck of my life to be your father. I'm proud of you, but I haven't done enough. Zi Shen, you won't blame me, will you?"
In the past, Ji Zhi Qiu always wore his favoritism on his face and never spoke kindly to him. Ji Zi Shen was stunned and stared blankly at him.
Ji Zhi Qiu gave a standard, pitiful old father's smile, "If I had done enough, you wouldn't have sneaked out to buy candy for Ji Yan Yan. It's all my fault."
Ji Zishen's expression stiffened for a moment, and a shrewdness beyond his years flashed in his eyes. Afraid that Ji Zhiqi would bring up the past, he repeatedly denied it, "No, Dad, you have done more than enough."
Ji Zhi Qiu was secretly heartbroken and couldn't listen to anything else. "Other fathers are strong and responsible and can take good care of their children. Unlike me, apart from my love for you being second to none, I'm too immature in other matters! I even cut my finger while cooking for you. I'm so useless. It hurts so much. It will get infected if it gets wet. How am I supposed to wash your clothes then?"
Ji Zishen not only couldn't get a word in edgewise, but was also nearly knocked unconscious by these words, and could only weakly say, "Dad, don't think like that..."
Ji Zhi Qiu suddenly leaned over and interrupted Ji Zi Shen's thoughts, "If I hadn't adopted you back then, you would definitely be living a good life now. It's all my fault for delaying you for so many years. I'm so sorry!"
Upon hearing the word "adoption," Ji Zishen's mind instantly returned to normal.
He looked down on Ji Zhi Qiu and treated him extremely perfunctorily, but he had to admit that Ji Zhi Qiu was his best choice. He couldn't let Ji Zhi Qiu continue to blame himself and waver in his idea of continuing to adopt him.
Ji Zishen was averse to physical contact, but he still gritted his teeth and hugged Ji Zhiqi back, enduring the pain in his teeth as he said, "It's not that Dad didn't take good care of us, it's that I was too ignorant. I promise I will never run away again. In my heart, you...you are the best dad!"
Ji Zhi Qiu smiled with relief and looked directly at Ji Zi Shen, "Is that really what you think?"
Ji Zishen said something against his will, and his teeth ached. He could only nod stiffly.
Ji Zhi Qiu's eyes widened slowly. Just as she was about to excitedly hug Ji Zi Shen, she pulled at the almost non-existent wound on her hand. "Ah, it hurts so much."
Ji Zishen obediently took his hand in his arms, his expression extremely serious. "Dad, you absolutely must not get it wet again. If the wound gets infected, I'll be very distressed."
Ji Zhi Qiu couldn't squeeze out any tears, so she could only hug Ji Zi Shen with emotion.
He used all his skills and finally managed to intimidate Ji Zishen. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he looked up and met Ji Yanyan, who was sneaking around and hiding to the side.
Ji Yanyan noticed his gaze and seemed to be paused. She shrank back, then looked up with a strong sense of unease. Her cheeks were puffed up like a hamster's, stuffed full of apples, so many that she couldn't swallow them all.
Ji Zhi Qiu remained silent for a few seconds before looking down at the half-empty fruit plate.
So while your father was racking his brains and charging into battle, you were sneaking around eating!
Ji Yanyan was completely oblivious to Ji Zhiqi's speechless mood. She blinked her round eyes and chewed hard, looking rather dim-witted.
Ji Zhi Qiu suddenly calmed down.
It's not Ji Yanyan's fault; he's his biological son, after all, he's not exactly smart.
If they continued acting, they might be exposed. Ji Zhi Qiu used a toothpick to stick a piece of apple in front of Ji Zi Shen, saying, "Knowing you were coming back, I specially bought a lot of fruit. It's especially sweet, so please try it."
Ji Zishen originally only regarded the father and son as tools, but after Ji Zhiqi's performance, he couldn't back down. After finishing the apple, he took the initiative to take on the responsibility of taking care of Ji Yanyan while Ji Zhiqi cooked.
Ji Zhi Qiu has no talent for cooking, but he's not a kitchen disaster either. Every dish is cooked through and you can't taste anything wrong with it, but it's still far from being a dish that looks, smells, and tastes delicious.
Ji Yanyan's dinner was still a stew. In order to get praise from Ji Zhi Qiu, he ate it with great relish. However, Ji Zhi Qiu and Ji Zi Shen fell silent when they saw the two dishes on the table that did not look very appetizing.
Ji Zhi Qiu bit her lower lip and started to feel sorry for herself again. Ji Zi Shen felt a chill run down his spine and quickly praised, "It's so delicious! I missed this taste so much when I was at the experimental base!"
He ate while praising Ji Zhi Qiu enthusiastically, which was very emotionally appealing. He also took over Ji Zhi Qiu's chores, as if there were two children in the family who needed to be praised before they would eat.
Dinner was finally over. Ji Zishen still had homework to do, so he obediently went back to his room without Ji Zhiqi urging him.
Only after the door closed did Ji Zhi Qiu let out a sigh of relief, as if all her strength had been drained, and slumped onto the sofa.
As soon as he got home, Ji Zishen staged a scene where the innocent girl was forced to leave home, trying to ruin his reputation. Who knows what other trouble he might cause later.
Ji Zhi Qiu sighed again. Hearing this, Ji Yan Yan crawled over on all fours, plopped down on his lap, and looked up innocently, asking, "What is Daddy thinking about?"
Ji Zhi Qiu forced a smile. "I'm exhaling my magical breath, trying to blow you away."
Although Ji Yanyan didn't understand, he realized that Ji Zhi Qiu was deliberately teasing him again, and pouted, "Daddy, don't want this stuff."
"so."
"This brew."
"..."
Unable to correct her pronunciation, Ji Zhi Qiu sighed again and patted Ji Yan Yan's little bottom, "Get up, even a little dumpling doesn't weigh as much as you."
Ji Yanyan hugged her legs in dissatisfaction and huddled on the sofa, watching Ji Zhiqi stand up and fiddle with the cabinet for a long time before finally returning with a cup.
Ji Yanyan was at the age when her curiosity was at its peak. She peeked around and asked, puzzled, "Why does Daddy drink the water from the pond?"
Ji Zhi Qiu: "?? How could this be pond water?"
“Look, the cup is full of seaweed, and the water is green,” Ji Yanyan said logically.
“This is tea leaves,” Ji Zhi Qiu nodded his little head, “not seaweed.”
"Tea?" Ji Yanyan tilted her head. "I want to drink some too."
Ji Zhi Qiu stretched out a hand to stop him, "This is strong tea, very bitter, it doesn't taste good at all."
As he spoke, he blew on the hot air, took a small sip, and shuddered at the bitter taste.
Ji Yanyan's eyes darted around, and seeing Ji Zhiqi's pained expression, she stopped leaning forward and asked in confusion, "Why does Daddy have to drink this?"
“This is a folk remedy,” Ji Zhiqi said, pinching his nose and taking another sip. “It’s about using the principle of ‘like cures like,’ eating whatever you’re lacking.”
Hopefully, his tea-making skills will improve after drinking this strong cup of tea.
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