Chapter 257
Chapter 257
“Yunsui, this is my father. You should know him.”
Jiang Yunsui raised a chubby paw. “Uncle Zhao.”
General Zhao smiled kindly, nothing like his usual stern and intimidating self. “Good child. It’s all thanks to you.”
His son had told him how close he had come to freezing to death before being rescued.
“Xiao Xing, Uncle Zhao, eat peaches. I grew them, and they’re really good. There’s watermelon too.”
“I know. I ate them last year,” Xiao Xing said. “Your peaches are the best I’ve ever tasted.”
General Zhao had eaten them last year too. Since Jiang Yunsui and Ji Yan’an had been absent when the fruit ripened, Nanny Zhou had distributed it among their friends and prominent military officers.
The peaches were richly flavored and perfectly sweet. Green ones were crisp, while fully red ones were soft and better for children and the elderly. Truthfully, everyone had longed for them ever since.
General Zhao shamelessly stayed to eat.
Jiang Yunsui kept several large watermelons and two baskets of peaches, then distributed the rest.
“There are lots left on the trees. If you like them, pick some before you leave.”
Xiao Xing ate blissfully. Having once starved as a beggar, he cherished food and filled his stomach at every meal. That was how he had become a chubby child.
Adults thought a little plumpness meant good fortune anyway.
Before leaving, General Zhao and Zhao Jin visited her courtyard and picked a basket of peaches and three watermelons. General Zhao resolved to find a suitable gift for Little Yunsui.
It was dark before Ji Yan’an, Song Jin, and Shen Qingzhu returned.
By candlelight they found the energetic child from that morning asleep on the couch. She lay on her side hugging the Phoenix-Mimic Bird egg beneath a small blanket.
Nanny Zhou said, “Miss insisted on waiting to eat peaches with you, but fell asleep.”
Song Jin pinched her cheek. “Good. She didn’t lose weight.”
Shen Qingzhu smiled gently. “If she were awake, she’d make a fuss over that.”
He looked at the fruit. “These peaches are excellent.”
Song Jin bit into one. “More than excellent. They’re delicious.” Whenever he had nothing to do, he liked picking one from her courtyard.
Ji Yan’an summoned Nanshu. “Carry her to her room.”
“Has she eaten?”
Nanny Zhou nodded. “Yes. Everyone in the mansion received peaches too.”
Ji Yan’an rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I’m going to rest. I’ll leave those herbs to you.”
He looked at Shen Qingzhu.
*
Early the next morning, Jiang Yunsui cried, “Peaches!” and woke up.
“You’re awake, Miss.” Shuqin entered and wiped her face.
Jiang Yunsui yawned. “It’s already the next day? Did Ji Yan’an come back?”
She obediently lifted her face. Shuqin and Shuhua were now her personal maids.
“The Young Master returned last night, but you were asleep, so he didn’t disturb you.”
“Did he eat a peach?”
When both maids nodded, she immediately brightened.
With their help, she put on a peach-pink dress, gemstone and jade ornaments, and peach-blossom hair decorations. She looked exactly like a tiny peach-blossom fairy.
Jiang Yunsui admired herself repeatedly in the blurry bronze mirror. Pretty and adorable. As expected of her!
“Good morning, Nanny Zhou. Good morning, Uncle Li. Good morning, Nanshu. Is Ji Yan’an awake?”
With Sleepy Mushrooms and his improved health, Ji Yan’an slept much better now. Jiang Yunsui therefore had her own room next door.
Sounds came from inside. Nanshu’s eyes lit up as he opened the door. “The Young Master is awake.”
Jiang Yunsui darted in first.
“Ji Yan’an!”
She crashed into him, making the youth retreat two steps.
Nanshu tugged her hair. “Why haven’t you broken the habit of throwing yourself at the Young Master?”
She giggled foolishly. “Ji Yan’an, were the peaches good?”
“Mm.”
“There’s watermelon too.”
While dressing Ji Yan’an, Nanshu said, “And loquats. Too bad you returned late. They’re all gone.”
Jiang Yunsui immediately glared at him.
Ji Yan’an’s lips curved. “They made loquat paste.”
She turned away. “That isn’t a loquat. Hmph. I can eat them next year.”
“And there are grapes! They’ll be ready soon~”
She quickly cheered herself up.
Breakfast included congee again. Jiang Yunsui ate an egg, then a peach, then mushrooms… Her mouth never stopped all morning.
She did not merely feed herself; she stuffed food into Ji Yan’an too.
“Eat more. Look how skinny you are.”
“Oh, and I need to plant seeds.”
She brought out all the seeds collected in the valley. “Look! I found so many.”
Ji Yan’an said, “Mm.”
He actually wanted to ask what they were.
She stared at him with huge eyes. “Aren’t you going to ask? Ji Yan’an, ask me what kind of seeds they are.”
He sighed inwardly. So the little girl merely wanted to make him talk.
“I won’t ask.”
Two words.
Jiang Yunsui pouted. “Talk! I won’t laugh at you.” She patted her chest. “Children keep their promises.”
Under her shameless pestering, Ji Yan’an finally spoke, looking utterly resigned. “What seeds are they?”
“Pfft…”
Hahaha! His voice sounded so funny now. Why did he sound a little like a duck?
Ji Yan’an stared at her coldly.
She covered her mouth, still laughing.
He crouched, pulled her hands away, and found her grinning with all her little white teeth. He pinched her lips shut.
Laughing, was she?
Jiang Yunsui gazed at him with two innocent eyes.
After he released her, she bounced after him again.
“Oh, don’t be sad. I asked Fat Grandpa. He said your voice will sound nice after a while.”
“And guess what? I don’t know what any of those seeds are either.”
Ji Yan’an stopped, turned, curled one finger, and rapped her hard on the forehead.
Little liar.