Chapter 266: Half a Son

Chapter 266: Half a Son

After leaving Chen Lao, Sui Yu asked, "Why did you come back so early today?"

Zhao Xiping smiled and said, "Thanks to you, Gu Qianhu and Yang Qianhu are sending their children to our school. Since they are taking advantage of our convenience, they have to offer some benefits. From now on, they'll share the patrol duties with me, so I can rest for a day after each shift."

"That's good. The little one told me he wants to eat the pancakes I made. Are you resting tomorrow or the day after? We can grind the dried broad beans into bean flour."

"I can rest tomorrow. I'll grind the beans in the morning." Zhao Xiping said, "I remember there's still a row of chives in the vegetable garden. I feel like eating egg and chive pies."

Sui Yu glanced at him and said, "The chives are old at this time of year and not as tasty as spring chives." She continued, "I'll make a new dish for you, and you'll love it."

Zhao Xiping sighed, "In the end, it's still not as good as your son."

Sui Yu punched him, and he laughed while dodging.

"I'll make thin pancakes with bean flour, fry two bowls of lard residue, stir-fry a pot of lean meat strips, cut some braised meat, mix some pickled daikon radish, blanch some soybean sprouts. Then, you can wrap all these ingredients in the pancakes. It'll be more delicious than the egg and chive pies." Sui Yu said, "After eating the solids, I'll make a soup. I still have some dried kelp that I brought back. It's perfect for a kelp tofu soup."

Just hearing about it made Zhao Xiping think this meal would be excellent, but he still spoke with a hint of jealousy, "We've been married for so many years, and only because of the child do I know about these bean flour pancakes. If it weren't for the little one, would I have never known about this dish before I die?"

Sui Yu gave him a smiling glare and crossed her arms in silence.

"Aren't you going to defend yourself?" Zhao Xiping urged.

"Defend what? Didn't you say it all?" Sui Yu asked.

Zhao Xiping's face lit up with a smile.

"This is a new eating method I learned from Chang'an." Sui Yu stopped teasing him.

"Don't think that just because I can't go to Chang'an, I can't verify this. I'm going to ask the merchants right now to see if this eating method exists in Chang'an." Zhao Xiping turned to leave.

"Hey!" Sui Yu stomped her foot and ran after him, grabbing his arm.

Zhao Xiping turned around and pinched her cheek, saying resentfully, "Can't keep up the charade anymore, huh?"

"I've also made egg pancakes for you before, and the little one hasn't even eaten them." Sui Yu hugged his waist, rubbing against his chest and acting coy, "I just remembered it now; it's not specifically for the little one."

Not far away, five merchants passed by and whistled teasingly.

"Let go now." Zhao Xiping patted her, "People are coming."

Sui Yu had no interest in public displays either. She pinched him and let go swiftly.

She looked up at the sky and said, "It looks like it's going to snow."

"Let it snow. When it snows, we'll slaughter a pig." Zhao Xiping said, "The wind outside is strong. Go back inside. I'll check on the school matters."

The chimney had already been built, and Zhang Shun and Li Wu were inside, working on the flue and stove opening. The earthen wall next door had been demolished, and the servants were cleaning up the earth blocks.

Zhao Xiping walked around and took the opportunity to remind them, "Now that the autumn harvest is over, we need to resume our morning and evening training sessions. One of these days, I'll bring some people over to spar with you."

Upon hearing this, the servants felt a sense of tension and decided to intensify their training starting tonight.

Winter nights fell quickly, and when the light in the room dimmed, the servants finished their work. Without anyone urging them, they voluntarily started running around the guest house.

Seeing this, the little one remembered his promise to his mother. He called the two black dogs and, mimicking the servants, wobbled his legs and feet, slowly jogging along with them.

Where there’s one, there’s two. Seeing the little one running, Da Zhuang and Huaniu joined in too.

"Hey, old girl, you should join in the run too." Old Uncle Niu said. "The more you run, the quicker you'll get hungry and grow."

A'shui didn't want to move; it was too cold in winter, and she hated sweating.

"Go on." Old Uncle Niu gave her a push. "If you don't learn, your sister-in-law will send Huaniu and Da Zhuang off with the merchant caravans to earn money, and you'll be stuck here at the guest house feeding chickens forever."

Only then did A'shui move.

"Aqiang, Huaniu and Da Zhuang are running with the little one. You should go out too." Cui Sao shooed away the girl tending the fire. Life in the guest house was carefree, without the need for scheming. As an official servant, she naturally treated the younger generation like an elder, with some compassion. She whispered her advice, "Be smart, girl. Don't just stick around us. Our lives are already set in stone, with no hope left. But you few are different. Lady Sui has been kind enough to let you learn characters alongside the young master, and even learn drumming and martial arts. Who knows what good fortunes await you when you grow up? Don't be foolish—this isn’t the time to take it easy. Learn as much as you can."

Aqiang nodded quickly, washed her hands, and said, "Auntie, I'll go now."

"Go, go." Cui Sao waved her off.

"Go on, the kitchen doesn't need you to stoke the fire." Yin Po chimed in to show her stance.

Aqiang happily responded with "Yes!" and ran out.

"Aqiang, come on." Just as Huaniu and A'shui passed by, she called out, "Come join us for a run."

"Coming."

Sui Liang, influenced by them, sighed and straightened his body to stretch a bit before joining in.

The little one got tired after running a lap and panted as he headed toward the door. Sui Yu went to meet him and led him as they slowly walked another lap together.

"Dad’s taking tomorrow off. He’ll take you into town to grind soybeans in the morning." Sui Yu said, "I won't go with you. I’ll stay home and prepare the side dishes."

"Okay." The little one responded with a high-pitched voice, clutching his throat and whining, "Mom, my throat’s killing me."

"Don't talk, breathe through your nose." Sui Yu pinched his mouth shut and said, "I’ll do the talking, and you just listen—no need to respond."

"Mm."

The two black dogs, hearing the sound, turned back, wagging their tails as they accompanied the master and his son on their slow walk.

By the time they finished walking, it was completely dark. Sui Yu led the little one to the kitchen to drink hot water.

"Once we get the heated kang in the schoolhouse up and running, along with a cauldron on the stove for boiling water, there’ll always be hot water to drink." Sui Yu said to Zhao Xiping.

Zhao Xiping nodded, sitting on a small stool, holding the little one's legs, worried he might injure himself. He massaged the little one's legs from the ankles to the buttocks.

Sweating profusely, Sui Liang pushed the door open and came in. Seeing this, he took the bowl his sister handed him, drank some hot water, and then squeezed his way in front of Zhao Xiping, displacing his nephew.

"Brother-in-law, my legs hurt too." He lifted his leg.

Zhao Xiping turned his body but didn't even look at him.

"Brother-in-law, you can't be biased." Sui Liang felt sour. "I knew you before the little one did. We've even shared a bed."

Zhao Xiping gritted his teeth and scolded in a low voice, "Shut up. Look at how old you are, about to grow a beard. Stop saying nonsense that annoys people."

Sui Liang took a deep breath.

"Rub it yourself—wherever it hurts." Zhao Xiping stood up, rubbing the goosebumps on his arms.

Sui Liang breathed heavily in anger. Seeing this, the little one immediately came over eagerly, took his uncle's leg, and said, "Uncle, I'll help you rub."

Sui Liang gave Zhao Xiping a sideways glance and said, "I treated you like a second father, and this is how you repay me?"

Sui Yu burst into laughter, and Zhao Xiping couldn't help but smile, his face unable to keep a straight expression as he turned away. "Okay, I don't have a son your age," he said.

Sui Liang stubbornly sulked.

The kid peeked at him while pressing down on his leg, trying to strike up a conversation. "Uncle, your legs are so thin."

"Can't hold a candle to those tree trunks you and your dad call legs," Sui Liang replied sarcastically.

The boy smacked his lips and looked at his mother for rescue.

Sui Yu held back her laughter, her stomach aching, and gestured for the kid to stay out of the fray.

After a while, the boy's hands grew tired, and he shook them out. "Uncle, are you done yet?"

Not wanting his nephew to suffer, Sui Liang replied in a rough voice, "Yeah."

Zhao Xiping took a deep breath, silently walked over, and yanked up his brother’s leg, digging into the tight muscles.

"Ow—" Sui Liang yelped in pain, trying to pull his leg back but unable to move. He had no choice but to beg for mercy. "Alright, alright, no need to press anymore."

Zhao Xiping paid no heed and pressed even harder, his fingers aching from the effort but not stopping.

Old Uncle Niu, hearing the high-pitched yelps, peeked in. "Well, well, you're quite the brother-in-law, giving your younger brother a leg massage."

"Yeah, I’m counting on him to take care of me when I can’t move anymore," Zhao Xiping said gruffly.

Sui Yu couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing, while the boy, not understanding why, followed suit with a silly grin.

After both legs were done, Sui Liang could barely stand. He collapsed into the chair, eyeing Zhao Xiping warily.

"Don’t forget what you promised—taking care of me when I’m old," Zhao Xiping said, giving him a hearty pat on the shoulder. "When I’m old and can’t move, the boy will wash my left foot, and you wash my right."

"But you weren’t nearly as rough with him," Sui Liang complained.

"Stop whining," Zhao Xiping snapped. "I'm hungry; let's go eat."

Meanwhile, the merchants were already eating, and the servants were rushing around the dining hall, collecting payments and serving dishes.

"Don’t wait for us; we’ve already started eating with your parents," Old Uncle Niu said.

"No worries, we’ll catch up," Zhao Xiping said, scrubbing his hands.

Sui Yu and the boy followed behind, the mother and son supporting the pretending-to-be-limping Sui Liang, who was smug about it.

The next day, Sui Liang again dragged the boy for a run, both exhausted but still excited to find someone to massage their legs. However, Zhao Xiping had anticipated this and, not even having time to eat, had left early with his camel, carrying broad beans and soybeans to the city to grind soy flour.

With no hope left, Sui Liang resigned himself to his fate. He crouched down to massage his nephew's legs, allowing the boy to do the same to his, with such light pressure it felt like ants biting.

"It's a loss for me to be your father's half-son, taking care of him and his son," Sui Liang grumbled. "I'm the one losing out, yet your father still wears a face as if he's the one being wronged."

"Uncle, I'll fight for your justice," the boy declared heroically.

"Oh? How will you fight for my justice?"

"You send me to the city to find my father, and I’ll hit him for you."

Sui Liang rolled his eyes. "You just want me to take you to the city to grind beans."

The little one giggled.

Sui Liang, looking rather reluctant, squatted on the ground and said while resting his chin on his hand, "Why don't you call me 'big brother'?"

Sui Yu walked by and gave him a slap, making a "slap" sound. She warned him by pointing a finger, "You're asking for trouble."

Sui Liang chuckled awkwardly, "I was just talking nonsense."

"Take the little one into town to find your brother-in-law. He's in the village where Aning lives," Sui Yu said, "And let his aunt know to come over for lunch at noon."

"Oh," Sui Liang didn't argue this time. He went to lead the camel.

The little one went to find Kurban and said loudly, "Teacher, I'm taking the day off. I'm going to grind bean flour. My mom is making pancakes for me."

"Alright, come back in the afternoon to make up for it," Kurban nodded. "Bring me two pancakes this afternoon, and An'le's too. Don't forget."

"Got it!" The little one dashed off.