After all, since she was going to leave, she could not let Sister Zhang bear the consequences of not getting paid. Know Xia was very clear about this in her heart.
Besides, one had to live by their conscience. From when she and her son came back to when she gave birth to these children, even if it was for the sake of the wages, Sister Zhang had not spared any effort to help wholeheartedly.
After living together for a few years, there was really no difference from relatives.
She had never made any mistakes in taking care of the children, which allowed Know Xia to worry much less. If Sister Zhang was not here and another person came instead to take care of the group of children, she really could not rest assured to leave them to an outsider.
After calming the few little monsters first, Pei Jing quietly pulled Know Xia into the room.
Seeing this scene, Sister Zhang secretly smiled and also helped to send the children away.
Inside the room, Know Xia asked him, "Tell me the truth, aren't you feeling guilty?"
"Me?" Pei Jing was confused for a moment first but soon started smiling uncontrollably. "Why would I feel guilty? What is that little brain of yours thinking about?"
"Otherwise, why did you stop Chenye from telling me something just now. Don't think I can't see it." Know Xia let go of his hand and sat sulkingly on the edge of the bed.
Pei Jing smiled and sat next to her to explain, "I was afraid Chenye would tell on the training I made them go through this past month. How could boys not suffer a little hardship. I was worried that you would soften once you heard about it."
He also planned to take the children over to toughen up more when he had time in the future, lest they all grow up to be spoiled.
"Then tell me about the training you made them go through," she was actually quite curious. She had not dared to ask before, fearing touching on some sensitive topics. But aspects that even the children were exposed to should not count as any secret.
After staying in the room for a while, talking about recent happenings, they finally opened the door and went out.
Sister Zhang asked them, "Are you two eating here or going to An house today? I heard that Zhi Xian came back a while ago. Has the old madam told you?"
"My third brother is back?" This was news to Know Xia. She supposed old madam forgot to inform her yesterday due to the tight schedule.
Just as she was thinking, she saw the old master coming in from outside. "I just heard what sounded like little Pei Jing and the kids coming back. Are you still going out today? If you have no other matters, go eat lunch at your dad's place. It just so happens that none of you have gotten together since your third brother came back. With school starting again soon, everyone is busy now and it’s not easy to meet up even once.”
Know Xia looked at Pei Jing and just heard him say, "Shall we get ready to go over now then?"
It was not until they went out the door that Know Xia found out her fourth brother had come back too. He just went straight to the neighbor’s house after coming back.
Know Xia teased him, "Sure enough, now that you have a wife I’m not as precious huh, fourth brother. You used to always come see me first whenever you came back before."
"How can you compare it like that." An ZhiAng smiled brightly to reveal a mouth full of white teeth while locking eyes lovingly with Su Ying. "Your fourth sister-in-law and baby are my treasures now. You’re not anymore. You’re someone else's darling now. You don't need your fourth brother to dote on you anymore."
"Excuses." Know Xia ruthlessly exposed him.
Su Ying was utterly charmed by him. The way she looked at him was like her eyes were full of honey too.
Know Xia could not help but shudder. Her fourth brother really was a sight to behold once he made a move.
These two were too mushy.
An house. After going out for a period then coming back, the changes in An ZhiXian were quite big indeed.
One could not exactly say where the change lied. In any case, the feeling was just not the same as before.
He was quite busy too. According to him, he had been cooped up in the hospital ever since coming back. Usually he would even settle lunch directly there. Today he made an exception to come back only because An JingZhi informed him to do so.
Everyone had not seen each other for a long time so there were naturally many things to talk about.
Back when he returned a few years ago, a single table was enough for the whole family to eat. Now just the children alone were enough to occupy one table. An JingZhi even said during the meal that he planned to get a bigger dining table to place in the house so that everyone could fit and eat together when everyone came home.
Know Xia would always keep her head low and not dare to speak during times like these. After all, her family had the most children!
This made her involuntarily think about her own family's future situation as well.
When all the children grew up, married, and had children of their own, then grandchildren marrying and having even more children... Every holiday gathering, the whole yard would be filled with people, like hosting a feast.
Perhaps it was because imagining that scene seemed too ridiculous that she could not help letting out a sound.
Liu Ling happened to be sitting next to her on the other side. Seeing her state, she could not help asking, "What happy event made my little sister laugh so merrily by herself?"
Know Xia was briefly caught unprepared. She lifted her head, "Oh nothing much, I just suddenly thought of something amusing. Right third brother, what does it look like abroad? Is it fun? You were out traveling for so long, did you find me a kindred spirit for a third sister-in-law?"
An ZhiXian grinned brightly, instantly seeing through her attempt to change topics. "Little sister, don't try to divert this! Big sister asked what you were laughing about."
Know Xia did not have the nerve to frankly state what she had been thinking about in front of everyone. One round of teasing and topic shifting from the guests soon completely redirected the subject though.
It had been a long time since the kids came to An house so they refused to leave after the meal and insisted on staying here to play.
Know Xia did not want to agree at first. So many rowdy children, leaving Zhou Nan to handle them alone was simply unfair.
However, Liu Ling and the others had also just returned from their troops. An Zhiren and the rest no longer lived at home so the house had not been this lively for a long while. Zhou Nan told them to let the kids stay and relax for a few days since school would start soon anyway and they would be busy again after.
Pei Jing got An ZhiAng to drive grandpa and grandma back while he accompanied Know Xia on a stroll down the tree-lined path.
He had changed out of his military uniform into casual wear. When there was no one else around, he quietly pulled at Know Xia’s fingertips. Neither said anything as they slowly walked like that in tranquility.
Time seemed frozen. It felt like an eternity since they last shared such an idle moment together.
It seemed like ever since they returned from Lingjiang city he had been constantly busy with only the recent two years seeing him gradually become more relaxed and frequent in coming home.
At the time, he had tried all means to get transferred back in order to spend more time accompanying them. However, ideals tended to clash against reality.
"What were you secretly laughing about by yourself during the meal just now? Won't you tell me either?" Pei Jing's voice was gentle as if he was only casually asking a question with no intention to force her to say anything.
What she dared not tell others, she didn’t need to hide from him since the kids belonged to them both anyway.
"I was imagining what we would look like when we're old!" Know Xia turned to face him, smiling radiantly. "Tell me, when we're both old and gray, and the kids also all have their own families, the scenes when everyone gathers on holidays will be even grander than my parents’ house today right?"
"Pfft..." Pei Jing could not hold in his laughter. He lovingly raised his hand and pinched her nose. "You sure have wild thoughts imagining something so far into the future already."
