| TBBOTOF | 222
Tang Xu hadn't expected it, really.
Tang Yang and Wei Xi recited to Old Sun quite fluently.
Their foundation was quite solid, and Old Sun nodded continuously as he listened.
He asked them a few more questions in succession, and even had them take out their own notes.
The two children glanced at Old Wen, saw him smiling and nodding, and quickly went to the study to fetch the paper they usually used for practicing calligraphy.
It was a thick stack, neatly written but lacking character.
But considering that in the countryside it’s rare to find a teacher who can teach calligraphy, the fact that they could practice with good paper every day already showed how much importance their family placed on their education.
After reviewing their handwriting, he simply said it was acceptable, that they just needed to practice more.
The two kids stood nervously by the side, not daring to make a sound.
They were even more nervous than when they listened to the teacher's lectures in the classroom.
When Tang Xu came over with a tray and saw how anxious they looked, he smiled and asked, "Why are you just standing there? What are you doing?"
"Sir Sun is teaching us a lesson," Tang Yang turned his head to look at his brother and explained.
Tang Xu's mouth twitched subtly, thinking to himself that there was no need to be so tense. It was almost mealtime, and listening to a lecture right now might just lead to indigestion.
"Old Sun has traveled a long way and hasn't had a rest yet. If you want to listen to the lesson, let's leave that for later. You two, go to the kitchen and bring over the bowls and chopsticks,"
Tang Xu gave them a look, then turned to the two elderly gentlemen sitting in the chairs, and said, "Old Sun do you prefer your noodles softer or a bit chewy? I'll keep that in mind when I'm cooking."
Old Fu spoke up, "Master usually prefers his food a bit softer."
Old Sun nodded, stroking his beard, "I’ll have the same as Old Wen, that’s fine. I don't have a strong preference when it comes to food."
Tang Xu nodded, "Alright," then turned to ask Old Wen, "Would you like your noodles with soup or a dry mix?"
Old Wen smacked his lips, clearly tempted by both options.
Seeing his slightly conflicted expression, Tang Xu realized this was a classic case of decision fatigue and said with a smile, "I'll make a small bowl of both for you, so you can mix whichever one you like."
"Good, good, good! First, get me a bowl of noodle soup," he said after eating a small piece of dried sweet potato, feeling a bit parched and not in the mood for ginger tea.
Tang Xu agreed, "Alright, you three go wash your hands Dad. It's almost time to eat."
The chubby kid held his two younger brothers by the hand, and the three little ones followed Tang Xu to wash their hands.
Inside the house, only the three elders remained. Old Fu stood to the side, pouring water for Old Sun, while Old Wen propped his chin on his hand, watching his movements.
Suddenly, he said, "Old Sun, you’re not that old yet, so how come you’ve already become such a useless person who can't even lift a finger?"
Old Sun was holding a rough ceramic bowl, just about to drink his water, when he paused at these words. He looked at Old Wen in confusion, unsure if he’d heard correctly. "What did you say?"
"I said, you even need someone to serve you a glass of water," Old Wen replied.
Back when he was still around the palace, he always had a medicine boy to attend to him, but after leaving, he dismissed his attendants and started doing everything himself. He found it quite amusing to handle things personally.
Old Sun snorted, taking a sip from his cup as he understood the underlying meaning of Old Wen's words. "I’m not like you. Besides, Old Fu has been with me since he was young, so naturally, he goes wherever I go."
Old Fu nodded in agreement beside them.
Old Wen shook his head and didn’t say anything more.
After washing the hands of the three kids, Tang Xu led them back to the main hall and then set up two tables.
To make sure Old Sun didn’t feel uncomfortable, Tang Xu specifically asked if he’d mind joining them at the same table for the meal.
Old Sun nodded and said, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Just eat as you normally would."
Tang Xu nodded in acknowledgment.
Xu Ze walked in, carrying a bowl of freshly cooked sauce. Seeing the two unfamiliar elders made him a bit nervous—they had a presence that clearly set them apart, with an air of authority about them.
However, he didn't show any hesitation. He greeted the two with a smile, then placed the bowl of sauce on the table.
The spicy aroma of the meat spread through the air. Old Wen took a deep sniff, reached out to take the bowl of noodle soup that Xu Ze handed him, sipped a little, and asked, "Ze’er, is this spicy rabbit meat?"
"Yes, my brother said it’s for mixing with the noodles," Xu Ze replied as he turned around to bring in another bowl.
Tang Xu had prepared three different sauces: one with spicy diced rabbit, another with egg sauce and shredded cucumber, and the last one with minced eggplant and meat.
All three sauces were actually best suited for mixing with dry noodles, but older folks often preferred something more soupy. The minced eggplant and meat sauce worked well for those who enjoyed noodle soup.
"Great-grandpa!" The chubby kid came over with a small bowl, holding a dried-up garlic bulb. "Dad said we need to peel it."
Old Wen helped him break apart the garlic cloves and then began peeling off the skins.
The old man and the little one were both focused on their task. Xiao Bao, the youngest, came over to join in, but he was still small. His tiny fingers struggled to get a grip on the garlic, and after a few tries, his fingers started to hurt.
Pouting his lips, he blew on his fingers to soothe them, then placed the partially peeled garlic clove back into the bowl. Softly, he leaned toward Old Wen and said, "Grandpa~Hug me~"
Old Wen looked at his hands, which were covered in bits of garlic skin, and then glanced down at Xiao Bao. "Go ask the other grandpa to hold you," he said.
Xiao Bao turned his head toward Old Sun, blinking his big eyes.
Sun Zhengren felt his heart melt at the sight. Although he had married when he was younger, his wife's health had always been poor, and she hadn't been able to bear him any children.
Later on, he became preoccupied with teaching and lecturing at the palace. By the time he realized he was without children of his own, it was already too late.
So now, seeing Xiao Bao looking at him with that hint of hope, Old Sun quickly reached out his arms. "Come here, let grandpa hold you."
Xiao Bao pressed his lips together and slowly walked up to him, looking up with his little face, and softly asked, "Grandpa~Hug?"
He had been playing on his own for quite a while and was already tired.
If it had been someone he was familiar with, he would have nestled into their arms without hesitation.
Sun Zhengren quickly bent down and scooped him up. Although Xiao Bao looked small, once in his arms, he realized the child was quite soft and had a surprising bit of weight.
Old Fu, standing nearby, watched with a warm smile. This little boy was really a beautiful child, though considering his dad's handsome face, it was no surprise that the kid turned out so good-looking.
"If he were born in the palace, he'd probably be doted on like a little prince," Old Fu remarked with a sigh.
Sun Zhengren glanced at Old Fu, who gave him a slight nod in response and said nothing more.
Tang Xu and Wei Dong came in carrying bowls of noodles, followed by Wei Xi and Tang Yang, who were holding the remaining two types of sauces, along with Xu Ze, who carried the bowls and chopsticks.
As soon as they entered the room, Tang Xu noticed Xiao Bao sitting comfortably on Old Sun's lap. He was a bit surprised, though he didn't show it on his face.
After setting the large bowls on the table and arranging the chopsticks, Tang Xu said, "Let's eat. It's nothing fancy, so make yourselves at home."
Zhao Ming and Liu Ge'er didn't join them; they stayed in the kitchen, saying that since there were guests, they didn't want to embarrass the family by being around.
Tang Xu tried to persuade them a couple of times, but they wouldn’t change their minds.
Wei Dong didn’t seem to mind, he mentioned that since Zhao Ming and Liu Ge'er felt uncomfortable eating with the guests, it would be better for them to have their meal in the kitchen. They could clean up afterward and then head back to their rooms to rest.
Hearing that, Tang Xu didn’t push further and let them have their way, while he and the others brought the noodles to the main hall.
Each of the three sauces had its own unique flavor, and Old Wen made sure to taste a bit of each. He placed three small bowls in front of him, sampling a little from each one, and soon felt quite satisfied.
At first, Old Sun tried to maintain his composure and only had a small bowl of noodles with the minced eggplant and meat sauce. But as the spicy aroma wafted through the air, he couldn't resist taking another small bite of the noodles.
He had expected it to be extremely spicy, but instead, the taste was well-balanced—mildly spicy but mostly flavorful. The blend of meat and spices was perfect, and the rabbit meat wasn't tough at all; instead, it had been braised just enough to be tender, not to the point of falling apart but still easy to chew.
Old Sun glanced over at his friend, who was happily eating his bowl of noodles, and thought to himself that Tang Xu was indeed a thoughtful young man. He had gone to great lengths to ensure the old folks could enjoy a few extra bites of the meal.
"Old Sun, are you full?" Tang Xu noticed him putting down his bowl and asked.
Sun Zhengren nodded and smiled at him, "It was delicious. You've done a great job."
"It's just simple home-cooked food. I'm glad you enjoyed it," Tang Xu replied without being overly modest. "Would you like me to get you a bowl of the noodle soup? We usually like to finish the meal with a bowl of broth to help with digestion."
Old Sun nodded, "Yes, please get me a bowl."
Tang Xu acknowledged with a nod, got up, and went to scoop some noodle soup.
In the kitchen, everything was already tidied up, and the broth in the pot was still warm. He filled a small basin halfway with the noodle soup and brought it back to share with everyone.
Xiao Bao had eaten a small bowl and was now full.
He wiped his mouth, got down from his chair, and ran over to stand in front of his father, looking up at him with a curious expression.
Wei Dong's bowl was larger than everyone else's, and he finished each bowl of noodles in just a few big slurps before moving on to a second bowl.
Er Bao was eating in the same enthusiastic manner, though his bowl was a bit smaller, and he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying his meal.
"Er Bao, you've eaten enough!" The chubby kid, now full and having set down his bowl and chopsticks, couldn't help but speak up as he saw his little brother reaching for a fourth serving. "If you eat too much, your stomach will hurt!"
Er Bao held his small bowl of noodles, sat back in his chair, and tilted his head to look at his brother. He scooped up some minced eggplant and meat sauce with a little spoon, then mixed it into his noodles with chopsticks. "Big brother, my stomach doesn't hurt."
"You'll get a stomach ache if you keep eating like that," the chubby kid said, pointing first to Xiao Bao, who was being held by their father, and then to himself. "We both stopped eating."
"But I'm not full yet!" Er Bao pouted as he looked at his brother, continuing to shovel noodles into his mouth.
The chubby kid let out a sigh, propping his little face on his hands as he watched his brother. "You're already taller than me, and if you keep eating like this, you'll end up being the older brother!"
Er Bao, upon hearing those words, sped up his eating pace even more.
The chubby kid, feeling competitive, gave him a frustrated glare and went to scoop himself another half-bowl of noodles. If Er Bao was going to eat, then he would eat too!
Wei Dong, holding Xiao Bao on his lap with one arm, didn't let it slow down his own eating with the other hand.
When Tang Xu came back into the room and saw their positioning, he frowned slightly, "Why are you holding him like that?"
Wei Dong didn't reply but held Xiao Bao a little tighter.
Xiao Bao, sitting comfortably on his father's lap, happily swung his little legs back and forth, looking as relaxed as can be.
"Let your father eat. Come to me, and I'll take you to see the sheep," Tang Xu said as he handed out bowls of noodle soup to everyone and then reached out to Xiao Bao, suggesting, "Let your father eat in peace."
Xiao Bao shook his head, not wanting to move. It was too chilly outside, and he much preferred staying in his father's warm embrace.
Wei Dong chuckled softly and gave his leg a little bounce, making Xiao Bao giggle.
Tang Xu gave him a sideways look but then simply sat down without pushing the matter further.
“Old Wen, would you like some wine? I can warm up a pot for you,” Tang Xu suggested, noticing the old man lazily picking at the meat cubes and worried he might find it too bland.
Old Wen nodded and raised an eyebrow at Sun Zhengren, “Some wine? This kid brewed it himself; it’s quite potent.”
Sun Zhengren agreed, “Sure, let’s have some.”
What started as a request for a pot of wine turned into them sharing a small jar instead.
Tang Xu observed that the two elders were beginning to slur their words, so he quickly prepared some hangover soup. He handed each of them a bowl to drink before helping them back to their rooms to rest.
“Zhao Ming, you’ll sleep in the same room as Old Wen tonight and keep an eye on him,” Wei Dong called for Zhao Ming.
Old Fu took care of settling Sun Zhengren in for the night, and Tang Xu, worried that the old man might get cold, added an extra blanket for him.
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