Xiao Shan was relieved. This time, he proactively kissed her eyes, treating her like a treasure, devoid of any worldly desires.
He sighed and pulled her close again. She was so small, so tiny, it always gave him the feeling she might vanish at any moment.
"Gege."
What?
Xiao Shan looked at Ling Yao, puzzled.
"Gege, play with me slowly. Hua Xin Qing Zhe, Lu Di Mu Dan." Ling Yao gazed at Xiao Shan expectantly.
Xiao Shan: "..."
"Where did you learn that!"
Ling Yao saw Xiao Shan's menacing face. His large hand lifted a few times, as if about to spank her again.
She had said Xiao Shan was difficult to deal with. Clearly, after hearing a woman say that, the man had repeatedly called out "baby."
"I was looking for you in the front hall and passed a room. I heard someone talking inside."
So, she had come to mimic them?
As expected, it was a corrupt place that corrupted children!
"Don't ever say such things again! Do you hear me?"
"I hear you."
Ling Yao dared not provoke him further. It was useless, and she only got a reprimand.
As for qin, qi, shu, hua (music, strategy, calligraphy, painting), Xiao Shan disliked them even more. He was truly impervious to anything.
Xiao Shan continued his journey with Ling Yao. However, after they left, the Hong Cui Fang in Fengyang City was ruined overnight. The girls were either taken over by Bai Hua Lou or left with their deeds of sale.
Following that, the richest man in Lou Jin Ye was found guilty of bribing officials, bullying the weak, and committing over ten other crimes, and was sentenced to execution and imprisoned.
The county magistrate of Fengyang City was also escorted to the capital for a thorough investigation by the Dali Temple.
Those patrons at Hong Cui Fang that night couldn't help but recall the man with the chilling aura.
Rumors began to spread that the current Emperor had sent people to conduct secret investigations among the populace, specifically targeting corrupt officials and bullies who harmed the common people, to restore order.
Of course, Xiao Shan paid no further attention to these matters.
His entire focus was on his little girl. He noticed that this lass ate too much, her appetite even greater than when she was an adult.
He constantly worried she would hurt her stomach and would touch her from time to time. And during this journey, she no longer teased him, behaving very well.
She either ate or played with the little trinkets he bought her, remaining silent for long periods.
He was relieved yet also felt a pang of something else.
When they arrived at the inn where they were staying, she immediately curled up inside the bedding and fell asleep. Previously, she would always pounce on him and cause a fuss.
What was going on?
He was somewhat worried. Had she truly taken him as her father after his scolding?
If he continued to raise her like this, would their relationship truly lose its marital affection, becoming only a strictly regulated father-daughter relationship?
And then, when he had finally raised her, she would turn around and marry someone else.
This would not do!
Xiao Shan became restless.
He gently turned Ling Yao's small body over. "Xue Niang, are you feeling unwell? Why are you sleeping so early?"
"Mmm, sleeping more helps me grow faster," Ling Yao mumbled drowsily.
Eat more, sleep more. She wanted to grow up quickly, not to leave A Shan lonely and sad. She wanted him to embrace her truly, without any burden.
She wanted to make him happy again, just like before.
"Why aren't you kissing me anymore?"
"You don't like it."
He didn't dislike it, but he was afraid, afraid of becoming twisted and abnormal.
However, if she really stopped kissing him and teasing him, he still felt scared, afraid that their affection would fade if things continued this way.
What should he do?
Perhaps, kissing was still acceptable?
So, Xiao Shan quietly leaned in.
She slept soundly, innocent and pure, like the clearest, most beautiful jade in the world. The crisp lotus fragrance was gone from her, replaced by a girl's natural scent.
She was so beautiful and pure that he dared not harbor any thought of profanity.
Xiao Shan gave up.
He gently patted her small body.
Sleep, my girl.
I'll wait for you to grow up.
After several more days of travel, they reached Sui Ye. The carriage drove into their hometown, which they had not seen for many years.
Things he thought he had long forgotten gradually became clear again.
The stone tablet at the entrance to the village was still the same, half-covered by grass.
Baiyang Village.
The place where he was born and lived for thirteen years.
After more than a decade of military life, this place had long been submerged in the mundane affairs of life. He had never imagined he would return one day.
"A Shan, there are still people living here!"
Ling Yao looked at the smoke rising in the distance, as if there were more than just one or two households.
Xiao Shan also saw it. This was not surprising; it was likely that those who had fled famine had returned.
There was no so-called apprehension of approaching home. Xiao Shan drove the carriage into the village.
Ling Yao's wide eyes observed everything very carefully, which made Xiao Shan chuckle.
They were all bumpy village roads, with ditches and cow dung. What was there to see that was so special about any village?
"Qingshan Jushi said that you once competed with others by the stream to see who could urinate further. You won first place. Which stream was it?"
There were several half-dry streams here!
Xiao Shan: "..."
Damn Ruan Ji, how could he be so accurate even when making things up!
"That's all nonsense. Why are you taking it seriously? Am I that kind of unrefined person?"
Really, why was he discussing this with this little girl!
"Alright, we're here. Let's get out and walk. I really don't know what's so interesting about this place."
As Xiao Shan spoke, he surveyed his surroundings, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes.
Nothing had changed. Even the old locust tree at the village entrance hadn't changed; half of it was alive, and half was dead.
"It was under this locust tree that my friends and I killed a weasel. Back then, the village was losing chickens and ducks every day, all because of that weasel."
Ah! Ling Yao circled the locust tree, imagining Xiao Shan as a child, and smiled.
She hadn't participated in his childhood, but she could already picture it.
"Where is our home?"
Our home...
Xiao Shan looked at the small figure, his heart warming.
Although his parents' bodies had not been found back then, a cenotaph had been erected. He had to take Xue Niang to visit them and tell them that he had married and found someone who loved and cherished him.
At a glance, there were only a few dozen households in the village. Back then, this was a large village of nearly three hundred households.
Especially in this cold winter, it exuded a sense of desolation.
A woman who came out to carry firewood saw strangers in the village and looked over.
"Shan Zi Ge?"
She called out in surprise, then dropped the firewood and ran over.
"Shan Zi Ge, it's really you! You, you're finally back!"
The woman called Xiao Shan "Ge" (brother), so she couldn't be very old. However, due to years of labor, her skin was rough and dark, and she wore a drab old dress, making her look like she was in her thirties or forties.
Could this be the legendary childhood sweetheart?
Ling Yao looked at Xiao Shan, only to see him frown and hesitantly say, "Shuang Hua?"
Alright, they've recognized each other. Next would be the scene of pouring out their hearts and embracing, right?
Qingshan Jushi was really something. He had described the small matters so clearly, yet he hadn't mentioned having a childhood sweetheart in the village.
Ling Yao huffed.
Then, the woman, truly moved to tears, rubbed her dusty hands and stammered, "Shan Zi Ge, it's really you, it's really you. I've finally waited for you. Why did you only come back now! I thought you, you... Uncle didn't come back, and you didn't come back. I waited for a long time..."
Xiao Shan listened, somewhat confused, and said in a deep voice, "Shuang Hua, speak slowly."
At his words, Shuang Hua became unable to speak, and the tears on her face flowed even more fiercely, carving channels through her weather-beaten face.
Xiao Shan felt a bit annoyed, but facing a neighbor with whom he had had a harmonious relationship in the past, he could only endure.
Just then, a boy of eight or nine ran out from a small courtyard, his face fierce, "Niang, is he bullying you?"
The boy was like a guard dog cub, just short of barking, staring unpleasantly at Xiao Shan. Then, upon seeing Ling Yao beside him, his expression faltered slightly.