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墨書 Inktalez
"Don't worry, Mistress. The Master never does anything without confidence. If he hasn't returned in a few days, he must be meeting with the Second Young Master."
However, the Second Young Master he referred to was undoubtedly Shen Muqing.
Xia Muxin didn't ask further. Shen Muhan always acted with discretion, and besides, he had taken her to Aunt Liu's house for a reason: to let her know that Aunt Liu's two sons might very well come back.
Aunt Liu and Sister Swallow visited their home several times a day. Although they didn't speak of it, Xia Muxin could tell what was on their minds. They were wise enough to trust Shen Muhan and the Xia Family.
Moreover, the two had been away for ten years; the elder had already gotten married and should be nearing thirty now, while the younger son was in his twenties. Their return would be the greatest blessing for them.
Yan Zhouwan was also anxious. After all, it had been months since they last saw Shen Muqing. The couple shared such a strong bond that it would be strange if they didn't miss each other. Xia Muxin herself felt a sense of longing after just a few days apart.
Finally, on the fifth day, Shen Muhan and Shen Muqing returned, accompanied by about ten others. After some inquiries, Xia Muxin learned that these were the survivors from that year when they were taken to fight in the war. They had all returned, but it seemed their homes were destroyed, so they brought them back here.
Aunt Liu and Sister Swallow immediately recognized their two men and rushed over, crying uncontrollably in their joy and sorrow.
This scene brought tears to Xia Muxin and the others' eyes as well.
Fortunately, they were all alive.
The suffering and hardships endured by the two women with their children were beyond what outsiders could comprehend.
"Second Brother, your hand..."
Sister Swallow held her man tightly while Aunt Liu embraced the second brother. As they cried, Aunt Liu suddenly sensed something was off. She looked over and realized that the right sleeve of the second brother's shirt was empty. Overcome with grief, she cried out.
"Mother, it's fine. I'm back alive, aren't I?"
But the second brother remained cheerful and calm as he smiled at Aunt Liu.
After a long while, Aunt Liu finally stopped crying and pulled her family down to kneel before Shen Muhan and his brother. Approaching sixty years old, she thought she would never have anyone to send her off in this life; little did she know that Heaven had opened its eyes for her—she could die content now.
Shen Muhan and his brothers were quick to help them up, not willing to accept such a gesture of reverence.
Afterward, he urged them to go home.
It had been ten years since they last met, and there must be so much to say.
Yet Yan Zhouwan stood there in a daze, tears streaming down her face, likely reminded of her own family. Xia Muxin exchanged glances with Shen Muqing, who understood and took Yan Zhouwan back inside.
Shen Muhan handed the remaining few over to Ming Yi for handling.
"Your dark circles are so deep; you must have been thinking about me so much that you can't sleep."
He walked towards Xia Muxin and noticed her dark circles and a hint of weariness. His heart ached for her, but he couldn't help but create a light-hearted atmosphere.
"You wish! With two handsome guys fighting to cuddle with me every night, when would I have time to think about you?"
Xia Muxin looked at him, her words contradicting her feelings.
Shen Muhan's handsome face fell as he glanced at the Three Bear Cubs running toward them with cheerful smiles, suddenly feeling overwhelmed.
"Dad, you're here..."
However, just as the Three Babies approached, each boy grabbed one of Xia Muxin's legs and rubbed their faces against her. Yuan Yuan, on the other hand, pulled Shen Muhan over and whispered mischievously.
Shen Muhan looked at Xia Muxin in confusion, but she shrugged helplessly.
"Three Treasures, where are you dragging your dad off to?"
Shen Muhan chuckled as he scooped Yuan Yuan into his arms and planted a careful kiss on her tender cheek, asking gently.
His little daughter was quite the character; he had no way of dealing with her. She always came up with new tricks.
Moreover, it seemed even their so-called Mother Tiger couldn't handle her, which must mean she was quite a handful.
"Dad, we three have decided that you and Mom are not allowed to share a room anymore."
The little girl turned Shen Muhan's head, forcing him to meet her gaze, and seriously said, pouting in a way that made her look quite aggrieved.
Shen Muhan felt a wave of frustration wash over him. Nothing was more important than holding his wife while sleeping, not even this beloved daughter of his. He immediately denied her statement.
"Why not?"
"Because they all said that if you want more little brothers and sisters, you need to let Dad and Mom sleep together more. So, we don't want those snotty little brothers and sisters who cry all day long. Therefore, you can't sleep together."
Yuan Yuan spoke with conviction, her tone carrying a hint of accusation.
Having two silly brothers was already troublesome enough. If she had to deal with a few more siblings, she might as well leave Daimiao Village. Her aunt and Zhou Zhou's family had two little snot-nosed kids who drove her crazy, always dragging her around to play and fighting with her over her treasures.
Of course, by "treasures," she meant the various peculiar stones she collected.
"Who told you that?"
Shen Muhan was nearly grinding his teeth in frustration. That reckless child had picked up such ideas at such a young age; he couldn't imagine how much trouble they would cause when they grew up.
"I went to the riverbank with my brothers to collect treasures and heard those aunts say it. They said that if a couple has been married for months without conceiving, it's because their relationship isn't harmonious and they don't spend enough time together. Look at you; you sleep with Mom every day at home. Sooner or later, Mom will have little brothers and sisters for us, and we don't want that."
Indeed, they had secretly listened in on those conversations. At first, they didn't understand much, but later one of the older boys explained it to them. After some discussion among the three of them, the two brothers insisted on sleeping with their mother every night, and they had plenty of ways to separate their parents.
Thinking about this made Yuan Yuan's eyes sparkle with mischief, causing Shen Muhan to sigh deeply.
This daughter of his must have been spoiled beyond measure.
By the time they returned home, it was already evening. During the day, Aunt Liu had personally come over to invite them for dinner at her house that night, but Xia Muxin politely declined, suggesting they choose another day to host the two big brothers for a welcome dinner. Hearing this, Aunt Liu agreed happily and rushed back to share the news with her family.
Meanwhile, Aunt Xia and the others had already prepared dinner, knowing that their two sons-in-law were coming back. The meal was far more lavish than usual. Xia Muxin teased them for being biased and not caring for their own daughter, which drew sighs from Shen Muhan and Shen Muqing.
Of course, this dinner also included Er Dan's family of three.
Everyone was in high spirits as they enjoyed some drinks at the table. When Shen Muqing returned home, he naturally wouldn’t stay at the Xia family’s place any longer. After having dinner, he took the child home with him while Er Dan carried his child and led the pregnant Xia Jihua back as well. Ming Yi and the others were considerate enough to find their own rooms and retire for the night.
Xia Muxin helped a few children wash up, but Shen Muhan got to the bathroom before her. Before long, he emerged looking refreshed and joined Xia Muxin in helping the children.
Xia Muxin was the last to wash up.
However, when it came time for bed, the couple found themselves in trouble as the Three Babies refused to let them sleep.
Yuan Yuan pulled Shen Muhan into the adjacent room, which had been cleared out to make space for a large bed that was just big enough for Shen Muhan to sleep alone.
“Daddy, this will be your bed from now on. I’ll sleep over here,” Yuan Yuan said, acting quite mature for her age as she spread out the blankets for Shen Muhan and patted them down.
Shen Muhan sat down with a mix of amusement and exasperation. Seeing this, Yuan Yuan immediately climbed onto her own small bed.
“Three Treasures, why aren’t you sleeping with Daddy?” Shen Muhan asked casually, his mind drifting towards his wife while feeling bored in the room.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yuan looked at Shen Muhan in horror, crossing her arms protectively over her chest. She then exclaimed dramatically, “I like Daddy, but I don’t want to have little brothers or sisters with him!”
This time, Shen Muhan was completely flabbergasted. He scooped Yuan Yuan into his arms despite her protests of “Help! Save me!” and “You’re ruining your own daughter!” No matter how much she cried out, Mother Tiger did not come to her rescue.
Shen Muhan playfully patted her chubby bottom a few times before starting to impart some life lessons.
Eventually, amidst his endless chatter, Yuan Yuan surprisingly fell asleep.
He carefully carried her back to her small bed and tiptoed into the adjacent room.
The lights were still on in the room, but the two older children had already fallen asleep. Each had an arm draped over Xia Muxin. Since they were all wearing pajamas designed by Xia Muxin herself, their embrace revealed a lot of her skin. Seeing this made Shen Muhan’s throat tighten. He quickly picked up one child in each arm and carried them into the next room, where he promptly pounced on Xia Muxin.
The next morning, while Xia Muxin was still lost in dreams, she was jolted awake by a loud knocking at the door.
Shen Muhan was still not fully awake. Besides, they were both completely undressed, tightly wrapped in each other's arms. The moment Xia Muxin moved, she could feel the subtle changes in Shen Muhan. She swallowed hard and decided to wake him up from his feigned slumber.
"Is it the kids who are awake?"
"Don't bother them; their father hasn't decided to forgive them yet."
Shen Muhan didn't care. He turned over, burying his head in Xia Muxin's neck, exhaling heavily as he mumbled.
Xia Muxin rolled her eyes, unsure of what to say.
Was he really that petty, even holding a grudge against the children?
However, those Three Bear Cubs were giving her a headache. Last night, the two older ones had been pulling at her, insisting they didn’t want any younger siblings. It made her furious, and she almost lost her temper—if it weren't for hearing Yuan Yuan crying next door, she might have actually snapped.
She cherished her time alone with Shen Muhan but worried about the children growing up selfish. Ming Yi and the others were too indulgent with them; they catered to their every whim, which could lead to trouble down the line.
She thought a lot about it and decided it would be best to send them to school early. They needed to face some hardships to avoid becoming useless rich kids like Wang Dafu, who would squander any inheritance given to them.
Moreover, she and Shen Muhan had a good reputation in this life that she didn’t want to see wasted.
"Husband, the kids aren’t little anymore. I think we should send them to school and also buy a big house in Town for Ming Yi and the others to stay in, ensuring their safety."
"That's a good suggestion. By the time I was three, I could recite poetry. We've spoiled these kids too much; it's time they experienced some challenges. Otherwise, they could become a disaster in the future."
Shen Muhan had been keeping his eyes closed but immediately opened them upon hearing Xia Muxin's words, looking at her with approval.
Their voices were not hushed; it felt like a normal conversation. As soon as they finished speaking, the knocking stopped, replaced by the sound of footsteps rushing downstairs. They even heard Yuan Yuan's aggrieved complaints:
"Grandpa, Grandma, Mom and Dad are so heartless! They want to send us to school when we're this cute! We don't want that; we want to stay with Grandpa and Grandma and be with Uncle and Auntie and everyone..."
"I must say, your Shen family bloodline is quite traditional; how did you end up with such ungrateful little wolves? It's truly worrisome."
Listening to Xia Muxin's words made her laugh happily as she shifted the blame onto Shen Muhan.
Shen Muhan flipped over and pinned the person down, chuckling as he said, "Don't you still have half of your bloodline? You seem to belong to the demons; I can see these children take after you."
At that moment, even Xia Muxin dared not speak, forced to swallow this hidden grievance. She certainly could not withstand Shen Muhan's explosive temperament. If she remembered correctly, she had barely slept for an hour.
However, they acted on their decision without hesitation. As they descended the stairs, Aunt Xia and others approached with questions. The couple firmly insisted on sending the children to school, but this school was not in Town; instead, they planned to establish one themselves along the road connecting Daimiao Village and Dayao Village. This way, if other village children wanted to attend, it would be nearby and safe.
Once the couple announced their plan, Aunt Xia and her husband had nothing more to say. Their village had been poor for generations, and few families could afford to send their children away. Even if they did, Feng Liulang was still ungrateful, thinking it would be better to run a school in the village to prevent the children from learning bad habits from outsiders.
The two elders understood what kind of temperament their grandson had. They figured that their daughter and son-in-law were worried about their children's future, which was why they made such a decision. They agreed.
The Three Bear Cubs wore long faces and complained everywhere, but Xia Muxin and Shen Muhan were the authority figures; their complaints fell on deaf ears. In the end, everyone listened to what their parents said.
As a result, the children spent that day feeling gloomy.
This time, Shen Muhan was much more proactive than Xia Muxin. After breakfast, he went out to find people. The location for the school had been determined after much deliberation; building the school was the first priority.
When the villagers heard that the Xia Family was going to build a school, they were overjoyed. Many had lived half their lives without knowing how to write their own names. If these children studied for a few years, even if they didn't become Top Scholars, just finding a job would earn them respect.
Moreover, this was a matter of family honor.
They immediately united to offer help and began working the very next day.
Xia Muxin then sent Shen Muhan out to invite a group of teachers. Additionally, she brought in some women; she wanted to create an environment that fostered not just rote learning but also encouraged various interests and hobbies.
After all, every profession could produce a Top Scholar.
The seedlings were transplanted successfully; the Workshop was thriving, and business at the Brick Factory was booming as well. During this time, Xia Muxin felt restless; with the school construction underway, she had plenty to keep her busy—running around all day giving various instructions.
After two months of hard work, the school was finally completed.
On its opening day, over a hundred students showed up, which astonished everyone.
Moreover, her tuition fees were low, which brought immense joy to the villagers.
Of course, matters like getting the school approved were left to Shen Muqing, as he held the highest official position now.
She also sent her three children there. Xia Muxin advocated for girls to receive an education. She had embroidery teachers, painting instructors, and sewing experts all listed as teachers. After all, in a feudal society, girls were generally not allowed to attend school. Therefore, she recruited for other interest classes, and over time, those girls would inevitably learn some characters through exposure.
"Are the children awake?"
"Don't bother them; their father hasn't decided to forgive them yet."
Shen Muhan didn't care; he turned over and buried his head in Xia Muxin's neck, exhaling heavily and mumbling.
Xia Muxin rolled her eyes, unsure of what to say.
He was being so petty, even holding a grudge against the children.
However, the Three Bear Cubs were giving her a headache. Last night, the two older ones kept pulling at her, saying they didn't want any younger siblings and complaining about this and that. It made her furious; she even thought about giving them a good smack. If she hadn't heard Yuan Yuan crying next door, she might have actually done it.
She cherished her time alone with Shen Muhan but worried that if the children continued this way from a young age, they would develop selfish habits. Ming Yi and the others were too accommodating; they indulged them too much, which could lead to negative outcomes.
She thought about it a lot and decided it would be better to send them to school early so they could experience some hardship. She didn't want to raise a useless second-generation rich kid who would squander their inheritance like Wang Dafu did.
Moreover, she and Shen Muhan didn’t want their good reputation in this life to go unpassed on.
"Husband, the kids aren't small anymore. I want to send them to school and also buy a big house in Town for Ming Yi and the others to live in for their safety."
"That's a good suggestion. I could recite poems by the time I was three. We've spoiled these kids too much; it's time they faced some challenges. Otherwise, they could become a disaster in the future."
Shen Muhan had been sleeping with his eyes closed, but as soon as Xia Muxin spoke those words, he opened his eyes immediately and looked at her with approval.
Their voices weren't hushed; they sounded like they were having a normal conversation. As soon as their words fell silent, the knocking at the door ceased, replaced by the sound of footsteps rushing downstairs. They even heard Yuan Yuan's aggrieved complaints:
"Grandpa, Grandma, Mom and Dad are so heartless! They want to send us to school when we're this cute! We don't want that; we want to stay with Grandpa and Grandma and be with Uncle and Auntie and everyone..."
"I must say, the bloodline of the Shen Family is quite pure, yet how did they end up with such ungrateful children? It's truly worrisome."
Listening to Xia Muxin's words, she couldn't help but chuckle, directly shifting the blame onto Shen Muhan.
Shen Muhan simply rolled over and pinned her down, laughing as he said, "Isn't half of their bloodline yours? You seem to belong to the demons; I see these children have taken after you."
At that moment, even if Xia Muxin wanted to retort, she dared not. She could only swallow this hidden grievance; she certainly couldn't withstand Shen Muhan's explosive temperament. If she remembered correctly, she had barely slept for an hour.
However, they acted swiftly. After heading downstairs, Aunt Xia and others approached them with questions. The couple firmly decided to send their children to school. But this school was not in Town; instead, they planned to establish one themselves along the road between Daimiao Village and Dayao Village. Since there were other villages nearby, if other children wanted to attend the school, it would be close to home and safe.
Once the couple announced their plan, Aunt Xia and her husband had nothing more to say. This village had been poor for several generations; very few families could afford to send their children away. Even if they did manage it, Feng Liulang was still someone who didn’t know how to repay kindness. They thought it would be better to have a school in the village to prevent their children from learning bad habits from outsiders.
The two elders were well aware of what kind of temperament their grandson had. They figured that their daughter and son-in-law were concerned about their children's future, which was why they made such a decision. Thus, they agreed.
The Three Bear Cubs wore long faces and complained everywhere, but Xia Muxin and Shen Muhan were the authority figures; their complaints fell on deaf ears. In the end, everyone listened to what their parents had said.
As a result, the children spent the entire day feeling gloomy.
This time, Shen Muhan was much more proactive than Xia Muxin. After breakfast, he went out to find people. The location for the school had been determined after much deliberation; establishing the school was the first priority.
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