In Yuzhou, conversations could be heard coming from the courtyard of the Jiang Residence, which had a vermilion plaque above the door.
"Xihu, let's stop soaking and go jump around." This is the voice of a young child, soft and sweet.
"You've only steeped one incense stick's worth of water. You can't jump until you finish steeping today." This was the man's voice, calm yet tinged with a cold indifference.
"Xihu, it itches! Nini, I want to fly!" The toddler scratched his equally chubby little belly with his chubby little hands and pouted.
“Young master, Master Yi said that you can only train after soaking in the medicinal bath, and after training you have to memorize your lessons. Only after memorizing your lessons can you play with the mechanical bird.” The boy standing behind the child patiently guided him.
"It itches, I don't want to soak anymore!" The toddler protested as he climbed out of the bathtub, grabbed the edge of the tub, and tried to flip himself out.
The boy stepped forward and held him down, then glanced back at the man who was focused on making protective gear. After thinking for a moment, he took out a small bamboo frog from his pocket.
"Here, play with this, you can soak for a while longer."
"Hehe, thank you Nini!" The toddler happily grabbed the little frog and sat back in the bathtub. His chubby little hands rummaged around on the frog's back a few times, and the little frog hopped around in the bathtub with a croaking sound.
The man not far away glanced at the toddler playing happily with a little frog in the bathtub, then at the hourglass at his feet, and continued making protective gear.
Half an hour later, the man took the laughing toddler out of the bathtub, dressed him, and put the protective gear he had made on him.
"Xihu, what is this?"
The toddler looked curiously at the protective gear on his legs and arms, tilting his head and asking questions.
"Wear this, and you won't feel pain if you fall."
The young child, not understanding, curiously reached out to take it, but the protective gear seemed to be attached to his body and he couldn't take it off no matter what he did.
The toddler tried to grab it several times out of impatience, but calmed down after meeting the man's gaze.
Next up is Jump Jump, his favorite game.
Now he doesn't need any help; he can entertain himself all by himself. Even if he falls down occasionally, it doesn't matter; he just gets up and keeps jumping.
Not far away, Fu Li asked An Yi, "Master Yi, the young master is still young and his bones are too soft. Isn't it a bit too hasty?"
An Yi said calmly, "The daily medicinal bath can strengthen his muscles and bones. His energy is too abundant, and this intensity of training is just helping him to consume the excess energy. It's fine."
Fu Li nodded silently and said, "Our Fu family finally has a successor. The old patriarch should be laughing in his sleep!"
An glanced at Fu Li and asked, "Did you write a letter up the mountain?"
Fu Li stiffened, then shrank back, saying somewhat timidly, "I wrote it, I only wrote about the young master, I didn't mention the young lady."
A hint of mockery flashed in An Yi’s eyes. “You write your young master as if he’s the best in the world. If my family doesn’t dig up his mother’s ancestors for eight generations, I’ll take your surname.”
Fu Li, unconvinced, snorted and said, "Young Master is just a funny character. I didn't write anything wrong. Master, you are a member of the Fu family. It would be the same if I took your surname."
An Yi didn't say anything more, but he was secretly thinking. The way the young master and young lady were interacting was inappropriate. Although the young master didn't explicitly say that the young master was his biological son, his words implied that, and they were both perceptive enough to see through it!
It seems only the young lady doesn't know. What exactly is going on?
Moreover, the young master has yet to win the beauty's heart, so what's going on?
An Yi is unaware that Jiang Shan is currently a typical example of someone who is blinded by their own involvement.
Children change every day. Some people say Jiang Huai looks like her, some say Jiang Huai looks like Sanlang, some say Jiang Huai looks like Fu Qiyuan, and some even say Jiang Huai looks like Jiao's mother.
Jiang Shan simply smiled and let it go; that's a good thing.
Jiang Shan deeply agrees that children become like family members of the same family they live with for a long time.
The reason why the child resembles Fu Qiyuan is because Fu Qiyuan took care of Jiang Huai a lot, so the child is closer to him. Otherwise, he would be calling his father all the time.
As for Jianghuai's decision to take a cheap job as a stepfather halfway through the journey, Jiang Shan said he was powerless to do anything about it.
Fu Qiyuan taught him to call him "Dad" when he was just a few months old in Jianghuai. She was unaware that the child was calling the wrong father. This was her fault; she was an incompetent mother.
But it must be said, Fu Qiyuan is truly good to Jiang Huai! He even used his family's ancestral business to support his son; that's true love! Regardless of whether she and Fu Qiyuan can end up together, she doesn't want to ruin their relationship.
Dad it is!
Other children have fathers, so it's not unreasonable for Jiang Huai to find himself a father too.
At worst, we can tell him when he's older and more sensible that his adoptive father isn't his biological father.
But you can treat him like your own father.
Jiangshan spends less and less time with her son now. He only thinks of her when he's hungry, thirsty, or wants to cuddle with her. He spends a little time with her and then stops wanting her embrace.
Even at night, I have to sleep in my own small bed.
But Fu Qiyuan is different.
Without fail, he would send Jiang Huai to the bamboo hut to find Mr. Mei to study.
When he has free time, he stays by his son's side a little longer; when he's busy, he gives his son a few words of advice and then leaves. If he's really tied up with official duties and can't leave, he'll still take some time to visit him at the bamboo hut.
Fu Qiyuan accompanied the prefect on a business trip outside Yuzhou City today, and it was a bit late when they arrived at the bamboo hut.
The uncle and nephew (Fu Qiyuan firmly believed in his heart that Sanlang was Jiang Huai's uncle, not his maternal uncle) were seen with their heads touching, each holding a book and reciting their own.
"What Heaven ordains is called human nature; to follow one's nature is called the Way; to cultivate the Way is called education..."
"In the beginning of silver, the fine details appeared; the details were similar, but the joy was far away..."
"Before the emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure are expressed, it is called equilibrium; once they are expressed, they are all..."
"Dou Yanxian has a righteous method; she teaches the five children..."
"If a child is raised but not taught, it is the father's fault; if the teaching is not strict, it is the teacher's laziness..."
"If a child is not raised properly, the father will be at fault; if the teaching is not strict, the son will become lazy..."
Fu Qiyuan smiled and shook his head, then walked up to Sanlang and tapped the table.
Sanlang sensed something was wrong, looked up, and saw his face turn bright red.
"Daddy!" The little boy saw Fu Qiyuan, put the book he was holding upside down on the table, and reached out to Fu Qiyuan for a hug.
Sanlang rubbed his cheeks in embarrassment and indignation, pointing at the little dumpling and complaining, "Huai'er insists on studying with me, and he's making me recite the Three Character Classic every day... Brother, you should take him away!"
Jiang Huai was still young, so Mr. Xunmei could only teach him to recite texts and occasionally teach him to hold a pen and scribble.
But Jiang Huai was very studious. He followed Sanlang's example and imitated him. When Sanlang read, he would also carry a book. When Sanlang recited, he would also recite. When Sanlang painted, he would also pick up a brush and draw talismans. The uncle and nephew were very close!
Aside from his tendency to lead Sanlang off-key when reciting, he's otherwise perfect.
Fu Qiyuan carried Jiang Huai to Mr. Xunmei's study. Upon seeing him, Jiang Huai greeted him warmly as "Uncle," and then began rummaging through drawers and cabinets in search of treasure.
It is a true treasure.
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