Drop of Cinnabar in the Heart (5)

The first step for their family had occurred at the docks as they sold braised pig’s head meat. In Little Shitou’s memory, that was the first time in his life that he was finally able to eat to his fill and also eat white rice and flour on a more frequent basis. Whenever they braised pig’s head meat and offal, his second sister would always secretly cut off a piece for him and stuff it into his mouth…in his eyes, there was nothing more delicious than this. After all, that meat held all of his second sister’s love toward him and all of the hopes and dreams of his family…

“You, ah, if you want to eat braised pig’s head meat, then go to the Yu’s Shop to buy some. Although it can’t compare to ones made by me, they are about eighty percent there. I also want to eat sliced pig ears in chili sauce. Tomorrow, I’ll have the servants buy some to take home with us from the Yu’s. Little Shitou, whatever you want to eat, just have the servants go out and buy for you.”

“Wife, how come you’re not asking me if I want to eat anything in particular?” Zhu Junyang, who had been forgotten by the brother and sister pair, asked in a pathetic manner.

Yu Xiaocao didn’t want to admit that she had truly forgotten that he was there. She blinked her crafty large eyes a few times and responded back with a question, “Didn’t you already say that as long as I like to eat it, you like to eat it too? Perhaps…Your Highness was only saying that to make me happy ah?”

Zhu Junyang choked on his words and silently nodded his head before finally replying, “How could this prince possibly try to fool you? Order whatever food you like. This prince likes everything you like to eat…” Wasn’t this getting hit by the stone that he had thrown before?

Little Shitou sniggered from the side as he watched the two interact. His older brother-in-law was usually a very astute and clever person. However, in front of his older sister, he was merely a monkey playing around in Buddha’s palm, never getting out. He now had a good idea of their relationship: because of deep love, they were able to support and love each other through everything.

Zhu Junyang surreptitiously glared at Little Shitou. Just what was that brat snickering for? What the hell did a half-grown boy know? Once he became married, only then would he realize what true married life was like——a wife that he had chosen needed to be pampered as much as possible!

Meanwhile, Yu Xiaocao had already gone through a list of things that she wanted to make sure Little Shitou took note of before the autumnal examinations. Naturally, Little Shitou knew these things better than she did. After all, he had a famous scholar as his master and had many scholarly brothers who had taken first, second, or third place in the imperial examinations. A simple pointer from any one of these people was able to give him a great harvest.

However, he still loved listening to his second sister lecturing him. After all, it held all of the deep love and concern she had for him. In front of his second sister, he would always be her younger brother who needed to be looked after. No matter what status he reached in the future…

The next day arrived with glorious and beautiful weather. The blue sky seemed to be awash with clarity and purity, while the white clouds resembled gorgeous blooms of white cotton candy. Yu Xiaocao, who was currently sitting in her carriage, gazed at the clouds and sighed, “I really want to eat cotton candy ah!”

Cotton candy? What the heck was that? Zhu Junyang and Yu Fan exchanged looks. Little Shitou asked the question first, “Second Sister, where can we buy this cotton candy you speak of? I’ll help you buy some!”

Yu Xiaocao faintly replied, “If I was able to buy some, I wouldn’t be sighing over it right now ah!”

Zhu Junyang butted in front of his younger brother-in-law, “How do you make cotton candy? Go have people learn how!”

Yu Xiaocao thought back to her childhood in her previous life. There were cotton candy machines that were powered by people using a pedal. The machinery would spin at high speeds as cottony soft candy appeared. Unfortunately, she didn’t know how these machines were made or the methods behind cotton candy. She merely described the basics of the machine and then let out a deep sigh, “I guess in this lifetime I’ll never be able to taste cotton candy.”

Little Baozi, Zhu Yunxuan, was being held by his father and asked out of curiosity, “Lady Mother, is cotton candy like actual cotton? Is it sweet ah? Tasty ah? Is it as sweet as gummy candy ah?”

Zhu Junyang noticed that his wife’s spirits were low and hurriedly stopped his son from asking a flood of questions. He quietly said, “Don’t disturb your lady mother, let her rest in peace for a bit.”

Yu Xiaocao stroked her son’s small head and spoke to her husband, “I’m fine, no need to worry! Little Baozi’s guesses are correct. Cotton candy resembles puffs of snowy white cotton and is as fluffy as cotton. Once you bite into it, it melts in your mouth and sweetens a person from head to toe.”

In Little Baozi’s heart, his lord father was omnipotent. He urgently exclaimed, “Lady Mother wants to eat cotton candy. Lord Father, quickly have some people figure out the machine!”

Little Shitou pinched his nephew’s chubby little face and smiled, “Are you sure it’s your lady mother who wants to eat it and not you?”

Little Baozi was afraid that if his lord father really figured out how to make the machine, he’d only make candy for his lady mother, so he hurriedly corrected, “Little Baozi and Lady Mother both want to eat! But Lady Mother wants to eat it a bit more!”

At this time, the carriage stopped and the curtain covering the window was lifted up. A young youth who was around the age of ten squirmed in. Little Baozi happily jumped over as he screamed, “Uncle Lin, let’s go ride a big horse together!”

Little Shitou had instantly become jealous, “I’m your true maternal uncle here, blood-related to boot! How come I’ve never seen you act this close with me ah?”

Little Baozi, who was already in Fang Haolin’s arms, turned around to look at him and then inserted his chubby little body into Shitou’s arms. He planted a kiss on his uncle’s face and sweetly said, “Maternal Uncle Shitou, Baozi likes you the most.”

Fang Haolin chuckled, “You only like Uncle Shitou and no longer Uncle Lin? In the future, I won’t bring you to ride horses anymore. My father gave a beautiful young colt but I already have a favorite steed. In the future, whenever you want to ride you can come along.”

Little Baozi hurtled himself back, “Uncle Lin, Baozi also likes Uncle Lin the most…”

“Little Linlin, tell me the truth. Just when did you take Little Baozi out on a horse before?” Yu Xiaocao became serious and gave the two of them stern looks.

Fang Haolin stiffened and carefully replied, “Older Sister, my good older sister, don’t be angry ah. It was…it was when Little Baozi went to the manor to play last time. There’s a big grassy field there. I was riding a horse and I held Little Baozi while I did it. Oh right, I also had the riding instructor next to me and there was a servant leading the horse…do I really seem like a reckless boy ah? Little Baozi is so small and I’ve also just started learning, so how could I possibly bring him along for a fast ride?”

“Little Baozi, was that right ah? Good children don’t tell lies and those who do will have very long noses ah!” Yu Xiaocao didn’t believe the youth’s explanation of being led along on the horse, so she turned her sights to her son. She was pretty sure she could get the truth from him.

Little Baozi rubbed at his own nose before he obediently replied, “There was a servant leading the horse and the horse ran very slowly. Uncle Lin doesn’t know how to ride a horse, so he wasn’t steady on the horse and almost fell down. Little Baozi is obedient and didn’t fall down.”

Fang Haolin would have never expected that his own nephew would so easily reveal such an embarrassing incident. He glanced surreptitiously at Xiaocao’s face and then quietly defended himself, “Actually, when the riding instructor was teaching me, I didn’t get the skills right and almost slipped off the horse’s back…I’m a very good rider now ah!”

“Then you tell me, have you ever gone behind the instructor’s and adults’ backs to secretly ride a horse?” Yu Xiaocao stared into his eyes as she slowly said each word.

Fang Haolin wasn’t afraid of his own father and he also had tricks to get around his own mother. He was only perfectly obedient in front of his older sister as he couldn’t bear to trick her. He lowered his head and quietly said, “I’ve snuck off once to ride a horse. I’ve already gotten a hang of things, but I make sure to ride slowly. I’m really careful and haven’t been in any dangerous situations.”