Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Shangyuan Solo...
Xu Yuanheng looked at Xiao Xun intently, trying to tell whether he was speaking on impulse or was serious.
After looking for a long time, he didn't find any joking expression on Xiao Xun's face.
Xu Yuanheng thought that the current life was just right for Xiao Xun. He lacked nothing. He had an official title, power and influence, and he also had rice dumplings. Naturally, he also had Lin Qiuran.
Xu Yuanheng had helped Lin Qiuran a lot in the past, but now, what he did was something Xiao Xun could also do. If he were Xiao Xun, he would probably make Lin Qiuran draw a clear line between them, even if he didn't say it out loud, he would do it secretly. He wouldn't take the initiative to let his son recognize him as his godfather.
Having him be the godfather means that they will be closer in the future, and they can visit each other during festivals. In the future, he and Xiao Xun will be of the same generation.
Xu Yuanheng couldn't understand. Xiao Xun had become the Earl of Dingyuan and returned to the capital. Even if it was reasonable for him to stop Lin Qiuran from associating with him, he could still ask him to let Tangyuan recognize him as his godfather.
Xiao Xun is not like other men.
Xu Yuanheng didn’t know what Xiao Xun was thinking, but for him, he really liked Tangyuan.
Business has been going smoothly these past few years, and with a concern in mind, I've become much more cautious. Xu Yuanheng said, "Of course I'm willing. I've watched Tangyuan grow up, and I hope to see him more often in the future, to see him study, grow up, get married, and have children."
Xiao Xun had been worried that Xu Yuanheng wouldn't agree, but that was no longer the case. He smiled and said, "Today is too rushed. How about we arrange the recognition of our relatives when Master Xu returns to Beijing next time?"
Giving it more time to prepare also shows that the Xiao family values it.
Xu Yuanheng chuckled, his laughter vibrating in his chest. "Okay, then, write a letter and send it to me before I return to Beijing."
To be honest, Xu Yuanheng likes dealing with people like Xiao Xun. If it weren't for these things, he would be willing to be friends with Xiao Xun. It should be quite pleasant to be friends with Xiao Xun.
The two stood and talked for a while, and Xu Yuanheng said, "Let's go see Tangyuan. Today is his birthday."
Tangyuan was having a lot of fun in the mansion. First, he set off cannons in the garden, and then he dug a hole in the ice on the lake. He held a fishing rod beside the hole and imitated Jiang Taigong fishing.
It's not spring yet, and after playing this, people are riding on ice-skating horses and skating on the lake. There's no sign of stopping.
After he had played for more than half an hour, Lin Qiuran asked Xiao Xun to bring Tangyuan back. He saw that his shoes and pants were all wet. Just as he asked Tangyuan to change his clothes, the servant came to report that someone had come from Anyang Marquis' Mansion.
Lin Qiuran suddenly remembered that she had mentioned Tangyuan's birthday in front of Qin, and she hurriedly said, "Hurry up and ask someone to come in."
The visitor was the old nanny beside Qin, who brought gifts. Lin Qiuran treated her well and then sent her away.
After the people left, Lin Qiuran and Tang Yuan said, "This is a gift from your great-grandmother."
Tangyuan was like a happy puppy, sometimes acting coquettishly in Sun's arms, sometimes pulling Xu Yuanheng's hand to talk, sometimes asking to ride on Xiao Xun's shoulders, and sometimes asking Lin Qiuran to tidy up his clothes.
Lin Qiuran disliked his noise, but didn't say anything to spoil the fun, such as telling him to be well behaved and study hard, or that after today, he would be one year older and should be sensible and obedient in the future.
We're just making a fuss today, so it's fine at home. If you make a mistake later, I'll deal with it later. I'll try not to spoil the fun today.
In order to cater to Xu Yuanheng's taste, a few more light dishes were prepared for lunch. There was a greenhouse in the house, and there were many vegetables on the table, including garlic vegetables, boiled cabbage, and the fish was sea fish, which was steamed.
The rest are Tangyuan’s favorites. The spicy ones include spicy diced rabbit, boiled fish... The sweet ones include sweet and sour pork tenderloin, braised chicken wings, sweet and sour pork... Tangyuan’s taste is similar to Xiao Xun’s, and both father and son like these dishes.
There are shrimps and crabs in this season, so Lin Qiuran asked the kitchen to make steamed shrimp dumplings and spicy stir-fries that Xu Yuanheng liked.
Sun was extremely happy today. Looking at the people at the table, she saw that the troublesome Xiao Dashi was not there. Especially seeing Xiao Xun and Xu Yuanheng sitting together, she felt relieved that the scene in her dream would not happen.
A table full of delicious food, and all the family members around. Sun guessed that Xiao Dashi was still on his way, in the cold weather, without a hot meal, but that was his own fault.
When he returns to Xiaojia Village, he will know whether the people in the old house are good or bad.
On the way, he could still dream that his nephew would respect and serve him when he returned home. But when he returned home, people saw that he had no money and no one cared about him anymore.
He didn't even think about how everything in his family came from. He relied on Lin Qiuran for money and Xiao Xun for status.
Sun smiled and used the serving chopsticks to pick up some of Xu Yuanheng's favorite food. "Eat more. You're so thin. Take good care of yourself. Come to our house for dinner when you come to the capital."
Tang Yuan also said: "Yes, Uncle Xu, you should eat more. It is very tiring when traveling. Eating more will give you the strength to travel."
Xu Yuanheng smiled. He never thought that he could sit and eat with Xiao Xun like this. He nodded to Sun and said, "Thank you, Auntie."
Tang Yuan became interested again and chased after Xu Yuanheng and asked, "Uncle Xu, what were the other places you went to like?"
He had actually been to many places, but they were all places he passed by on his way to the capital, and he had never seen them carefully, so he didn't know what other places were like.
Xu Yuanheng lowered his head and said to Tang Yuan, "You'll have to see it for yourself to know. When you're older and have finished your studies, you can travel and study. There's a saying that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. What you read in a book is different from what you see with your own eyes."
Tang Yuan: "What is in the book is for others to read, and what I read is what I read."
Xu Yuanheng nodded. Although he hadn't taken the imperial examination, he had studied and performed well academically. He had houses in various places, which would make it convenient for Tangyuan to travel and study.
He has never been a father, so since he has decided to recognize his relatives, he should also sincerely consider Tangyuan.
He picked up some vegetables for the glutinous rice balls and said, "Eat more glutinous rice balls. Eating more will help you grow taller. In the future, Uncle Xu will take you to travel all over the country to see the beautiful scenery."
Tangyuan ate the meat vigorously, hoping to grow up quickly.
After lunch, Xu Yuanheng left. Tangyuan took a short nap in the afternoon. When night fell, the family went out to watch the lantern festival.
Lin Qiuran asked Sun to go as well, but Sun didn't like the cold weather, the crowds, and the fact that her newly made shoes would be stepped on, so she didn't go out.
So we went as a family of three.
The Lantern Festival in the capital was much more lively than that in Yu'an. Everywhere was brightly lit, not only the streets in the south of the city, but also other streets.
Horse-drawn carriages lined the streets one after another. Looking out from inside, I could see three or four-story buildings glittering with lights. From a distance, I could see graceful figures playing the zither, singing and dancing inside.
The bright lights on the street are connected together, reflecting the bright moon in the sky. The pedestrians on the street are wearing festive and auspicious colors. There are all kinds of fireworks, and the nose is filled with the pungent smell of saltpeter.
The fireworks are colorful, floating in the sky, set on the ground, held in the hands, and come in all kinds of shapes.
In addition to the large number of restaurants, people and officials, Lin Qiuran felt another place that was different from Yu An.
Tang Yuan leaned against the window, "Mom, Dad! It's so lively outside!"
Lin Qiuran smiled and followed Tangyuan's gaze outside. A bright scene flashed through his eyes. It was very lively.
The window was occupied by the mother and son, and Xiao Xun didn't look at them. He couldn't help but think of the scene that year, not on the Lantern Festival, but on New Year's Eve, on the second floor of Yu'an Restaurant, when he and Lin Qiuran watched the fireworks together.
It looked great at the time too.
Tang Yuan couldn't help but sigh, "I've never seen so many lights, it's wonderful! Mom, you chose a great day to give birth to me. Every year I can see so many lights and fireworks."
There aren’t so many fun and interesting things to do when other people celebrate their birthdays.
Lin Qiuran looked at the scenery outside. He had wanted to go out to see the lantern festival that year, but he couldn't. "Let's go to the street to see it. It's not very clear from the carriage."
Tangyuan nodded. He was very willing. As soon as he got off the car, he obediently let Lin Qiuran and Xiao Xun hold his hands.
The streets were crowded with people, all walking together. Some brought their children, some walked alone, and some were accompanied by servants. It was a joyful and lively scene.
Lin Qiuran felt dazzled and was just looking when a group of children ran towards him.
Just follow the trend.
Xiao Xun was quick to block the collision, and he was the one who got hit. Lin Qiuran and Tang Yuan were unharmed.
Tang Yuan covered his mouth and said, "Dad, I saw that person hit you and you were ejected!"
Fortunately, Xiao Xun was the one who was hit, so he didn't have to apologize to others.
Lin Qiuran smiled and pulled Tangyuan inside. "There are so many people here, hold on tight and don't get lost. There's no way to find you if you get lost in these crowds."
The weather was still cold, and everyone who passed by had a puff of white steam around their lips. Some hunched their necks, some rubbed their hands, but Lin Qiuran, holding the heater in his arms, didn't feel cold at all.
Sometimes Tangyuan was in a hurry and walked ahead, so Lin Qiuran asked the maid to follow him. When he came back, she would hold a bowl of hot sugar-roasted chestnuts in her arms.
He held up the glutinous rice balls like a treasure and said, "Mom, you eat it."
Xiao Xun took the sugar-roasted chestnuts and peeled two, one for Lin Qiuran and one for his son. After eating the glutinous rice balls, he said, "Mom, this is quite sweet!"
Lin Qiuran smiled and nodded, "It's quite sweet."
I had a very happy birthday, and even had a smile on my face in my sleep.
He slept in the main courtyard again today. Xiao Xun did question him before he went to sleep, but Tang Yuan argued, "I said we should move out after my birthday. My birthday hasn't even ended yet, so there's no need to move. If Dad insists I leave today, that's fine. Then he can wake me up after midnight and let me go to my own courtyard in the cold wind. I don't mind, but I think it's a bit pathetic."
Xiao Xun: "..."
In the end, it was Lin Qiuran who spoke up and said that the birthday was over and they would move tomorrow.
Tangyuan's eyes lit up and he looked at Xiao Xun with great pride.
Lin Qiuran and Tang Yuan said, "We'll move tomorrow. A gentleman's word is his..."
Tang Yuan immediately responded, "It's impossible to catch up with him!"
Xiao Xun finally knew who Tangyuan learned this from.
Tangyuan wrapped himself in a quilt and turned around a few times on the kang. On that last night, he wanted to stay a little longer, but because he was young, he fell asleep quickly.
When he fell asleep, Xiao Xun couldn't help but say, "How old is he? How can he be considered a gentleman?"
Lin Qiuran: "Not really now, but Tangyuan really aspires to be a gentleman, so you must keep your word. Don't tell him nonsense and let all my efforts go to waste."
"Also, Tangyuan will be going to school soon, and it's good for him to sleep alone. But if he doesn't feel comfortable and wants to come home one day during this period, you can't be too strict with him." With children, you have to have a balance between relaxation and tension.
This is not a military camp, there is no need to be so strict.
There are many courtyards in the mansion, and Tangyuan was directly transferred from a separate room to a separate courtyard. It was not easy to get used to it at first, but he must adapt slowly.
Lin Qiuran would probably have to adapt, too. They'd slept in the same bed before, with a child between them. Now that Tangyuan was gone, Lin Qiuran would have to face Xiao Xun. The saying about the closest and most distant couples was probably true.
For the past month, the two of them had only held hands once at night. She knew Xiao Xun well; he wouldn't do anything intimate in front of a child, even if the child was asleep. She had no idea what would happen next; she had to take things one step at a time.
Xiao Xun nodded, "Okay, I'll listen to you. When the weather gets warmer, I'll take Tangyuan to practice martial arts."
Xiao Xun had a habit of practicing martial arts. After all, diligence is the key to success, and kung fu is even more so. He would get up early to practice, and Tang Yuan would sometimes tag along, but that was just to disrupt him and be inconsistent. Sometimes, if he didn't feel like going, he wouldn't get up. Besides strengthening his body, practicing martial arts also helped him avoid being bullied.
Lin Qiuran was worried about the child, and Xiao Xun was worried too.
Lin Qiuran nodded. "If you're serious about practicing, it's okay to be strict. Otherwise, if you practice for a few days and then stop for a few days, it won't be very useful."
Lin Qiuran knew that children should not be spoiled in such matters.
Xiao Xun patted her shoulder gently and said, "I will also be careful. I can't let Tangyuan get hurt because of practicing."
Seeing Xu Yuanheng treat Tang Yuan well, and Tang Yuan also being close to him, Xiao Xun felt jealous, so he wanted to treat the child even better. He couldn't just assume that just because he was the biological father, the child had to be close to him. Affection is built through getting along; nothing is taken for granted.
Tangyuan will have a godfather in the future, and he can't just watch Tangyuan get closer to his godfather.
Lin Qiuran smiled and said, "You've thought it through. It's getting late, let's go to bed."
After lying down, Xiao Xun naturally pulled her hand over. He lay on his side facing her, like a small mountain in the night.
Lin Qiuran felt that he looked a bit like a large dog. With Xiao Xun around, she felt at ease. She didn't have to worry about anything. She didn't have to be afraid of anything, as she always had Xiao Xun.
The next morning, Xiao Xun went to work early. Tang Yuan woke up and lay in bed, not wanting to get up. He curled up in his quilt, his eyes red and a look of loss.
Lin Qiuran urged him, "If you haven't woken up yet, sleep a little longer. If you're awake, get up. Don't just lie in bed."
Tang Yuan looked at the ceiling and sighed, then climbed up with a sigh. As he put on his clothes, he asked Lin Qiuran, "Mom, do I have to sleep alone tonight?"
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