Mrs. Tong did not come alone this time. She was followed by a little boy who was slightly younger than Xiao Yao and a little shy and timid.
"Jiabao is here. Come to your aunt and let me see if you have grown taller." Tong Mingyu was quite surprised to see this little rare guest.
"Hello...Auntie." The little boy greeted softly and then shyly hid beside his grandmother.
"Jiabao is a rare guest. I'll ask the kitchen to make your favorite steamed pork with rice flour for you at noon today, okay?"
"Is Sister Yao coming too?" the little boy asked expectantly.
"Do you think Jiabao came to see you? He came here specifically to see Ping'an." Mrs. Tong made fun of her daughter's self-conceit.
"Mother, there are no outsiders here today, so I will tell you the truth. I don't think they are suitable for each other." After saying this, Tong Mingyu gave her nephew a meaningful look.
"Is it true, as the rumors say, that you plan to send Ping An to the palace someday?"
"Where did this rumor come from?" Tong Mingyu stood up excitedly. The Xiao family had never had such thoughts before. Who was maliciously speculating and misinterpreting this matter?
"You asked Nanny Ruan to come back for Ping An, so of course those with ulterior motives would think so."
"The reason I asked for Nanny Ruan was very simple. It was simply because Aunt Wen knew her well, and I heard she was very strict with her ways, so I wanted to ask her to temper Ping An's temper. There was really no other reason."
After hearing what her daughter said, Mrs. Tong thought to herself that it was a good thing that her daughter and the Xiao family had no plans to send Ping An into the palace, otherwise her grandson would really have no chance at all.
"Forget it, let them spread it if they want. I believe that before long, or if some new topic comes up in Kyoto, everyone will soon forget about Ping An."
Tong Mingyu could only comfort herself in this way. When she went to ask Nanny Ruan for help, she did not think so far or so deeply. Now it can even involve the palace. It seems that those people have a very rich imagination!
"My daughter hasn't finished what she said just now. I can see that my father-in-law and husband have never intended to marry into the Tong family. You know the situation of the Xiao family. As long as my father-in-law doesn't agree, no one has the right to make the decision."
"Then wait until Ping'an is older, and have your father and brother come in person to propose marriage."
"What if my father-in-law disagrees?"
"If the Xiao family agrees, they can be husband and wife. If they don't agree, they can be cousins. Don't worry, no matter what the final outcome is, we won't blame you."
"You said it, don't forget it. If that day ever comes, don't blame me for not warning you."
"I know. I don't blame you." Mrs. Tong quickly ended the topic. She said that future matters could be discussed later. For now, all she needed to do was to get the two children closer. As they say, "Man disposes, God disposes." If even being close to the water doesn't work out, then it simply means the two children aren't meant to be together.
Hearing that her little cousin was coming, Xiao Yao pulled Xiao Yuan and handed the books to the maid. Without even having time to change clothes, she went to Yayuan to eat and drink... ahem... to accompany her cousin.
"Jiabao, why do you blush whenever you talk? Teach me!" Xiao Yuan asked humbly. Even boys blush, and as a girl, she felt ashamed.
Jiabao turned his head and ignored Xiao Yuan. It can be said that except Xiao Yao, he didn't like to pay attention to any outsider.
Xiao Yuan stuck out her tongue at Jiabao. She was actually being disliked. She was supposed to be loved by everyone and flowers bloom wherever she saw them! He had no taste and didn't know how to appreciate.
Xiao Yao quickly squeezed in between the two of them to act as a peacemaker.
"Everyone, let's eat first. For lunch today, we have both the steamed pork with rice flour that Jiabao likes and the crystal pork elbow that Ruyi likes. Eat quickly, eat quickly." In order to shut your mouths to avoid a quarrel, Xiao Yao first picked up a piece of steamed pork with rice flour for her little cousin, and then added a piece of pork elbow for her sister, playing the role of the little master very well.
"Sister Yao, you eat too." Jiabao said shyly.
Xiao Yuan's mouth was full of food. He wanted to laugh but felt a little embarrassed. His sister's little cousin was so funny. He had never seen anyone more willing to be shy than him.
After lunch, Mrs. Tong took Jiabao home reluctantly, and the two little sisters took the opportunity to take a nap.
In the evening, the Tong family sent someone to deliver the title deed to the hot spring villa.
Of course, the whole family must discuss and agree on Ping'an and Ruyi's decision to live in the hot spring villa. Before notifying her family, the first thing Tong Mingyu had to do was to get her husband's support.
"I don't object to the sisters living in the villa, but we can't take my mother-in-law's villa. I will go out to find out tomorrow where there is a suitable hot spring villa, and we will buy one ourselves." Xiao Jingkang, who had just returned home, said to his wife while changing clothes.
"Okay, I'll listen to you, but this matter must be done quickly. Aunt Ruan said that it would be too late to take a hot spring bath when Ping An feels unwell." Tong Mingyu did not mention that she had already accepted the title deed to the villa.
Let my husband take care of it. If it succeeds, I will return the land deed to my mother. If it fails, my husband will naturally turn around and support me.
"I understand. I'll do it tomorrow."
Xiao Jingkang spent the next two days busy with his daughter's affairs. When he took over, he realized how difficult it was to find a suitable hot spring resort. There weren't many hot spring resorts around Kyoto, and even fewer were in good locations or large enough. Who could afford such a resort without money and sell it?
Xiao Jingkang was busy for two days but not only did he fail to get anything done, he was also caught by Minister Tong and scolded.
"Why are you starting to dislike my Tong family's things now? Zhuangzi is for my granddaughter. What do you mean by hastily rejecting it? If you want to return Zhuangzi to me, fine! Just return my daughter and granddaughter to me together."
Xiao Jingkang could only admit again and again that he was wrong and never dared to mention the purchase of the hot spring villa again.
General Xiao heard his son mention that his two granddaughters were going to live in a hot spring villa while the family was having dinner and chatting.
Before others expressed their opinions, General Xiao stood up and firmly opposed it as everyone expected.
"Why did you think of building a hot spring villa when everything was fine? I don't like going out in the winter anyway, so you'd better stay at home." I had just been feeling proud for a few days, and my son was planning to sabotage it. Do you really think I'm easy to talk to?
"Grandpa, Ruyi and I will go and live there for a while and then come back, okay?" After receiving the signal from her mother, Xiao Yao shook her grandfather's hand and began to act coquettishly.
"If you leave, won't you miss your grandfather? Oh, I'm so sad!" General Xiao had tried so hard to change his habit of giving in to his granddaughter's flirtations, but he couldn't. He kept reminding himself to hold on and not be bought off by her sweet words. He did persevere, but the length of time he managed to stay with her was truly disappointing.
"Grandfather, please, agree." Xiao Yuan decided to cooperate with her sister to win over her grandfather. Hot Spring Villa! She had never been to a place like that before! I heard that there were green trees and flowers there even in winter. So, would there be rose cakes and osmanthus cakes there too?
"Okay, I agree." The tone of agreement sounded a bit disappointing. Why was it always like this? Why couldn't he just hold on a little longer?
No one was surprised by this result. It would have been a surprise if General Xiao had been able to oppose it to the end!
"It's so good to be a girl!" Xiao Rui envied these two sisters for the nth time. Hot spring resort! I want to go there too!
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