“Uncle Feng, stop pulling the weeds!”
Hearing Ji Xiaoshu’s call, Feng Ming walked out from behind the big tree, dusting off his clothes and asked with a smile, “Zhengzheng, Xiaoshu, what’s up?”
“Yes.” Zhengzheng nodded, raising the box in his hand, “Master just made so dried at. We’re going to share it with Axin and Ale. They’ve never tasted it before.”
Seeing that the two children had already changed into their going-out clothes, Feng Ming quickly understood, “Alright, wait for a mont. I’ll wash my face and change my clothes before taking you there.”
“No need to hurry, it’s still early.” Zhengzheng said with a smile.
Feng Ming quickly got ready and accompanied Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu out of Su Mansion, heading towards Peng Mansion.
On their way, Ji Xiaoshu asked Feng Ming, “Uncle Feng seems to like working in the garden a lot.” Before, he had heard Qi Yan and Zhu Zan discussing their tasks, and Feng Ming had volunteered to manage the plants in the mansion.
Feng Ming nodded, “Yes, I have loved tending to flowers and plants since I was a child. When my mother was alive, our house had many flowers and plants. She had a lot of work to do but always took good care of them.”
Zhengzheng exclaid, “Uncle Feng is a martial artist but has such a delicate and gentle heart.”
Feng Ming couldn’t help but smile, “Thank you for the praise, Zhengzheng. But compared to the prince, I’m far behind.”
Ji Xiaoshu calmly shook his head, “There’s no need to compare to my master. He’s just a monster.”
Feng Ming burst into laughter. Life now was so beautiful that he couldn’t even dream of it. He cherished it deeply.
When they arrived at Peng Mansion, they were welcod in quickly as they were honored guests.
First, they t Axin and Ale, who were being supervised by Peng Wei as they practiced horse stance. Ale’s forehead was covered in sweat, his legs shaking, and just as he could barely hold on, he saw Zhengzheng appear in his sight and imdiately straightened up, “Grandpa, Zhengzheng brother and Xiaoshu brother are here! Uncle Feng is here too!” With that, he ran towards them.
Axin continued to hold on, while Peng Wei had been pretending to be stern, but now his face was full of smiles, “That’s enough for today. We’ll continue practicing tomorrow. You should go and play with Zhengzheng and Xiaoshu.”
Ale had already started eating the delicious dried at, beckoning Axin to hurry up, “Brother! Brother! Co here! There’s dried at; it’s so good!”
“My master made this.” Zhengzheng said as he took a piece and ran over, holding it up for Peng Wei to eat, “Taste it, Lord Peng.”
Peng Wei happily took it, “Made by Xiaogu? Then I must have a taste!”
Axin and Ale were taking Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu to the courtyard where they lived. As Peng Wei was about to invite Feng Ming for tea, the housekeeper reported that the Old Imperial Physician Gao had arrived.
“I almost forgot. I promised to invite him for a drink at Wan Family Restaurant today,” Peng Wei said with a smile.
Feng Ming quickly said that Peng Wei should attend to his own matters and not bother to entertain him specifically. Hearing that, Ji Xiaoshu suggested, “Uncle Feng, since you like flowers and plants, why not take a stroll in the garden? We’ll co to find you later!”
Feng Ming imdiately agreed, “Alright.”
Before Peng Wei left, he rembered that Peng Wu should be in the garden at this ti. He smiled and said, “Perfect, Wu’er should be there. She’s always liked playing with flowers and plants since she was a child. Xiaofeng, go right ahead!”
Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu exchanged a look, tacitly understanding each other: they even had the sa hobby, adding 100 points to their compatibility!
Feng Ming watched Peng Wei leave, and the four children also walked away before he headed towards the garden of Peng Mansion. He had been here before and knew the way. Peng Wei hadn’t arranged for a servant to co and greet him, already saying that he should not be polite, as he was not a stranger.
As Feng Ming entered the garden, he saw Peng Wu standing among the flowers, holding a pair of big scissors and carefully trimming the branches.
Today, Peng Wu was not going out. She was dressed plainly, with no jewelry, her bare face radiant under the sky. Her head slightly lowered, and her hair danced gently in the wind, making her look exceptionally beautiful and gentle.
Feng Ming couldn’t help but stop in his tracks, and only after a mont did he regain his composure and called out to Peng Wu, “Lady Peng.”
Peng Wu looked up and smiled when she saw Feng Ming, “You ca with Zhengzheng and Xiaoshu, right?”
Feng Ming nodded, “Axin and Ale took them to play, so I ca to wander around the garden. Do you need any help?”
Peng Wu shook her head, “No need. Go sit in the pavilion over there, and I’ll have soone bring tea.”
“I’m not thirsty.” Feng Ming had already co close, bending down to pick up the cut branches from the ground and put them in a bamboo basket not far away, “I can work and talk at the sa ti, it won’t be a bother.”
“You don’t have to call Lady Peng anymore. Just call by my na; we’ve known each other for so long,” Peng Wu said, raising her scissors again to continue her task. She thought of the first ti she saw Feng Ming on Xingluo Island when he was intently looking at wildflowers by the roadside. At that ti, Peng Wu thought Feng Ming was sowhat “strange”, very different from the other young people on Xingluo Island. However, at that ti, she was already married and didn’t dare to talk with outsiders casually. After Feng Ming discovered her, the two exchanged a brief glance, and Peng Wu hurriedly left.
Later, due to a coincidence, Feng Ming saved Axin and Ale once, and from then on, they really got to know each other. They would greet each other when they t but due to their identities, they never had a serious conversation. However, in Peng Wu’s heart, if she had any friends on that demon-like Xingluo Island, the only person who counted was Feng Ming.
“Alright, Peng Wu,” Feng Ming bent down to pick up a flower branch, calling Peng Wu’s na with a faint smile, “The prince had made so jerky, Zhengzheng and Xiaoshu brought so for Axin and Ale.”
Upon hearing this, Peng Wu’s eyes beca gentle, “Zhengzheng and Xiaoshu are really great kids, they are so good to Axin and Ale.”
The two talked casually, not ntioning Xingluo Island anymore, but instead, talked about their new lives; especially about the people in Su Mansion. They were their mutual friends and their favorite people.
On the other side, Axin stopped eating after finishing two pieces of jerky, saying he wanted to save so for Peng Wu to try. Ale also silently withdrew his hand that was about to grab another piece. Then, Axin picked up a piece and stuffed it into Ale’s hand, “Here, brother, have another one.” They had grown up on Xingluo Island, hardly ever having any snacks.
“I’ll ask my master to make more next ti! When it’s autumn, Uncle Ersan’s oranges will be ripe, we’ll go to the Orange Garden in Jiaye City together. We’ll ask master to make us so dried oranges to eat! They’re delicious!” Ji Xiaoshu said with a grin.
Axin and Ale looked forward with anticipation. They had been to Jiaye City before, but they didn’t know there was an Orange Garden, and there were no orange trees on Xingluo Island either.
Zhengzheng went to the door to check that no one was around and closed it.
Axin was a bit puzzled, “What are you looking for, brother Zhengzheng?”
“I have a serious matter to talk with you guys,” Ji Xiaoshu said solemnly,”Do you want to have a father?”
Axin and Ale both shook their heads without hesitation.
Axin frowned, “My father is a bad person, he always bullied my mother.”
Ale’s little face was annoyed when he ntioned his biological father, “We don’t want a father! We just want our mother!”
Seeing that they misunderstood, Zhengzheng quickly explained, “Xiaoshu doesn’t an that. Your father is not a good person, let him go to hell! Don’t talk about him or think about him anymore.”
“That’s right!” Ji Xiaoshu nodded, “I an, if Aunt Peng gets married, would you be happy?”
Axin frowned, and Ale asked blankly, “Does that an mom won’t want us anymore?”
Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu looked helpless, it seems that their work would not be easy. However, they didn’t co to persuade others, they just wanted to clarify so things.
So, Zhengzheng patiently explained their purpose to Axin and Ale.
In the end, Ji Xiaoshu concluded, “If it weren’t for Aunt Peng’s bad luck getting caught by villains back then, she would have married soone she likes, had children, and lived happily like my master and the other ladies.”
Ale scratched his head, “So would we not exist then?”
Zhengzheng held his forehead, “No, my master said that children and mothers have a predestined connection. Even without your bad father, you would still be Aunt Peng’s children.”
“Then I’m relieved.” Ale nodded.
Axin understood Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu’s aning, “Is there soone who has taken a fancy to my mother?”
Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu didn’t plan to ntion Feng Ming at this ti, as they were worried that Axin and Ale would let Peng Wu know, causing her to misunderstand that Feng Ming had asked the children to speak for him, which wouldn’t be good.
Ji Xiaoshu shook his head, “Not for now, but there will be in the future. Aunt Peng is so good. Just think, when we all grow up, get married, and have our own families, we won’t be able to accompany her. How lonely will Aunt Peng be then?”
Axin thought for a mont, while Ale didn’t understand and just decided to listen to his brothers.
“The other day, I heard my grandmother telling my mother that if it weren’t for Divine Doctor Su’s amazing skills saving my grandfather back then, he would have died long ago, and my grandmother wouldn’t have lived long either.” Axin sighed, “Xiaoshu, you’re right. Just like uncle is always with aunt, my mother should have soone to accompany her, too.”
Ale was puzzled, “But we’re with mom!”
“That’s not the sa,” Axin shook his head, “We all need our mother to take care of us, but mother also needs soone to take care of her.”
“That’s right!” Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu said in unison, indicating that they had finally succeeded in explaining.
Axin asked again, “So there really isn’t anyone who’s taken a liking to my mother?”
Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu still didn’t ntion Feng Ming, as this was just their guess and Feng Ming hadn’t even admitted it yet, so they couldn’t just pair them up. But it was important for Peng Wu to change her mind, not just for Feng Ming, but also for herself. It was fine if she didn’t want to seek soone or couldn’t find soone she liked to live with, but if she sacrificed her own happiness just for her children’s sake, that wouldn’t be so good.
In the end, Zhengzheng said to Ale, “Let Axin talk to Aunt Peng about this. You don’t say anything, okay?”
Ale nodded obediently, “I will listen to brother.”
“I will talk to mom nicely.” Axin said with a serious look on his face.
When the four children arrived at the garden, Feng Ming had already helped Peng Wu trim the flowers, and the two were sitting in the pavilion drinking tea.
Axin saw them from a distance, blinked, and his eyes brightened a bit.
That night, Axin and Ale wanted to sleep with Peng Wu.
When the four of them laid down, Ale and Xiaoyue quickly fell asleep. Peng Wu noticed that Axin seed to be preoccupied, so he asked what was on his mind.
Before Axin said anything, he sighed softly, “I was just thinking that Uncle Gu and Aunt Su are really a match made in heaven!”
Peng Wu found it amusing that his son suddenly thought of Gu Ling and Su Liang and sighed. “Why did you suddenly think of Gu Ling and Su Liang? And why did you sigh?”
“I was thinking how nice it would be if there was soone who understands my mom by her side.” Axin looked at Peng Wu, his expression incredibly serious.
Peng Wu was stunned for a mont, not expecting to hear such words from his young son.
Axin snuggled up to Peng Wu and said, “Mom has suffered so much for us. Now that we’ve all grown up and have many people taking care of us, and have Zhengzheng and Brother Ji Xiaoshu to play with, mom should also think more about herself. If there is an uncle who shares mutual feelings with mom and can be our father, it would be quite nice too.”
Hearing this, Peng Wu’s first instinct was that the elders in the family had prompted the child to say this. She, of course, knew that many people, including Peng Wei, Peng Qian, and his wife, and Peng Fan, wanted her to open her heart and seek a good relationship again. The elders especially were afraid of her being lonely and unable to walk out of her past pain, only forcing a smile.
But when Peng Wu asked, Axin said it was not taught by the elders.
Peng Wu knew that Axin never lied since he was a child, so she didn’t ask further.
After a while, Axin fell asleep, but Peng Wu couldn’t sleep for a long ti. It’s not that she was disappointed with all n because of her past experiences. She knew that there were good n in the world – she had many around her now. But as a mother of three children and a de facto widow, when it ca to considering marriage again, she couldn’t be as carefree as a young girl without any worries.
Peng Wu didn’t sleep well all night, and the next day, seeing her eyes were a little red, Axin worriedly asked if it was because of what he said that troubled her.
Peng Wu smiled, “How could it be? Mom is happy to hear such thoughtful words from Axin.” She was really happy, grateful that her son had learned to empathize and care for her.
Axin hesitated for a mont, then leaned over to Peng Wu’s ear and asked, “What does mom think of Uncle Feng?”
Peng Wu was stunned, “Ah? Why would Axin ask such a question?”
Axin said seriously, “Because we all like Uncle Feng. Yesterday when I saw mom and Uncle Feng sitting together, I thought it would be nice if we could beco a family.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.” Peng Wu imdiately stopped her son. “You can’t talk casually about such things.”
“I won’t tell anyone else, just tell , mom, do you think Uncle Feng is good or not?” Axin continued to ask.
Peng Wu looked helpless, “Mom hasn’t considered such things.”
“You can consider it now.” Axin wasn’t just saying this because he liked Feng Ming, but because he guessed that the reason why Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu ca over yesterday was to set up Feng Ming and Peng Wu. In that case, maybe the answer to the question Axin asked twice, “Did soone fall for my mom,” was Feng Ming.
“He is very nice, but…” Peng Wu didn’t know what to say.
“I understand!” Axin nodded.
Peng Wu felt both amusent and helplessness, “What do you understand? Rember what mom said, don’t go out talking nonsense.”
“I know.” Axin nodded again.
After the children left, Peng Wu sat alone in the room, Feng Ming’s image appearing in her mind. She was lost for a mont, then shook her head and smiled. Given her current situation, even if she listened to Axin’s advice to no longer live alone, she wouldn’t be able to take the initiative to pursue anyone.
Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu went to Peng Mansion yesterday, and today Peng Wei brought Axin and Ale to Su Mansion.
When no adults were around, Axin reported his conversation with Peng Wu to Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu.
“There’s a chance!” Ji Xiaoshu felt that Peng Wu might have different feelings for Feng Ming after hearing the story.
“What should we do next?” Axin asked, “Should I ask Feng Uncle if he wants to marry my mom?”
Zhengzheng thought about it, “Since Auntie Peng has changed her mind, let’s go ask Feng Uncle together!”
So, Feng Ming, who was watering the plants in the garden, heard Ji Xiaoshu’s enthusiastic call again.
“Are we going out to play?” Feng Ming smiled as he looked at the four children who ran over.
The four of them surrounded Feng Ming and led him deeper into the garden.
Feng Ming was puzzled, “What’s going on?”
“It’s important.” Zhengzheng said.
When Feng Ming heard Zhengzheng say it was important, he knew it must be sothing big.
They stopped under a big tree. Feng Ming crouched down and looked at the children at eye level, “Now, can you tell ?”
Ji Xiaoshu grinned, “Uncle Feng, don’t you really have soone you like?”
Feng Ming coughed lightly, “Why ask this again?”
“Axin and Ale said that Auntie Peng has taken back her words about not getting married.” Zhengzheng smiled brightly.
Feng Ming, who was very astute, instantly understood what was going on today. His face changed, “You guys an…”
“Uncle Feng, do you like Auntie Peng?” Ji Xiaoshu asked.
Axin and Ale stared straight at Feng Ming. Feng Ming was silent for a mont, then nodded, “Yes, I had feelings for Peng Wu when I was on the island, but at that ti…”
“That’s all in the past. Now both of you are single. If you like her, you should say so!” Ji Xiaoshu said.
Axin held Feng Ming’s hand, “If my mom is willing, Uncle Feng, would you marry her?”
Ale’s eyes lit up, “Once Uncle Feng moves in here and mom brings us over, we can live with Brother Zhengzheng, Brother Xiaoshu, and Sister Nuannuan! That’s great!”
Feng Ming: …Are the children thinking too far ahead?
Ji Xiaoshu happily said, “It’s not necessarily. Uncle Feng can marry into their family.”
Feng Ming: …Of course, as long as Peng Wu agreed, he would be happy to marry into her family.
“How should Uncle Feng confess his feelings?” Ji Xiaoshu began to think.
Feng Ming coughed lightly, “You guys have helped enough. I’ll handle the rest myself.” He had a lot on his mind and had wanted to say sothing to Peng Wu for a long ti, but he’d never had the opportunity.
Zhengzheng imdiately gave encouragent, “Uncle Feng, fighting!”
“Actions speak louder than words.” Ji Xiaoshu decided to strike while the iron was hot, “Axin, you miss your mom, so let Uncle Feng take you ho now.”
Axin nodded, and Ale scratched his head, “Am I not going back? I don’t want to leave so early.”
Ji Xiaoshu hugged Ale, “I know, I know, you play here. They’re going to do sothing important.”
Feng Ming, whose plans were now crystal clear, saw that the children were trying so hard to bring them together and would not back down. He originally just worried that Peng Wu would not give him any chance. After all, as a man, it was his duty to take the initiative in such matters.
So, when Peng Wei found that Axin was missing and asked about it, he thought it was strange to hear Ale say that his brother missed his mom and asked Uncle Feng to take him ho.
Gu Ling and Su Liang received their disciple’s glance, and thought perhaps sothing good was about to happen.
Sure enough, before Peng Wei and Ale left, Feng Ming brought Axin back.
“What were you guys doing?” Peng Wei felt sothing was wrong.
Axin leaned over and whispered a few words to Peng Wei who was stunned. Then, his eyes shone brightly as they fell on Feng Ming. He sized him up and couldn’t help but laugh when he saw Feng Ming’s open and honest gaze. Peng Wei nodded repeatedly, “Good, good, good!”
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