"Why are you here so early?" Mr. Xunmei stepped forward to take Jiang Huai and led Jiang Shan toward the bamboo house.
"I've brought some holiday gifts for you, sir. The New Year is almost here... Sir, have they always done this?" Jiang Shan couldn't help but ask.
Mr. Xunmei knew what Jiangshan was asking. He glanced at the bamboo huts behind him, a faint smile playing on his lips. “They are the brothers that Sanlang met on the street. They have been wandering in Yuzhou City for many years. Xiaoqi was seriously ill before and is now weak. Knowing that An Er is skilled in martial arts, he pestered him to teach him. He said that they would share both good fortune and hardship, and that’s how they all started training with An Er.”
"Born into this world, they have no choice, but if they can have a strong body, it is an extra guarantee for survival. Why not?"
Jiang Shan smiled and nodded, saying, "You're right. I didn't mean anything by it, I was just worried they wouldn't be able to handle it. Young Master An went too far!"
She had personally witnessed An Er kick Hu Zi away. Her soul, having undergone the baptism of the 21st century a thousand years later, could not bear to see any child being abused, especially since these children were her nominal brothers.
"No pain, no gain, Huai'er..." Mr. Xunmei's gaze swept across Jiang Shan's face, and he swallowed the rest of his sentence.
Mr. Xunmei originally wanted to ask Jiangshan if he would be willing to teach Jianghuai, and then give him his first lessons when he grew up. But then he thought that the child was still young, they had just arrived, and there were many uncontrollable factors in the future, so it was too early to talk about these things now.
Jiang Shan's thoughts had clearly gone astray. She smiled bitterly and said, "I have no experience in raising children, and I don't know how to raise an outstanding child like other people's children. But look at the current situation. Jiang Huai is bound to follow the example of these uncles! I just hope that he will have normal values in the future and not grow up to be crooked, and I'll be thankful for that!"
Mr. Xunmei didn't quite understand what she meant by "three views" and "growing up crooked," but he could roughly understand the meaning. He stroked his beard and said seriously, "Don't worry, these children are all good children with pure and kind natures. I will definitely teach them to be kind to others. Although they may not become pillars of the country, they will never become local bullies!"
Jiang Shan solemnly expressed his gratitude, saying, "On behalf of these children, I thank you in advance for your great kindness!"
This is a reclusive Confucian scholar; he would never lead his child astray. If Jiang Huai can follow the master, he will surely benefit greatly! In the future, we should let Jiang Huai have more contact with the master so that he can be influenced by him. In time, he might become a great Confucian scholar himself.
Jiang Shan thought to himself with a smug satisfaction.
The bamboo house was already packed with people. The boys had forgotten about the Jiangshan and Jianghuai regions; they were all drooling over the local specialties.
"This is crab roe sauce. Adding a spoonful of this sauce to your noodles makes them so delicious!"
"This is canned seafood. It contains snails, clams, squid, and pickled crab. It's delicious!"
"This is... Sister, what is this?" Saburo held up a jar of marinated steamed pork and shouted towards the door.
Fu, standing to the side, replied, "This is steamed pork with rice flour, a new dish your sister invented. It's soft, tender, and fragrant after steaming, and it's incredibly delicious!"
"Let's have this for lunch!" Xiaoqi swallowed hard behind her.
"Okay, I'll make steamed pork with rice flour and fresh fish for you at noon!" Jiang Shan took over Xiao Qi's words and walked in one after the other with Mr. Xun Mei.
Upon hearing about eating fish, Sanlang's eyes lit up. He pulled Hu Zi over and said, "Brother Hu, there are fish in the pond behind. Let's go catch some. Sister's fish is so delicious!"
Soon, the group of boys moved on to the pond behind the bamboo hut to catch fish.
Jiang Shan and Xue Zhen started making steamed buns and pastries in the kitchen.
Winter snacks can be stored for a few more days, and since there are many children here, no matter how many we make, they can all finish them.
"Fu Wen, go to the market and buy two large iron pots, a few earthenware pots, and some more bowls and plates. Replace all these bamboo bowls!"
"Brother Fu, could you please buy some more wild chili peppers? They're essential for hot pot in this weather!"
"Let's buy another sheep...two sheep, these lads need more goat milk, it'll make them more resilient!"
"You also have wheat flour, but I want fine flour. Buy fifty jin!"
Jiang Shan and Xue Zhen were chatting away in the kitchen, while Fu Wen quietly took notes in a small notebook, seemingly doing quite a bit of work.
Mr. Xunmei sat outside with Jiang Huai in his arms, watching their interaction with a smile on his face, his smile full of satisfaction.
For many years, he had not felt the warmth of family, but through these children, he experienced a rare and precious kinship and the feeling of family.
Jiang Huai, in his arms, was holding a charcoal pencil made of bamboo strips, scribbling on a piece of white paper, making little noises as he did so, looking very excited.
"Huai'er, come with your grandfather to see what delicious food your mother is making!" Mr. Xunmei couldn't sit still because of the aroma coming from the kitchen, so he carried Jiang Huai to the kitchen.
The first batch of soup dumplings in Jiangshan had just come out of the pot. She picked up a bowl and plate, picked up a soup dumpling, blew on it, and then put it to Mr. Xunmei's lips.
Mr. Xunmei was stunned for a moment, at a loss for what to do.
A scholar like him, whose very being had etiquette and moral principles ingrained in his very being, had never been treated to such a treat before.
Meeting Jiang Shan's expectant gaze, Mr. Xunmei couldn't help but open his mouth to receive it.
"Is it delicious?" Jiang Shan asked with a smile.
Mr. Xunmei savored the fresh and fragrant taste in his mouth, and slowly closed his eyes.
Jiang Huai smelled the fragrance, stared at Mr. Xunmei's mouth, and then turned to his mother and called for sheep.
Jiang Shan picked up a few steamed buns, put them in a bowl, added a little vinegar sauce, and took it out.
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