Qiu Yu started counting down the days three days in advance, eagerly anticipating her little one's holiday.
On the actual day, He Zifeng went to pick up his child very early. The first time he went to pick up his child, he was late and the little guy nagged him several times.
As soon as He Zifeng arrived at the entrance of the private school, he heard the sound of footsteps. He casually reached out and scooped up a grinning Ranran.
"Father." Little He Ran hadn't seen him for a long time, and was extremely excited to see him.
She really is a boy, she loves to act cute, and she pressed her head against his chest.
He Zifeng said, "Go and say goodbye to Master Lin."
Xiao Heran said, "Master Lin, I'm going home with my father!"
Master Lin also liked this youngest and most clever boy very much, and said with a smile, "Go back now."
He Zifeng was going to bring Gouzi back, but Gouzi's father arrived even earlier than him.
He Zifeng said to his son, "Then why didn't you go with him?"
Xiao Heran said, "I'm waiting for Father." He looked proud and said, "Father, I can already recite many poems."
Upon hearing this, He Zifeng couldn't help but kiss his son: "Great job, just like your little daddy, so smart." He had shaved his stubble this morning just for this kiss, so the little rascal wouldn't push him away.
Xiao He Ran was a little embarrassed by the kiss, and like playing hide-and-seek, she hid herself in He Zifeng's arms.
Then she said softly, "I'm a big kid now, you can't kiss me!"
He Zifeng said, "Alright, when our Ranran grows up, her father won't be as close to her anymore."
These words were clearly meant to please the child, but Xiao Heran became a little anxious upon hearing them: "It's okay to kiss at home."
He Zifeng gently stroked his nose with his hand. The little guy had been carried around for a while before he finally poked his head out and secretly leaned on He Zifeng's shoulder to look.
He Zifeng asked, "What are you looking for?"
"Where is my little daddy?" He Ran's big eyes flashed with confusion.
He Zifeng said, "He's cooking delicious food for you at home."
Xiao Heran immediately pouted, and He Zifeng said, "You have quite a lot of things to do, and you still need to pick someone to take over."
Xiao Heran said in a serious tone, "I want both of you to pick me up together."
He Zifeng said, "Who said they were a four-year-old? Big kids don't need to be picked up; they can find their way home on their own."
Little He Ran didn't know how to refute, so she nestled in his arms, acting spoiled and whining.
He Zifeng was at a loss with his precious son and couldn't bear to disappoint him, so he said to the little He Ran in his arms, "Why don't you close your eyes and I'll conjure up your little daddy?"
Xiao Heran immediately closed his eyes, and no one knew who he had learned it from, but he put his two little hands together, looking very devout. He really believed that He Zifeng would conjure up his little father.
He Zifeng quickly called out to Qiu Yu, who was secretly following them. Ever since the two of them hid on the roof to peek at their son last time, Qiu Yu had been acting childish, insisting on seeing her son's reaction and saying she would only come out when her son came looking for her.
Qiu Yu quickly stood in front of her.
He Zifeng watched as little He Ran was still earnestly making a wish, so adorable that he wanted to kiss him. Kids are just so adorable. For such a rough and tough guy like him to have such a clever and mischievous child like Ranran is truly a gift from God.
He Zifeng said, "Open your eyes."
Xiao He Ran then opened his eyes and exclaimed in delight, "Little Daddy!" before reaching for a hug.
He Zifeng wouldn't allow it; he hadn't seen the child for over a month, and the child had grown quite a bit taller and heavier. He said, "Daddy will hold you."
Little He Ran's eyes were full of admiration: "Daddy, you're so amazing! You conjured him up in an instant."
He Zifeng wasn't arrogant when he was in charge of ten people at the county government office, but he suddenly became arrogant when his son admired him.
He Zifeng then went to fetch their horse, and they went home together.
Xiao Heran asked, "Didn't Grandma come?"
Qiu Yu said, "Grandma has sold out of everything and hasn't been able to set up her stall for several days. You'll see Grandma when you get home."
After getting into the carriage, He Zifeng drove home, with Qiu Yu and her son in the carriage.
They simply opened the soft curtains in the carriage, making it more ventilated and comfortable. Anyway, no one could see them. Little He Ran and Qiu Yu were hugging and cuddling, constantly wanting to be close. They didn't seem like big school kids at all; they were clearly little spoiled brats.
Qiu Yu already missed her son, and now, with his adorable antics, she was completely disoriented. The carriage arrived home quickly. He Zifeng took the horse back to the stable and gave it some hay and carrots. The horse ate happily, and He Zifeng unloaded the old items from the carriage, including the large basin used for making braised vegetarian dishes.
Qiu Yu got out of the car carrying her son, who was eager to show her the poems he had just learned in class, afraid he would forget them soon.
Qiuyu and her son went into the house.
Soon after, Ranran's voice came from inside the room as she read, still carrying a hint of her childish voice.
He Zifeng tidied up. Since they started making vegetarian dishes, they could earn two or three taels of silver a day, but it wasn't tiring anymore.
After the child finished reciting the poem, He Zifeng went into the house.
Then I heard my baby laugh and burrow into the blanket.
Qiu Yu was holding a small piece of clothing in her hand and said to He Zifeng, "Why did you come in at this time? My son was just changing his clothes." Before he came in, little He Ran was still naked. As soon as he saw him come in, he burrowed into the quilt.
The child grows quickly; only a month has passed, and his pants are already much too small. Luckily, Qiuyu had prepared in advance and had already stocked clothes that were a bit too big for the child.
He Zifeng looked at the little brat hiding under the covers and laughed, "Alright, the child's grown up and knows how to be shy now." Then he said, "Ranran, you can sleep in your own little room tonight."
In the village, most children were crammed together, and having a separate room was a luxury. But when He Zifeng built his house, he had already built all the rooms, including a small study room for He Ran in his little house. Unfortunately, he never slept there and just squeezed into their room.
He Ran immediately crawled out from under the covers, peeking out his little head. He was still wearing his shirt, and his cheeks were flushed as he said, "Daddy will sleep with me tonight."
He Zifeng said, "No way." He refused domineeringly.
Xiao Heran's almond-shaped eyes were filled with disbelief: "Why?"
He Zifeng said, "Because he sleeps with me."
Xiao Heran was shocked: "He is my little father." After saying that, he put his arms around Qiu Yu's neck as if he was afraid of being taken away.
Qiu Yu was embarrassed by the two of them. She said, "Ranran, you're a big kid now."
Xiao Heran said, "No, no."
He Zifeng flicked his forehead, and the little guy immediately covered his forehead.
Qiu Yu said, "You don't need to go back today." Usually, after finishing his work at the morning market, he would pack up and go home, while He Zifeng would have to go to the yamen for duty. Today, he was picking up the child and would come back directly from the county town with them.
He Zifeng said, "No need, I told them beforehand." Then he said, "You guys have fun, I'm going to help with the autumn harvest." The grain is ripe now, and everyone is harvesting.
He Zifeng didn't plant anything on his land this year, so he can go and help others with their work.
That's how people in the village are; you help me, I help you, everyone has to lend a hand.
He Zifeng then went out.
Xiao Heran then got out of bed, changed his pants, and said to Qiu Yu, "Little Daddy, I've missed you so much. I just want to be in bed with you. Will you stay with me today?"
Qiu Yu couldn't resist her son's pleading and agreed without hesitation.
A little while later, Gouzi joined a few other children to look for He Ran, wanting to take him to glean wheat ears. Children love doing this. Normally, adults don't let them go to the fields, but they're only allowed to play like this.
Xiao Heran said, "Okay," and was about to run outside when Qiu Yu called him back. These new pants were meant for when he went to school. If they got dirty, she didn't know if they would even dry properly after washing. She only let him wear his old pants.
Xiao Heran changed. He went out to play wildly with Gouzi and the others, and Qiuyu never interfered. Xiao Heran hadn't played like this, running and playing freely all over the mountains and fields, very often. Before, the He family was strict, and later he went to study at the county school. It's good for children to be lively.
Xiao Heran went out to play, and He Zifeng helped out. Qiu Yu planned to cook all the things the child liked to eat.
So they won't complain of being hungry as soon as they get home.
Soon, wisps of smoke rose from the chimney, filling the air with a delightful aroma. Fortunately, their new house was built in a secluded spot, so the smell didn't travel far. Unlike their previous rented house, where the neighbors would know whenever they cooked something delicious.
He Zifeng specifically sought out the village chief this time, saying, "This year's tax collection is very strict, so be sure to pay it early, otherwise you'll be fined by the higher-ups." Every year they have a tax shortfall. Their newly appointed county magistrate is ambitious and wants to do well in every aspect so that he can be transferred away from here when his three-year term ends.
I told them about the importance of this beforehand.
The village chief of Liuzi Village laughed and said, "I know. There's definitely no problem with a bumper harvest this year." He then added, "Your land had a timely rain a few days ago, which has replenished its fertility. After another winter, it will definitely be fertile land. When your son passes the imperial examination, this land will no longer be subject to taxes."
He Zifeng laughed and said, "He only knows a few words; he's still a long way from a normal ending."
The village chief of Liuzi Village then shared some gossip related to the He family.
He Zifeng no longer pays any attention to the He family's affairs, and since he lives far away, he has no way of contacting them.
However, the village chief Liu was referring to Xu Li's father. The two were old rivals, so naturally, he paid more attention to him.
It is said that Xu Li once returned to the village with bruises on his body, and Xu Li's father was so angry that he kept cursing. But Xu Li said that he had fallen and that he had returned to the village to borrow money. Of course, Xu Li's father refused to lend him money. He had a loud voice and told everyone in the county that the Gong family did not recognize him as a relative, and all the neighbors could hear him clearly.
Xu Li eventually went back. Everyone sighed for a long time. Xu Li and Wan Hai were the village's fairytale romance. So many people envied them; they were like phoenixes flying out of the mountains, yet their love story ended in chaos.
He Zifeng said, "If He Dabao and the others can pass the exam, maybe they can turn their lives around." Families like that placed great importance on the imperial examinations. Their chances of success depended entirely on their children. However, He Zifeng looked down on this approach. He believed in adults paving the way for their children, allowing them to live a comfortable life, which would be a fitting end to their father-son relationship.
He Zifeng didn't say much and went out to work.
After a hearty meal at home that evening, just as it was time for bed, the little rascal indeed lured Qiuyu away.
He Zifeng slept alone on the big bed. He had thought that since the child had finally come back for a visit, it was fine if he was clingy. But instead, he couldn't fall asleep and tossed and turned for a long time.
He couldn't fall asleep even when it was past midnight.
It's so uncomfortable to have someone in the bed all alone. But after a short while, a rustling sound came from inside. He Zifeng asked, "Who's there?"
It turned out that Qiu Yu had come back after putting the child to sleep. He Zifeng pulled her into his arms and said, "Next time, don't listen to that little rascal. You can sleep here."
Qiu Yu smiled.
He Zifeng kissed him, a little embarrassed and annoyed. He kissed him until he was weak, then carried him to bed.
Once Qiu Yu was asleep beside him, He Zifeng was overcome with overwhelming drowsiness.
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