Time Travel: The Noble Family-Chapter 1391 - 570: Reunion for the New Year
In the twelfth lunar month, every household is busy with preparations for the New Year. With An Zhichen taking care of matters outside, Yueyao doesn’t need to worry; everything’s handled by An Zhichen. Inside the Inner Courtyard, with Kexin assisting, Yueyao feels at ease.
An Zhichen had night duty today and couldn’t return home at night. With nothing to do, Yueyao brought a night snack to visit her sons. The three brothers of Brother Shengsheng were earnestly working on their assignments, so intent that they didn’t notice Yueyao’s arrival.
Since the family trouble occurred, the three brothers of Brother Shengsheng have become diligent, especially Brother Xuxu, who has changed the most. Previously, whether it was practicing martial arts or academics, he would slack off when he could, sometimes even asking his two brothers to cover for him. But now, Brother Xuxu has become exceptionally hardworking. He wakes up early every day to practice martial arts and learns tirelessly with Mr. Min.
Yueyao once asked Brother Xuxu. Brother Xuxu replied, "I need to acquire skills now so that I can protect Father and Mother when I grow up."
While Yueyao felt a pang of heartache, she was gratified too. Her most mischievous son has grown understanding and ambitious, and she no longer worries about Brother Xuxu. But Yueyao knew the great change in Brother Xuxu was thanks to An Zhichen, so from then on, she no longer involved herself in how An Zhichen taught the children. Compared to An Zhichen, she felt her teaching was lacking.
Yueyao smiled and said, "Shengsheng, Feifei, Xuxu, have a bite first, then continue your work after eating." Seeing the diligence of her children, Yueyao paid close attention to their diet.
The three children listened to Yueyao’s words, immediately put down their pens, and each drank a bowl of pigeon soup before returning to their assignments.
Seeing the children so dedicated, Yueyao felt gratified too: "Go to sleep when it’s time, don’t stay up too late."
Yueyao, still concerned, instructed the maid and old nanny attending to the three brothers of Brother Shengsheng again, then carried the empty bowls back.
The next day, as Yueyao was sorting out the New Year purchases, Gu You stepped in, saying, "Madam, Lady Niu’s New Year offering has arrived." Mingzhu would send things every festival, but unlike Lin Qinghan, she sent special products from Suzhou, which, despite being plentiful, were not valuable enough for the Imperial Censor to make trouble.
Along with the offering came a handwritten letter from Mingzhu. Yueyao couldn’t help but smile upon reading it. Mingzhu had been eagerly anticipating, and ended up giving birth to another son. It’s uncertain when Mingzhu’s dream of having a daughter will be fulfilled.
In the evening, knowing that Mingzhu had given birth to another son, An Zhichen hugged Yueyao, saying, "We need to work harder, wouldn’t want to fall behind."
Yueyao actually didn’t really want more children, not because of the pain, but because raising kids is quite exhausting. However, An Zhichen always wished for more blessings through more children: "Maybe one more at most."
An Zhichen didn’t press. He regretted not being involved with the older children growing up and wanted to make up for it: "Alright, ideally two more boys." Having twin sons would be truly fulfilling.
Yueyao chuckled and said, "What you say goes? It might be a daughter!" If she had another daughter, Mingzhu might indeed be quite frustrated.
Though An Zhichen preferred sons, he wouldn’t despise having a daughter either: "A daughter is good too, soft and fragrant." More sons would be welcome, but having another daughter wouldn’t be bad either.
As Yueyao tried to speak further, An Zhichen silenced her, and then they began to create life.
Yueyao, feeling sore and achy, didn’t get up until close to noon the next day.
After lunch, Yueyao took Kexin along to handle household affairs, hearing footsteps outside. Yueyao smiled and said to Kexin next to her, "Your Auntie Xiang Wei has returned."
The two had just reached the door but didn’t see Xiang Wei’s shadow, Gu Lan laughed and said, "Sister Xiang Wei went to the kitchen."
Xiang Wei first went to the kitchen to order a bunch of dishes she loved, then went for a bath. Only after she came out were the meals ready, all made with existing kitchen ingredients.
Xiang Wei wasn’t picky, picked up a bowl, and started eating. Once full, she had the energy to say to Yueyao, "The food along the way wasn’t fit for human consumption, nothing like home cooking."
Watching her, Yueyao said, "Why rush back so quickly? There’s no urgency." Judging by the time, she must have returned as soon as her business in Haikou was done.
Xiang Wei hadn’t realized much when she hadn’t left Yueyao and the children before. But after being in Haikou for two months, she found time seemed unbearably long: "I missed Madam, Kexin, and Brother Shengsheng and the others, so I wanted to come home earlier."
