Chapter Thirty-Seven: One Entity

Chapter Thirty-Seven: One Entity

"Dad, this time of year, would any of the rich merchants in town have peaches or grapes?" Xie Huaiqian's brows were furrowed with deep suspicion.

Xie Yan wrinkled his brow and shook his head slightly. "Perhaps there will be."

"If we create a warm room with charcoal fires, we can provide the right conditions to grow fresh fruit even in winter."

Xie Huaiqian was not as optimistic as Xie Yan. "Fruits are way harder to come by than veggies in the winter."

He pressed his lips together, paused, and then lowered his voice. "Even in bustling, affluent Shangjing, you'd usually have to wait for the palace to send fresh fruit during winter."

"Let's give it a shot," Xie Yan said without giving up hope.

Xie Huaiqian sighed deeply. "We have to try. We can't let them down."

Lu Mingchao had no idea what Xie Yan and Xie Huaiqian were thinking. She turned back into the house, locked the door, and took out some fresh fruits and vegetables from the space supermarket, then openly carried them out.

Over time, keeping Chao Chao Fu a secret became impossible.

She knew this all too well.

Unless she locked Chao Chao Fu away and never used it again, truly living a hard life.

So, it was better to let things take their natural course.

Her bravery was her greatest strength, even if it meant risking her life.

Xie Yan was stunned!

Xie Yan struggled to believe it, shock evident in his eyes.

"Mingchao," Xie Yan's brow furrowed slightly.

Lu Mingchao smiled. "I just happen to have them."

"After dinner, let's bring some to Mom and Dad."

"By the way, there are also wool socks. We agreed last night to give them to you this morning, but I almost forgot after waking up."

Xie Huaiqian murmured quietly, "Has the capital city changed drastically now?"

Had things that were once rare and precious now become ordinary?

Xie Yan practiced martial arts and had hearing that surpassed ordinary people.

He heard Xie Huaiqian's quiet mutterings clearly.

But he didn't agree with Xie Huaiqian's guess.

These fresh fruits and vegetables couldn't possibly have been brought over by Mingchao from the capital city.

Mingchao...

"Xie Yan, let's eat first," Lu Mingchao knew that Xie Yan was unsure.

Xie Yan forcibly suppressed the sudden surge of unease in his heart and busied himself with getting the children to have breakfast in the kitchen.

The breakfast was not sumptuous, but it was neither monotonous nor difficult to eat.

The lean pork porridge was rich and savory, the side dishes crisp and refreshing, and the cakes, though they looked somewhat oddly shaped, were soft and sweet.

"Xie Yan, your cooking is great," Lu Mingchao praised with a smile.

Hearing this, Xie Yan scooped another spoonful of lean pork porridge for Lu Mingchao. "I'll make it often from now on."

Raising three children alone, Xie Yan had long abandoned the outdated idea of men being superior to women or that men should stay away from the kitchen. He found such thoughts outdated and arrogant.

Lu Mingchao took small sips of the porridge. "My cooking is not bad either, but I haven't learned how to light a fire yet."

"I can light a fire," Xie Ru'an bravely responded to Lu Mingchao.

Because of Lu Mingchao's bright smile.

Because of Lu Mingchao's gentle voice.

Because of Lu Mingchao's steady emotions.

Father had said, it's okay to respond to her kindness.

Lu Mingchao's eyes lit up, delighted by Xie Ru'an's rare initiative. "Really?"

Xie Ru'an's face turned red, but he nodded firmly.

"Then Ru'an can help Mother in the kitchen from now on."

Xie Ru'an softly said, "Okay."

She is so good, the fact that he can help her must mean he is good too.

He can also be a beloved child under his mother's care, instead of being seen as an eyesore, taking up space, and being wished to be strangled.

Xie Ru'an lowered his head, his clear eyes filled with thick joy.

After breakfast, Xie Huaiqian voluntarily began clearing the dishes.

Lu Mingchao returned to the room, casually leaning against the chair back, her other hand idly flipping through the yellowed pages of a book.

Xie Yan's warm hand covered her aching lower abdomen, gently massaging it with just the right amount of pressure.

A few rays of not-so-clear and warm sunlight entered the room through the window, and the cold, biting wind outside occasionally seeped through the window cracks, brushing against her skirt.

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly from the discomfort in her lower abdomen, yet from her faint expression, one could still see the gentle, water-like tenderness, her shallow quietness resembling a painting.

Xie Jingyi and Xie Ru'an, one holding a peach and the other carrying a bunch of grapes, sat on a large chair near Lu Mingchao.

Xie Ru'an seemed a little dazed; he struggled to recall the taste of grapes from his memory.

Perhaps, he had never truly tasted grapes in peace without fear.

Xie Ru'an plucked a grape, put it in his mouth, closed his eyes, and carefully savored the sensation of his teeth piercing the thin skin, the sweet and sour juice bursting in his mouth and throat.

This is what it feels like to savor grapes slowly and mindfully.

"Can I call you Mama Lu for now?"

Xie Ru'an ate three grapes in succession, convinced he'd memorized the taste, and suddenly turned to look at Lu Mingchao, who was lazily leaning against the chair.

Lu Mingchao looked up. "You can."

This was already a big step forward.

Wasn't it?

"Mama Lu." Xie Ru'an's voice carried less fear and more excitement.

"Ru'an." Lu Mingchao's eyes curved in a smile.

Everything was peaceful.

"Mingchao, can we talk?" After a long while, Xie Yan finally initiated the conversation.

Lu Mingchao nodded and closed the book in her hand. "Ru'an, can you take Jingyi to your room first?"

"Mama Lu and Dad need to talk."

Xie Ru'an nodded obediently, tidied Xie Jingyi's jacket, and led her, both with their hands clasped, heading out.

Just before crossing the threshold, Xie Ru'an stopped and turned around. "Dad, don't bully Mama Lu."

Xie Yan: ...

Did he look like someone who enjoyed bullying others?

Especially, Mingchao!

"Father wouldn't bully your Mama Lu!"

Now, only Lu Mingchao and Xie Yan were left in the room.

"You want to ask about those fruits and vegetables, right?" Lu Mingchao's nature meant she couldn't be vague.

Xie Yan nodded, then quickly added, "I don't want to pry into your secrets."

"I suggest that when others are around, you can attribute these things to me. After all, I'm often either in the deep mountains or traveling long distances, so it wouldn't be unusual for me to find odd or out-of-season items."

"I will also remind the children to be cautious with their words outside and not to speak recklessly."

"Mingchao, an ordinary person holds a valuable object and becomes a target."

Lu Mingchao was a bit surprised. She had thought Xie Yan wanted to talk to her alone to ask directly and seek peace of mind.

"Aren't you curious?"

Lu Mingchao countered.

Xie Yan's tone was light. "Mingchao, you'll know in the future."

"We're connected. I just hope you live a long, happy life."

A Yan.