Xiao Xitian let out a soft gasp and rolled her eyes.
"Third Brother, you're so reckless!"
"My little sister is getting more and more radiant, and so robust!"
Yun Sanman doted on her, planting two more kisses on her before letting her go.
Gu Shi sat by, smiling, and suddenly asked him, "Are Feng Juan and the child doing well?"
Ever since Yun Sanman settled down in Heyang County, she hadn't visited.
Unlike Yun Laotou, Gu Shi understood that her third son had become a live-in son-in-law solely to help his own family.
Only a mother could understand the bitterness in his heart.
Yun Sanman's smile faltered for a moment, then he nodded. "They are all well. I'll bring Feng Juan to see you in a while!"
"No need. It's best if you live your lives well!" Gu Shi smiled in comfort.
Yun Jinhe took out all the books from the chest and chuckled as he read them.
Except for Zhao Guihua and Liu Cuirong, almost everyone in the family was literate.
The reason was simple: Gu Shi and Yun Laotou loved to read, and their sons and grandsons gradually picked it up.
However, loving to read and loving to study were two different things.
Yun Jinhe could read any book, not just storybooks and rural biographies.
"Mother, Jinhe is also of school age. There's an academy in the county town. Please send him to study!" Yun Sanman said with a smile.
After speaking, he thought of the family's tight financial situation and lack of funds.
He then offered to cover all of his eldest nephew's tuition and expenses.
Gu Shi shook her head. "Even if he goes to school, you shouldn't be the one paying."
Sanman had already given her twenty taels of silver last time.
Now, the family had a house, they were growing crops, and even had some savings.
They lacked nothing in terms of food, clothing, and daily necessities, so there was no need to ask Sanman for money.
Gu Shi's principle was that as long as she could walk and move, and be self-sufficient, she would never burden her children.
This included her youngest daughter, Xi Tian.
Although Gu Shi knew she was extraordinary, able to conjure food with a wave of her hand.
She didn't want to be an old 'vampire'.
Not just her, but the entire family!
"Tomorrow, I'll have Daman go to the county town to inquire about the tuition fees for a month, so I can prepare in advance!"
"Okay, tell me if you need anything. Don't try to bear it all alone!"
"Mmm!" Gu Shi nodded, her heart filled with warmth and a touch of bitterness.
If only their fourth son could return, the old Yun family would be complete.
Nowadays, very few people mentioned Yun Siman at home.
One reason was to avoid upsetting the elders and making them miss their son.
The second reason was that Yun Siman had gone out to sea to fish and had not returned since encountering a storm.
It was impossible for him to have survived.
Even if he had miraculously survived, why hadn't he come home?
Yun Sanman sat for a while longer, and seeing that it was getting late, he got up to leave.
Yun Laotou sat by the kitchen door, puffing on his pipe.
He no longer blamed Sanman, but he found it hard to let go.
Raising a child made one appreciate their parents' kindness, and Yun Sanman had not forgotten this.
It was just that his son, whom he had raised, had become a live-in son-in-law, which made him feel a little unbalanced.
Before dawn the next day, Yun Daman drove the horse-drawn carriage into town.
He went straight to Jinxiang Academy to inquire about his son's enrollment.
Xiao Xitian, who had ridden the dog without her parents noticing yesterday, quietly slipped out again on Xue Ling after breakfast today.
This time, her second nephew, Yun Jinshan, joined her in causing mischief.
"Little Aunt, what are we doing here?"
Yun Jinshan looked at the closed red lacquered gate with a bit of apprehension.
Xiao Xitian stroked the dog's fur and said with a serious expression, "Riding Hei Hei!"
That's right, the aunt and nephew had arrived in front of the neighboring courtyard.
Xiao Xitian hadn't slept well yesterday because she hadn't gotten to ride the Tibetan Mastiff.
She couldn't keep things bottled up, or she would get sick.
Yun Jinshan: "......"
Why was his little aunt so persistent about riding dogs?
He coughed lightly and stepped onto the stairs.
Just as he was about to knock, he heard a creak and the door was pushed open.
Grandma Jin emerged with a smiling face. "Oh, little girl, it's you again!"
She was the old woman who had been in the carriage with the little boy yesterday.
Xiao Xitian waved her small hands, her big eyes sparkling. "Grandma... Greetings!"
Grandma Jin was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.
"Oh my, this little girl knows how to greet people! Come, let Grandma hug you!"
This little girl, who looked only one or two years old, was surprisingly sensible.
Xiao Xitian was lifted up again, her small hands touching Grandma Jin's face. "Grandma... beautiful!"
Yun Jinshan: "......"
Little Aunt, weren't you here to ride a dog?
Why are you fawning over someone so intensely!
"You little girl, your words are so sweet. Grandma is old and not beautiful anymore!~"
Although Grandma Jin said this, she was beaming inwardly.
Who could refuse the praise of a soft and adorable little girl?
"The kitchen made chestnut cakes and rose pastries. Come, Grandma will take you to eat!"
Grandma Jin, carrying Xiao Xitian, turned and walked into the courtyard.
Yun Jinshan, afraid that his little aunt would be abducted, quickly followed.
This courtyard was even more luxurious and grand than the Yun family's.
It had a garden, a pavilion, and a pond.
Rock formations surrounded the clear, flowing water.
Two young maids had appeared in the courtyard at some point.
They were dressed neatly and tidily, their every move polite and proper.
Grandma Jin instructed the maids, "Go to the kitchen and bring out the pastries!"
After speaking, she glanced at Yun Jinshan again. "And make a pot of sweet tea for this little brother and bring it to the garden!"
The two maids curtsied. "Yes!~"
Yun Jinshan grinned.
At home, he was the one serving tea and clearing dishes for the elders.
He never expected that by coming out with his aunt, he would have someone serving him tea.
Oh, this treatment, there's no one like it...
He didn't even want to go home!
As they entered the garden, they saw the little boy happily playing with the big black dog.
Today, he was wearing a dark purple brocade robe, with gold trim on the hem and cuffs.
His fair little face was full of smiles.
But as soon as he saw Xiao Xitian, his smile vanished.
Instead, he curled his lips, crossed his arms, and tilted his nose upwards.
"Little village girl, why are you here?" the little boy asked her.
Before Xiao Xitian could answer, Grandma Jin replied with a smile, "It was this old servant who let her in."
"I thought the pastries prepared by the kitchen were too much for the master to eat alone, so I wanted to give her some..."
The little boy snorted upon hearing this. "Hmph, no! Unless..."
He glanced at Xiao Xitian's satchel, thinking it must contain many fun things.
He said with a proud expression, "Unless she trades for it!"
Yun Jinshan was furious.
How dare this kid talk to his aunt like that?
What kind of attitude was that?
"Hey, are you looking for a beating?" Yun Jinshan rolled up his sleeves, ready to hit him.
Xiao Xitian giggled, her chubby cheeks dimpled.
She stopped her second nephew and reached into her small satchel.
She rummaged and searched...
After a moment, she pulled out two small bone sticks, tied together with a string at both ends.
She generously handed the bone sticks to the little boy. "Here, nunchucks..."
Xiao Xitian smirked mischievously.
She could already picture the little boy swinging the nunchucks, beating himself black and blue.