The next morning, Tian Yu thought she should be the first one up, but upon hearing voices outside, she realized that Zhao Moyan was already practicing swordsmanship with Tangyuan in the bamboo forest. Standing at the door, Tian Yu looked at the two figures, one tall and one short, not far away, and felt a pang of emotion. Perhaps this was the best thing for Tangyuan, but it was impossible for her and Zhao Moyan. If Zhao Moyan could take good care of Tangyuan, that would be good too, and perhaps she and Chen Chong would have fewer troubles.
Tian Yu did some aerobic exercise in the yard. Xiao Ju woke up then, still as quiet as ever. She called out "Auntie" and went to help feed the animals in the yard. Tian Yu didn't force her; whatever made her happy was fine. After exercising, Tian Yu prepared breakfast. By the time she finished, Tang Yuan and Zhao Moyan had returned. The three of them ate in a very formal manner, but Tian Yu didn't insist. After Tang Yuan and Xiao Ju finished eating, they said they wanted to take Mao Rong out to play for a while. Tian Yu, with something in her mouth, mumbled "Okay, go ahead," but Tang Yuan remained standing still, looking at Zhao Moyan. Zhao Moyan finished eating before saying, "Sure, but don't go too far. You have to come back to practice calligraphy in an hour."
After Tangyuan respectfully agreed, she led Xiaoju away. Looking at Tangyuan's upright and straight figure, Tianyu looked at Zhao Moyan and asked, "What did you say to him?"
"The Way of the Gentleman".
"The way of a gentleman? Like you, keeping people at arm's length, cold as ice? Untouched by worldly concerns?" Tian Yu blurted out her opinion of Zhao Moyan without thinking.
"Is that how you've always seen me?"
Isn't that so?
Zhao Moyan looked at Tian Yu, smiled, and said, "Maybe so!"
Tian Yu pursed her lips, thinking, "Maybe it is, but it clearly is."
“I heard Tangyuan mention Xiaoju. You shouldn’t have taken her in. Her family is here, and they’re all from around here. Things will get complicated later.”
"If there's any trouble, at most we'll just have to take it back! If Xiaoju is willing, I won't stop her."
"You're thinking too simply. What if something happens to this child? What will her family and the villagers think of you?"
"An accident? What kind of accident could there be? Hey, don't overthink it. I've already accepted it, and it's impossible to return it. So what do you suggest we do?"
"Let's keep it this time! But don't do this next time. If you want to adopt a child, you can tell me next time, and I'll help you keep an eye out for suitable ones."
"Suitable? What is suitable? Orphans, homeless?" Tian Yu said angrily.
"Fine, do as you please, forget I said anything." Zhao Moyan stopped her immediately when he saw Tian Yu's voice getting louder and she seemed to be getting angry. He thought that at most he would help clean up any problems that might arise in the future, and with him there, nothing should happen.
“You spoil Tangyuan too much. He can stay with me while I’m here.”
"Too much pampering? I'm his mother! If I don't pamper him, who will?! You?! I don't even think I pamper him enough! If life weren't so hard, he would be happier now and have a better childhood. I don't care how you discipline Tangyuan, you're not allowed to hit him or yell at him without my permission, do you hear me!"
"Okay, I promise you. You don't need to be so nervous. I know you've had a tough time these past few years. It was my oversight. If I had known you had Tangyuan earlier, things might not have turned out this way. But it is what it is now, and I can only try my best to make it up to you. If there's anything you want, you can tell me, and I'll do everything I can to help you."
"If you're in such a hurry to make it up to me, it would seem pretentious if I didn't accept it. Fine, then you can do six things for me as compensation for these past six years." Tian Yu said somewhat angrily when he brought up the matter of compensation again.
"Sure, as long as it doesn't violate the law, I'll agree to anything I can do."
Seeing that he agreed so quickly, Tian Yu wanted to tease him. She looked at the bowls and chopsticks on the table and said with a glint in her eye, "Don't worry, it's very simple. The first thing is that you will do all the housework today."
"Okay, what do I need to do?"
"Now wash the dishes, tidy up the house, then take the clothes you changed out of yesterday to the river to wash. Oh, and catch a few more fish in the river, we'll need them tomorrow. Remember to prepare lunch, water the vegetable garden to the west in the afternoon, prepare dinner, and remember to boil water tonight, Tangyuan and the others need to take a bath."
"Okay, is that all?"
That's all for now. I'll let you know when I have more, but remember to keep a close eye on the two kids and don't let them run around.
"Okay, you can go back to your room and rest now. I'll take care of the rest."
"No need, I'll just stay here and watch over you so you don't slack off."
After Tian Yu finished speaking, she carried a stool to the yard and sat down. She watched Zhao Moyan tidy up in the kitchen, thinking he wouldn't know how to do these things, but he tidied up very skillfully. He then went back inside to tidy up again, took out the dirty clothes and put them in a wooden basin, picked up the basin, grabbed the tools, and then picked up the bucket to go to the river to wash clothes. He didn't forget to turn to Tian Yu with a smile and say, "Do you want to come along and watch me wash?"
Tian Yu froze at his sudden smile. In the sunlight, his smile seemed warmer and more approachable. But she quickly snapped back to reality, thinking that he was always so polite and courteous to everyone; this fake smile was just his habitual politeness. She couldn't be fooled. She stood up and said, "Of course! What if you slack off?!"
Then Tian Yu followed behind Zhao Moyan, the two of them walking towards the riverbank, to the same pond as before. Tangyuan and Xiaoju were there too, and Gouzi and the others were collecting snails a little further away. Seeing Tian Yu arrive, Tangyuan happily ran over and hugged her, but quickly let go when she saw Zhao Moyan, standing respectfully beside Tian Yu and calling out "Daddy." Xiaoju was bending over to scoop something out of the river. Tian Yu was about to tell her to be careful when she saw her plunge into the water. Startled, Tian Yu rushed over without thinking and dove in as well, pulling Xiaoju ashore. Zhao Moyan was already waiting on the bank, helping her lift Xiaoju onto the ground. Tian Yu climbed ashore and knelt beside Xiaoju. Zhao Moyan checked her pulse and said she had choked on water and fainted. Upon hearing this, Tian Yu immediately began CPR on Xiaoju. After a few moments, Xiaoju finally coughed up water and cried loudly. Tian Yu hugged her and comforted her, saying, "It's alright, Xiaoju, it's alright. Auntie's here, it's alright."
"Ahhh, Mother, Mother, ahhh!" Xiaoju cried out, hugging Tianyu.
Tian Yu was moved and choked up as she said, "It's alright, it's alright, Mommy's here, Mommy's here."
The dogs also dared to come, and only after seeing that Xiaoju was alright did they disperse and continue collecting snails. Shuang'er wanted to scold Xiaoju, but Tianyu stopped her, relieved to see that Xiaoju was alright. Tianyu carried Xiaoju back to change her clothes first, while Zhao Moyan and Tangyuan stayed behind to continue washing clothes.
On the way back, Xiaoju clung tightly to Tianyu's neck. Tianyu sensed she was still scared, so she sang her a little donkey. She also told her that this was the first song she sang for Tangyuan. Xiaoju hugged Tianyu even tighter and asked weakly, "Can I call you 'Mommy' like Tangyuan does?"
"Of course, as long as you're willing, I'll always be your mother."
"Mother."
"Why!"
The two chatted a lot along the way, mostly Tian Yu talking while Xiao Ju listened, chuckling happily when she did. When they got home, they changed their clothes again. Tian Yu told Xiao Ju to cover herself with a blanket and rest at home for a while, saying she would take the clothes to the river to wash and then come back. Xiao Ju obediently lay down on the bed. Tian Yu stretched out her hand and made a heart shape with her fingers towards Xiao Ju, and Xiao Ju smiled and copied her, making a heart shape with her fingers in return before closing her eyes to rest. Seeing that she was asleep, Tian Yu touched Xiao Ju's face; finding no fever, she quietly left.
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