Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Father and son alone...
The hot air exhaled from Tangyuan's nose all hit Xiao Xun's face, making him itchy.
From a closer distance, Xiao Xun examined Tang Yuan carefully. His eyes and mouth resembled Qiuran's, and his smile must have resembled a crescent moon. The child was soft and warm, lying between him and Lin Qiuran.
Wearing a middle-length shirt, her hands and feet were exposed. She originally supported herself with both hands, but now she supported herself with one hand and used the other to tell Xiao Xun not to speak.
Xiao Xun reached out and touched Tangyuan's hand, but Tangyuan soon became unable to support himself. Xiao Xun lifted the quilt and took him into his arms.
Tangyuan felt like he was tossing and turning. He wanted to speak, but Xiao Xun made a hushing gesture.
Xiao Xun had long and thin hands with chilblains on them. Tangyuan blinked, his eyes attracted by his father's hands. He was even more afraid of waking up his mother and getting scolded, so he covered his mouth and said nothing, lying obediently on Xiao Xun.
Xiao Xun tucked the quilt in. Tang Yuan was surprised and whispered, "It's so warm in here. You won't feel cold sleeping outside."
Tangyuan moved around and found a comfortable position.
He had thought Xiao Xun's body was hard, like armor, but his chest was soft and elastic, not hard at all. Tang Yuan lay on Xiao Xun, his chin resting on his shoulder.
He stayed like this for a while, and felt very warm. He couldn't help but whisper in Xiao Xun's ear, "Dad."
Tang Yuan had asked Xiao Xun if he was his father, but he had never called him that. Xiao Xun hadn't pressed him, as he knew he owed the child a lot. He had forgotten how many times he had seen Tang Yuan when he was a newborn, so it didn't count.
Xiao Xun could also see that the child wanted to get close to him, but was afraid. He thought it would take a few days, but Tangyuan called him today.
It was morning and Xiao Xun had just woken up. Tangyuan lay limply on him, calling him dad.
His throat seemed to be blocked by cotton, and for a moment he couldn't say anything. Tang Yuan gently pushed him and asked in a low voice: "Why didn't you answer me when I called you?"
Xiao Xun hummed in a muffled voice.
Tang Yuan couldn't help laughing and called out "Dad" again, and Xiao Xun responded. Tang Yuan's eyes became brighter and brighter, gradually curving into a crescent shape.
Xiao Xun reached out and touched Tangyuan's head. Tangyuan felt a little itchy, so he rubbed his ears.
Xiao Xun hugged him again. This child seemed to want to make up for all the years he hadn't called out to him. He kept calling out to him, and Xiao Xun kept responding. He felt that he was being unfair to the child. Tangyuan was having fun, but Xiao Xun was getting more and more choked up the more he listened.
Tang Yuan was surprised and asked, "Dad, why are your eyes red?"
He was so surprised that he forgot to lower his voice.
Xiao Xun shook his head, "It's okay."
Tangyuan didn't ask any more questions. He lay obediently on Xiao Xun's chest. Then he realized that he might not have woken his mother up.
Tangyuan looked up and saw that it was still dark outside and Lin Qiuran was still sleeping.
Tangyuan breathed a sigh of relief and lay back down.
Lin Qiuran closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. She was just sleeping, not dead. The father and son were moving and talking, so how could she not wake up?
However, she didn't want to disturb him, so she kept pretending to be asleep. She could see that Tang Yuan missed Xiao Xun very much, and she also envied Ying Jie'er for having a father who could hold him and tease her. When they finally saw each other yesterday, he wanted to get close but was afraid.
Relationships need to be cultivated slowly, and she has helped to check it. Xiao Xun can distinguish the priorities, so they can be closer, and Tangyuan will not be disappointed in the future.
Moreover, Xiao Xun is not the kind of father who cannot love his children. Xiao Dashi once said that grandchildren are closer than sons, and it is better to hold grandchildren than sons.
After waiting for a while, Lin Qiuran pretended to have just woken up.
Tang Yuan said happily: "Mom, you're awake!"
He and Xiao Xun slept in the same bed, with only his head exposed. His back was pressed against Xiao Xun's chest, and the two of them, big and small, looked at her neatly.
Lin Qiuran smiled and asked, "Why did you go to your father's place?"
Tang Yuan said, "I came here as soon as I woke up and you guys didn't wake up yet."
He didn't dare to disturb Lin Qiuran, but he dared to tease Xiao Xun. If he woke Lin Qiuran up, Lin Qiuran would definitely scold him, but his father not only didn't say anything, he also put him in the quilt, hugged him, and teased him.
Tangyuan thinks it’s great to have a father.
Tang Yuan said, "Mom, even though Dad looks hard, he feels soft to the touch!"
Xiao Xun was stunned, and so was Lin Qiuran, but Tang Yuan was still talking, "Really, my chest is soft."
Xiao Xun covered Tang Yuan's mouth and said, "It's actually hard, but it takes force to be hard."
Tang Yuan pushed Xiao Xun's hand away and asked curiously, "Then use more force and let me touch it!"
Lin Qiuran turned her eyes away, not watching the father and son playing. She stood up and got dressed, wearing a middle shirt inside and another layer outside. "Tangyuan, stop messing around. It's time to get ready and eat."
She then said to Xiao Xun, "You too, can't just do whatever he says."
Xiao Xun nodded. He looked down, his chest torn open by the glutinous rice balls. He gathered his clothes closer, not really knowing why, and quickly picked up the child. "Stop making noises. It's time to get up."
Xiao Xun planned to fold the quilt and put it in the kang cabinet. There was a maid at home, but he could do such a small thing himself.
Tang Yuan's eyes rolled around, and he pretended to climb down. Lin Qiuran said, "He can fold the quilt himself. Don't help him. Just fold mine."
Tang Yuan didn't understand and asked, "Why? Mom, I can let Dad fold mine too."
Lin Qiuran didn't answer this question, but said, "You should accompany your father, otherwise he will be bored alone."
Tang Yuan turned his head to Xiao Xun, who smiled and said, "Dad is too busy to fold three by himself, Tang Yuan can help."
Tangyuan nodded. What else could he do? If his mother didn't care, then he would have to accompany her.
Xiao Xun thought Lin Qiuran was very capable. If it were him, he would probably ask his father to intervene, but of course he didn't dare to intervene. Tangyuan was very obedient, not noisy, and folded the quilt quickly.
Lin Qiuran put on her clothes, and after the father and son had finished tidying up, she asked the maid to come in and comb her hair.
Lin Qiuran chose simple and plain jewelry today. Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, she said to another maid, "Go and see if the old lady has woken up. If she has, please invite her over for dinner."
Sun slept alone yesterday. I don’t know if she is used to it. I have to ask her before dinner.
Sun had to wait for a while, so Lin Qiuran went to wash up. After washing up, he went to the study to write a letter to the old lady of Anyang Marquis' Mansion.
By the time these were done, the dumplings had been washed and Mrs. Sun also came over.
Sun had a smile on her face and looked in good spirits.
Lin Qiuran asked, "Did you sleep well last night, Mom?"
Sun: "It's fine. I didn't have any dreams all night. I felt warm and cozy."
After she finished speaking, she looked out the window again. Xiao Xun was practicing martial arts with Tangyuan in the yard. Lin Qiuran also saw it when she came over.
The glutinous rice balls were wrapped tightly and were doing horse stance. Xiao Xun had the habit of practicing martial arts, but it looked more like the older ones were doing the training while the younger ones were messing around.
Sometimes the glutinous rice balls couldn’t stand steadily, and Xiao Xun had to reach out and grab a handful.
This scene seemed very ordinary, just a father practicing martial arts with his son, but Sun still watched with great interest.
Lin Qiuran also watched for a while, then called Sun, "Mom, it's time to eat."
Sun smiled and greeted the father and son, "Alright, alright, stop practicing martial arts and eat."
There were a lot of food on the table, some bought in, some cooked in the kitchen early in the morning. They were the steamed buns, dumplings, and wontons that we often ate in Yu'an.
She cooked porridge, a salty preserved egg and lean meat porridge, which Lin Qiuran liked.
There are also Beijing-specific foods, such as fried dough sticks...
However, Lin Qiuran and the others are not used to it, so they don’t usually serve it. Today they want Xiao Xun to have a try.
Tangyuan likes to eat wontons and big dumplings. This one is filled with shredded radish and chopped stewed pork belly. The lean meat is soft and the fat is not greasy. It tastes delicious.
He can eat seven or eight wontons with tangyuan, and then two big dumplings. Of course, the wontons must be put with a lot of chili oil and vinegar. He also likes it and can drink all the soup.
Xiao Xun also likes spicy oil, and he likes to dip it in anything he eats. Sun couldn't help but sigh in her heart, these are father and son, and they like to eat the same things.
Tang Yuan was not stingy in giving his portion to Xiao Xun to taste. "Dad, this is delicious with vinegar and chili oil. There are also shrimps here. I like shrimps the most. Look, there are small shrimps in the soup. This is a family of shrimps."
Xiao Xun took a bite and said, "It's delicious."
Lin Qiuran remembered that when Xiao Xun just came back yesterday, Tangyuan was hiding behind her and looking at Xiao Xun every once in a while.
He couldn't stop talking about the glutinous rice balls. He said, "Dad, there's also a spicy hot pot that Mom makes. It's delicious too. There's also a Lao Jin hot pot, which is also delicious, but you need to put more chili oil in it, otherwise it will taste bitter. The sesame paste Mom makes is the most fragrant and delicious!"
As he spoke, he glanced at Lin Qiuran. He would not do this.
Lin Qiuran said, "I'll make it for your father when I have time. I'll also take your father to eat the hot pot when I have time."
Tang Yuan smiled, "Mom is so nice!"
Xiao Xun said: "Thank you Tangyuan, and thank you Qiuran."
After breakfast, Tangyuan and Sun each drank a bowl of milk.
Tangyuan accepted it well and didn't think it had any fishy smell. Sun thought it was not very tasty, but Lin Qiuran said it was good for the body, so the two of them drank it together.
This way, she will have company. After drinking the glutinous rice balls, she will supervise Sun, which is quite interesting for the two of them to watch.
Lin Qiuran asked the maid to bring a cup to Xiao Xun as well. Xiao Xun said, "Just drink the glutinous rice balls."
Lin Qiuran said, "There's a lot, you can drink too."
This can nourish the body, and there is no shortage of it at home. Lin Qiuran doesn't like the taste very much, but occasionally makes some double skin milk and ginger milk to eat.
While they were drinking, Lin Qiuran asked the maid to go to the storehouse and get two boxes of Thirteen Spices, and then asked the maid to go out and buy two boxes of snacks, and by the way, deliver the letter to the Anyang Marquis Mansion.
I'm going to the Ying family today, and I can't show up empty-handed. Even if I have to give you money, it wouldn't look good if I didn't bring anything.
Tang Yuan saw Lin Qiuran going out and wanted to follow him, but Lin Qiuran said, "We have something important to do. You stay home with grandma."
The Ying family is having a hard time since Brother Ying is not around, so it would be inappropriate to bring Tangyuan with them.
Tangyuan nodded obediently. If Lin Qiuran didn't let him go, he wouldn't go. He also knew that no matter how much he said, it would be useless and he might even get beaten, so he just listened.
Xiao Xun was still a little surprised. This child was so obedient and almost did whatever Lin Qiuran asked him to do.
After the maid brought back the snacks, Lin Qiuran counted the items and said to Xiao Xun, "Let's go."
After getting in the car, Xiao Xun told Lin Mingying how to get to his home. It was from the east to the south of the city, which was a bit far.
Along the way, the two didn't say anything. When they arrived near Ying's house, they got out of the car.
This is the south of the city, where there are many houses, one next to the other. Lin Qiuran originally thought he would have to ask around for a while, but as soon as he got off the car, he saw white banners and soul-calling banners sticking out from the roof of a house.
Following the rooftop search, this house was the third one, and people coming in and out of the door were paying their respects.
Lin Qiuran followed Xiao Xun over. Xiao Xun chatted with the woman at the door for a few words, and then said to Lin Qiuran, "Come in, this is the house."
Lin Qiuran followed Xiao Xun inside. The yard was small, and there was a child playing in the dirt. He looked about four or five years old, and looked very confused.
Lin Qiuran and Xiao Xun walked through the courtyard. Before they left, they saw an old lady sitting at the door of the east room, wiping her tears. Seeing the two of them coming, she opened her red and swollen eyes and asked, "You are..."
Xiao Xun said, "You are my aunt, right? I am Brother Ying's brother. I brought back Brother Ying's things."
The old woman nodded with tears in her eyes. Lin Qiuran took a deep breath and said, "Aunt, I want to go in and see my sister-in-law."
The old lady's expression changed slightly, then she nodded and said, "It's in the inner room. Go in and take a look. Show her this."
Lin Qiuran brought something and opened the curtain.
The room was quiet and mournful. The pale-faced woman lying on the kang was Ying's sister-in-law, and there were a few people surrounding her, probably relatives.
Lin Qiuran put the things on the kang and said, "Sister-in-law, these are Brother Ying's things. We brought them here."
Ying's sister-in-law was dressed in mourning, her eyes were swollen like walnuts. She looked at the things and started crying again. The people around her tried to comfort and persuade her.
Someone even handed her a package. She picked it up and looked through it secretly. After flipping it over twice, she handed it to Mrs. Ying with a look of contempt.
Mrs. Ying looked at the things in the package and couldn't stop crying.
Seeing this, Lin Qiuran said, "Could you please help me? I have something to say to Sister Ying."
These people seemed to be Ying Dasao's family members. Lin Qiuran had seen this kind of scene before and knew what kind of personality his sister-in-law had.
Several people looked at each other and then went out.
After everyone left, Lin Qiuran looked out the window, then sat on the kang and said, "Sister-in-law, this is a little gift from us. Take it."
Lin Qiuran gave Mrs. Ying a purse, which was bulging with twenty taels of silver.
Mrs. Ying stopped crying and said, "No, I can't accept this..."
Lin Qiuran said, "You take it."
Lin Qiuran didn't say anything to comfort him. She said, "There's still a long way to go. Be careful in everything you do. If anything happens, go to the east city and find the Xiao family."
Helping Ying's sister-in-law is like helping my past self.
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The author has something to say: Please irrigate~
Thanks to everyone for finding bugs. I will find them again after I finish writing, but there will still be some omissions. Thank you everyone [猫头]
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