Scholar ng stroked his beard and chuckled. "That little rascal is in the kitchen. He said he just learned a few new dishes and wants to cook them for ."
Zhao Zhitong and the others were delighted that day. They felt they had done a good deed by helping Scholar ng finally et his long-missed son.
So, when they returned ho, Zhao Zhitong shared the good news with Zhao Dong and Sun i. The couple was very surprised. How did Zhao Zhitong know that ng Fusheng was Scholar ng’s son?
Zhao Zhitong declared proudly, "I heard your conversation last night!"
ng Fusheng actually returned to see his father around this ti every year, but they had never managed to et. anwhile, Scholar ng would inquire about happenings in all corners of the country, searching for any news of his son. Their feelings for each other were quite reserved. Without Zhao Zhitong and the others’ help this ti, it was uncertain when they would have finally overco their reticence and reunited.
It could be said that Zhao Zhitong had helped them imnsely.
「The next day」
After school, Scholar ng brought ng Fusheng to the Zhao family’s ho to express their gratitude. Sun i and Zhao Dong enthusiastically welcod their teacher and his son, and Sun i even cooked several special dishes.
When Zhao Zhitong and Zhao Yu returned from Qiao Muchen’s house, they were overjoyed to find their Teacher already there and imdiately sward him with questions.
Even Zhao Yu, who was usually timid, beca unusually active and engaged ng Fusheng in conversation. At first, he was a little hesitant and reserved, but he was soon captivated by ng Fusheng’s tales of all corners of the country and completely forgot his shyness.
Zhao Yu’s eyes sparkled as he asked, "Mr. ng, are all the heroes in all corners of the country like you, fighting evil and upholding justice?"
ng Fusheng smiled. "Not all of them. There are also sanctimonious individuals who masquerade as heroes but commit deeds more heinous than villains. This requires you to develop keen eyes, able to see through their false facade."
After listening to the stories for a while, Zhao Yu’s gaze fell upon ng Fusheng’s sword. He asked cautiously, "Mr. ng, may I have a look at your sword?"
"Of course," ng Fusheng replied readily, drawing his sword without hesitation.
Zhao Yu didn’t dare to touch it, only gazing at the blade with admiration. "It’s beautiful," he praised.
"HAHAHA." ng Fusheng laughed heartily. Encountering a child so interested in all corners of the country reminded ng Fusheng of his younger self, and he laughed heartily. "Let show you a few moves."
With that, he leaped up and began to demonstrate his swordplay in the courtyard.
This instantly attracted Zhao Zhitong. She rushed out of her room and stood in the courtyard with her brothers, all of them watching ng Fusheng intently. Zhao Yu watched with particular intensity, his eyes unblinking, afraid of missing a single move.
After finishing a sequence of sword forms, ng Fusheng sheathed his sword with a flourish.
Just then, Sun i’s dishes were ready. She called out for everyone to stop what they were doing and co eat.
This was the first ti ng Fusheng had tasted Sun i’s cooking, and he was astounded. "Sister-in-law," he exclaid, "your culinary skills are comparable to those of a master chef in a fine restaurant!"
He wasn’t exaggerating in the slightest. Having road all corners of the country for many years and tasted countless delicacies, he found Sun i’s cooking to be truly exceptional.
Sun i served the last hot dish and smiled. "You’re too kind. It’s really not that special."
When her maternal grandfather’s family had visited before, they were all considered close relatives. The rural custom of n and won eating at separate tables wasn’t strictly observed then. However, Mr. ng and his son were guests, so Sun i and the children ate at a separate table from them. This didn’t an they went without; Sun i had set up another table for them, laden with the very sa dishes.
Although Sun i privately disdained the custom forbidding won and children from sitting at the main table, she knew they had to adapt to local traditions. That was the reality of the era. If one couldn’t change it, it was best to conform; otherwise, they risked being branded as deviant. Besides, she couldn’t let Scholar ng and his son feel they were being slighted.
Once Sun i took her seat, Zhao Zhitong suddenly thought of sothing. In her childish voice, she asked, "Mother, since Mr. ng calls you Sister-in-law, does that an we can’t call him Mr. ng anymore?"
Sun i replied, "Hmm, indeed. You should call him ’Uncle.’"
Zhao Zhitong blinked. "Hmm, hmm, but I still think ’Mr. ng’ sounds more impressive!"
After saying that, she lowered her head and continued to eat. Sun i chuckled, not bothering to correct her further. ng Fusheng was only twenty-two or twenty-three years old. Moreover, Zhao Zhitong was Scholar ng’s disciple; calling her teacher’s son ’Mr. ng’ wasn’t considered a significant breach of etiquette.
「Later that evening」
After seeing off Scholar ng and ng Fusheng, Sun i heated water to bathe the children.
Zhao Yu had found a wooden stick sowhere and was practicing swordplay in the courtyard, imitating ng Fusheng’s moves. He looked quite convincing.
Zhao Zhitong watched from the side and asked in surprise, "Xiao Ge, did you morize all of Mr. ng’s sword techniques?"
Zhao Yu shook his head shyly. "No, no, I only rembered a little bit. I’m just playing around."
Zhao Zhitong exclaid, "Wow, that’s already very impressive! Especially since you only watched him once."
Nearby, Zhao Dong watched for a while, appearing deep in thought.
So, later, before bedti, Zhao Dong called Zhao Yu aside. He casually asked if his nephew was fond of martial arts.
Zhao Yu blushed. "Uncle, I... I just find it really interesting."
Zhao Dong smiled. "Well then, if I were to find you a martial arts master, would you be willing to study diligently with him?"
Zhao Yu, that child... although a bit quicker on the uptake than Zhao Cheng, wasn’t exceptionally bright. Zhao Dong had previously wondered whether to send the boy to school, perhaps to study for official examinations. But seeing Zhao Yu’s enthusiasm today, he was having second thoughts. Literacy was important, yes, but he was now more inclined to nurture the child’s interests. Besides, watching him practice those few moves in the courtyard earlier, perhaps he truly had a talent for it.
Hearing this, Zhao Yu looked up at Zhao Dong, his eyes wide with disbelief. "R-really, Uncle?"
Zhao Dong patted his shoulder. "Of course. But first, we’ll need to find Mr. ng—ng Fusheng, that is—and have him assess whether you’re suitable and possess the aptitude for martial arts."
Zhao Yu nodded eagerly. "Alright! I’ll listen to you, Uncle!"
"Good. Now, go to bed."
Zhao Yu’s heart leaped with joy. He happily ran back to his room to share the wonderful news with his elder brother, Zhao Cheng.
Hearing the news, Zhao Cheng didn’t share Zhao Yu’s excitent. Instead, he sat there, pondering for a long ti. Later, after Zhao Zhitong had fallen asleep, he quietly called Zhao Ya over.
The three siblings sat together on the bed. Zhao Cheng’s expression was solemn, reflecting the gravity of an elder brother. He looked at his younger brother and sister, his voice serious. "Our uncle and aunt’s family has shown us imnse kindness, a debt we can never truly repay. Although they are not our birth parents, they have treated us better than our own parents ever did.
"In the future, no matter where we are or what we beco, we must never forget the depth of their generosity and care. If any of us ever dares to forget this, or worse, repays their kindness with betrayal, I, as your older brother, will be the first to condemn it. Do you understand?"
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