Chapter 209: Family

Chapter 209: Family

Father Zhao found his grandson unmanageable. He went to his son to complain, not just about the so-called "mosquito grandfather," but also about the broken flute that played noisily from morning to night. His head was ringing, and he couldn't sleep well. These days were more tiring than working the fields at home.

Zhao Xiping ate breakfast calmly, listening to his father's complaints. He glanced at his son, who was eavesdropping.

Zhao Xiaozai glanced at him, then pouted and looked back at his grandfather. He scooped a large spoonful of egg custard into his mouth, lowered his head, and chewed vigorously with puffed cheeks.

Zhao Xiping didn't say anything. He simply took his bowl to get more food.

"Get me half a bowl," Sui Yu handed over a bowl. "Half a bowl of porridge, and half a pancake."

Father Zhao saw that the couple had no intention of disciplining the child. He angrily left with his bowl in hand.

The boy was pleased. He ate his small bowl of custard contentedly and even went to his father to ask for a few bites of his bun.

When the teahouse opened, Father Zhao and Mother Zhao hurriedly put down their bowls and chopsticks, each grabbing a salted egg before rushing out the door to secure a good spot.

With the two elders gone, not many people were left in the house. Old Uncle Niu looked at Sui Yu and said to Zhao Xiaozai, "Let me see your flute."

Zhao Xiaozai glared at him. "I’m not a mosquito—"

"Your grandfather is the old mosquito, you're the little mosquito, and your father is the big mosquito," Old Uncle Niu said with a smile, walking out with his hands behind his back. "I'm going to listen to some music."

"You're right," Sui Yu chimed in, taking away Zhao Xiaozai's empty bowl and tapping the flute under his bottom. "Don't play the flute in front of your grandparents again."

Zhao Xiaozai pouted.

Sui Yu ignored him and left with the bowl.

"Jade Merchant, hurry up. I didn't finish what I was saying yesterday. Let me add a bit more," a guest urged from outside.

"Coming," Sui Yu handed the bowls and utensils to Yin Po, then turned to Zhao Xiping. "I'm heading out first."

"Okay."

"Little mosquito, are you coming?" Sui Yu asked.

Zhao Xiaozai ignored her. It wasn't him she was calling anyway.

Zhao Xiping didn't care what his son called him, as long as it wasn't "stinky old man" or anything insulting. "Don't keep playing the flute at people. They'll start disliking you," he warned. "Not just your grandfather, but also the people staying at the guest house. If you annoy them, they might not help you or send messages to your mother in the future."

Zhao Xiaozai looked up at him.

Zhao Xiping didn't say anything else. He took a broom to sweep the floor. Seeing this, Sister Cui hurriedly said, "Sir, let me handle the sweeping. I’ll come by later."

"It's fine. I'm not busy."

After shoveling away the ashes and returning, Zhao Xiping saw Zhao Xiaozai kneeling on the ground, playing with his flute again, clearly having forgotten the scolding he just received.

The sound of a pipa drifted from the teahouse. The Hu merchant who played the flute came looking for Zhao Xiaozai. Zhao Xiping stepped out, carrying a bundle of straw to weave mats in the main house next door.

Sui Yu drank two bowls of water in the teahouse, waiting until the guest in front of her left with lingering interest. She tidied up the things on the table, then got up and walked to the wall to leave.

The sun had come out, but the wind was still cold. The snow on the roof hadn't melted yet. As soon as she stepped out, the warmth from her body was lost.

Sui Yu tightened her rabbit fur coat. She ran back to use the outdoor toilet.

"Huh? You're home?" Sui Yu asked, then hurriedly ducked into the outhouse.

Zhao Xiping had come out for a walk to escape the cold. When he saw Zhao Xiping in the courtyard, Sui Yu asked, "What are you doing so close?" casting him a reproachful look.

"Are you heading back to the teahouse?" Zhao Xiping followed her.

Sui Yu paused in her steps, catching the implication in his words. She scooped a lump of snow from the wall to clean her hands and turned to walk back into the main room.

"I’m not going to the teahouse. I just want some peace and quiet," she said, throwing the snow used for cleaning her hands outside the door and stomping her feet. She walked into the main room.

Zhao Xiping went to close the main gate, hearing the sound of the flute from the kitchen courtyard. He pulled the door bolt and secured the door from inside.

"Why are you weaving a mat?" Sui Yu heard his footsteps and looked up as he came in.

"I'm making it for you to take when you leave for the pass next spring. You can spread it on the bed at night," Zhao Xiping closed the door and walked over, kicking away the bundle of wheat straw and pulling Sui Yu into his arms. His rough fingertips gently caressed her smooth neck beneath the rabbit-fur coat as he whispered, "Since you came back, you've either been thinking about our son or busy with the teahouse. Have you forgotten that you still have a man?"

Sui Yu protested, "Didn't I let you into my bed at night?"

Zhao Xiping was left speechless. He cupped her face and leaned down to kiss her softly.

Sui Yu bit him lightly, then wrapped her arms around his neck, mumbling, "Pretending to be all proper but just looking for an excuse."

Zhao Xiping let her go, his fingertips pressing against her crimson lips, gently wiping away the moisture. Though their bodies separated, their eyes remained locked.

"You haven’t been thinking of me," he said seriously.

Sui Yu shook her head in denial.

Zhao Xiping gave a slight tug at the corner of his mouth and pinched her lips lightly. When she tried to bite, he quickly withdrew his hand.

"I want you to stay with me too," he said, pulling her into his arms so she couldn’t see his expression. "Sui Yu, I miss you a little when you're not home."

Sui Yu smiled triumphantly.

Hearing her laugh, Zhao Xiping patted her.

"When I’m away, I think of you every single day. If there’s a chance, let’s travel inside the pass together," Sui Yu said. "With you by my side, I wouldn’t have to worry about anything, and I wouldn’t wake up startled at night."

"Alright," Zhao Xiping let her go and agreed, though in his heart, he knew the likelihood of taking half a year off for such a trip was slim.

He sat down and resumed weaving the mat. Sui Yu stood by the bed and hooked her foot to pull him. He reached out, grabbing her foot and pulling her closer.

"Come sit. I’ll teach you how to weave a mat, and we can have a chat," Zhao Xiping said.

"It’s cold on the ground," Sui Yu clung to the bedpost, refusing to let go.

"I’ll bring a brazier over."

Just as he was about to stand up, Sui Yu kicked him lightly and glared at him before crossing her arms and sitting down with a huff.

Zhao Xiping sat down too, glancing at her. Both the mother and son had the same expression when upset.

"See, weaving a mat isn’t hard," he said, picking up two strands of wheat straw.

Sui Yu glanced at them briefly before her gaze shifted back to his face.

"What are you looking at?" Zhao Xiping glanced at her.

Sui Yu smiled, resting her chin, and said bluntly, "Looking at my husband."

Zhao Xiping could no longer contain himself and turned his face away to laugh.

Sui Yu also laughed and threw herself onto him, sprawling across his body.

The sound of the flute from the next room suddenly stopped, and both Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping froze for a moment. They strained their ears, listening.

After a while, the outside gate was knocked on, and the little one, carrying his flute, leaned against the door, peering through the crack.

"Dad—"

Zhao Xiping covered Sui Yu's mouth with his hand to stop her from responding, so as not to be distracted by the child.

"Dad?"

The little one called again, but getting no response, he dragged his flute and left.

"Ignore him. His uncle, aunt, and his grandparents are all at the teahouse. Someone will take care of him," Zhao Xiping said.

Sui Yu nodded.

However, with this interruption, the intimate atmosphere between the two of them dissipated. They weren't sure how to recapture the mood.

Feeling a bit disappointed, Zhao Xiping returned to his work.

Sui Yu brought a stool over, sat beside him, and handed him the wheat stalks.

Meanwhile, the little one went to the teahouse with Hu Ji. He headed straight to the seat where his mother often sat, but only Sui Liang was there.

"Want some water?" Sui Liang offered water, holding it to him. "Have some water. You've worked hard."

The little one buried his head, drank a few sips, and then wiped his mouth, asking, "Uncle, where's my mom?"

"Hasn't she gone looking for you?" Sui Liang was surprised and stood up to look around. It seemed his sister wasn't in the teahouse.

"Mom has some errands to run. Sit and wait for her. She'll be here soon," Sui Liang said, hugging his nephew and placing him on the long bench.

The little one looked around, not understanding the story on stage. After a short while, he couldn't sit still. He tugged at Sui Liang's clothes, trying to slide off.

"Where are you off to now?" Sui Liang pulled him back.

"I'm going to find my aunt."

"Alright. You can play here in the teahouse, but don't run off," Sui Liang instructed, watching the little one as he made his way to another table with his flute over his shoulder. He then turned back to listen to the story on stage.

Zhao Xiaomi noticed the little one first. She reached out and drew him into her arms. "Little one, you're so handsome."

The little one smiled sweetly. "Dad says I take after Mom."

"Yes, you look like your mom. Both of you are handsome."

"Put away the flute," Zhao father said, turning around. "Aning is asleep. Don't let him wake Aning up with his playing."

Zhao Xiaomi didn’t take the flute away but told him he couldn’t play it now as it might wake his brother.

The little one listened obediently.

"Do you want to see your little brother?" Zhao Xiaomi asked.

Xiao Zai shook his head. He didn’t play with babies who couldn’t talk yet.

"Come here to me," Zhao's mother reached out and said, "I’ve been here for over a month and I haven’t held you yet."

Xiao Zai had always clung to Sui Yu in the past. Aside from Sui Yu, he also clung to his uncle and father. He wasn’t familiar with his grandparents and preferred chatting with Grandpa Niu over spending time with them. Recently, he hadn’t been constantly clinging to Sui Yu and had begun to appear in front of his grandparents occasionally.

Xiao Zai refused, acting as if he hadn’t heard.

Zhao's mother felt somewhat embarrassed. When others glanced their way, she assumed they were laughing at her.

"This child..." Zhao's mother began to say but then stopped. She saw Lao San enter.

Zhao Xiping was still uneasy. He came to see if Xiao Zai was in the teahouse. Seeing Xiao Zai in Zhao Xiaomi’s arms, he planned to leave quietly.

"Your dad is here," Zhao's father said, "Go find him."

To avoid any more random shouting.

Xiao Zai turned and was about to shout loudly, but Zhao Xiping made a shushing gesture. Xiao Zai saw it, covered his mouth with one hand, and dragged his flute out with the other.

Seeing he couldn’t get away, Zhao Xiping strode over, picked him up, and as he left, he whispered, "Didn’t your mom tell you not to shout in the teahouse?"

"Where's my mom?"

"You can’t remember what she said. She’s mad and doesn’t want to see you."

"I remember, Mom." Xiao Zai was anxious.

Zhao Xiping ignored him and carried the child back to the main courtyard.

"Dad, I was looking for you. I knocked on the door." Xiao Zai was confused.

Zhao Xiping still didn’t respond to him.

Sui Yu heard the child's voice and opened the door. "Why did you bring him over?"

Zhao Xiping smiled, realizing she wasn’t thinking about Xiao Zai every second after all.

Xiao Zai gave Sui Yu a sweet smile and reached for her hand as soon as he touched the ground.

"Come inside." Sui Yu took his flute and placed it on the table. "Are you thirsty? Ask your dad to get some water for you."

Xiao Zai shook his head, kicked off his shoes, and climbed onto the bed.

Zhao Xiping understood; Sui Yu was thirsty. He went to the west kitchen to get a bowl of hot water, filled two hot water bags, and tucked them into the bedding so the two could play in bed. He sat below and continued weaving mats.

"From now on, I’ll only stay at the teahouse for half a day," Sui Yu said, peeking at the man. "The other half of the day, I’ll spend with you."

"Xiao Zai will join us too."