"Fourth brother..." Tong Mingyu really wanted to stop Xiao Jingyan's behavior, fearing that he would scare or freeze her daughter, so she nervously shouted out two words. On the other side, the uncle and nephew were already playing intimately. Tong Mingyu glanced at Ninghetang which was so close at hand and shut her mouth.
Xiao Jingyan and Xiao Yao walked in talking and laughing, which immediately aroused General Xiao's dissatisfaction. He was even more dissatisfied with his youngest son.
"Can you hold the child well? Do you know how to hold the child? Put Ping An down quickly." As he said this, he stood up and took his granddaughter and held her in his arms. After a while, he untied the cloak for her. Xiao Yao's little face was covered with red, and her big watery eyes were so cute.
"Ping'an doesn't miss grandpa? He hasn't come to see grandpa for several days." General Xiao was full of jealousy and looked around with dissatisfaction. These were the bad guys who prevented him and his granddaughter from enjoying family happiness.
"I miss grandpa." Xiao Yao hugged her grandfather's neck and rubbed her little face back and forth against his face. It didn't take much effort to make General Xiao smile.
Xiao Jingyan sighed in his heart, a small gesture can appease the old man, and his niece's flattery skills are becoming more and more perfect. It has reached the point where just one gesture can get the job done. It really makes people jealous.
"Xiao Si, what have you been doing these days? You've been nowhere to be seen all day." After being comforted by his granddaughter, General Xiao thought of his youngest son whom he hadn't seen for several days and asked dissatisfiedly.
Xiao Yao secretly complained, fortunately her grandfather didn't call him Third Uncle like that. If he had called him Xiao San all the time, she would have collapsed.
"I found a job at a calligraphy and painting academy, where I'm responsible for the restoration and arrangement of some calligraphy and paintings."
"Brother Yan, ask your brothers to help find another job. This one is not suitable."
Qin felt that the place was not worthy of her glorious son and that he should have a more respectable job.
Although General Xiao also looked down on this job, he was satisfied that his son finally didn't have to be idle. As long as his son didn't have to be in front of him every day, it didn't matter what he did.
"Mom, I quite like this job."
"But this..." It's not decent enough, not glorious enough, and totally unworthy of her handsome son, Qin muttered in her heart.
It wasn't appropriate for a sister-in-law to speak in such an occasion. Tong Mingyu and Li Jiaoying hugged the two boys to avoid upsetting anyone. Xiao Jun and Xiao Qi noticed that the elders seemed to be discussing things more quietly than they had been at Yayuan earlier, but Xiao Jun kept waving at his sister, asking her to come down to him.
"Books and paintings." Xiao Yao felt that this job was very suitable for her fourth uncle. Everyone has different aspirations. Some people like high positions and generous salaries, while others would rather stay away from right and wrong. It's not surprising at all.
"You like your fourth uncle in the calligraphy and painting academy, right?" Xiao Jingyan teased his little niece jokingly.
Xiao Yao neither nodded nor shook her head. "Fourth uncle, it is shameful to take advantage of children. If I nod, grandma will definitely be unhappy. If I shake my head, you will be dissatisfied again. Do you really think I am just a two-year-old child?"
"Do you want to read new books or interesting picture books?" Xiao Jingyan tempted.
Here it comes again. Xiao Yao snuggled into her grandfather's arms, humming in dissatisfaction.
"Go if you want. If Ping An wants any books or picture books, just tell Grandpa and he will send someone to find them right away."
How could General Xiao not see through his son's little thoughts? He would never be able to fool his granddaughter.
"Thank you, Dad." Xiao Jingyan then moved a chair to sit next to his mother and comfort her. Tong Mingyu breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want her daughter to be exploited by her brother-in-law, but thankfully, her father-in-law was there to protect her. Fortunately, her daughter was quite clever. This little one's reactions were sometimes just as good as adults', which was both comforting and worrying. It seemed she needed to pay attention to her daughter's upbringing and not let her temper become corrupted.
Qin Shi didn't dare question her husband's decision, and after being carefully comforted by her son, she reluctantly accepted the fact that her most outstanding son had landed the worst job. Fortunately, her son would stay and there would be plenty of opportunities to change positions. Thinking of this, she no longer hesitated, her expression gradually brightened, and she chatted with her daughters-in-law about trivial matters.
Seeing that her grandmother's attitude had softened and she was no longer in danger of being taken out on, Xiao Yao turned to Xiao Jingyan with an expression that said, "Let's talk this over."
"Don't even think about it, you little scoundrel who didn't help someone in need. Fourth uncle had something to give you today, but now? It's gone."
No, I just don’t want to go against my grandmother and make her angry. The person I least want to offend in the whole family is my grandmother. But in my heart I support you, fourth uncle. Alas, it’s hard to be a human being, and it’s not easy to be a child either!
General Xiao couldn't bear to see his granddaughter being wronged, so his face changed and he was about to speak. Xiao Jingyan swiftly handed something to his niece just as her father opened his mouth. It was a close call. How could he ignore his father's attitude?
Fortunately, I reacted in time, otherwise I would have been scolded again.
It was a not very thick picture album, depicting the cityscape, with streets, markets, city gates and villages that were barely visible. The paintings were detailed and the lines were smooth.
It was the first time that Xiao Yao had seen this kind of picture album. She was very absorbed in reading it and even invited Xiao Jun and Xiao Qi to appreciate it together, exchanging their thoughts from time to time.
General Xiao moved closer, wanting to see what was more attractive than him as a grandfather, causing his granddaughter to leave him. He saw nothing but ordinary things and snorted with disdain. At the same time, he also made a mental note that his granddaughter liked this kind of picture books, and would ask someone to find some more to please his granddaughter.
From that day on, Xiao Yao never lacked picture books, but the ones sent by her grandfather and fourth uncle were obviously far inferior in quality and taste. Xiao Yao avoided her grandfather and went to her fourth uncle.
"Find lots of good-looking ones." Xiao Yao took out the template, pushed it in front of her fourth uncle, and looked at him with burning eyes.
"Now that we know Fourth Uncle is fine, it all depends on your performance." Xiao Jingyan said proudly.
"Fourth Uncle is the best." Xiao Yao quickly flattered him.
"It's useless." Don't think you don't know. The little thing often kisses Doctor Sun. Could it be that kissing Fourth Uncle is worse than kissing an outsider? Xiao Jingyan cannot accept this result.
Xiao Yao lowered her head and searched around herself, then stood there and turned around, but she really couldn't find anything suitable to give to others. She spread her hands out embarrassedly, with an expression that said, "I owe it to you first, and then I'll give it to you later."
"No." Xiao Jingyan tilted his head back and pointed at his unenlightened niece. This was the first time he had offered his handsome face to others. "Little niece, you are the first person in the world. You must know how to cherish it."
Xiao Yao didn't expect that her fourth uncle's request was so simple. She was proud of herself again for being so popular. Then she moved forward obediently and gave him a loud and heavy kiss.
Being small also has its advantages. A kiss can solve many problems. However, this method cannot be used for a long time. After two years, it must not be used on outsiders except family members.
Xiao Jingyan asked someone to get a box from his study. After opening it, Xiao Yao was surprised to find that it was a picture album of foreigners with curly hair, high noses, and strange clothes. She looked up at her fourth uncle, waiting for an explanation.
"This is about overseas barbarians. I thought it was interesting, so I brought a copy. Do you like it?"
Xiao Yao flipped through the album page by page without raising her head. There were men, women and children in the album.
She glanced through it quickly first, then closed it and pointed at the booklet and said to her fourth uncle flatteringly, "There are so many of them, they look great." It would be better if there were more booklets on local customs and culture, as she hoped to have a better understanding of this dynasty and this world.
"Your fourth uncle is going to work, not to steal."
Xiao Jingyan grabbed his niece's bun, calling her "greedy little thing". He was almost becoming her personal servant, yet she was still not satisfied.
Xiao Yao freed her hair and nodded obediently. Was it necessary to be so excited? Fourth Uncle's temper was getting worse and worse.
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