As winter approaches, the New Year is just around the corner, and the ones who look forward to it the most are undoubtedly the children. As Tong Mingyu becomes increasingly busy, the responsibility of caring for the children falls to Qin and Li Jiaoying.
After General Xiao discovered this situation, he kidnapped his granddaughter in the name of reducing the burden on the two. Xiao Jun was not willing to be separated from her sister. After crying and making a fuss, she successfully paired herself with the fat boy by giving him one for one.
They are all his grandchildren, so a little partiality is acceptable, but General Xiao cannot be too partial to one over the other. He can only accept that you have to be his babysitter. Fortunately, his wife feels sorry for him and takes the initiative to share some of the responsibilities, so the old couple spends every day enjoying their grandchildren.
Xiao Yao was wrapped up and carried to Ninghe Hall every day, while the other two were just given a cloak over their cotton coats.
Faced with such a sharp contrast, General Xiao once had doubts, but was easily persuaded by his family's reasonable explanations. He simply thought that it was just a matter of physical differences between boys and girls.
Fortunately, the old man was ruthless and everyone escaped punishment again. Everyone was both relieved and guilty. They didn't know when such days would end.
When several children were together, Xiao Jun would naturally take Xiao Qi to play and have fun, while Xiao Yao would either sit in his grandfather's arms to watch the fun, or flip through picture albums by himself.
Every time at this time, Xiao Yao would involuntarily think of Xiao Yuan. She wondered what she was doing at the moment and whether she still remembered her. It seemed that she missed her family more during the holidays!
"Sister, sister." After playing for a while, Xiao Jun went to his sister, touched her face, held her little hand, and looked very fond of her.
"Sister." Xiao Qi also came over and called out after his fifth brother. Now was the time when he didn't distinguish between "you", "me" and "him", and didn't care about big or small, left or right.
"My sister." Xiao Jun was two months older after all. Although he might not be able to distinguish other things, he knew very clearly that Xiao Yao was his sister, and the sixth brother should call her sister.
"Your sister." Xiao Jun warned Xiao Qi seriously.
"Your sister!" Xiao Qi didn't understand and continued to draw out the words.
"No...your sister." Xiao Jun was a little anxious.
"She's your sister!" Xiao Qi was puzzled. Your sister is your sister. I didn't argue with you. Why are you angry?
"Come and have some snacks." Xiao Yao had to intervene. There was no point in letting them argue any further. The title of sister was enough for the two of them to argue about for a whole day.
Xiao Yao pinched a piece of dessert in each hand and handed it to the two of them. Xiao Jun gave it to her very readily. When it was Xiao Qi's turn, she was a little hesitant. With his figure, he should control himself. If he continued to eat without restraint, she and her fifth brother would not be able to help him when he crossed the threshold.
Xiao Yao hardened her heart and split the snack in two, put one half in Xiao Qi's hand, then turned sideways to avoid looking at his hurt expression.
"Ping'an, why did you only give Aqi half a dessert?" General Xiao asked with interest. His little granddaughter was usually not a petty person. Could it be that she had learned to take revenge just because Aqi called her sister?
"Too much meat...is not good." Xiao Yao actually wanted to say that he should lose some weight, but she was afraid of hurting Aqi's young heart, so she changed her words temporarily into a tactful persuasion.
As expected, this is his favorite child, General Xiao thought with satisfaction. He did a great job in showing brotherly love. He lowered his head and looked at Xiao Qi carefully from head to toe. He completely agreed with his granddaughter's point of view that he must lose weight, otherwise he would become a ball.
"Yes, lose some weight... to cross the threshold... I can't pull it." Xiao Jun nodded seriously, not forgetting to savor the delicious snacks. He and his sister were so lucky that they could eat as much as they wanted without gaining weight.
The old couple are so happy!
The grandchildren are so interesting. Looking at the ignorant and aggrieved look of the little grandson, Qin smiled with tears in the corners of her eyes.
She hugged her chubby grandson and kneaded him a few times. The feeling was very good. She thought to herself, what's wrong with being fat? It makes him look festive and auspicious.
"Did they have a fight?" Tong Mingyu and Li Jiaoying came in and saw the children turning around one by one, not playing together like they used to. They thought they had a fight.
"We didn't argue. My older brothers and sisters wanted Aqi to lose weight, which made Aqi sad. But I think Aqi is doing well now and not fat at all."
Qin handed her grandson a whole piece of dessert, wiping his mouth and getting him water, as if letting him eat it however he wanted.
Well, it's a waste of time. Xiao Jun and Xiao Yao, you feed me a bite and I feed you a bite and you start eating. I don't want to lose weight and my grandmother doesn't want me to either. Don't worry about it in the future.
As they were talking, a maid lifted the curtain and announced, "The Third Master, the Third Madam, and the Second Miss have returned and are already at the second gate."
"Is it Ruyi?" Seeing the maid nod, Xiao Yao quickly got off the ground and rushed out regardless of anything.
"Clothes, this child, quickly catch up with her and put them on her." By the time Tong Mingyu reacted, Xiao Yao was almost running to the door. If she really went out in the cold winter, she would definitely freeze to death, so she hurriedly gave the order.
Xiao Yao didn't care about her health anymore, she had forgotten about it. She couldn't help but think about her sister, and she came back.
"You've never been so happy to see me back. It seems Ping'an likes his sister more!" General Xiao exuded a strong sense of jealousy, but he stood up involuntarily. It was great that his little granddaughter was back. Now Ping'an could spend the New Year happily. His granddaughters were happy, and he was happy too. Not bad, not bad.
Everyone was speechless. Could it be that people really become like children when they get old? What can we say? Will there be another child in the family in the future?
The chirping sound came from far away, mixed with cheerful laughter. Xiao Jingmin and Yuan Yutong came side by side, and behind them were Xiao Yao and Xiao Yuan, who were held in someone's arms and holding hands.
The maid placed a brocade mat in the middle of the hall, and Xiao Jingmin and his wife brought Xiao Yuan to kowtow to the two elders and greet them.
Xiao Yuan's figure is just like that of the sixth brother, with a pair of smiling eyes, a round pink face, a small bright red mouth, and a double chin that makes people want to rub it when they see it.
"Sister-in-law, can I hold Ruyi in my arms to sleep tonight? She must be warm and smooth." Li Jiaoying said with anticipation.
"No, I sleep with my sister..." Xiao Yuan replied in a baby voice. Everyone in the room was stunned. They had only been apart for a little over two months, and she had changed so much. Everyone knew she wasn't even a year old yet! Her speaking skills were almost catching up with her older brothers and sisters. It was incredible!
Xiao Jingmin raised his head and eyebrows proudly. What do you think? My daughter is great, right?
"What a smart child! Come and call grandpa, grandma, and second aunt." Li Jiaoying really liked listening to Xiao Yuan's voice. It was soft and gentle. Hearing such a voice made people feel relaxed.
"Grandpa, grandma...sister, hold me." It was obvious from the look on my second aunt's face that she had bad intentions. My sister was still trustworthy.
"Come and let your aunt hold you, and see if our Ruyi has grown taller." Tong Mingyu caught Xiao Yuan who was rushing towards her daughter. How could her daughter hold such a chubby boy?
"Why are you back at this time? You didn't even send a message in advance. Chunlan, have someone clean up Third Master's Yiyuan Garden. Chunliu, tell the kitchen to prepare two tables of delicious food." Qin assigned several maids around her to other places.
During dinner, Xiao Jingmin told his family that he had received a transfer order and would take up his post in Songjiang, which was only a day's journey from Kyoto, after the New Year. It would be much more convenient for him to come back later.
General Xiao was not surprised. The emperor once summoned him to the imperial study and asked him if he had any requirements for the position of his third son who was about to be transferred. His answer was just a simple sentence, "Everything is up to the emperor."
Although the emperor didn't specify his specific destination at the time, he did indicate that he wouldn't be too far from Kyoto, and he said with emotion that the old general had served his country for many years and it was time for him to enjoy family life. Now the emperor kept his promise and indeed transferred his third son to a nearby place.
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