Da Bao cheerfully began to teach Er Bao, guiding him with great care. "You need to find a way to make the colors on all six sides consistent. Do it like this… and then like this…"
After Da Bao’s brief explanation, Er Bao pretty much understood how to play. The game turned out to be surprisingly simple.
Initially, Er Bao was dismissive, thinking this Rubik's Cube would be just like the other toys his mother had given him. Who would have thought that right from the start, it would be fraught with difficulties?
For a time, Er Bao was stumped by the Rubik's Cube. He twisted and turned it countless times, yet it was always just a little bit away from completion. In the end, all his efforts were in vain. Er Bao’s usually calm temper was almost worn thin, and he nearly threw the cube in anger.
"Calm down… you must stay calm. Mother said only smart children can play with this. If you really can’t play, Er Bao, then forget it."
Seeing Er Bao display other emotions for the first time, Da Bao was delighted and kept provoking him. This was the first time he had an opportunity to mock Er Bao, a rare occurrence that he knew he had to cherish.
Er Bao took a deep breath, and his agitated emotions immediately subsided. He picked up the Rubik's Cube from the table again. He refused to believe he couldn’t conquer this little thing.
He glanced at the Rubik's Cube in Da Bao’s hands, thinking that Da Bao wasn't as great as he seemed, since he too had been playing with it for a long time without restoring it.
"You're no different. You’ve been playing for so long and haven’t made any progress!"
"I… I wasn't serious!"
Da Bao said, putting on a brave face. He couldn't let Er Bao mock him. He had to try harder. This time, no matter what, he would leave Er Bao behind and show him the might of an older brother.
At this moment, both little fellows seemed to be giving it their all, focusing all their attention on the Rubik's Cube, determined to decide who was the victor.
…
"Greetings, Young Madam."
"Where is the Second Young Master?" Feng Jin lowered her gaze and asked the servant who was following Ling Mu Zhu.
"Replying to Young Madam, the Second Young Master is in the backyard packing clothes."
Knowing Ling Mu Zhu's whereabouts, Feng Jin didn’t linger and walked directly to find him.
"You're packing quite quickly. Aren't you supposed to leave for Ning County in a few more days?"
As soon as Feng Jin stepped into the room, she saw boxes scattered all over the floor. His seasonal clothing was almost all packed. Was he planning to just leave and never return?
"Greetings, Sister-in-law." Upon hearing Feng Jin's voice, Ling Mu Zhu quickly put down his inkstone and stepped forward to greet Feng Jin respectfully.
"I just thought it would be better to pack them early, so I wouldn't be rushing and forgetting things on the day of departure."
"You've certainly become more careful now, no longer as reckless as before. It seems you've truly grown up…"
As Feng Jin spoke, her tone inexplicably carried a hint of sadness. She used to find Ling Mu Zhu’s constant presence annoying, but now, in a short while, he would be gone. Who knew when he would return from Ning County.
With the person who used to annoy her gone, she felt a bit out of sorts, her heart empty, as if something were missing.
"Sister-in-law, please don't bring up the past to tease me. I was foolish back then. Please don't hold onto it."
Thinking back on his foolish actions, he felt his cheeks flush with shame, wishing he could burrow into a hole and never come out again.
"He really has grown up, knowing how to feel shy," Feng Jin murmured a couple of sentences, and didn't continue to tease Ling Mu Zhu.
After all, now that he had grown up and become more sensitive, it wasn't good to make fun of him using past events.
"Oh, right. I saw the small kitchen made you a bowl of chicken soup, so I brought it over for you."
"These servants in the small kitchen are becoming increasingly unruly. How could they let Sister-in-law bring it for me? They're getting lazier and lazier."
Ling Mu Zhu glanced at the bowl of chicken soup placed on the desk. These servants were getting more and more lazy, even daring to let Sister-in-law do such tasks, which was increasingly disrespectful.
"It's alright, I just happened to see it, so I brought it back for you. This chicken soup is quite well-stewed, and it has many nourishing ingredients added. Is your body unwell that you're having this?"
"It's just that these past few days, when I wake up in the morning, I feel quite weak. That's why I asked them to stew some chicken soup."
It was strange, but these past few days, he felt a lack of energy upon waking, feeling very weak. He had never felt this way before, and he didn't know what was happening these days.
"Is that so…" Feng Jin paused, then continued, "Let me take your pulse. If your body isn't well, you should see a doctor early. Dragging it out and diagnosing yourself haphazardly will eventually ruin your health."
Just moments ago, she thought Ling Mu Zhu had matured and gained some sense, but now he didn't even know how to take care of himself. She had praised him in vain.
Feng Jin reached out and placed her hand on Ling Mu Zhu's wrist. After a moment, she moved her fingers away from his wrist.
"Have you been studying until past midnight every night recently, before going to sleep?"
"How did Sister-in-law know?" Ling Mu Zhu asked, slightly surprised. He hadn't told anyone these things. How did Sister-in-law know?
Feng Jin sighed helplessly, "If you continue to stay up like this, your body will eventually be ruined. Sleeping so late every night, being exhausted and not resting well, you must go to bed earlier from now on. You can't stay up so late anymore."
He was already so old, why didn't he know how to take care of himself? If he went to Ning County alone, she would really worry.
"So that's what it is. No wonder I feel so weak every morning when I wake up."
Ling Mu Zhu suddenly understood. It turned out that staying up late had indeed almost ruined his body.
"Just pay more attention in the future," Feng Jin glanced at Ling Mu Zhu, her tone carrying a hint of warning.
"This chicken soup has too many tonic ingredients. Your body is already very weak. If you consume these tonic ingredients now, they won't be nourishing. Instead, they will cause your body to consume itself more severely. You shouldn't drink this chicken soup. I'll prescribe some mild medication for you. Drink it for a few days and rest well, and you'll be fine."
"Then I'll trouble Sister-in-law for your concern." Ling Mu Zhu said with a hint of embarrassment. Having to trouble Sister-in-law for such a small matter made him feel truly apologetic.