Chapter 12

  It's sweltering in the summer, and it's just right to take a nap after lunch. However, from time to time, the sound of children's noise comes from Jiang Wanru's courtyard, where four little ones are crawling on a grass mat laid out in the passageway between the first and second floors. Jiang Wanru and Wen Jiuniang stand guard with smiles, paying attention to the movements of the four children while whispering to each other.

  Jiang Wanru took it for granted that she would be the one to do this, and with her own name, for the first time, proudly standing on the page. Shang Dafu and his son were very careful with the two books, intending to make them a classic of great merit, so they were quite meticulous. The father and son re-examined the medicinal herbs in the book from beginning to end, and Jiang Wanru was idle as a result. Shang Dafu was quite affirmative of Jiang Wanru's calligraphy skills, and he greeted her warmly, saying: "Little lazy one, after we've finished checking, I'll trouble you to copy a few more volumes."

  Jiang Wanru's initial clumsiness gradually gave way to smoothness as she progressed from using flintstones to mastering the control of the stove fire, becoming more agile with each passing day. By summer, her cooking repertoire had expanded to a new dish every day, and the children would gather around the kitchen door, eager for their turn to eat. The Jiang household was filled with the sound of children's laughter, a stark contrast to the quietness of the old house.

  Wen Jiuniang looked at Jiang Wanyu's smiling face, thinking that she had become more and more pleasing to the eye lately. Wen Qinghe didn't dare trust his stepmother, and he had no one else to entrust with his child, so he often left her in Wen Jiuniang's care when he had something to do. Fortunately, Shang Dafu and his wife knew the inside story, and Wen Qinghe was a reasonable person who would not take advantage of others. They also liked Niu'er's cleverness and thoughtfulness, so they treated her like an additional granddaughter. Whenever their grandson received something, they would also give Niu'er a share, and incidentally, they wouldn't forget about Jiang Feiyang and his younger siblings either.

  Biqi was originally here to rest and recover, thinking that she would take care of Jiang Wan and her mother and son along the way. But later on, she became the one being taken care of. Biqi sometimes ate from a bowl of food, smiling as she said: "Xiao Lan, these days are better than I ever could have imagined. You and your wife are great benefactors to both Fang Zheng and me." Upon hearing this, Jiang Wan shook her head repeatedly, saying: "Don't talk nonsense, Fang Zheng and you are both people who conduct yourselves with integrity, so it's only right that I treat you like family."

  Wen Qinghe stood far away, gazing at his own daughter's admiring eyes towards Jiang Wanyu and Wen Jiuniang. The Wen family was now worried about him remarrying, but whenever he thought of Nian'er's mother, his heart still ached like a knife cut. He didn't want to marry again, but the little girl in front of him needed a mother's careful care. Wen Jiuniang turned her head and saw Wen Qinghe standing far away, staring at Jiang Wanyu with an inexplicable look in his eyes.

  Wen Qinghe gently patted the dust off of Niu'er's small feet and put her back on the grass mat. He smiled and beckoned to Shang Mingshi, saying "Come, Shi'er." Shang Mingshi happily ran over and Wen Qinghe picked him up, laughing as he tossed him high into the air. Shang Mingshi laughed and called out "Uncle, come!" Wen Qinghe let Shang Mingshi play for a while longer. Jiang Feiyang and Jiang Lanyu looked on enviously as the siblings drew closer, looking up at Wen Qinghe.

  Wen Qinghe quickly wiped the sweat from his face, laughing as he bent down to pick up Jiang Lazi. As soon as he looked at her small face, a big smile bloomed on it. Wen Qinghe tentatively tossed her up a bit higher, seeing that there was no fear on her small face, and then tossed her up a few more times, until she let out a "hahaha" laugh. Only then did he put her down, smiling, and stroked her little cheek, saying: "Lazi, just toss you around like this today, tomorrow when Uncle is free, I'll take you out to play again."

  Biqing couldn't help but laugh and shook her head, saying: "The pastries Xiaolan made today must be exceptionally delicious. Last night before she fell asleep, she told me that she wanted to eat red bean crepes. This morning, as soon as she got up, she started preparing the red beans. After lunch, when Lao Cangshu offered to help her, she wouldn't let him and insisted on doing it herself. She must have been unable to bear the suspense after grinding the beans into a paste, thinking that she had to make a few first to get everyone to taste them together."

  Wen Jiuniang wouldn't let go, and she smiled saying: "Brother, I smell the fragrance, you help me taste it." Jiang Wanyu brought over two pieces of pastries, looking delicate and fragrant. The four children were all focused on playing, not one of them looked up to ask for food. Bi Lü had wandered off a bit, so Jiang Wanyu directly handed the bowl to Wen Jiuniang saying: "Jiuniang, help me taste it? Tell me which one is delicious." Wen Jiuniang smiled as she took the bowl, and then directly placed the pastries in front of Wen Qinghe saying: "Brother, you try these two pieces, and tell me which one is good?"

  Wen Qinghe couldn't bear to say anything that would hurt her, so he awkwardly said: "I don't like salty pastries." Jiang Wanyu nodded and said: "Oh, so you don't want salty pastries. Then try another pastry!" Under Jiang Wanyu's bright eyes, Wen Qinghe couldn't refuse, so he reluctantly took the second pastry and slowly put it in his mouth. However, the second pastry was indeed purely sweet and delicious, lingering in his mouth. Wen Qinghe finished eating the second pastry with a smile and said: "Sweet pastries are delicious."

  Cat pounces on Chinese