The time was such that one could no longer hold on. Feng Jin stood up and yawned several times, her eyelids constantly drooping. She dragged her tired body towards the bed.
Ling Mohan, following closely behind, attended to Feng Jin's every need. He thoughtfully lifted the bedding on the bed and, with keen insight, helped her take off her shoes as she sat down. In short, everything was taken care of with great consideration.
He was attentive to the extreme, but the more concerned he was, the more uneasy Feng Jin felt. "Don't loiter behind me. I can do these things myself; I don't need your help. You should go to bed quickly."
At this moment, every word she spoke to Ling Mohan was said by forcing herself to stay awake. After speaking, she could no longer hold on and lay down directly on the bed. As soon as she touched the bed, her eyelids, unable to obey, closed quickly.
"I'm just..." Before Ling Mohan could finish speaking, he heard Feng Jin's even breathing. He couldn't help but crane his head to glance over. Confirming that Feng Jin was asleep, he muttered to himself, "She falls asleep really fast. I knew it, I should have come back a little later, and she might have already been asleep."
He reckoned that if he had come back a little later, Feng Jin would have been unable to hold on and fallen asleep, thus avoiding a period of nagging.
Ling Mohan stared at Feng Jin's sleeping face, a faint smile curving his lips, which lingered for a long time. He helped tuck Feng Jin in, then cautiously lay down beside her, drawing the woman's soft body into his arms, and fell asleep with great satisfaction.
The next day, when Feng Jin woke up, Ling Mohan was long gone. Even the bedding was cool to the touch, indicating that Ling Mohan had left a while ago.
After resting on the bed for a while, Feng Jin slowly got up. She casually tied her long hair up, securing it with a simple, plain hairpin.
In these past few days, she had also learned some hairstyling techniques. Simple, everyday hairstyles were now easy for her to manage, at least enough to go out and be seen.
Feng Jin looked at herself in the bronze mirror. After making some subtle adjustments, she nodded with satisfaction, deeming her appearance presentable enough. Then, she got up and walked out.
When she reached the front hall, Da Bao and Er Bao were obediently holding bowls, eating heartily.
"Young Madam, you are awake. I will serve you breakfast right away."
Cai Qing, spotting Feng Jin's appearance, quickly pulled out a chair and attended to Feng Jin's seating with propriety. She then hurried to get a bowl to serve the porridge.
"Young Madam, you woke up early today. I was just planning to keep the porridge warm on the stove, and you are already up."
Feng Jin took a sip of the plain congee and her gaze fell on Cai Qing. She looked around but did not see Chu Qing's figure. "Where is Chu Qing? Why isn't she here today?"
"Chu Qing went to the garden to pick tangerines," Cai Qing replied casually. A few days prior, Chu Qing had been fixated on the tangerines. Now that they were ripe, she couldn't wait and had rushed out early in the morning.
She hadn't returned yet, and it seemed she wouldn't be back until she had picked a full basket.
"She's really greedy. But eating so many tangerines in winter is bad for the stomach. Make some warm soup for Chu Qing later. Don't let her get a stomachache from eating too many tangerines."
It would be strange if she didn't get a stomachache from eating so many cold foods in the middle of winter. Feng Jin quickly instructed Cai Qing to make some warm soup, as she suspected it might be needed by more than one person later.
"Yes, Young Madam. I will do it right away."
Cai Qing nodded in agreement. She also wanted to eat some tangerines, but she wondered why that girl Chu Qing hadn't returned yet.
"Mother, want to eat tangerines... tangerines..."
Da Bao tugged at Feng Jin's sleeve, his round eyes full of longing for food. He even swallowed involuntarily.
Feng Jin was amused by his greedy demeanor and reached out to tap Da Bao's forehead. "You little glutton, your saliva is almost dripping out."
"Wait until Sister Chu Qing brings back the tangerines, then you can eat them, but only a little. If you eat too much, your little stomach will hurt."
"Okay... Mother..."
His wish granted, Da Bao nodded obediently. Er Bao, however, gave him a look of disdain. "Glutton..."
Da Bao glared fiercely at Er Bao, his eyes full of resentment and displeasure.
"Alright, you two. You're so young, and you're already fighting. If you continue to make a fuss, I won't give you any snacks."
As soon as Feng Jin said this, the two little mischief-makers quieted down and obediently began to eat their rice.
Before long, Chu Qing returned, carrying a full basket of tangerines. "Young Madam, the tangerines this year are growing very well. They are big and very sweet. Young Madam, please try one."
Chu Qing placed a peeled tangerine in front of Feng Jin. She couldn't resist eating several on her way back, and they were indeed very sweet.
Feng Jin tasted one. It was indeed very sweet, but it was a bit cold, making her gums ache slightly. It seemed she was not fortunate enough to enjoy such a delicacy.
"Did they bear a lot of fruit?"
"A lot. I picked the good ones. There are still many on the trees that haven't ripened yet."
Feng Jin glanced at the tangerines in the basket and calmly instructed, "Pick some good tangerines later and send them to the Old Master."
After all, good things should be sent to the elders first. Although there was some unpleasantness yesterday, proper etiquette still needed to be observed.
"Young Madam, sending these to the Old Master... I'm just worried if the Old Master will..."
Cai Qing was aware of what had happened last night and was still concerned that the Old Master might still be angry and might throw them out along with the gifts.
"That's not a problem. Let Er Bao go with you."
Feng Jin's gaze fell on the composed Er Bao. She lowered her head and said to Er Bao, "Er Bao, you will go with Sister Cai Qing to deliver the tangerines to Great-Grandfather. But after delivering them, you must return with Sister Cai Qing. When you return, Mother will take you and your brother out to play, okay?"
"Okay... Mother," Er Bao nodded obediently.
"Mother... I want to go... I want to go..." Da Bao impatiently tugged at Feng Jin's sleeve, pointing at the tangerines in the basket and intensely expressing his desire to Er Bao.
Why should Er Bao go alone? He wanted to go too.
"No!"
Feng Jin refused Da Bao's request without thinking, fearing that if he went along, he might stay there and not be able to return.