Spring Is Here

“Zhuang Zhuang!”

Xiaoguo looked through the gap in the door and saw Zhuang Zhuang’s big eyes. She immediately called out to him happily.

Mrs. Kong didn’t expect Xiaoguo to come so early. She was shocked. Seeing that mother and son were looking at each other through the door, she immediately opened it.

“Zhuang Zhuang!”

“Mother!”

Mother and son hugged each other affectionately and laughed non-stop.

After the two of them calmed down, Mrs. Kong stopped laughing and said, “Let’s have breakfast together.”

“No, we will go back for breakfast.” Xiaoguo had wanted to say hello to Mr. Kong, but when she heard from Mrs. Kong that he had not woken up, she decided to take her leave.

Since it was still early, they had ample time to go back and eat.

“Alright.” Mrs. Kong nodded.

“Then we’ll go back first. Please inform Teacher Kong on my behalf.”

“Me too. Madam, please help me inform Master.”

When Zhuang Zhuang heard Xiaoguo’s words, he followed and said the same thing.

“Okay, okay.” Mrs. Kong nodded kindly. “Make your way back now.”

Xiaoguo and Zhuang Zhuang nodded with smiles across their faces. Then, they got into the donkey cart and headed home eagerly.

Mrs. Kong watched the donkey cart leave before stretching and closing the door. “I’m going back to catch up on my sleep.”

Along the way, Zhuang Zhuang kept sharing with Xiaoguo what had happened over the past few days. Xiaoguo listened attentively to the interesting things he shared. Occasionally, she would ask him some questions and Zhuang Zhuang was quick to clear up her doubts.

When they got home, Zhuang Zhuang ran around the house excitedly and greeted every animal. When the two puppies saw him, they surrounded him excitedly and wagged their tails. Zhuang Zhuang was so happy to see them that he held both puppies in his arms.

The first thing Xiaoguo did when she got home was to cook. She watched Zhuang Zhuang run around the house while she cooked the corn porridge.

The smile she was wearing never left her face. It was indeed more lively with Zhuang Zhuang around.

Breakfast consisted of corn porridge, boiled eggs and pickled vegetables. She had also pan-fried some dumplings that she made the night before.

Although not considered sumptuous, it was still a nutritious meal. Zhuang Zhuang’s actions were evidence of Xiaoguo’s culinary skills. Everything in the bowl and pot were wiped clean by him.

Xiaoguo felt a great sense of accomplishment as she washed the empty plates. While doing the dishes, she started humming a tune.

Zhuang Zhuang wanted to help her with the washing, but Xiaoguo chased him out. There were only a few items to wash, so she didn’t need help. She could easily finish washing up within a minute.

“Mother, can I go look for Brother Xiaohu and Sister Xiaohua?”

After Zhuang Zhuang returned to his room, he ran out after a while and stood at the kitchen door to ask Xiaoguo.

“Sure.”

Xiaoguo nodded and Zhuang Zhuang ran out, clutching something in his hand.

Xiaoguo suddenly thought of something and called out to him, “Come back soon.”

“Okay!” Zhuang Zhuang ran out without looking back.

Xiaoguo smiled and lowered her head to continue with the dishes. She had no particular reason for asking him to come back early. She just missed him a little and wanted to spend some time talking to him.

Zhuang Zhuang ran to Mrs. Yang’s door and knocked hard. Then, he lowered his hand and waited for someone to open the door for him.

If he didn’t exert enough strength, no one would hear him. With his small physique, there was a limit to his strength.

“Coming.”

When Zhuang Zhuang heard Xiaohu’s voice, he couldn’t help but smile. “Brother Xiaohu!”

“Zhuang Zhuang!”

Xiaohu, who was feeling a little sleepy, immediately perked up. He ran over and opened the door.

When he saw Zhuang Zhuang, he hugged him and said excitedly, “Zhuang Zhuang, you’re finally back!”

Having not seen him for a few days, Xiaohu seemed to have become much stronger. Being held in his arms, Zhuang Zhuang had no room to struggle.

“That’s right, Brother Xiaohu…” Zhuang Zhuang raised his arm with difficulty and patted Xiaohu. “Brother Xiaohu, look at what I have!”

Upon hearing this, Xiaohu let go of Zhuang Zhuang and looked at his hand. “Sesame candy stick?”

“That’s right. I have two. One for you and one for Sister Xiaohua.”

Those were candy sticks that Mr. Kong had given him. He did not eat them and specially brought them back.

“Thank you, Zhuang Zhuang!”

Xiaohu gratefully took one and licked it carefully. “It’s so sweet…”

As Xiaoguo wanted Zhuang Zhuang to go back early, he did not follow Xiaohu into the house. After giving him the candy, he went home.

In the two days that Zhuang Zhuang was at home, Xiaoguo whipped up a lot of delicious food for him. In just two days, his stomach became much rounder.

The weight-loss plan that Xiaoguo had prepared for him had no chance of being implemented. Now, she could only hope for Zhuang Zhuang to grow taller, otherwise he would become fat and short.

–

In the capital.

“Hey, hey, hey!”

Li Shouji had already walked in front of Jiang Danhe many times. He brazenly waved the things he was researching in front of him. Jiang Danhe did not stop him—he only lowered his head and revealed a perverted smile.

Li Shouji threw down the metal piece in his hand expressionlessly and walked towards Jiang Danhe. He wanted to see what the man was looking at so seriously.

With a push, he leaned his head forward.

Jiang Danhe was looking at the drawing paper on the table seriously when his vision was suddenly blocked by a big black head.

“Li! Shou! Ji!”

When Jiang Danhe saw him, he could feel a headache coming on.

Li Shouji wasn’t bothered. At the most, he would just get beaten up by Jiang Danhe. In any case, he had encountered this before and could handle it.

As he spoke, he reached out and picked it up. The drawing style was so childish. He could draw better without using his hands. Jiang Danhe was actually so engrossed looking at this thing. What poor taste he had. If no one told him it was a painting, he would have thought that it was a piece of paper that had been used to clean up ink stains.

“Which kid drew this?”

“My wife.”

“…” Li Shouji put away his disdainful expression and looked at Jiang Danhe. He lowered his head to look at the painting in his hand and looked at Jiang Danhe again.

Jiang Danhe crossed his arms and nodded silently.

“Hahaha…” Li Shouji was wearing a frozen smile on his face. He quickly nodded in response and praised the drawing, “Although the lines look a little squiggly, it looked similar to the style of Elder Bai. Every stroke is so precise. It’s really… good… haha.”

Li Shouji swore that he had tried his best to come up with this awkward comment…

“…” Jiang Danhe did not speak and just reached out his hand.

Li Shouji’s eyes were quick to spot Jiang Danhe’s actions. When he saw him move, he immediately handed over the painting respectfully with both hands.

Jiang Danhe took the letter and smoothed out the wrinkles that Li Shouji had accidentally made. He couldn’t hide the smile in his eyes.

Although the drawings looked a little strange, he could imagine the scene at the ceremony. The sense of satisfaction in his heart simply would not go away.

He couldn’t help but sigh. Their Zhuang Zhuang had really grown up.

“Where are you going?”

Seeing that the other party was about to leave without a word, Li Shouji hurriedly asked.

“Back to my room.”

“Don’t forget about tonight’s appointment.”

Jiang Danhe paused and nodded imperceptibly before leaving.

Li Shouji watched him leave and was in a very good mood himself. He placed his hands comfortably behind his head and started whistling.

He knew it. Jiang Danhe would find it hard to leave the capital.

His whistle startled the birds on the branches. They chirped and flew into the sky. After some time, they eventually flew back and landed at the same spot again because they couldn’t bear to leave the big tree.

Seeing this, Li Shouji chuckled and retracted his gaze. He picked up his invention and slowly walked back to his room.

On the way, he inhaled deeply. It was a wonderful feeling.

It seemed that spring was really coming…