Jiang Danhe the Mangy Dog

“This water is warm. Use this instead.”

Xiaoguo tested the temperature and found that it was just right. She took it and thanked Jiang Danhe.

“Zhuang Zhuang, come and wash your face.”

Xiaoguo set the towel aside so that Zhuang Zhuang could wipe his face.

Jiang Danhe’s hand paused when he heard Xiaoguo thanking him. Considering that Xiaoguo was still quite estranged from him, he swallowed his words. Then, he smiled mysteriously and said nothing.

But he muttered the words in his heart, “Between us, there’s no need for such formalities.”

He had spent the previous night thinking about how to improve the relationship between him, Xiaoguo and his son.

Based on his aggressive approach towards Xiaoguo during the day, it was obvious that she felt uncomfortable. Therefore, he had to take it slow and not be radical. He had to take things one step at a time.

As for his son, he would be using direct contact to create a sense of familiarity.

Based on what he had observed during the day, Zhuang Zhuang was actually keen to get close to him. It was just that they were still not very well-acquainted. Therefore he had decided to make bold contact to eliminate any sense of unfamiliarity.

If he was as hesitant as his son was, it would take a long time for them to become closer. However, there was not much time left for him. They would be returning in a few days, and he could not leave the capital yet. Therefore, he had to get closer to the two of them as soon as possible.

Looking at Zhuang Zhuang putting on his clothes and washing his face, Jiang Danhe was very happy. His son was so smart and independent. He must have been well-taught by his wife. What a blessed man he was.

Zhuang Zhuang was wiping his face and secretly sizing up Jiang Danhe, who was wearing a look of gratification on his face.

The three of them went to the main hall together. Li Shouji had just arrived. He was usually the first to arrive, but he was slightly late today.

As soon as Li Shouji arrived, he sat down listlessly in a chair with two huge dark circles under his eyes.

“Did you not sleep well last night, Uncle?”

Zhuang Zhuang was very familiar with Li Shouji, so when he saw him like this, he asked curiously.

Zhuang Zhuang’s words attracted the attention of the other two in the room.

Xiaoguo was amused by Li Shouji’s appearance. “He looks just like a panda. Haha.”

Xiaoguo and Zhuang Zhuang laughed out loud.

Only the two men couldn’t laugh.

When Li Shouji heard this, he looked sadly at Jiang Danhe, who had his head lowered as he added food in Xiaoguo’s bowl. “This man is the culprit!”

Li Shouji gritted his teeth. “I’m fine. Uncle was bothered by a mangy dog last night, so I didn’t sleep well.”

If Jiang Danhe had not been discussing with him about his wife and son the entire night, Li Shouji would have been able to sleep well. Moreover, why did a bachelor like him have to listen to him talk about how good his wife was and how outstanding his son was? “Please, your son and wife don’t really care about you!”

The mangy dog, however, didn’t seem to care. He continued helping Xiaoguo and Zhuang Zhuang with the food.

Seeing this, Li Shouji could only grit his teeth and imagine that he was chewing Danhe, who had become food in his mouth.

When Zhuang Zhuang heard this, he looked puzzled. He looked at Li Shouji and then at Jiang Danhe. Why did Uncle Shouji look at his father when he mentioned the mangy dog? He just couldn’t understand.

While Zhuang Zhuang was in a daze, Jiang Danhe had already piled up his bowl with food and meat.

Although he was shocked by what he saw, this amount of food was nothing to him.

Jiang Danhe was glad to see Zhuang Zhuang eating so happily. It seemed that his son still liked him as a father. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be eating so happily.

Thinking of this gave Jiang Danhe confidence. He turned around and added more food to Xiaoguo’s bowl.

Xiaoguo frowned. She really couldn’t eat anymore. She was trying her best not to waste food. Just as she was about to see the light, another pile of food suddenly appeared. This was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Xiaoguo couldn’t eat anymore, so she put down her bowl and chopsticks.

“Why aren’t you eating? You’re too thin.”

Jiang Danhe noticed her actions and expressed his worry for her.

Xiaoguo held back the rice in her throat and swallowed hard. “I can’t eat anymore,” she said softly.

She, who had a cat’s appetite, could only eat so much. She could not take another bite.

“My mother doesn’t eat much to begin with.”

When Zhuang Zhuang saw Jiang Danhe urging Xiaoguo to eat more, he quickly spoke out for her. He didn’t want his mother to feel uncomfortable.

Jiang Danhe blushed. His wife didn’t eat much in the first place. How could he force her?

Hence, he poured the food into his own bowl.

Xiaoguo’s vision blurred, and her half-filled bowl of food disappeared in an instant. Upon closer inspection, she realized that it had been transferred into the bowl beside her.

“Hey, this is my…”

Before Xiaoguo could finish speaking, Jiang Danhe had already started eating. He even said something meaningfully, and made Xiaoguo feel all bashful.

“I love eating this.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Xiaoguo.

Xiaoguo choked on his somewhat ambiguous words. What was he talking about? Could it be what she was thinking? The more she thought about it, the more her face flushed.

When Jiang Danhe saw this, he knew that he had achieved his goal, so he continued to eat the food in his bowl happily. It was really delicious. The food was delicious, and the person was also…

At the dining table, Zhuang Zhuang was eating seriously. Li Shouji was also chewing “Jiang Danhe” seriously.

Jiang Danhe kept looking at Xiaoguo with a cryptic expression. Xiaoguo’s face turned redder and redder.

When Zhuang Zhuang was finally done eating, Xiaoguo immediately led him back into the house.

“Mother, what’s wrong?”

Zhuang Zhuang was strolling around. He had eaten too much earlier.

“It’s nothing.” Xiaoguo got out of bed, her face was looking much more natural now. “Zhuang Zhuang, how about we go shopping later when you feel less bloated?”

“That’s wonderful!”

Zhuang Zhuang laughed when he heard that. He wanted to go out so badly. In order to quickly digest his food, he ran and jumped about.

Xiaoguo was terrified that he would fall. She shouldn’t have told him first.

“I’ll come with you.”

Jiang Danhe’s voice came from outside. As soon as he finished speaking, he appeared in the room.

“I’m more familiar with the capital, so I’m going with you.”

“Aren’t you busy?”

Xiaoguo thought for a long time before asking.

This was also what Zhuang Zhuang wanted to ask. He can forget about any bonding time with his mother.

“It’s fine. I’m not busy. You guys are the most important.”

Xiaoguo did not know if Jiang Danhe was playing dumb on purpose. She did not believe that he couldn’t tell what she was trying to say.

Jiang Danhe looked at the two of them who were not saying a word. The smile on his face widened.

In the end, the four of them left the house.

Wait a minute, why were there four people?

“Zhuang Zhuang, Zhuang Zhuang, get in the carriage!”

“Okay Xiaoyi, I’m coming!”

Xiaoguo was all smiles as she looked at the two little boys running in front of her. Beside her was Jiang Danhe, who was wearing a dark expression on his face.

This was supposed to be a family trip for the three of them, a heartwarming trip for bonding and interaction.

But who could tell him what was going on with Shao Yi?

Jiang Danhe looked at the little boy jumping around in front of him. This brat…

Li Shouji, who was working hard in the palace, sneezed.

He rubbed his nose and wondered who was talking about him.

What was going on?

This started after Li Shouji finished his breakfast.

He was changing in his room after his meal when Jiang Danhe pushed the door open and came in. Jiang Danhe told him directly that he was going shopping and asked him to run some errands in his place. He mentioned something about going somewhere to pick up some stamps. He also requested for him to go to the military department and ask for a list of names…

After a series of instructions, he ignored Li Shouji’s murderous gaze and walked out of the door calmly, before returning to his room to change into a set of bright-colored clothes.

He was thinking to himself that this was the first time he was going shopping with his family, so he had to dress up for the occasion.