Chapter 2810: Chapter 3811: The Children’s Request
Bai Yihong is currently making a wooden puppy, which not only can move by itself and make sounds but can also transform into a small bench or box to store some small items. This is a gift he is preparing for his great-grandson.
Lin Ping’er found her talk with him useless and angrily went to look for Bai Ruozhu.
At that moment, Bai Ruozhu was choosing people to accompany her on an assassination task. They needed to be highly skilled and completely trustworthy. This was a critical matter where not a shred of information could be leaked.
"Ruozhu, what are you..." Lin Ping’er noticed something was amiss and asked worriedly.
"Mom, I need to handle something in a few days." Bai Ruozhu gave Jianqi a look, and Jianqi led the others out.
"Are you going to deal with the Turkic people?" Lin Ping’er asked, somewhat agitated, raising her voice several notches.
Bai Ruozhu smiled bitterly, "Mom, don’t worry about it. I know what I’m doing."
"You..." Lin Ping’er gritted her teeth in frustration, "When will you ever settle down?"
It’s not that she doesn’t want to settle down, but others won’t let things settle down.
How could she simply watch Ma Tongfang’s conspiracy unfold, watching the Ma Family exchange lives for military merits and innocent civilians die senselessly?
No, she couldn’t find peace in her heart.
"Mom, I swear I won’t act recklessly. This time, the Commerce Association is mainly leading everyone to resist the Turkic people. I won’t play a prominent role." Bai Ruozhu didn’t want her mother to worry herself sick, so she quickly chose words to soothe her for a long time.
"Fine, I can’t control you, but remember that you’re not alone. If you don’t care about me and your dad, at least care about your three children." Lin Ping’er finally relented.
"I care most about mom and dad, of course." She quickly took her mother’s arm and shook it, and Lin Ping’er, helplessly, smiled and stopped being upset with her.
It was then that Lin Ping’er remembered why she came and subtly reminded Bai Ruozhu of two things.
Bai Ruozhu burst out laughing, "It’s my mentor from the Commerce Association who’s back. I’ve been looking for him these days to handle some matters."
"I see." Lin Ping’er smiled awkwardly, "I’m just bored and thinking all sorts of things all day."
After appeasing her own mother, the sound of children’s laughter came from outside. Little Dengdeng ran into the room holding a small bun in one hand, with Nanny Zhang panting as she chased after them. These three little fellows were too energetic.
"Mom, look, I’m playing with my younger brothers." Dengdeng said proudly.
Bai Ruozhu reached out to tousle his little head, "Our Dengdeng is such a good brother."
"Then can mom take us to the Lantern Festival?" Little Dengdeng looked up at her with hopeful eyes.
"There’s a Lantern Festival at this time?" Bai Ruozhu was a bit surprised, as wasn’t it usually the fifteenth of the first lunar month?
"That’s what Aunt said. It’s organized by scholars in the city. It happens on the fifteenth of each month, with lantern riddles and poem contests." Little Dengdeng tugged on his mother’s hand, "Mom, I really want to go."
Bai Ruozhu had been very busy recently, and she reflexively wanted to refuse, but when she saw her son’s expectant eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
She had always left home for various reasons, spending very little time with Dengdeng and the others. She had never even taken Dengdeng to see a Lantern Festival, so she couldn’t let her son down again.
"Okay, I’ll talk to your dad, and we’ll go together." She said with a smile.
"Yay, that’s great!" Little Dengdeng excitedly pulled his two brothers, jumping around, the three little buns laughing and hopping, making the room especially lively.
After making a ruckus, the little buns got tired, and Nanny Zhang took them down to rest.
"Daughter, it’s probably not peaceful in the city lately. When you go, take more people with you." Lin Ping’er said.
"Okay." Bai Ruozhu nodded.
For news of a Turkic attack to be widely spread in the city, it was clear that Ma Tongfang’s men were involved. Meng Liangshen had already arranged for people to search for spies and had captured several suspicious individuals, but it was unlikely they caught them all.
That night Bai Ruozhu told Jiang Yichun about the children’s request, and he immediately said, "Okay, I’ll definitely join you on the fifteenth evening."
No matter how busy he was, he had to make time to be with the kids.
The third day was the fifteenth, and Bai Ruozhu had Jianqi pick some people for protection, then thought to have Jiang Yichun invite Senior Fox.
"He wanted you to invite that Miss from the Ji Family." Jiang Yichun came back and said.
Bai Ruozhu burst out laughing, "I knew it, he and Ji An have something going on."
Jiang Yichun raised his hand to tap her head, "Wrong choice of words. If Ji An hears that, she might be too scared to see Huilin."
She laughed out loud, "I’m just saying it to you. The young Miss Ji An is quite nice. If the Ji Family agrees, it’s a good match."
"I’m a bit worried about Huilin. I hope Ji An is sincere and not just interested in Huilin’s family background." Jiang Yichun said.
Bai Ruozhu pursed her lips, "Maybe the people from the Ji Family might covet the Meng Family’s glory, but I don’t think Ji An will. Who can guarantee that all their relatives are pure at heart?"
"Help keep an eye on Huilin." Jiang Yichun said.
"Okay."
Bai Ruozhu immediately had someone send Ji An an invitation, inviting her to join them for the Lantern Festival in the evening. The Ji Residence quickly replied, thanking Bai Ruozhu for the invitation and confirming that Ji An would attend on time.
As the evening came, the Lantern Festival started after dinner. Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun, with their three little ones, took a horse carriage to Wu An Street, where the festival was held.
"Dad, Mom, look, they’ve already lit the lamps over there. Let’s go solve the lantern riddles!" Little Dengdeng cried out excitedly.
Bengbeng and Tiaotiao also called out, though unfortunately they couldn’t speak much yet, so their babble was unintelligible.
"Hold on, let’s meet your Uncle Huilin first." Bai Ruozhu said.
"Why isn’t he here yet?" Little Dengdeng stood on tiptoe looking into the distance, but to no avail as he was too short, even on his toes.
Jiang Yichun chuckled and lifted him up to ride on his shoulders, "You can see farther now, look and see if you spot Huilin."
"Yay, daddy is so tall!" Little Dengdeng laughed happily, his bell-like laugh echoing far.
Bengbeng and Tiaotiao also clamored to ride, but Jiang Yichun only had one neck, so he hefted them, one in each hand, onto his left and right shoulders.
"Be careful, hold them steady." Bai Ruozhu said helplessly.
"Don’t worry, do I seem like the unreliable dad?" Jiang Yichun smiled, flashing a bright white smile, his whole demeanor somewhat sunny.
Perhaps life was now content, with a wife and kids keeping the home warm. The gloom on his face had faded, and he was no longer so cold.
"There’s Uncle Huilin!" Little Dengdeng spotted Xu Huilin and waved his little hand eagerly.
Xu Huilin was seen walking over with Ji An, who was blushing slightly, looking a bit shy.
"Hey, did you pick someone up first?" Jiang Yichun teased him.
Xu Huilin glanced at him, "Aren’t we here to see the Lantern Festival? I thought we were watching a juggling show."
