Revealed the Secret?

Shu Botong sized up Xiaoguo from head to toe, before taking a sip from his teacup in satisfaction.

It would be best if she didn’t leave him out. Otherwise, even if he had to walk all the way, he would find her and settle scores with her.

“Do you remember?”

Xiaoguo looked at him helplessly. She had repeated herself several times, but he still didn’t say anything. It was truly infuriating.

“Yes, I got it. I’ll definitely be there.”

Shu Botong stopped pretending and finally nodded in agreement.

Although he seemed unaffected and calm on the surface, he was actually feeling extremely anxious.

He would be going to the party tomorrow but he had yet to prepare a gift. It was his first time visiting their house, so he couldn’t possibly go empty-handed. Besides, it was Zhuang Zhuang’s birthday. What should he bring?

Xiaoguo waved her hand in front of the man who still looked lost in his thoughts. After a while, seeing that he was still in a daze, she left silently.

Shu Botong was immersed in his own world, still thinking about what gift to give. It was unclear if he saw Xiaoguo leaving. Even if he didn’t see her, she was right in front of him. It was just a small matter, she could leave if she wished, as long as she did not distract him from his thoughts.

However, the moment she stepped out of the door, he said, “Please see yourself out…”

“Okay,” Xiaoguo said as she left the place without stopping.

—-

“If you give me a wooden peach, I’ll give you a jade jewel in return. It’s not my repayment to you, but it’s my way of preserving the good relationship between us.”

“If you gift me with a wooden peach, and I repay you with a piece of beautiful jade, it is not a gesture of gratitude. It is because I cherish our relationship.”

“People often exchange tokens in their relationships with others, but it’s not the value of the token that matters, it’s the emotional significance of the sentiment behind it.”

Mr. Kong was speaking eloquently from his seat. Zhuang Zhuang, who was sitting below, seemed a little distracted with his eyes constantly looking out of the windows.

Mr. Kong naturally noticed this and he gently put down the book.

The soft sound of the book being placed on the table finally caught Zhuang Zhuang’s attention.

“Master?”

Mr. Kong nodded and said, “That’s all for today’s morning class. Go back to your room, pack up and wait for your mother to come get you.”

Zhuang Zhuang lowered his head in embarrassment and guilt.

There are three states in studying—the environmental state, the mental state, and the state of Zen.

There are six hearts in studying—a pure heart, a yearning heart, a quiet heart, a clear heart, a focused heart, and a considerable heart.

Usually, Zhuang Zhuang would abide by these teachings and principles, but today, he…

“I’m sorry, Master.”

Mr. Kong shook his head. He was still young and it was his first time. It was no big deal.

“By the way, this is for you.”

Mr. Kong was aware that Zhuang Zhuang’s birthday falls on the next day, but he did not forget to keep the secret and stick to the surprise operation. Therefore, he took out the red bag in advance and handed it to the boy.

Zhuang Zhuang took it from him and was about to unwrap it when Mr. Kong quickly stopped him. “Don’t unwrap this now. You can do it tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

Zhuang Zhuang looked at Mr. Kong in confusion. Why tomorrow? Tomorrow was his birthday. Could this be his birthday gift? But why didn’t the master say so?

“Okay.”

No matter what it was, joy appeared in Zhuang Zhuang’s eyes. This was most likely his birthday gift. He felt so happy…

“Go on.”

Zhuang Zhuang nodded with a smile and quickly ran back to his room.

Mr. Kong looked at the cheerful little figure and shook his head with a smile. The boy was finally smiling—that was quite a feat.

Zhuang Zhuang returned to the house and picked up his small bag, which he had already packed. Holding the gift that Teacher Kong had given him, he carefully closed the door and windows. Then, he ran eagerly towards the main door. While on his way, he even took the time to greet Madam Kong.

When he came to the door, he sat on a small stool and stared at the door like a fledgling baby, hoping that Xiaoguo would come through the door in the next second.

Madam Kong followed behind him and chuckled to herself as she looked at his straightened back.

“Zhuang Zhuang, come in and wait for a while.”

Usually, the stool at the door was reserved for Zhuang Zhuang because it was positioned right across the door. He always waits for Xiaoguo on the stool. However, it was winter now, but he still insisted on sitting outside even though his face had turned red from the cold.

Madam Kong couldn’t bear to watch him sit in the cold anymore, so she called him in.

Zhuang Zhuang hesitated for a moment before getting up to go into the house, as he didn’t want Mrs. Kong to worry for him.

After warming up for a while, there was a knock on the door. Zhuang Zhuang picked up his school bag that was half the size of his body and ran over to open the door.

While running, he shouted, “Mother? Mother? Mother?”

“Hey, Zhuang Zhuang!”

Xiaoguo spotted Zhuang Zhuang through the crack in the door and saw the anxious look on the little boy’s face. The moment she opened the door, she went forward to pick him up.

In that instant, Zhuang Zhuang’s eyes quickly welled up with tears. He wiped them away inadvertently, not wanting his mother to see him cry.

Xiaoguo let go of him and took the bag from him. Then, she patted his little butt, causing him to giggle.

“Wait for me. I’ll give this to your Teacher and Madam first.”

Xiaoguo gestured to the clay jar in her hand. These were century eggs that she had marinated last month. Since she had quite a lot of duck eggs, she specially made extra for the old couple.

Zhuang Zhuang nodded happily and followed behind her obediently.

Madam Kong was a few steps behind Zhuang Zhuang. When she walked out of the house, Xiaoguo and Zhuang Zhuang were already walking towards her.

“I’m getting old. My legs aren’t as agile as they used to be.”

Madam Kong looked rather embarrassed. The time she took to move three steps was enough for others to run three meters.

Xiaoguo smiled and didn’t respond to her sentence. She took out the century eggs and handed them to her.

Madam Kong’s face was filled with joy. She loved the marinated duck eggs that Xiaoguo made. Although the taste was unusual, they were very delicious.

“Quick, come in and rest for a while.”

RIght after speaking, Mrs. Kong was about to pull Xiaoguo into the house. However, Xiaoguo still had some unfinished business at home, so she waved her hands and bade farewell.

She had thought of inviting the Kong’s to the birthday party but it was inconvenient for the two elders to travel back and forth by car. Their health was more important, so she eventually gave up on the idea.

“Mother… are we going home?”

Zhuang Zhuang looked at her expectantly.

Xiaoguo pinched his cheek and said, “Let’s not go back yet. I’ll go buy some food.”

Zhuang Zhuang dislikes being touched on his head and face, but when it comes to his mother, it’s another story. He loved it whenever his mother touched or pinched his face.

“Have we run out of food at home?”

“No, but I don’t have enough for tomorrow… There’s not enough food, so I have to buy more.”

Xiaoguo almost let slip the event that was happening tomorrow. Fortunately, she changed her tone and covered it up.

Zhuang Zhuang narrowed his eyes. Then, he suppressed the smile on his face and pretended that he had not heard her.

“Hmm… Hmm, Hmm… Hmph, Hmm, Hmm…”

Xiaoguo stole a glance at Zhuang Zhuang. Why did he suddenly seem so happy? Had he found out about the surprise party tomorrow? DId she just reveal their secret plans?

Zhuang Zhuang realized that Xiaoguo was looking at him, so he gave her a super big smile and continued with his out-of-tune singing.

His lower legs were hanging from the seat and swaying to the rhythm of his song. He looked extremely happy.

Xiaoguo silently covered her ear that was right beside Zhuang Zhuang. As a mother, she should at least pretend to appreciate her son’s singing that didn’t sound quite melodious, but she simply couldn’t do it…

“Dear Son, please show me some mercy. Mother’s ears are hurting…”

—-

Jiang Danhe had finally arrived in Yonghai County.

First, he headed to the noodle shop to say hi to his brother-in-law. Then, he went to Mr. Kong’s house to pay his respects to the two elders.

Madam Kong looked at him in surprise. “Zhuang Zhuang and Xiaoguo just left in the morning. If you were a little earlier, you would have bumped into them.”

Jiang Danhe laughed when he heard that. His brother-in-law had said the same thing just now. What a coincidence. It was a good thing that he didn’t bump into them. Otherwise, the surprise would have been ruined.

As he was in a hurry to get home, he handed over his gifts to the Kong’s before taking his leave.

After leaving and walking over a short distance, he came face-to-face with two modest-looking carriages waiting by the side.

Jiang Danhe took a look and met the curious gaze of the little guy sitting inside. He chuckled and said, “Let’s go.”