Hard to Reject Your Hospitality

Mrs. Kong asked as she moved slowly towards the door. Not that she didn’t want to walk faster, but her body didn’t allow it. This was already her fastest speed.

“It’s me, Zhuang Zhuang. I’m back…”

Zhuang Zhuang pressed his ear against the door and listened to the commotion inside. Then, he shouted happily.

When Mrs. Kong heard Zhuang Zhuang’s voice, she immediately sped up.

It was the same for Mr. Kong, who was resting in the rocking chair. When he heard that his beloved disciple had returned, he sat up abruptly. In an instant, every part of his body felt invigorated.

“Zhuang Zhuang…”

Putting down his feet, Mr. Kong quickly put on his shoes. He was so excited that his beard could barely hide his flushed face. While making his way out, he did not forget to respond to Zhuang Zhuang.

Seeing that the old woman couldn’t open the door after fiddling for a long time, he couldn’t help but urge her, “Hurry up.”

“Got it!”

Mrs. Kong squinted at the lock on the door. She was old and presbyopic. Holding the key in her hand, she was having difficulty finding the keyhole.

Upon hearing Mr. Kong’s occasional urging, she gave him a disapproving look. Was this the same person who was just complaining about his headache and chest tightness? Was he the same man that was looking all lethargic earlier on?

“Master, Madam, take your time!”

Zhuang Zhuang could see Mrs. Kong through the gap in the door. Seeing how anxious she was, he quickly comforted her and told her to take her time. At the same time, he gave her a sweet smile.

Mrs. Kong, who was behind the door, was comforted when she heard his words. In that instant, her hands stopped trembling and her eyes could finally focus. Feeling revitalized, she quickly found the lock.

The moment she unlocked the door, she felt even more contempt for Mr. Kong who was running over. Zhuang Zhuang was only four years old, but he knew how to say those comforting words. Why couldn’t Mr. Kong say something like that when he was already a few decades old?

The moment before the door opened, Xiaoguo quietly pulled Qin Anming back a few steps.

At first, Qin Anming didn’t quite understand what she was trying to do, but he quickly understood. He was extremely glad that Xiaoguo had pulled him back. Otherwise, it would be so embarrassing if he got pushed over.

The moment the door opened, Zhuang Zhuang opened his arms and got into the horse stance. Before Mr. and Mrs. Kong pulled out the key, they had already wrapped their arms around the little man in front of them.

The first sentence they said was the one he had heard the most since he returned.

“We missed you so much!”

Mrs. Kong and Mr. Kong fought to hug Zhuang Zhuang as they moved from the door to the foot of the stairs.

Qin Anming quietly nudged Xiaoguo and asked her with his eyes, “Are you sure this is the sage’s house?”

Xiaoguo nodded firmly.

Mrs. Kong and Mr. Kong did not notice the two figures beside them. The three of them were absorbed in their own little world. The old couple only had eyes for Zhuang Zhuang.

“You’re fair and chubby. You really look like a wedding doll.”

“What do you know? Young boys should look like this. It’s an endearing look! Besides, when they grow up, they’ll stretch out and become leaner!”

“You’re right. Do you think Zhuang Zhuang has grown taller?”

“Yes. He’s grown taller. You’re really a big baby. Hurry up and let me hug you. I miss you so much. When I see our Zhuang Zhuang, I can eat an extra bowl of rice!”

“Madam, I miss you too. I can also eat an extra bowl of rice when I see you.”

“Aiyo… Master misses you even more! I feel like I have lost my soul. It has just come back to me now that I have seen Zhuang Zhuang.”

“Master, I miss you so much every night that I can’t sleep!”

“My good disciple is indeed closest to me!”

Mr. Kong was dissatisfied that his wife was always hogging Zhuang Zhuang, so he competed with her for Zhuang Zhuang’s affection.

Mrs. Kong snorted and looked at him in disgust. “So, you miss him? I miss him more than you do!”

“I miss him more!”

“I miss him even more!”

“I miss him more than you do!”

“I miss him more!”

“…”

Mrs. Kong gritted her teeth in anger. This old man was adamant about going against her. He kept saying the word ‘more’ in every sentence. She was really running out of things to say!

Zhuang Zhuang was trying not to offend either side. With a few comforting words for each person, he managed to calm down both parties.

The two people who were watching from the side looked at each other. “Should we just leave?”

After an unknown period of time, Mrs. Kong turned to look at Xiaoguo in embarrassment. She then realized that there was another unfamiliar man in their presence.

“Auntie, this is my brother, Qin Anming.”

“Hello, Mrs. Kong.”

At first, Qin Anming was afraid that he might come across as being too abrupt. In the end, he realized that he had worried for nothing. Mr. Kong and Mrs. Kong were much more amiable than their titles suggested.

Putting aside their titles, based on the way they interacted, they looked like an ordinary couple from the suburbs. They were simple and kind.

Mrs. Kong quickly invited them into the house and poured a cup of cold tea for each of them. “Drink this quickly to relieve the heat.”

Xiaoguo thanked her and downed the tea in one gulp.

Although the weather was not so hot now, the residual temperature was not to be underestimated. In addition, the two salted fish that had been exposed under the sun for a long time had dried up by now.

“By the way, Brother…”

Qin Anming nodded in understanding and placed the bucket on the table.

“Kelp…”

Mrs. Kong picked up the kelp and shook it in surprise.

Her favorite food is kelp. Two days ago, she was just talking about it. She didn’t expect to receive it today.

“I thought that kelp was good for health, so I brought you more.”

Xiaoguo felt that it was better to explain her reason for bringing kelp. She felt that kelp was good for the body. The two elders of the Kong family were old and no longer had much of an appetite for meat. Therefore, a vegetarian diet would be more suitable for them.

At first, she was afraid that the other party would think that she was being insincere, having brought so little seafood, and so much kelp. But Xiaoguo’s worries were for nothing. Kelp was exactly what the two Kong elders wanted.

Mrs. Kong was overjoyed. She explained to Xiaoguo that Mr. Kong’s appetite had been poor recently. The only thing he felt like eating was kelp salad.

But where could she find kelp for him? She went to the market several times, but was unable to find any.

But Mr. Kong was craving it badly. Although the man was old, he was very picky. If there was any food that he couldn’t get his hands on, he could nag about it for at least a year.

As a last resort, she was thinking of writing a letter to their son in the capital, asking him to send some kelp over.

Before they had a chance to write that letter, Xiaoguo had brought the kelp over. It was exactly what the old couple wanted.

“Alright! That old man will finally stop nagging at me.”

Mrs. Kong said meaningfully. Mr. Kong, who was teasing Zhuang Zhuang by the side, immediately blushed upon hearing her words.

“Some old man?”

Mr. Kong secretly looked around the room to see if anyone knew that the “old man” was actually him.

After making sure that no one had noticed it, he heaved a sigh of relief. Before he could close his mouth, he met Zhuang Zhuang’s smiling gaze.

Mr. Kong’s face turned red again.

Alright, he was done for. His dignified image as the Great Sage was completely ruined…

At noon, Xiaoguo and the others were about to leave, but when she saw the pitiful faces of the two elders, she hesitated. Although she knew that they were most likely putting on an act, she still felt sorry for them.

Seeing her hesitate, the two elders of the Kong family immediately preyed on her indecisiveness. They started lamenting about how lonely they were and how much they missed Zhuang Zhuang…

In the end, the three of them found it difficult to turn down their kindness, so they stayed behind for lunch.

Zhuang Zhuang also handed in his diary to Mr. Kong. He didn’t seem very nervous. Instead, Xiaoguo was the nervous one.

After all, this was Zhuang Zhuang’s first holiday assignment. She wondered if it was up to standard in Mr. Kong’s eyes.

While the homework was being checked, the two of them stayed in the study. Xiaoguo, Mrs. Kong, and Qin Anming stayed in the outer room. They had no idea how the situation was.

Feeling distracted, Xiaoguo only felt relieved when Zhuang Zhuang came out with a face full of joy.

It looked like he had passed. How wonderful.

“Then we’ll go back first.”

“Go on back.” Mr. Kong nodded and looked at Zhuang Zhuang. “Rest well for the next few days. Come back to school when you feel more rested.”

“Yes, Master!”

Zhuang Zhuang smiled and nodded. Then, he looked at Mrs. Kong and said, “Goodbye, Madam… I’ll remember to miss the both of you…”