Forgiveness For The Last Time

When it was almost noon, all the ingredients were nearly ready. Xiaoguo covered up the freshly made dough.

It was really difficult to cook for 28 people. Xiaoguo rubbed her waist. Just preparing the dough alone was hard enough. The portion for 28 people was a basin full of dough. Xiaoguo had to use all her strength to knead it.

“Good work everyone!”

Xiaoguo smiled at the two equally exhausted chefs.

After their interaction just now, the two chefs were much more relaxed. They were no longer nervous and afraid of Xiaoguo. They could even joke around with her.

“Not at all!”

The two chefs spoke in unison and smiled widely. They had not expected the general’s wife to be so easy-going. However, the general had never put on airs and was very tolerant towards the servants in the house. It seemed that the couple was a perfect match. They were both tolerant, sincere, and kind. What have they done to deserve the two wonderful masters?

Xiaoguo smiled happily. As it was time for lunch and the chefs had to start preparing the meals, Xiaoguo did not disturb them. She glanced at the soup in the large pot and left the kitchen after making sure that everything was in order.

After returning to the house, Xiaoguo rubbed her waist. She wasn’t that exhausted, but she had sprained her back while kneading the dough.

Xiaoguo looked around and didn’t see the two children. She wasn’t worried as she knew that the residence was safe, and that nothing would happen to them. They were probably just wandering around.

Xiaoguo walked to the bed and lay on it, massaging her lower back with her eyes closed.

In the room, Jiang Danhe’s figure slowly approached. Perhaps his movements were too light, or perhaps Xiaoguo was too sleepy to hear him. It was only when a pair of warm burning hands touched her waist that Xiaoguo suddenly woke up.

“Don’t move.”

As soon as she heard the voice, Xiaoguo immediately knew who it was. Her entire body went limp and she lay back down on the bed.

Jiang Danhe massaged her back carefully. His tightly furrowed brows made it seem like he was handling some precious and rare treasure instead of Xiaoguo’s waist.

Slowly, Xiaoguo’s breathing became lighter and softer. Jiang Danhe also softened his movements.

“Mother! Mother!”

Zhuang Zhuang’s voice suddenly came from outside. Jiang Danhe’s heart skipped a beat. In the instant that Zhuang Zhuang appeared, the man reached out, picked up the boy and exited the room in a flash.

Xiaoguo heard some slight movements, but it was soft and negligible, so she didn’t wake up and drifted off to sleep.

Zhuang Zhuang was carried out of the house by Jiang Danhe. He looked confused. What had just happened?

His big eyes flickered as he looked at Jiang Danhe, as if asking the man why he was here. However, Jiang Danhe did not respond.

Jiang Danhe quietly listened for any sounds coming from the room. After making sure that Xiaoguo had not woken up, he took the time to look at Zhuang Zhuang, who was held under his arm.

Jiang Danhe walked further away before explaining to Zhuang Zhuang, “Your mother fell asleep just now. Let’s not wake her up.”

Zhuang Zhuang finally understood why, but he continued to stare at him with wide, unblinking eyes.

Jiang Danhe frowned. It was odd that the boy didn’t hear what he said. Zhuang Zhuang pouted in Jiang Danhe’s arms and tried to point out something to him.

“What’s wrong?”

Jiang Danhe still did not know what he meant.

Seeing this, Zhuang Zhuang could only try to exaggerate his movements and used his lips to nudge at Jiang Danhe’s palm.

Jiang Danhe only understood what he meant after a while and his face was filled with embarrassment. He slowly placed Zhuang Zhuang on the ground and reached out to smooth the wrinkles on his clothes.

Zhuang Zhuang looked helpless. Was he going to suffocate him just now?

“By the way, why are you looking for your mother?”

Jiang Danhe couldn’t withstand Zhuang Zhuang’s accusing gaze anymore, so when he saw the paper in his hand, he quickly changed the topic.

As expected, Zhuang Zhuang forgot about the little episode earlier and immediately told him the good news. “This is the poem I just copied. It’s all written in clerical script!”

He could not hide the pride in his voice. He looked at Jiang Danhe with his flickering eyes, beneath the look was a bunch of hidden emotions.

“Hmph, I am not fishing for his praise. No! I’m not!” Zhuang Zhuang was feeling contradictory and proud at the same time.

Although Jiang Danhe couldn’t tell what he was thinking, he took the paper from him and looked at it seriously. He nodded as he read. “Not bad at all.”

When Zhuang Zhuang heard this, his tense nerves instantly relaxed. What followed was joy and a trace of satisfaction.

“The words are well-written with firm strokes, and the characters are balanced and neat. Not bad, not bad…”

Jiang Danhe looked at the boy’s writing with joy. The more he looked through his writing, the more pleased and proud he became. This was his son!

“Son, give this to me. I’ll find a scroll and mount this up.”

Zhuang Zhuang was a little hesitant at this moment. He was thinking about giving it to his mother…

However, Zhuang Zhuang looked up at Jiang Danhe, who appeared happier than him. He has made up his mind. “I’ll give it to you.”

In the end, Zhuang Zhuang said proudly and gifted it to Jiang Danhe. He would write two copies for his mother later.

Jiang Danhe happily picked up Zhuang Zhuang. Ignoring his struggles, he imitated Xiaoguo’s actions and kissed his little face. Although he was feeling a little shy and uncomfortable, thinking that it was awkward to do this between father and son, the touch of the kiss on his son’s face and the joy in his heart made Jiang Danhe unable to stop. Once again, he had experienced the bond between father and son.

Zhuang Zhuang covered his face in disbelief. It was a completely different feeling from his mother’s kisses…

This was the first time Zhuang Zhuang and Jiang Danhe were facing each other directly. They looked at each other’s faces—it was like looking into a mirror. An indescribable feeling surged in their hearts.

This feeling made Zhuang Zhuang want to reach out and hug the man, and so he did.

Jiang Danhe felt Zhuang Zhuang’s hug and his eyes started to tear up. He hugged Zhuang Zhuang back. “I’m sorry that you and your mother had to wait such a long time for me.”

When Zhuang Zhuang heard this, he buried his head in his father’s neck and wiped his tears vigorously. Then he looked up at Jiang Danhe seriously. “I forgive you this time, and this will also be the last time.”

“For the last time!”

Jiang Danhe’s words were like a promise, an oath.

Zhuang Zhuang’s conflicted emotions from day one were instantly swept away. There was no barrier between them anymore. The father and son became much closer.

“Father will find the scroll and mount this up now.”

Jiang Danhe carried Zhuang Zhuang in one hand and held the rice paper in the other. He carefully unrolled it, afraid that it would get wrinkled or crushed.

Zhuang Zhuang nestled in Xiaoguo’s strong and stable arms. He could feel that his chest was clearly different from Xiaoguo, but he felt extremely safe and happy. So this was his father’s chest…

Seeing how carefully Jiang Danhe was handling his writing, Zhuang Zhuang felt a little embarrassed and his cheeks turned red. “I’ll write you another one later.”

Zhuang Zhuang’s voice was very soft, but Jiang Danhe could hear him. He kissed the boy’s face happily.

Even so, Jiang Danhe still mounted that piece of writing and hung it in his study room. He had to look at it every day. He also decided that if Zhuang Zhuang were to give him a few more, he would keep one with him at all times, one for his sleeping place and one in the dining hall. This way, he could see his writing every day and night.

Although Zhuang Zhuang thought that it was a little exaggerated, he couldn’t help but feel exhilarated.