Chapter 204 My family was destroyed, yet you rose to a higher social status.
For the first time ever, Song Jiyun took leave on the second day.
She staked out the vicinity of the Duke of England's mansion for a whole day, but did not find Zhou Congxian or Meng Shilan.
She almost thought she had misread it yesterday.
It was near dusk when she finally saw Zhou Congxian.
Song Jiyun's expression darkened slightly.
This man was the root of all his suffering.
He and his lover were able to live together as a couple.
She, however, was stuck in the mire and couldn't get out.
She only slowly came out after Zhou Congxian entered the mansion.
She looked up and saw the sky darkening.
A burning desire for revenge ignited in his heart.
A familiar figure emerged from the side gate of the British Duke's Mansion.
As soon as Gao's mother reached the alley entrance, she spotted Song Jiyun across the street.
Song Jiyun had long lost his former arrogance, and his whole being was as still as a stagnant pool.
After Song Jiyun was driven away by the Duke, the old lady was heartbroken for a long time.
We sent people out to search, but they couldn't find it. We never expected to see it again now.
Just as Gao's mother was about to walk towards Song Jiyun, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Miss Song is back, but in what capacity?
The prince will not marry her. If she stays in the manor, she will neither act like a master nor a servant.
The old lady could protect her for a while, but not forever.
That's better than staying out here quietly.
Mrs. Gao sighed, then turned and left.
Let's just pretend she didn't see it today.
I don't know why.
Meng Shilan always felt that Zhou Congxian had been particularly free lately.
"Were you dismissed from your post?"
Zhou Congxian then made another small wooden horse in that small side room.
He was meticulously applying tung oil to the little wooden horse.
"What do you mean by being dismissed from office? Can't you wish me well for once?"
He glanced at Meng Shilan when he had a spare moment.
It was as if Zhou Congxian's Ren and Du meridians had been opened by that craftsman from the Ministry of Works from last time.
It got out of control.
I started by making small gadgets.
Now we'll start making larger items.
Her yard is practically turning into a carpenter's yard.
Meng Shilan said, "His Majesty should see that someone as talented as you should be placed in the Ministry of Works."
Zhou Congxian felt he had been praised.
He proudly displayed his clever idea on the little wooden horse.
"My skills are now no worse than those of those craftsmen."
"Look at this back support below. When Pangxi gets a little bigger, we can take this off and replace it with four small wheels."
Dan Niang chimed in, "Lord Zhou is indeed very thoughtful."
"The kids can play with it when they're a little older."
The chubby boy couldn't wait any longer. He sat in Dan Niang's lap, clutching her clothes with one hand and reaching for the little wooden horse with the other.
"horse!"
Zhou Congxian happily reached out and tapped his son's little face.
His hard work has paid off; now the child is getting closer and closer to him.
There are no children who cannot be raised properly; it's just a matter of whether you're willing to put in the effort.
A few days ago, his parents tried to hint to him that they wanted him to bring the two children back home to visit.
He casually remarked that the child was still young and would cry because he was shy around strangers.
His father then reprimanded him coldly, “They are all of the Zhou family bloodline, and I am their grandfather!”
"The Duke's mansion has supported them for several years, and now they've gained power! They're something else!"
Zhou Congxian looked at his father.
Instantly, I recalled his childhood experiences.
He didn't want his children to experience the same things he did when he was a child.
He shouldered heavy responsibilities at a young age; he was the hope of the British Duke's family.
If Fu'er and Pangxi return, they will only become the next hope in their father's eyes.
Rather than a grandfather's genuine affection for his descendants.
"Father!"
Fu'er came home from school carrying a small schoolbag.
She was no longer surprised at all by her father's presence here.
On the contrary, when he is not around, he will ask where his father has gone.
She glanced at the little wooden horse that was still being coated with tung oil.
"Is it for Little Fatty Xi again?"
Daddy has already made a lot of little toys for Little Fatty.
Meng Shilan understood her daughter's thoughts best; the little girl was jealous.
She looked at Zhou Congxian with a hint of schadenfreude, "See? He didn't treat everyone equally."
Zhou Congxian raised an eyebrow and glanced at him.
Then he took his daughter's little hand and said, "Of course you're here, come with me."
The father and daughter walked into the side room hand in hand.
Finally, a scream erupted from Fu'er, "Waaaah!!—"
The two men carried out a huge kite.
Meng Shilan was dumbfounded.
"When did you make this? Can I upload it?"
Ordinary kites are made of bamboo frames and Xuan paper.
This kite has a frame made of wooden strips, and it's so heavy that even an adult would have trouble lifting it.
How strong a wind would it take to put it up there?
Zhou Congxian confidently declared, "I will definitely release them!"
"I borrowed a book from the Ministry of Works. It's about how to make a large kite in the previous dynasty, which was used specifically for sacrificial rites and prayers."
Fu'er jumped up impatiently, "Let's go now!"
"I want everyone to see the big kite that my father made for me!"
Little Fatty Xi has learned a new word, and he claps his hands excitedly along with his sister.
"Kite!"
Seeing how happy the child was, Zhou Congxian readily agreed.
"Let's go now!"
Meng Shilan glanced at the breeze blowing in the wind with some suspicion.
This little breeze...
How happy the two children were when they went out.
Now, that's how disappointed I am.
Zhou Congxian carried a huge kite and ran until he was covered in sweat.
Fortunately, he was a martial artist; otherwise, he would have collapsed from the pressure.
Fu'er was also tired from running.
"Daddy, is the kite too heavy, that's why it can't fly?"
"Maybe, yes..."
He wasn't sure either, as the records in the book weren't detailed enough.
Fu'er made a quick decision, "Then let's go back and redo it now!"
The little girl is very proactive.
Identify problems and correct them.
On the way back, the father and daughter discussed the possibility of making the large kite fly.
Meng Shilan looked at the two serious faces, one big and one small.
Without realizing it, Zhou Congxian seemed to have changed.
In the past, he would think that buying things for them was a way of being good to them.
Now he understands the importance of companionship.
He will spend time and effort on it.
Like a real father, he guides his two children as they grow up.
Meng Shilan smiled slightly, pursing her lips.
Zhou Congxian was a good minister, and now he finally has another identity.
A good father.
Zhou Congxian was unaware that he had finally gained a little bit of respect in Meng Shilan's eyes.
As soon as he and his daughter returned to the mansion, they went into the side room to continue tinkering.
Even in the following days.
He personally picks them up from and drops them off at school.
Whenever he had a spare moment, he would sneak into the side room.
Dan Niang was a little worried, "Such a nice little girl, she's almost become a carpenter."
"Lord Zhou is something else. Why can't he do anything else with the child? He just has to do woodworking."
Meng Shilan: "What's wrong with the carpenter? I think he's fine."
"Aren't all the officials in the Ministry of Works carpenters?"
Dan Niang, "That woman can't be an official either..."
Meng Shilan looked at her, "She can't become an official, nor can she make a living from it, but she's happy."
"Danniang, when you left Ding County, were you doing it to become an official or just for fun?"
The rules and regulations imposed on women in the world.
Virtuous and kind, dignified and elegant, gentle and virtuous.
Yet, not one of them seemed truly content.
In Meng Shilan's memory, her mother never asked her to follow the rules.
What she is doing now is just like what her mother used to do.
Protect a child's happiness.
evening.
Meng Shilan closed the last ledger.
There was still hammering and banging coming from next door.
She picked up her cane and tapped on the wall to remind the two that it was getting late.
Before long, the noise from next door finally stopped.
The father and daughter stood at the door, covered in sawdust.
"Don't come in!"
"You can only come in after you've washed yourself clean!"
Zhou Congxian's eyes were full of hope.
Meng Shilan glanced at him and said, "You should go back."
Fu'er waved to her father with a smile, "See you tomorrow, Father."
Zhou Congxian, “…”
The father and daughter spent twelve days making this huge kite that could never fly.
It has been test-flown countless times.
Ultimately, it ended in failure.
Zhou Congxian gave up.
Fu'er, however, developed a great interest in woodworking!
A pretty little girl is really going to become a carpenter...
Spring is drawing to a close.
The peaches on the estate were ripe, and baskets of juicy peaches were carried into the mansion.
There is another very important thing.
Meng Yushan is leaving Beijing.
Meng Shilan thought he was going back to the Northwest camp.
Unbeknownst to her, the old man had already received the imperial decree and was leading his troops directly to her prefecture.
They saw each other off at the city gate.
Fu'er hugged his leg, "You must take good care of yourself. When the real winter comes, come with me to ride the ice sled."
Meng Yushan's large hand landed on the child's head.
"Okay, Grandpa will come back during the Chinese New Year and play ice sled with you."
Meng Shilan said, "At such an advanced age, she still goes to such a far place."
"I will resign next year."
"Haven't you gotten tired of being an official for so long?"
Looking at the deep worry in her eyes, Meng Yushan slowly nodded.
"I've been an official for so many years, I'm really tired of it. I'll listen to you and resign next year!"
Meng Shilan stood on the city wall.
They watched the departing procession for a long time without moving.
A teahouse not far away.
Song Jiyun gazed at the figure on the city wall.
Her jaw clenched.
"Jiang Shiyao from the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, why are you so lucky?"
"My family was destroyed and you rose to a high position."
"Why! Why all this?"
"My current wretched state is all your fault!"
"This time, this time I'm determined to bring you down."
"If we die, we die together; if we go to hell, we go to hell together!"
Suddenly a voice appeared behind her.
"You hate her?"
Song Jiyun turned around abruptly and looked at the man who had suddenly appeared.
Although he was dressed in ordinary clothes, he spoke in a strange way.
His eyes were like those of a venomous snake, sending chills down your spine.
She couldn't help but take a step back. "W-who are you?"
He chuckled without realizing it.
"Someone who can help you."
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