Full Moon

Shu Botong followed her to the backyard and looked at the large empty plot of land. He asked curiously, “Are you growing flowers on this plot?”

If she was going to fill the plot with flowers, it would look very pretty. But would there be more bees as a result?

Due to some trigger in his brain, Shu Botong suddenly thought of bees.

“Half the plot will be used for growing flowers and half of it for growing fruits,” Xiaoguo replied as she checked the ice in the bucket to see if it was freezing well. “For the desserts that we will make in the future, fruits would be one of the main ingredients. We have to plant more fruits like strawberries and so on.”

Being self-sufficient would help to cut down on the cost.

Shu Botong nodded and asked, “Do you want to go down to the cellar to take a look?”

“Sure.” Xiaoguo shook the water off her hands and nodded.

Feeling curious, Xiao Zhu and Yu Ling followed behind them.

Yu Ling was a frequent visitor of the cellar—she didn’t seem afraid as she strode forward. However, Xiao Zhu had never entered the place before. Feeling a little afraid, she held onto Yu Ling’s hand tightly.

Shu Botong held a candle in front of him to light the way and he did not forget to turn around and remind them, “Be careful. Don’t fall.”

Xiaoguo tucked her hands into her sleeves. The breath she exhaled was clearly visible. It was much colder here than outside.

When they reached the flat ground, Shu Botong lifted the curtain and a gust of cold air hit them in their faces. Xiaoguo and the others were caught off guard. Upon inhaling the cold air, they could feel their internal organs freeze momentarily.

It had been a long time since Yu Ling had experienced such a feeling. When she suddenly inhaled the cold air, she started sneezing uncontrollably.

Xiaoguo rubbed at her sore nose and entered the cellar which looked like it was brightly illuminated.

Yu Ling ran in and walked around. She said excitedly, “This place is as bright as the cellar on the island. There are luminous rocks here…”

Xiao Zhu also looked around in surprise. It was so sparkling and beautiful…

“Our lady boss is so capable and resourceful.”

Shu Botong immediately flattered her while wearing a smile.

“Come on, I can tell that you enjoy saying my name,”

Xiaoguo said without batting an eyelid and looked over at him.

Shu Botong didn’t even flinch and shamelessly said, “Let’s get things straight. We can call each other by names in private, but formally, you’re still the boss lady…”

Xiao Zhu and Yu Ling were looking around the cellar. Hearing his words, the two of them walked over and asked curiously, “Are we going to call Sister Xiaoguo ‘Lady Boss’ too?”

“There’s no need to call me that. There shouldn’t be formalities between friends. Only lunatics would call me that.”

The lunatic himself was completely unfazed at this moment. He continued chuckling foolishly to himself.

Xiao Zhu and Yu Ling glanced at Shu Botong and laughed with their hands covering their mouths.

Xiaoguo retracted her gaze and looked at the brightly lit cellar again. Why were there luminous rocks here? This has to be traced back to some recent events.

Just as the cellar was about to be completed, two carriages that came from the border suddenly stopped at the entrance of the two-storey building.

Coincidentally, Xiaoguo was present that day. The young man driving the cart was dressed in many layers. After double-checking her identity, he showed her his badge and informed her that the two carts of luminous rocks, which had been transported from the border, were the emperor’s gift to her for the shop opening.

Just as Xiaoguo was wondering how Shao Zhan knew about this, Jiang Danhe’s letter arrived soon after. She then realized that Jiang Danhe had been saying things to the emperor.

She was wondering about this too. How could the emperor be aware of what she was doing and even send the necessary materials in time?

Jiang Danhe was really too cute this time. Of course, he was always cute at other times too…

—-

The cow’s stomach was getting bigger and bigger. Judging from the weather, it will probably snow in the next two days. With the help of Yu Ling and Xiao Zhu, Xiaoguo surrounded the livestock shed with hay to keep the temperature warm.

She also laid extra hay in the livestock’s pens.

After everything was done, it started snowing quietly that night.

When she woke up the next day, everything outside the house was dressed in white and covered in snow. It was a beautiful sight but it was also extremely cold.

Looking at the heavy snowfall outside, Xiaoguo shuddered involuntarily. She put down the curtain and crawled back under the blanket. The warmth from the blanket was just enough to dissipate the coldness in her body.

In his sleep, Zhuang Zhuang seemed to have detected the chill. He rolled himself into a ball and snorted in dissatisfaction.

Xiaoguo laughed silently and lowered her head to kiss the little guy’s flushed face. The little guy groaned for a long time before he finally threw himself into her arms and continued to sleep.

Looking at Zhuang Zhuang’s cute appearance, Xiaoguo couldn’t help but laugh. She reached out and hugged him tightly before closing her eyes.

Zhuang Zhuang was brought back by Xiaoguo a few days ago. The temperature had been dropping recently, and the little boy had caught a cold. He had not been recuperating well at Mr. Kong’s house during this time, so Xiaoguo decided to bring him back.

Actually, she was also worried about the boy catching a cold while making his way home. In fact, it was better if he stayed put at Mr. Kong’s house. However, the sick child was missing his mother very badly, and that was too much to bear for Xiaoguo’s heart. In the end, she wrapped the boy up tightly and brought him home.

The mother and son dawdled on the bed for a long time before getting out of bed reluctantly.

Mrs Yang’s babies were exactly one month old today. Moreover, Mrs Yang had instructed Xiaoguo not to cook and to eat at her house for the day.

Hence, when the firecrackers sounded, Xiaoguo and the others were already getting ready to leave the house, all dressed up in their beautiful outfits.

All of a sudden, the four of them turned back to pick up the gifts they had prepared.

Zhuang Zhuang was looking forward to this day because it was the first time he was seeing the two baby brothers.

A few days ago, Xiaoguo did not let him go out because he was having a cold. Firstly, she didn’t want him to catch a chill. Secondly, the two babies were still young and had weak immune systems. That was the reason why it had dragged on until now.

He looked solemnly at himself in the mirror and only left when Xiaoguo called out to him.

The four of them were holding gifts that they had personally prepared. Xiao Zhu and Yu Ling had brought two red undergarments that they had personally embroidered.

Zhuang Zhuang’s gift to the babies were their names. He had specially asked Teacher Kong to help name the two babies.

When Zhuang Zhuang was sick, Xiaoguo had mentioned to him during her visit that Auntie Yang had given birth to two little brothers. Hence, Zhuang Zhuang had kept that in mind. Before he headed for home, even though he was feeling sick and weak, he still made an effort to ask for two names from Mr. Kong.

One had to know that being able to own a piece of Teacher Kong’s calligraphy was an honor that most people could only dream of. And to have a name given by him is even more special. A name is something that follows a person for a lifetime. It was such a great honor that even ordinary folks would be overjoyed just thinking about it.

Mrs Yang was indeed overjoyed. She accepted Zhuang Zhuang’s gift solemnly. The entire family was gathered around her and everyone had only praises for the gift. Those six characters were so precious to them that they would not trade them for sixty taels of gold.

Old Mrs. Yang was even more excited. She was so excited that she almost knelt down to thank the boy.

Yang Jia looked back and forth at the words tirelessly, his eyes turning red. The teacher that he most admired! To think that he was lucky enough to see his writing in this lifetime. He would have no regrets even if he died now…

Xiaoguo discreetly took out the gift from herself and Jiang Danhe. She said to Mrs Yang, “Jiang Danhe originally planned to come back, but he really couldn’t make it. He asked me to apologize on his behalf.”

“Sigh, what are you talking about? I know that Danhe is busy. Of course, I wouldn’t blame him.”

Xiaoguo smiled and handed her the gift. “Jiang Danhe and I bought this for the two kiddos.”

Mrs Yang took the two longevity locks and hugged Xiaoguo happily. “Aiya! Thank you, thank you!! Thank you!”

Xiaoguo was almost knocked down by her. Feeling amused, she steadied herself before hugging her back.

Then, Mrs. Yang unwrapped the swaddling wraps of the two babies and took off their undergarments before putting on the embroidered ones that Xiao Zhu and Yu Ling had made for them. She also put one longevity lock on each baby.

“Yang Yuanzhi, Yang Lingyou.”

Mrs Yang looked at the two energetic babies and couldn’t help but read out the two names that Mr. Kong had given them.

The children seemed to have a premonition. Each time she read out a name, one of them would laugh in response.

Seeing this, the group of people gathered around and looked at the two clever babies. They all thought that it was a coincidence and urged Mrs Yang to recite the names again.