Chapter 144

Chapter 144

"Yanlei, go check on them," Xiao Yu instructed.

Grandma Yu stopped Pei Yanlei, "No need to worry, it's nothing serious. They'll be back soon. Let's sit in the main room, come on, Xiao Yu, you've just recovered, don't exert yourself."

Seeing Grandma Yu insisting, Xiao Yu and Pei Yanlei followed her into the main room and took their seats.

As Grandma Yu poured tea for Xiao Yu, she asked about his condition.

Xiao Yu answered each of her questions.

Madam Yu handed the tea to Xiao Yu, "You must take good care of yourself. You can't go on like this; it's too worrying."

Xiao Yu accepted it, "Okay, I won't let it happen again."

During the conversation, Chef Yu returned, carrying Cong Ge'er.

Cong Ge'er's face bore dried tears, but he was holding a large bun in his hands, so he had stopped crying.

"Did you get the bun back?" Pei Yanli asked, surprised.

"A meat bun thrown at a dog never returns," Xiao Yu remarked.

Chef Yu sighed, "We just bought it. We couldn't catch up with the little black dog. But Cong Ge'er was crying so much from hunger, I had to buy him another one."

Madam Yu scolded, "I told you, if you're going to eat a bun, just eat it. Don't show off. Now you've wasted three buns."

"Sister! Sister!" Cong Ge'er protested.

"Your sister took one from you, but you still wasted two," Madam Yu pointed out.

Cong Ge'er then scolded the little black dog, "Blackie! Naughty naughty!"

Madam Yu asked, "Did you do nothing wrong?"

"Yes!" Cong Ge'er boldly replied.

Everyone, including Madam Yu, couldn't help but laugh.

Chef Yu advised, "Next time you eat a bun, watch out for the little black dog, okay?"

"Mhm," Cong Ge'er obediently nodded.

Chef Yu took the hand towel from Madam Yu and wiped Cong Ge'er's chubby cheeks before setting him down to talk with Xiao Yu and Pei Yanli. They first discussed each other's situations and then talked about the Xiaohezi No. 2 Restaurant.

"The restaurant will be ready to open its doors soon," Madam Yu reminded them.

It was then that Xiao Yu and the others paused their conversation.

Xiao Yu suggested, "Let's go have a look at the restaurant."

Madam Yu, concerned, asked, "Xiao Yu, are you sure you're well enough?"

"No problem, I'm really better now. The doctor said walking more will aid my recovery, and I can eat more at lunch," Xiao Yu assured.

"Alright then, just don't overexert yourself," Madam Yu cautioned.

"I won't let him get tired," Pei Yanli promised.

Seeing Pei Yanli, Madam Yu felt reassured, "Okay, then you go ahead."

Xiao Yu turned to Cong Ge'er, "Cong Ge'er."

Cong Ge'er, who was eating pastries, looked up.

"Don't trouble grandma, okay?" Xiao Yu said.

Cong Ge'er replied innocently, "I'll trouble Liuli."

Madam Yu, being advanced in age and not in the best of health, found it strenuous to take care of a lively child like Cong Ge'er. Therefore, they hired a girl named Liuli from the Southeastern District to help look after him.

Xiao Yu had only recently learned about this and teasingly scolded Cong Ge'er, "You little rascal."

Children can sense adults' emotions, and Cong Ge'er, sensing Xiao Yu's friendliness, giggled while holding his pastry.

Xiao Yu and Pei Yanli then followed Chef Yu out. They first visited the Xiaohezi No. 2 Restaurant and then went to see the pigsty and fields. Each place was well-tended by dedicated caretakers.

Xiao Yu was very satisfied.

Pei Yanli said, "It's lunchtime, let's eat together." He now prioritized meals for the sake of Xiao Yu's health.

"Let's eat at the restaurant," Xiao Yu suggested.

Pei Yanli nodded in agreement.

After lunch, Xiao Yu and Pei Yanli didn't immediately return to the General's mansion but opted for a nap in the restaurant's bedroom. In the afternoon, they reviewed the accounts for the restaurant, pigsty, and fields.

Manager Sun was still at the restaurant. He reported, "The restaurant's profits are increasing monthly. The sows in the pigsty are breeding, which will not only supply pork for the restaurant but also allow for sales. As for the fields, we'll have to wait a few more months for the harvest."

Xiao Yu nodded, "Good, we should focus on improving pig farming and agriculture. Once perfected, we can share these techniques further."

Share them?

Manager Sun was momentarily surprised, then realized that Xiao Yu, like the Grand Princess, wished for the prosperity of Dajing's common folk – to have plentiful harvests of melons and beans. He happily agreed, "Yes, of course, Master."

"Then we'll be counting on you, Manager Sun," Xiao Yu said politely.

"Certainly, it's my duty," Manager Sun replied.

Suddenly, a child's voice called from outside, "Pick up sister, pick up sister!"

Xiao Yu turned to see Madam Yu and Cong Ge'er passing by the doorway and quickly called out, "Madam Yu!"

Madam Yu and Cong Ge'er usually passed by at this time. Chef Yu was often busy, so she didn't disturb him. Surprised to see Xiao Yu and Pei Yanli still there, she exclaimed, "Oh, you're still here!"

"Yes, where are you headed?" Xiao Yu asked.

Pointing in the distance, Madam Yu replied, "We're going to pick up Tongtong from school."

"So early?"

Madam Yu smiled, "It's the usual time."

"Then let's go with you," Xiao Yu said and then turned to Pei Yanli, "How about we go pick up Tongtong from school?"

"Sure, but next time, we should pick up Minghe and Danzi too, or they'll get jealous."

"Okay," Xiao Yu nodded.

"Won't this delay your plans?" Madam Yu asked.

"Not at all, let's go," Xiao Yu and Pei Yanli stepped out of the restaurant.

The group headed towards the girls' academy.

The girls' academy, funded by the Grand Princess, was no different from other academies. It was quaint and traditional, equipped for rites, music, archery, chariot racing, writing, and arithmetic. Strategically located on the east side of the Imperial City, near the residences of nobility, it was surrounded by lush greenery and frequently patrolled by guards, ensuring utmost safety.

Xiao Yu looked around attentively.

Pei Yanli reassured, "There won't be any bandits." He was now familiar with the plot of "The Emperor's Dream" and knew that bandits were a trial for Yu Tongtong and Minghe.

"Still, we'll need to suppress bandits in the future," Xiao Yu remarked.

"Of course."

"Dong dong dong" – a series of clear sounds rang out.

Xiao Yu asked in surprise, "What's that?"

"School's out!" Cong Ge'er, holding a peach, replied.

"It's the school bell," Madam Yu explained.

Amused by the concept of a school bell, Xiao Yu watched as groups of lively young girls, ranging from six to fifteen, poured out, full of energy.

Cong Ge'er excitedly began to shout.

"Don't yell, your sister hasn't come out yet," Madam Yu said.

Ignoring this, Cong Ge'er wriggled free from Madam Yu's grasp and ran towards the crowd, calling out in his childlike voice, "Sister! Sister!"

Xiao Yu and the others finally spotted Yu Tongtong among the crowd of children.

Pei Yanli remarked, "He really knows how to spot her."

"Sister!" Cong Ge'er immediately hugged Yu Tongtong.

Yu Tongtong hugged him back, "Little brother, you came to pick me up again!"

"Yes, sister, here!" Cong Ge'er handed her the peach, forgetting that his sister had taken his meat bun in the morning. "Washed," he indicated that the peach was already washed.

"Thank you, little brother," Yu Tongtong took a bite, "It's really sweet."

Cong Ge'er nodded vigorously, "Mhm."

"Have some too, little brother," Yu Tongtong offered the peach to Cong Ge'er.

Cong Ge'er took a big bite.

Yu Tongtong, holding Cong Ge'er's chubby hand, said, "Let's go find grandma."

"Mhm."

Pei Yanli was a bit surprised, "The peach Cong Ge'er was holding was for Tongtong?"

"Yes," Madam Yu said with satisfaction. "Although the two children snatch food from each other when they're together, as soon as they're apart, they start thinking about one another. If he wasn't planning to give it to his sister, Cong Ge'er would have eaten the peach himself long ago."

"That's wonderful," Xiao Yu said.

Madam Yu nodded in agreement.

"Uncle!" Yu Tongtong saw Xiao Yu and hurried over, hugging his waist, "Uncle, you're awake!"

"Yes, your uncle is awake," Xiao Yu said, stroking Yu Tongtong's soft hair. "Tongtong, you've grown taller."

Yu Tongtong lifted her face proudly, "I'm almost six years old, of course, I've grown."

"Indeed, our Tongtong is now attending the academy."

"Yes, Uncle, I can write and draw now."

Xiao Yu asked with surprise, "Really?"

Like Minghe and Danzi, Yu Tongtong loved to show Xiao Yu what she had learned, quickly pulling out her own writings and drawings from her schoolbag.

"Look, look," Cong Ge'er stretched out his chubby hand to grab them.

Yu Tongtong quickly raised her hand in warning.

Cong Ge'er wrapped his arm around his sister's, pleading in a sweet voice, "Sister, don't hit, don't hit."

Yu Tongtong spoke sternly, "Then you mustn't pull at my writings and drawings."

"Okay."

Madam Yu explained, "Cong Ge'er has intentionally or accidentally damaged many of Tongtong's writings and drawings." Of course, he was scolded each time.

Xiao Yu smiled and gently touched Cong Ge'er's cheek, then took Yu Tongtong's writings and drawings. Like Minghe and Danzi's early attempts at writing, they were somewhat crooked but had a charming childish quality that softened the heart. He heartily praised Yu Tongtong.

Yu Tongtong's eyes sparkled with joy.

Xiao Yu encouraged, "Keep it up, you'll get even better!"

Proudly, Yu Tongtong declared, "Hmm, I'm going to be an official when I grow up."

"I believe you can do it," Xiao Yu said.

Yu Tongtong put her drawings back in her pocket and hugged Xiao Yu's arm, "Uncle, come to our house for a meal. I haven't seen you in so long."

Xiao Yu looked towards Pei Yanli.

Pei Yanli was always agreeable to Xiao Yu's wishes, "As you wish."

"Let's go then."

The group headed towards the Yu family's small courtyard.

At that moment, Lu Ming hurried over, "Yanli."

"Lu Ming," Xiao Yu called out.

After briefly greeting Xiao Yu and the others, Lu Ming said to Pei Yanli, "May I have a word with you?"

Pei Yanli followed Lu Ming a few steps aside.

Xiao Yu and the others noticed Pei Yanli's expression growing increasingly serious.

Shortly after, Pei Yanli approached and said, "I'm afraid we won't be able to have dinner here."

"What's happened?" Xiao Yu asked.

Pei Yanli leaned in and whispered something into Xiao Yu's ear.

Xiao Yu was visibly startled, then turned to Yu Tongtong, "Tongtong, your uncle has an urgent matter to attend to and can't join you for dinner today. But I promise to make it up to you next time, okay?"

Yu Tongtong, being a very understanding child, nodded immediately.

"Then I must leave with your Uncle Pei," Xiao Yu said.

Yu Tongtong replied, "Okay."

"No, stay with sister," Cong Ge'er clung to Xiao Yu's leg.

Yu Tongtong picked up Cong Ge'er, "Little brother, don't fuss. I'll play with you when we get back."

Cong Ge'er then calmed down.

After speaking briefly with Madam Yu, Xiao Yu quickly left with Pei Yanli and Lu Ming, heading out of the Southeastern District.