The medicinal cuisine restaurant was usually crowded, so Jiang Bai packed up Zhao Ping'an and Zhao Xile and sent them to the private school early in the morning. Zhao Xile was too young to stay at home, so she arranged for her to attend the school as a day student and also hired a wet nurse from a broker.
The wet nurse's surname was Xu. She was quite old, probably in her forties or fifties. Her hair, which was half black and half white, was combed and shiny. Her clothes were old but clean, with occasional small patches in the faded areas.
She had a kind face and exuded a calm and composed demeanor, as if she had seen the world in her youth. Jiang Bai took a liking to her at first sight.
Zhao Xile usually goes to and from school with Aunt Xu, and she is quite happy.
That day, after she came back, she helped Jiang Bai get the chopsticks that needed to be washed, and chattered about her new friend: "Tan Yongyan said I'm stupid, he's so mean, I'm never playing with him again."
Jiang Bai listened with nods and hums, and seeing that Zhao Xile didn't seem upset at all, he asked indifferently, "So, is there anyone else you want to play with?"
“Yes,” Zhao Xile nodded. “My female tutor is as beautiful as an angel. When she heard what Tan Yongyan said, she scolded him and even took the lead in playing with me.”
Jiang Bai knew that even a child this age would have a fangirl effect on her teacher, so he teased her, "Do you think your mother is prettier or your teacher is prettier?"
Zhao Xile was conflicted.
My mother is fair-skinned and beautiful, while my female tutor is dignified and gorgeous. They are not the same style at all!
She pondered for a long time, even forgetting how to walk.
Jiang Bai returned and continued carrying the tableware to the kitchen. As he passed by her, she suddenly grabbed his leg and heard the little person beneath him shout, "Mother is beautiful, and teacher is handsome."
Having solved this major problem, Zhao Xile became happy again, and while jogging, she talked to Jiang Bai: "Our school only has this one female teacher. It is said that she is only eighteen years old, but she is already very capable."
Jiang Bai could guess that this female teacher was extraordinary. Although this dynasty was not particularly harsh on women, and even little girls like Zhao Xile could go to school, a woman who wanted to teach in a school must have a certain level of education.
Thinking of this, Jiang Bai said, "If you like her, I'll bring you some more pastries tomorrow so you can eat them together."
"Mmm." Zhao Xi was overjoyed.
Jiang Bai casually asked, "Do you know what the female teacher's name is?"
“Her name is Ren Shitao,” Zhao Xile quickly replied.
She was captivated by this female teacher at first sight, and it took her a lot of effort to find out her name!
—His surname is Ren.
Jiang Bai paused for a moment, and it was hard not to think of a certain rich second-generation heir who was just wasting his life, a certain patriarch of the Ren family.
Zhao Xile didn't notice Jiang Bai's thoughtful expression and continued to boast about the beautiful teacher: "Teacher Ren has so many brothers. These past few days, my nanny has picked me up from school, and her brothers have picked her up too. Every day, her brother looks different."
"Mom, why does Mr. Ren still need someone to pick him up and drop him off even though he's an adult?" Zhao Xile asked, puzzled. "My brother is only ten years old and he can go home by himself."
Jiang Bai's lips twitched. How could there be such a coincidence in the world? This teacher, Ren Shitao, is 99% likely to be Ren Yunzhou's only daughter.
That extraordinary woman who had eleven cousins.
However, it is likely that only a family like the Ren family could raise such a talented woman who is well-versed in poetry and literature!
Thinking of this, Jiang Bai replied, "My brother is a boy, and Master Ren is a girl."
"Is there any difference between men and women?" Zhao Xile was too young to understand Jiang Bai's explanation.
Jiang Bai shook his head: "There's no difference. What men can do, women can do too."
"Then why..." Zhao Xile pressed.
"Perhaps it's because Master Ren's brother is worried about her," Jiang Bai said after thinking for a moment.
Eleven rascals, and only this one little sister. Even if she were in her family, they would cherish her like a precious gem.
“Then I’m worried about my brother too,” Zhao Xile quickly said. “Next time he has a day off, I’ll go pick him up.”
Jiang Bai agreed: "Okay, then Nanny Xu will take you there."
The wet nurse listened to the conversation between the mother and son with a smile.
Although when she was hired, she was only told to take care of the children and not to worry about anything else, she is not someone who doesn't care about work. At this moment, she is helping to wipe the table with a rag.
Zhao Xile was dissatisfied: "Mother should go too."
Jiang Bai, unable to resist her nagging any longer, had no choice but to agree.
-
On the day Zhao Ping'an was on leave, Zhao Xile, along with Jiang Bai and Xu's wet nurse, waited at the school gate early in the morning.
After waiting for half an hour, Jiang Bai saw that the sun was getting stronger and stronger. He wiped the beads of sweat from Zhao Xile's forehead with a handkerchief, looked around, and said, "Why don't we go sit in the teahouse next door for a while?"
Zhao Xile was also a little tired, so he nodded in agreement.
The teahouse was quite crowded, and someone was telling stories on the stage. Zhao Xile quickly became engrossed in listening, and it was unclear whether she could understand it or not. In any case, she looked very interested, as if she had forgotten about Zhao Ping'an.
Jiang Bai ordered a pot of tea and a plate of melon seeds for Zhao Xile so she wouldn't be bored.
The little girl didn't know how to crack sunflower seeds yet, so her nanny, Xu, peeled them for her, giving her a small handful at a time.
Zhao Xile's eyes, mouth, and hands were busy working away.
Jiang Bai had no interest in listening to storytelling. He leisurely sipped his tea and casually turned his head to see Zhao Ping'an walking out of the school gate and standing in front of a man in black.
Jiang Bai narrowed his eyes.
This man in black looks so unfamiliar. Isn't he the man who saved her life the day she encountered the wolf pack?
Zhao Ping'an's face was full of warmth and joy, and even Jiang Bai, watching from afar, could feel his excitement.
When Zhao Xile heard Jiang Bai click her tongue, she subconsciously looked in the direction Jiang Bai was looking and immediately exclaimed in surprise.
Jiang Bai turned to look at his daughter: "Who's the person opposite your brother?"
Zhao Xile covered her mouth, her eyes wide open.
She couldn't say.
Jiang Bai could figure out who this person was even with a snap of his fingers; in an instant, all the strange behavior became clear.
Why did Zhao Laoda stop sending money home? Because he was at home;
Why was she unharmed after encountering the robbers? Because he was at home.
Jiang Bai even suspected that his every move over the past few months had been under surveillance.
Thinking of this, she broke out in a cold sweat in broad daylight.
She squinted and couldn't help but ask, "When did your father come back?"
Zhao Xile shook her head: "I don't know."
"You've seen him before, haven't you?" Jiang Bai tried to soften her tone. It was all that scoundrel's fault, and she didn't want to get angry with a child.
Seeing that Jiang Bai seemed to know everything, Zhao Xile lowered her hand and obediently replied, "I only saw him once. Last time, when you were injured, it was Father who carried you back. He even bought you medicine and brewed it before leaving."
The little girl sat properly with her hands hanging at her sides, speaking freely and without reservation.
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