Pitiful

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

Looking at the departing carriage, Xiaoguo and Zhuang Zhuang waved at everyone on the cart.

Time passed quickly. Ruyi and the others worked in the food and beverage business. They couldn’t afford too many rest days during the new year. This time round, they actually extended their break by another day before leaving.

It was the third day of the new year. When they returned to the shop, they had to spend an entire day preparing the ingredients before the restaurant opened for business the next day.

After the carriage moved out of sight, the two of them went back.

Looking at the empty house, they felt a little uncomfortable.

But life had to go on. New year, new life.

“Zhuang Zhuang, let’s clean up.”

“Huh? Mother…” When Zhuang Zhuang heard this, he begged for mercy. “It’s not messy at all.”

Xiaoguo took the broom and looked around. She realized that it was true. The house was very tidy. There was no need to clean up.

“Then…” Xiaoguo didn’t want to stay idle either. She looked around to see if there was anything she could pack.

“Take a break, Mother.”

Zhuang Zhuang took Xiaoguo’s hand and pulled her into the back room. He pulled her onto the bed, took off her shoes, and poured a cup of water for her.

Xiaoguo was surprised by his actions. How cute.

“Alright, you can stay in bed comfortably.”

With a satisfied look on his face, Zhuang Zhuang turned to look at Xiaoguo. “I’ll bring you a book to read.”

With that, he ran off.

Xiaoguo didn’t stop him. She sat down helplessly and continued reading. She had nothing much to do anyway.

After the Lunar New Year, those who had to work continued working, and those who had to visit friends and relatives, went on to do so. Even Mrs. Yang was kept busy these past few days. Xiaoguo was the only one who had nothing to do. She really felt uncomfortable having nothing to do.

At the thought of this, she sighed. What should she do in the new year?

Zhuang Zhuang quickly ran back with a stack of books in his hands.

“Good God!”

Xiaoguo’s mouth fell open as she looked at the books in surprise. How long would it take to finish reading them?

“Ahem, Mother, are you ready?”

Zhuang Zhuang straightened his clothes and looked at Xiaoguo solemnly.

Xiaoguo nodded and said with a smile, “I’m ready.”

“Begin!”

Zhuang Zhuang instantly got into character. He picked up a book and started reading. Occasionally, he would ask Xiaoguo to recite after him. He looked like a little teacher.

Xiaoguo had played with Zhuang Zhuang many times. Every time, he would act as the teacher while she acted as the student.

Xiaoguo’s eyes lit up when she saw Zhuang Zhuang talking so confidently. “That’s right!”

“Yes? Mother, what’s right?”

Zhuang Zhuang, who was reading, was suddenly interrupted by Xiaoguo. He looked confused.

“No, nothing.”

Xiaoguo smiled and shook her head. After seeing Zhuang Zhuang readjust himself to study again, she thought to herself, “Who said that I had nothing to do? Zhuang Zhuang should be going to school during the new year!”

How could she have nothing to do? Going to school was a big deal. She had many things to do.

Xiaoguo, who was in high spirits, interrupted Zhuang Zhuang’s reading. Under his puzzled gaze, she smiled.

“Son, prepare a brush, paper and an envelope for me.”

“??” Zhuang Zhuang looked puzzled. Was she going to write a letter to his father again?

As he thought about it, he immediately put down his book and ran happily to get the items. How could he miss out on writing a letter to his father? He had a lot of joyful things to share with him.

Xiaoguo got out of bed in high spirits. She sat at the table and stretched her hands before Zhuang Zhuang came over.

She picked up a brush and ink and handed a few pieces of paper to Zhuang Zhuang so that he could write.

“Is it for Father?”

Xiaoguo was stunned when she heard that. Then she remembered that she had not explained it to him. She immediately nodded. “That’s right!”

When Zhuang Zhuang heard this, he happily ran back to the other room with the rice paper. He secretly used the plum ink that he cherished very much and carefully ground it a little. He made sure to grind only the amount he needed. He didn’t want to waste any of it.

The two of them wrote their letters in separate rooms. Zhuang Zhuang was writing about the interesting things that had happened over the past few days, while Xiaoguo was writing about Zhuang Zhuang going to school.

She still remembered hearing about Mr. Kong setting up an academy, but she didn’t know if it was true. Since Mr. Kong was teaching for the emperor’s relatives in the capital, Jiang Danhe could help to find out.

Since Jiang Danhe had the access to this shortcut, she had to make use of it. As a father, it was only right for him to pave the way for his son. However, the rest of the journey would have to be paved by Zhuang Zhuang himself.

Xiaoguo put in the final stroke and double-checked to make sure that she had written everything down. After making sure that nothing was missed out, she folded the letter and placed it in the envelope.

“Has Zhuang Zhuang finished writing?”

If he was done writing, she would send it to the post station as soon as possible. Although it was just a difference of a few minutes, she was feeling anxious to get the letter posted.

“No, I still have a lot to tell Father.”

Zhuang Zhuang replied quickly. As much as Xiaoguo was anxious, she couldn’t rush him.

However, on second thoughts, in the letter that she wrote for Jiang Danhe, she only wrote him to ask about Mr. Kong. She didn’t ask about how he was, and neither did she update him on the things at home. That was quite unbecoming of her. He was spending the New Year by himself away from home. Loneliness aside, he was quite pitiful.

Xiaoguo couldn’t help but imagine a sad and lonely image in her mind. Although it was a little exaggerated, she just could not stop thinking about it.

She could imagine him standing alone in the dark room, dressed in a thin layer of clothing and watching the fireworks from where he was. There were leftovers on the table, or maybe there was no food. At the thought of this, she instantly shivered and felt upset.

Hence, she immediately took out another letter and started writing. She had to write more. She felt so sorry for Jiang Danhe.

With that pitiful image in her mind, Xiaoguo was filled with thoughts. Even when Zhuang Zhuang handed his completed letter to her, Xiaoguo was still writing furiously. After putting down the brush, she suddenly realized that she had unknowingly written three full pages.

She brought Zhuang Zhuang straight to the post station without delay. On the way back, she felt much more relieved.

Poor Zhuang Zhuang was laughing non-stop along the way. If he had known that Xiaoguo was making plans to send him to school, he might not be laughing in the cart at all.

At this moment, Zhuang Zhuang was hoping that the letter would reach Jiang Danhe as soon as possible. If he knew the contents of Xiaoguo’s letter, he might be wishing otherwise.

–

On the other side, the pitiful Jiang Danhe was resting in his residence. Going through the new year was exhausting for him. Today was the first time he had the chance to return to his residence. Once again, he lay on his bed that still had Xiaoguo’s scent on it.

That’s right. Ever since Xiaoguo had slept on this bed, he cherished it so much that he didn’t change the bedsheets and the pillowcases.

Although it sounded quite disgusting, Jiang Danhe was actually quite particular about his personal hygiene. In the past, he would take a shower once every two or three days. Ever since he was reunited with Xiaoguo, he made sure to take a bath everyday. This was because he realized that Xiaoguo loved to be clean. In order to be compatible with her, he had to do the same too.

Although he had not changed his bedding for a long time, it was still clean and tidy. If one were to smell carefully, they could even detect a faint fragrance on the sheets.

As soon as Jiang Danhe fell asleep, Li Shouji started tinkering with some stuff in his room.

Jiang Danhe closed his eyes tightly. The veins on his forehead were bulging. He clenched and unclenched his fists.

That guy had the emperor’s special permission to excuse himself from the military camp. Therefore, Jiang Danhe could do nothing about it. He had already tried to turn a blind eye to his behavior a few times before this. But today, he simply could not take it anymore.

When one had reached his limits, there was no need to endure anymore.

He sat up, put on his shoes, pushed the door open, and went straight to Li Shouji’s backyard.

The deserving Li Shouji had once again pushed Jiang Shanhe’s limits.Once again, he had proved with his body that he can still walk and eat after receiving three rounds of beatings.