The Second Day.
The weather cleared.
Great joy filled everyone's heart.
Early in the morning, the sound of lively laughter and playful noise spread through the village.
All the children went out to play.
Even Elder Sister couldn't resist putting on new clothes to show off.
She has a new best friend now.
For some reason, after Cui got married, it didn't seem right to play with her anymore.
Cui also has new companions—a group of matrons in the village.
Her new friends are not very talkative, not as boastful as Cui, nor as annoying as her, but when Jiang Yu thinks about it, it seems she still prefers Cui.
But anyone can show off new clothes.
Jiang Feng wasn't stopped by yesterday's heavy rain, and today with the clear sky, he was nowhere to be seen again.
Some matrons also came to chat with Mom.
More people came to see Father today.
One after another at the door.
Not sure if it's because there are more people at home today.
Young Lord Zi has a bit of social anxiety.
Jiang Mianmian felt that Young Lord Zi was being a bit clingy to her today.
Usually, it's her who takes the initiative to grab Zi Xiaochong, while he is reluctant and struggles in secrecy.
But today, it's Zi Xiaochong who keeps holding her hand.
The little rascal even tried to hug her.
Humph.
Jiang Mianmian wanted to walk on her own.
The weather cleared.
She wanted to bask Jiang Xiaoshu in the sun.
And she needed to take Big Bai out and redo the braids on his head.
Mom laid out a thick straw mat under the big tree.
And lit a small brazier nearby.
The sunshine was bright and warm.
It didn't feel cold at all.
Jiang Mianmian played happily.
She suddenly felt very natural.
Very able to fit into her identity.
No longer feeling like an outsider looking in.
Just like in the beginning when she wondered about how Mom of this body was.
But in reality, this body is her.
That's how she thought back then.
Young Lord Zi sat on the straw mat watching her play.
Sometimes he handed her a comb or water, or wiped her runny nose~~
Well, maybe she caught a slight cold yesterday and had a runny nose.
Jiang Mianmian felt that after staying at her home for a few days, Zi Xiaochong's germaphobia was almost cured.
He actually wiped her runny nose with his own hands, and even ate the sugar cake she gave him after grabbing Jiang Xiaoshu.
Humans really degenerate quickly, huh?
However, after she combed Big Bai's hair and braided it, Zi Xiaochong took her to wash her hands.
Zi Xiaochong doesn't know how to hold a child properly and made her stomach hurt...
These past two days, her relationship with Zi Xiaochong has become unprecedentedly harmonious.
The only problem is that Zi Xiaochong actually gave her a nickname.
He blurted it out with his lisp: "Jiang Xiaogui!!"
Jiang Mianmian thought, how am I like a turtle? Even if my clothes are colorful and thick, causing me to occasionally fall down, but I can still get up, can turtles get up by themselves??
When Young Lord Zi saw little Mianmian glaring at him with red eyes after hearing this name, he quickly explained: "Turtle means longevity. My father kept a longevity turtle for me since I was young. It's a good thing. Calling you Jiang Xiaogui is wishing you a long life."
Hei Ta: ...Young Lord has become so talkative, I'm not used to it. What if he talks to me every day? How should I respond? This job suddenly became complicated.
Jiang Mianmian: ...
Already learning to deceive children at such a young age.
She replied in a baby voice: "Okay, then I'll call you Zi Xiaogui from now on, so you can also live a long life."
Zi Congheng: ...
Just when Jiang Mianmian thought she could play with the child living at her home under her father's leadership for a long time and develop a deep friendship, his father came to take him back.
He came in person.
Fierce battles raged ahead.
But when Zi Lu learned that his son had a high fever and convulsions, he actually came in person to pick him up.
Thinking that the Jiang fellow didn't take good care of his son.
Mr. Gong had repeatedly assured him that the person was good.
Zi Lu rushed over on a fast horse, leaving his subordinates behind.
He ran all the way, wind-blown and dusty.
He stayed up all night on the first day.
Furious, he wanted to kill someone.
But when he arrived and saw the scene before him—
Under the big tree, in the sunshine, his son who rarely smiled or spoke from a young age, who would refuse to touch his own father thinking it was dirty and had to wash his hands eight times, was sitting there helping a little girl in a floral jacket wipe her runny nose...
The little girl had two small braids, one on each side, so she must be a girl.
Zi Lu was stunned.
He even momentarily thought about turning around and leaving.
Realizing he came at the wrong time.
He was wrong. His son had hinted that he wanted to stay and even sent willow branches as a gift.
"Father!" Zi Congheng was startled when he saw his father, then called out in pleasant surprise.
He stood up and walked towards his father.
Looking at his father with a delighted expression.
But he didn't go to embrace him.
He just smiled.
Zi Lu noticed for the first time that his son was also wearing a floral jacket, which looked quite cute.
He couldn't help but pick him up and hold him high.
"Father, put me down," Zi Congheng shouted loudly.
Jiang Mianmian looked at the tall, bearded man before her. So strong!
It was the first time she realized a bearded man could be so handsome.
A kind of dashing handsomeness.
Different from her father.
Her father's beauty was more ethereal.
The man before her was ruggedly handsome, full of vigor, with a wild kind of beauty.
Jiang Mianmian stared until she drooled... she quickly wiped it off with her sleeve.
It's normal for kids to drool.
Qin Luoxia and Jiang Changtian were startled when they saw the visitor.
Hearing Young Lord Zi call him Father.
Hei Ta calling him Master.
They realized this was the rebel leader Zi Lu.
Then they saw the dense troops filling the entire village, which fell completely silent, even the chickens stopped clucking.
The soldiers covered their beaks.
Qin Luoxia felt a bit at a loss.
Jiang Changtian inwardly marveled—as the rumors said, Zi Lu's presence was indeed overwhelming.
His very appearance commanded submission.
Jiang Changtian even felt the urge to kneel and kowtow.
"Commander Zi, we didn't expect your visit. Please forgive our lack of a proper welcome, and come in quickly," Jiang Changtian said, suppressing his excitement and presenting a sincere, warm, and joyful smile.
Zi Lu laughed heartily.
"I heard my son was ill, so I worried for him and came in haste, despite being advised against it. I've disturbed you."
He put his son down.
Following Jiang Changtian inside, he said, "Qi Chi has been singing your praises to me constantly until my ears grew calluses, but meeting you today, I realize he was understating it. You are even more exceptional than his modest words."
Zi Lu thought to himself, with Mr. Jiang's exceptional looks, his daughter must be extremely beautiful too. No wonder his son personally wiped her runny nose. Maybe he should arrange a child betrothal.
Well, he'll reconsider after his son turns ten.
At that time, it was either a glorious union or the fading of clouds and smoke.
His voice was heroic and sincere, making people feel joyful when listening.
"Your younger sister is not bad either, she looks like a heroine among women," Zi Lu praised Qin Luoxia.
Jiang Mianmian found that Father looked very happy and proud.
When others praised Mom, it seemed like Father was even happier than being praised himself.
Zi Congheng was a bit uncomfortable when Father picked him up and tossed him into the air.
He considered himself an adult in front of Jiang Xiaogui, but as an adult, he was also tossed into the air.
Jiang Xiaogui loved being held and tossed into the air by her family.
Each time, she would laugh continuously, her little teeth exposed.
Zi Congheng took Jiang Xiaogui's hand and led her into the courtyard.
"Uncle, your Father looks great," Jiang Mianmian said.
Zi Congheng helped wipe her drool...
"I look like my Father," he said.
Jiang Mianmian looked up at the fair-faced Zi Congheng and shook her head.
No, you don't. Your Father has a rugged aura with his full beard, while you're just a little brat - completely different.
Some look unkempt and messy with their full beards, like Uncle Hei Ta.
Others look neat, elegant, dashing, and heroic with their full beards, like your Father.
Let's go inside.
Jiang Mianmian saw Zi Xiaochong's Father sincerely shaking her Father's hand up and down, emotionally and sincerely, as if his eyes were red.
Oh my, it felt like watching two legendary actors battling it out.
How terrifying.
Zi Congheng also closed his eyes, feeling embarrassed to watch.
Jiang Changtian said sincerely, "Changtian's abilities are meager, but if the commander recognizes me, I will surely guard the rear for the commander."
"Brother Changtian, you underestimate yourself too much. I observe your extraordinary demeanor, you are destined for great things. Will there be no kings or ministers of your caliber? One day, you will have a place in the world."
Jiang Changtian sincerely grasped the commander's hand, shaking it more forcefully, his gaze more sincere, "Changtian is just a scholar, with a wife and son and daughter. I have no great ambitions, only hoping to care for them and live a good life. Brother, you think too highly of me."
The two went back and forth, trading compliments.
On such a cold day, their hands must have been sweaty from the handshakes.
Jiang Mianmian felt that compared to Zi Xiaochong's Father, her own Father was at a disadvantage, so she prepared to rescue her Dad.
She swayed over, poured some water, and handed it to the guest.
"Uncle, have some water!" Jiang Mianmian's little ponytail swayed, her face beaming with a big smile, showing four newly grown teeth.
Zi Lu had no daughters at home, and he was delighted by this little one's call.
This little baby was so adorable, no wonder his son was reluctant to leave.
He reached out and tugged the little ponytail on her head, then took out a token from his pocket and gave it to the baby, saying, "From now on, you can use this token to find Uncle, and Uncle will grant you three wishes, as long as Uncle can make them come true."
Seeing Father mess up Jiang Xiaogui's braid, Zi Congheng reached out and fixed it.
Jiang Mianmian rolled her eyes at Zi Xiaochong...
Look at your Father, he just offered three wishes like the genie from Aladdin, while you only tug on my hair every day - my hair is almost gone from you pulling it.
"Thank you, Uncle," Jiang Mianmian smiled even more happily, taking the token and giving it to Father.
"Father, please keep it for me."
Jiang Changtian deeply embraced and saluted the commander.
The commander didn't even eat lunch.
After their conversation, he left with Zi Xiaochong.
Jiang Mianmian saw that Zi Xiaochong's eyes were red.
He turned back to look at the small figure waving goodbye to him from under the tree at the village entrance.
He let go of Father's hand and ran back.
He picked her up and said, "Jiang Xiaogui, you kissed my left cheek last time, but not the right one."
Jiang Mianmian thought...
This guy is forcing his OCD on me.
She leaned forward and kissed his right cheek.
"Goodbye, Brother Chong." Hurry up and leave, or else my Father's smile will be frozen on his face.
Young Lord Zi also bid farewell to Madam Qin, "Goodbye, Madam."
He said "Madam" softly but "goodbye" loudly.
Qin Luoxia's eyes immediately turned red and she teared up.
In front of Zi Lu, she hugged and squeezed Young Lord Zi one last time.
"Be good, obey your Father when you're back. If you miss Madam, come back and Madam will make you delicious food."
Zi Congheng's hair was messed up.
He smiled and nodded at Mr. Jiang, "Farewell, Mr. Jiang."
He turned and ran back to Father.
He would return, if he was still alive then.
Zi Congheng didn't look back again.
He was worried that if he looked back, he wouldn't be able to leave.
It turned out that humans have passions and desires, it turned out that he wanted to live.
He mounted the horse.
The sun was bright, and the weather was excellent.
The horse walked forward.
He didn't look back, he only turned his head to see Jiang Xiaogui.
Jiang Xiaogui had climbed onto her Father's shoulder.
That fake, hypocritical, and sick-looking man was now holding a little baby high on his shoulder, and his smile was genuinely sincere.
Jiang Mianmian sat on Father's shoulder, watching the large army march, feeling very impressed.
"Father, there are so many of them."
