Chapter 459: 459. Can you bear to let go of Nuannuan?
Translator: 549690339
The first day of the new year.
Gu Ling and Su Liang offered their New Year greetings to the elders in their family, receiving red envelopes in return. But the one who received the most gifts was naturally the youngest, beloved treasure of the family, Gu Xiaonuan.
Gu Xiaonuan wore a festive red dress today, with a collar and cuffs adorned with snow-white silver fox fur, looking absolutely adorable. From her clothes to her shoes and socks, everything was handmade by Gu Ling himself.
Not long after, visitors came to offer New Year greetings one after another.
Gu Ling had taken in many disciples, with Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu being the two oldest. The rest were still little children.
Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu had agreed to come together, and they each prepared valuable New Year gifts for Gu Xiaonuan.
The New Year gifts Gu Ling prepared for Ji Xiaoshu and Zhengzheng, his two disciples, were two wooden boxes that looked exactly the same from the outside.
Zhengzheng opened his box, his face full of surprise. “Thank you, Master!” Inside was an airplane model he had never seen before, with sleek lines and a shiny finish. It was beautiful. Zhengzheng liked airplanes the most and had already collected a few, all given by Gu Ling.
Ji Xiaoshu, on the other hand, was speechless as he opened his box to find another box inside…
After opening four layers of boxes, Ji Xiaoshu was getting fed up. “Master, don’t tell me the New Year gift is just this pile of boxes!”
“It’s called nesting boxes.” Gu Ling pointed at the lacquered nesting dolls on the window sill, which he had also made himself.
When Ji Xiaoshu opened the fifth layer of the box, he finally saw something different: a black ribbon with a dark green, embroidered little pine tree on it.
“Master, what is this?” Ji Xiaoshu picked up the ribbon, comparing it to his wrist. It seemed to be a wristband with a buckle.
Ji Yuebai coughed lightly, “Xiaogu, couldn’t you have given him a jade one? Or even one made of wood?”
“I guess it’s a hidden weapon.” Zhengzheng leaned in.
The next moment, a silver needle shot towards Ji Yuebai. He dodged hastily, stumbled, and fell to the ground. Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he got up and looked at the seemingly ordinary bracelet, with a completely different expression. “Son, are you trying to murder your father? Xiaogu, can I have one of these nice things too?”
The two children had already figured out the mechanism. Ji Xiaoshu grinned, “A hidden weapon should look unassuming to catch people off guard! I like it, haha!”
Zhengzheng was a bit envious. Turning his head, he saw Gu Ling take out another ribbon from his pocket and hand it to him. Besides the pattern being a little sun, it was identical to Ji Xiaoshu’s ribbon.
“Thank you, Master!” Zhengzheng immediately put it on his own wrist.
Ji Xiaoshu now felt unbalanced. “Master gave my senior brother two gifts, while I only got one!”
“You got six.” Gu Ling pointed at the pile of differently-sized wooden boxes.
Ji Xiaoshu: … Master is really going to great lengths to tease him!
Zhengzheng laughed, saying that he would play with the airplane model together with Ji Xiaoshu. Their toys originally belonged to both of them. Because Ji Xiaoshu came later, Zhengzheng already had many when he arrived.
As for Ji Yuebai’s request to have a self-defense hidden weapon, it was totally ignored by his son and his son’s master.
When Ji Yuebai came, he brought Ji Xiaoshu with him. But when he left, he was alone.
Ji Xiaoshu waved casually, “Dad, go back quickly! I’ve already spent the New Year with you! From now on, you mind your own business, and I mind mine! Master still has to punish me by making me run!”
Ji Yuebai could only laugh and cry, “Alright. Your father will come another day to see you. Study hard with your master and master’s wife. Could you lend your wristband to your father for a couple of days?”
Ji Xiaoshu shook his head, “Of course not, Dad. Your wrist is too thick to wear it. But don’t worry, when I learn how to make it with Master, I’ll make one for you!”
Ji Yuebai laughed heartily, “Alright, alright! Your father will be waiting!”
Zhengzheng didn’t stay. Most of the Wan Family members had moved to the capital city, and he had many relatives. There were quite a few “social engagements” during the New Year. In the words of Old Master Wan, Zhengzheng was now the most promising person in their family. It wouldn’t do for him to be absent during the New Year.
It started snowing again in the afternoon. Ji Xiaoshu put Gu Xiaonuan to sleep, but he didn’t want to sleep himself. Instead, he snuggled up to Su Liang, sitting by the window on the second floor of Yuanming Pavilion, enjoying the snow outside.
“Master’s wife, is the world at peace now?” Ji Xiaoshu asked Su Liang.
Su Liang nodded, “I guess so.”
Ji Xiaoshu frowned, “My dad also said that, but aren’t there bad guys who want to cause trouble?”
Su Liang smiled, “There are so many people in the world, there will always be evildoers, no matter what time.” It’s a peaceful era when there’s no war and the world is united.
Ji Xiaoshu sighed, “My master and mistress really have it hard. Do the bad guys think that harming you all can somehow bring them the whole world?”
Su Liang nodded, “You can say that. But the leader of Xingluo Island wants something other than this world.” If Mo Yan and He Wei were just ambitious for power like He Wei, things would be much simpler.
At that moment, Gu Ling entered the room with a plate of desserts he had made for Su Liang and the children.
Gu Ling put down the tray, and Ji Xiaoshu went over to open one of the cups, his eyes lighting up. It was the red bean pudding that Gu Ling had made once before.
“Big brother missed out on a treat today!” Ji Xiaoshu took a spoonful and tasted it. It was sweet, smooth, and absolutely delicious.
After trying it, Su Liang also praised, “Great God, it’s much better than last time.”
“Master, after eliminating all the bad guys, let’s open a restaurant!” Ji Xiaoshu suggested, “Master can be the chef, and I’ll be in charge of collecting money.”
Gu Ling knocked on Ji Xiaoshu’s forehead, “Dream on.”
“Well, my big brother’s family has a restaurant already, I can just go there to collect money, haha!” Ji Xiaoshu laughed again.
Su Liang couldn’t help but smile, Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu were really like two sons she and Gu Ling had raised together, one sensible and well-behaved, the other mischievous and adorable.
After finishing their desserts, Ji Xiaoshu was tired. Su Liang let him sleep with Gu Xiaonuan, but Gu Ling disagreed and told Ji Xiaoshu to go back to his own room to sleep.
“No, I want to sleep here!” Ji Xiaoshu had already taken off his shoes, climbed into bed, and tucked in beside Gu Xiaonuan. He pulled up the quilt and closed his eyes, “Don’t make noise, my sister and I are asleep now.”
Su Liang held Gu Ling’s hand and chuckled softly, “Great God, don’t be so sensitive about the children.”
“He’s not little anymore,” Gu Ling huffed, “I’m sure Ji Yuebai has taught him how to steal Nuannuan.”
Su Liang coughed lightly, “Where can he go? They are all part of our family. It’s too early to think about these things now. As for the future, it depends on who your precious daughter likes. Our opinions don’t matter.”
Gu Ling sighed, “I know.” That’s also the reason he didn’t throw Ji Xiaoshu out.
After a while, Gu Ling suddenly frowned, looked at the sleeping Ji Xiaoshu and Gu Xiaonuan, and asked Su Liang, “What if Zhengzheng and Xiaoshu both want to be with Nuannuan in the future? What should we do?”
Su Liang shook her head, “Great God, don’t think too much. The children are still so young. Maybe Nuannuan will like someone else when she grows up, not the two of them. They are siblings first.”
Gu Ling said melancholy, “We were once each other’s best friends.”
Su Liang nodded, “Indeed. But for the children’s matters, let nature take its course.”
Gu Ling sighed, “I hope time passes slower, and Nuannuan doesn’t grow up so quickly.”
That night, since Zhengzheng wasn’t here, Ji Xiaoshu wanted to sleep with Gu Ling and Su Liang, saying that he would be scared if he slept alone in a room.
“Master, if you don’t want me to sleep with Mistress and sister, that’s fine. You can go to my room and sleep with me, I don’t mind!” Ji Xiaoshu’s little face was serious.
“You seem wide awake, go build a snowman downstairs,” Gu Ling said.
Ji Xiaoshu tilted his head and placed one hand on his forehead, “Is Master abusing his disciple during New Year’s? Doesn’t Mistress care?”
“Enough. Great God, you take Xiaoshu to have a bath,” Su Liang stopped Gu Ling’s childish argument with his disciple.
Gu Ling grabbed Ji Xiaoshu and headed out.
Ji Xiaoshu kept laughing, “Master never took me to bathe with him before. Were you afraid I would see you naked? My dad said that men should be confident!”
Su Liang’s lips twitched, and she heard Gu Ling say, “Su Xiaoliang, can I bury your disciple in the snow?”
Su Liang replied in agreement, “You can. Plant a little tree on the first day of the new year, and by autumn, you can harvest a big tree.”
Ji Xiaoshu “wailed”, “Sister, save me!”
Gu Xiaonuan happily rolled on the bed, “Second Brother is so dumb!” It must be Gu Ling who taught her that.
Ji Xiaoshu heard it, “Master, you’re slandering me in front of my sister!”
Gu Ling immediately asked Ji Xiaoshu a question, “Why does the sun rise in the east and set in the west?”
Ji Xiaoshu was stunned, “Huh?”
“Dumb.” Gu Ling summed it up in one word.
Ji Xiaoshu was speechless, “As if you know the answer, Master!”
“I know.” Gu Ling said.
Su Liang heard the sound of the door opening and closing next door. Gu Ling went downstairs to fetch hot water.
Ji Xiaoshu shouted in the room, “Master, come back quickly and tell me why the sun rises in the east and sets in the west!”
“Where’s Big Brother?” Gu Xiaonuan leaned into Su Liang’s arms, tilted her little head, and asked about Zhengzheng.
Su Liang smiled, “Your big brother is not here today.” In the eyes of Gu Xiaonuan, Zhengzheng and Ji Xiaoshu probably had never been apart.
After a while, Su Liang heard the sounds of the master and disciple next door “making noise” again.
“Master, hurry up and come in! It’s so warm in here!”
“Master, you’re actually shy and dare not undress in front of me?”
“Shut up.”
“It’s not like there are strangers around.”
“Shut up.”
“The mouth is for talking.”
“Uh … help me, Master!”
When Gu Ling carried the freshly bathed Ji Xiaoshu back to the room, Gu Xiaonuan was almost asleep.
“Master!” Ji Xiaoshu, barefoot, was thrown onto the bed by Gu Ling, rolled over, lay down beside Su Liang, then raised his head and looked past Su Liang to Gu Xiaonuan on the far side, “Is sister asleep?”
“Yeah, don’t bother her, or I’ll make you take her to another room to sleep.” Su Liang said.
“Master must hope for that so he can monopolize my mother! I won’t let him get what he wants!” Ji Xiaoshu looped his arm around Su Liang’s and said with a happy grin, “I’ll be good.”
With only one lamp left on, Gu Ling lowered the mosquito net and lay down on the outer side, then he reached out and pulled Ji Xiaoshu next to him.
“Master, will you secretly throw me out in the middle of the night?” Ji Xiaoshu asked in a low voice.
Gu Ling answered, “I will.”
Ji Xiaoshu: …
“Mother, don’t let Master throw me out.” Ji Xiaoshu said while yawning.
“He won’t. Go to sleep.” Su Liang tucked Ji Xiaoshu in.
“Mother is the best.” Ji Xiaoshu said, resting his little head on Gu Ling’s shoulder and closing his eyes. He fell asleep quickly.
During the New Year, Gu Ling and Su Liang didn’t stay up late reading or making medicine like before. The room was warm, and the two of them went to bed early with their child.
The second day of the Lunar New Year.
When Su Liang woke up, Ji Xiaoshu was still sleeping, and Gu Ling had already gone out with the girl and returned.
“Mom…” Ji Xiaoshu muttered in his sleep and snuggled closer to Su Liang.
Su Liang then stayed with Ji Xiaoshu until he woke up naturally before getting out of bed.
Su Liang didn’t have a home to go back to, but Su Mansion was Ren Dong and Ying Ying’s home.
Ren Dong was now pregnant as well and stayed at the Marquis Zhong Xin Mansion during the New Year. Today, she and Qi Jun came back early. Right after they arrived, Lian Shun and Ying Ying came too.
Ren Dong and Ying Ying hadn’t shown their pregnancy yet, but Qi Jun and Lian Shun were both extremely nervous, fearing they might get hurt.
Ying Ye also came, of course. He loved Su Mansion the most, but he also had a great time at Lin’s Family. After coming back and seeing Ji Xiaoshu, he picked him up and raised him high, then they went out to the snow house to play together.
“You guys go help Xiaoye and Xiaoshu build a snowman.” Su Liang said to Qi Jun and Lian Shun.
Qi Jun stood up, “Okay.”
Lian Shun held Ying Ying’s hand and warned her, “Don’t eat anything cold, and get up slowly.”
“I know, I know.” Ying Ying waved her hand, “Hurry up and make a beautiful snowman.”
Finally, all the men left, and Ying Ying couldn’t help but sigh, “Being pregnant is like being in prison. Someone is watching me no matter what I do.” However, the smile on her face showed that even being in prison was sweet and fulfilling.
Ren Dong expressed the same feeling. Sometimes she couldn’t help but want to hit Qi Jun. Ying Ying felt the same way.
“It’s normal. My husband was like that when I was pregnant too.” Su Liang laughed.
Ying Ying quickly mentioned Xingluo Island, “The agreed date is the first day of the third month. What should we do then? Should we let Xiaogu take someone there?”
Su Liang shook her head, “That’s not settled yet. Ideally, we should all go.”
“Should we leave the children in the capital city?” Ying Ying frowned. Not that there was no one to help with Gu Xiaonuan, but it was hard for her to accept being away from her parents at such a young age, let alone for Gu Ling and Su Liang to accept.
“Let’s talk about it later. We still have some time to plan.” Su Liang sighed softly, “You don’t have to worry about it. Just focus on having a safe pregnancy and delivery.”
Ren Dong gently stroked her still-flat belly, “If I’d known, I would have married later. Now that people are needed, I can’t help at all.”
Su Liang shook her head, “What are you talking about? It’s true that people are needed, but with only one enemy left on Xingluo Island, we’re not that short on manpower.”
“If you all have to go south together and leave the kids behind, you can send them to my house. My parents will be overjoyed.” Ying Ying said.
Su Liang nodded, “I know, but I’ll talk to Gu Ling again.”
Before lunch, a cute big snowman appeared next to the snow house.
In the afternoon, Qi Jun and Ren Dong, as well as Lian Shun and Ying Ying, left, and Ying Ye also went back to Lin’s Family with Ying Ying.
The children were napping, and Su Liang brought up what she talked with Ying Ying today.
“I’ll go, you guys stay at home.” Gu Ling said.
“But the identity of Mo Yan’s granddaughter might be more or less useful, and I think I should show my face. After all, I am the real Transmigrator.” Su Liang pondered.
“Can you bear to part with Nuannuan?” Gu Ling asked.
Su Liang countered, “Can you bear to part with Nuannuan?”
Gu Ling frowned, “But we can’t take her to dangerous places.”
Su Liang sighed softly, “If there’s no other way, we have to find a place to hide her.”
