Chapter 440: Fan Yong’s Gift
So in the end, the only people who had lunch together were those from the princess's mansion, plus Fan Yong.
When Zhao Houjing and his two brothers and Yang Chengchen arrived at Menglin Courtyard, Zhao Lingmeng and Fan Yong were already drinking tea in the courtyard. In fact, they were mainly waiting for the four of them and drinking some tea.
Upon seeing this, the four of them immediately stepped forward and saluted.
"Hello, father!" Zhao Houming and Zhao Houyang had no feelings for Sun Tu, so they changed their words very quickly.
"Meet Uncle Fan!"
"Meet uncle!"
It was only after Zhao Houjing called Fan Uncle that he realized that his two younger brothers were calling him father. He first glared at his two younger brothers before looking at his mother who was sitting upstairs.
Zhao Lingmeng didn't get angry about this. After all, the kids could yell whatever they wanted. But Fan Yong treated them as he pleased. As long as he didn't mistreat them, Zhao Lingmeng didn't care.
After all, the children are so old now, and it would be a bit of a bully for Fan Yong to treat them as his own children. It would be better if they could get along like friends. When there is something, we can help each other, but since we are friends, we can't think about other people's things! Only those who give and take are friends.
Zhao Lingmeng smiled and said, "Everyone get up!"
Several people stood up immediately. Seeing that his mother didn't say anything to him, Zhao Houjing looked at Fan Yong smugly.
Fan Yong didn't care about Zhao Houjing's little boasting at all. Instead, he smiled and took Zhao Lingmeng's hand, which was placed on the table. He didn't care. He didn't care at all.
Although Zhao Lingmeng had been deliberately trying to convince herself that this wasn't the world of her past life, she still had some deep-seated habits that didn't make her react. For example, holding hands in front of their children was normal. Since they were already married, Zhao Lingmeng thought it was perfectly normal, so when Fan Yong held her hand, she didn't refuse.
Zhao Houjing felt in his heart that his mother, the son-in-law, was a scheming man.
Seeing that His Highness did not refuse, Fan Yong smiled even more brightly and invited Zhao Houjing and the others to sit down.
Zhao Houyang already liked Fan Yong, and now that Fan Yong had become his father, he liked him even more. So when Fan Yong asked him to sit down, he immediately sat down next to Fan Yong.
When Yang Chengchen saw Zhao Houyang sitting down, he immediately sat down next to Zhao Houyang.
Zhao Houming first looked at his mother's face. Seeing that she looked good, he sat down on the other side of her.
Zhao Houjing, the only one still standing, could only mutter in his heart that his two younger brothers were traitors, and then he reluctantly sat down next to Zhao Houming.
Seeing that everyone was seated, Fan Yong immediately ordered the servant nearby to bring up the gift he had prepared long ago.
It wasn't long before four gifts were placed in front of each of them.
Zhao Houyang was the most enthusiastic. "Father, can I open it and take a look?"
Fan Yong nodded slightly, "Take a look, do you like it?"
Seeing that Fan Yong didn't mind this, Zhao Houyang opened it immediately and said, "Wow, it's a Duan inkstone."
After Zhao Houyang finished being surprised, he stood up and thanked him solemnly, "Thank you, father. I like it very much."
Seeing this, Zhao Houming also opened the box in front of him. Inside was a collection of essays by a great scholar. Zhao Houming was stunned for a moment, then his smile became much more sincere. This gift was very precious to him at the moment.
Zhao Houming thanked him excitedly: "Thank you very much, father, for your trouble. I like it very much too."
Zhao Houjing opened it with great anticipation, only to find a jade pendant inside, which also looked very valuable. However, with the pearls and jade in front of him, he was not very satisfied.
But he couldn't say that he didn't like it, so he could only smile and say, "Thank you, Uncle Fan."
Actually, this jade pendant is also very good, but it just doesn't seem to be made with that much care. But if I have to say anything, there is nothing much to say.
"It's my turn now!" Yang Chengchen was afraid that his older cousin would make a fuss, so he quickly came out to make his presence felt.
As soon as Yang Cheng and He Yichen opened it, they saw a famous painting by a literary giant inside, which was only slightly inferior to the one Zhao Houyang promised to give him after he passed the examination to become a student.
Seeing this, Yang Chengchen immediately closed the box carefully and held it in his arms happily: "Thank you, uncle!"
Zhao Houjing's face darkened even further, but no one paid him any attention. This was mainly because Zhao Lingmeng thought the jade pendant was quite good.
"As long as everyone likes it, that's good." Fan Yong was also very happy. He felt that he had integrated very well.
Zhao Lingmeng was really hungry at this time. After giving out all the gifts, he quickly told Qiuyue: "Now that the gifts are collected, let's start serving the meal!"
The big kitchen had already been prepared. As soon as Zhao Lingmeng gave the order to serve the meal, they started serving the dishes immediately.
This was their first family reunion dinner together, and except for Zhao Houjing, who was a little depressed, everyone else was very happy. Zhao Houming, in particular, felt that his mother's attitude towards them had not changed much since her marriage, nor had their lifestyle changed much either.
This so-called father had no intention of interfering in their affairs. He was just one more person at the dinner table. Zhao Houming thought this was quite good.
As long as he treats his mother well, he will recognize him as his father. As for his younger brother Zhao Houyang, he believes that he also means the same thing. As for his eldest brother Zhao Houjing, well, his opinion is not important.
After Zhao Houming and his mother finished lunch, they left on the pretext of having something to do. Before leaving, Zhao Houming did not forget to drag Zhao Houjing away.
After they all left, Fan Yong followed Zhao Lingmeng's lead and slowly drank a cup of digestive tea. The food at His Highness's residence was indeed delicious. Even someone with self-control like him would inevitably overeat.
Fan Yong thought about it and asked, "Your Highness, is there something wrong with the way I get along with Zhao Houjing?"
"No! It's fine." Zhao Lingmeng didn't have any complaints. Sometimes she was annoyed by Zhao Houjing. If he wasn't her own son, she wouldn't have endured it for so long.
Fan Yong was stunned when he heard this. Although His Highness had said that he would change, he was genuinely happy that His Highness could say so. "Are you sincere?"
"Sincerely, if Zhao Houjing picks on you, don't be polite. You are the elder! As long as you are not deliberately making things difficult for him, I won't say anything. I only have two principles: sincerity for sincerity, and the first to provoke is the cheapest."
Zhao Lingmeng hadn't considered asking Fan Yong to be a caring stepfather; it was enough for them to get along harmoniously. If that wasn't possible, she would side with whoever was right.
But if it were the two younger ones, she wouldn't think so. She is still quite protective of them.
For the next three days, Zhao Houming constantly pestered Zhao Houjing, asking him not to disturb his mother and Master Fan's relationship. As for Zhao Houyang and Yang Chengchen, they were both sensible children and wouldn't do such childish things!
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