Chapter 179

Xu Ran shifted his gaze to the two children who were absorbed in eating. Xu Ran asked, “Tangtang Guoguo, are the two of you willing to do that? You might feel a little pain then. Can you endure that?”

Apparently, Tangtang and  Guoguo hadn’t heard their conversation just now. When Xu Ran asked them the question, they looked blank and had no idea what Xu Ran was talking about. So Xu Ran explained it to them again, and then the two children knew about the situation.

Tangtang said, “Dad, don’t worry! Uncle Gao Quan told us about it before. We can endure it. We just need to do it for a month.”

Tangtang said in an extremely flat tone, as if he would have the same dish every day this month.

Xu Ran still couldn’t believe that what he had just heard was from Tangtang. After all, he was still a child under the age of seven.

Seeing that Xu Ran didn’t believe him, Tangtang tugged at Guoguo, who was still stretching out his chopsticks, “Guoguo, tell Dad. Can we endure it?”

There was still food in Guoguo’s mouth. He said something indistinctly, which was almost the same with what Tangtang had said anyway.

Xu Ran heard them and believed them, saying, “The two of you agree to this yourselves. By then, you have to hold on to the last no matter what, alright? If you want to go back on your word, then tell me as early as possible before I buy those herbs.”

Tangtang and Guoguo nodded hard, “Got it, Dad. We can definitely do it.” After that, smiles showed on their faces. They looked really cute.

Xu Ran believed in them. He knew it from the fact that the two children got up very early in the morning themselves to practice martial arts with Gao Quan.

The children were fine with it, but the eyes of the three Ge’ers were fixing worriedly on the two children. Xu Ran also knew that if he didn’t communicate with them on this matter, he might not be able to sleep for a night or two.

Xu Ran told them everything he knew and gave a detailed explanation for the benefits of a medicated bath. Especially if the two children started it from childhood, it would be much easier for them to practice martial arts in the future when their bodily channels were clear and open.

He deliberately avoided what they would suffer from it. Firstly, he himself had no idea how the pain would be exactly. Secondly, he was afraid that these Ge’ers would not agree after he said it.

After all, the children were still too young.

After Xu Ran explained the background information to them, the three men accepted it. After all, Xu Ran was the father of the two children, and would definitely not hurt his children.

After dinner, Xu Ran discussed it again carefully with Gao Quan. Gao Quan also told what he knew, and that the real expert on this was Lu Yuan. Since he was dead, he might have passed on all his knowledge to Lu Qi. Unfortunately, they couldn’t ask Lu Qi for help.

It was a pity that he couldn’t go for Lu Qi, but Xu Ran also knew that it was an impossibility. If he went to Lu Qi, it would prove that he had recognized Liu Tong’s identity. Then the situation would be too hard to handle.

Xu Ran said to Gao Quan, “Then let’s do it your way, as long as it won’t hurt the two children.”

Gao Quan nodded. “Of course not. When I didn’t know that they were the children of Second Young Master’s before, I never thought of hurting them, not to mention that now I know his real identity.”

Xu Ran knew that people in ancient times, as long as they were loyal to someone, they would do anything for him even at the cost of their lives, and took it as flatly as they were having meals. Gao Quan was loyal to the deceased King Yan, so he wouldn’t hurt Liu Tong, and naturally wouldn’t hurt his child.

Gao Quan wrote down all the names of the herbs and gave it to Xu Ran. Xu Ran said, “I’m going to town in the next few days, and will buy them together by then. You could have all the preparations done!”

Gao Quan nodded, “I see, and I will.”

After that, the two of them went back to their own rooms.

While lying in bed, Liu Tong was still a little worried. He asked Xu Ran about it again. After Xu Ran explained it to him, Xu Ran remembered that he forgot to mention another thing during dinner tonight because of the medicated bath.

Xu Ran patted his head and was about to get out of bed. The moment his toes touched the floor, he drew back his feet and said to himself, “It’s already too late, and it’s improper. I’ll tell him about it tomorrow!”

Liu Tong heard what Xu Ran said and turned to ask him, “Ran, what’s wrong with you? You were talking to yourself.”

Xu Ran looked at Liu Tong and explained to him, “Tongtong, so this is what happened. When I was in town today, I went to the Zhuo’s Mansion and met the shopkeeper and Housekeeper Zhuo. They’re both well. I just wanted to tell Shuwen about it, and ask him not to worry about home.”

Liu Tong said, “Since that’s the case, tell him about it tomorrow morning. Shuwen must be asleep now. Besides, he’s a Ge’er, and it’s improper of you to go for him now.”

Xu Ran nodded, “I know that. I’ll go for him tomorrow. It’s late. Let’s sleep!”

As soon as he lay down, Xu Ran felt that something was not quite right. Baozi was already two months old! However, even if he and Liu Tong slept on the same bed every day, it had already been long since the last time they had done it.

Previously, because of Liu Tong’s physical condition, he hadn’t thought of it. Later on, he had been busy, so he had had no time thinking about it. Then now, finally he was not that busy, so could he think about it?

Once he had this idea, his actions were out of his control. Xu Ran started to touch Liu Tong.

After a while, Liu Tong understood what Xu Ran wanted to do. It had been a few months and he thought about it himself too. Liu Tong didn’t stop Xu Ran and let him do anything to him.

Little Baozi was fast asleep, so he had no idea that the two adults were doing it at all.

After all, they hadn’t done it for a long time, so the two did it excitedly. When they got up the next morning, Liu Tong held his waist and felt a little unwell.

Seeing that Liu Tong was like this, Xu Ran also knew that he had gone too far last night. He pressed Liu Tong against the bed, “All right, get some more sleep. No one will laugh at you.”

Liu Tong hadn’t thought about it yet before Xu Ran mentioned it. Now that Xu Ran mentioned it, he blushed immediately.

“I’d better get up! If I really fell asleep, they would probably all know what’s going on.” Liu Tong said.

Seeing Baozi also turning over next to Liu Tong, Xu Ran said, “Then get up. Get some sleep atl noon, but don’t do chores.”

Liu Tong did feel unwell, so he wouldn’t force himself either, “Got it. I won’t do chores.”

Xu Ran was afraid that Liu Tong would feel shy, so he took Baozi away first. When he went downstairs, Tangtang and Guoguo had already been sitting on their seats, waiting for breakfast.

Xu Ran sat down with Baozi in his arms, “You might eat now! You have to go to school later. Don’t be late.”

Hearing Xu Ran, Tangtang and Guoguo started to have breakfast. It was made from last night’s leftovers. Shao Yu cooked fried rice with eggs for them. The two children were gulping. Xu Ran found it appetitive.

Shao Yu and Gao Quan had the chores done, came over and sat down. Xu Ran told them, “You guys eat first. It will take a while before Tongtong comes down. Shuwen might also be dressing Qingshu.”

Gao Quan and Shao Yu didn’t stand on ceremony. After all, they had to do farm work after breakfast, so they started eating first.

Xu Ran held Baozi in his arms, waiting for the other two people to come down.

Liu Tong came down with Qin Shuwen when Tangtang and Guoguo had done eating and was about to leave.

Seeing Qin Shuwen and Liu Tong coming down, they returned and greeted them before leaving.

Xu Ran called the two over to him and said, “Come over here and have breakfast. The fried rice with egg cooked by Shao Yu tastes great.”

Liu Tong didn’t move. “I haven’t washed my face yet. Hold Qingshu and Baozi. Shuwen and I are going to wash our faces first.” Liu Tong said and pulled Qin Shuwen away with him.

Xu Ran held the two children, watched the food in front of him and couldn’t use his hands to have breakfast. He was upset!

When Qin Shuwen and Liu Tong came over for breakfast, Xu Ran told Qin Shuwen that he had gone to the Zhuo’s Mansion and mentioned that Housekeeper Zhuo and the shopkeeper might come over here after some time.

Qin Shuwen didn’t say anything and was a little unhappy. It seemed that he was missing Zhuo Yun.

Xu Ran scratched his head and felt that he shouldn’t have said this.

Liu Tong comforted him, “Shuwen, don’t think too much. Zhuo Yun must be on his way right now. He probably hasn’t arrived yet and definitely can’t write to you. It might arrive here in a few days.”

Qin Shuwen nodded. “I’m fine. I know that.”

But he still couldn’t help but miss him.

Liu Tong found out that what he said was useless, so he did not speak again. This kind of thing had to be dealt with by the experiencer himself.

After breakfast, Xu Ran also went to the strawberry field with Gao Quan and the others. He finished his work as soon as possible, and sowed the corn seeds. Then he started to hoe the field on the mountain. After that, he had to find the fruit trees. He thought about it and found that his schedule was full till April, among which there were still some other trifles he needed to do.

In March, Baozi would be 100 days old. And there were some other things to do. In this case, he would have no free time.

They had been doing the farm work in the strawberry field till the middle of February, which was now, and it was almost done. No one would burn ashes this year. Fortunately, they had raised pigs at home last year, so it would be enough to have pig dung.

When the strawberry field was done, he was about to start to sow the corn seeds. This year, with the help of Shao Yu and Gao Quan, it took much less time than last year. They had it done in four days.

When the work was done, Xu Ran could finally have a rest and take a few days off. Xu Ran went to town to buy herbs and work on the deli.

Qin Shuwu had also been busy recently, because he had bought the shop next door. The owner of this shop had long wanted to transfer it. It happened to be close to Qin Shuwu’s shop, and he also planned to open a deli with Xu Ran, so it was the perfect time for him to take it over.

The shop cost several hundred taels of silver. The location was great and the area was not small, either. Its interior had to be renovated, which would cost a fortune in total.

It was all thanks to the recipe written by Xu Ran that Qin Shuwu was so eager to do everything.

His husband cooked the dishes according to the recipe. The whole family tasted them and everyone felt that they were delicious, so Qin Shuwu brought up the idea of the deli on the spot.

The old couple of the Qin family didn’t care about business. Their children were old enough, and they could make their own decisions outside home. Besides, they also had their own children so the old couple just needed to take care of their grandchildren at home and enjoy life.

The other brothers of Qin Shuwu agreed with this, too. The husbands of the family would go to work in turns. Not only would they get a job, but they also had the time to do chores at home. It was great. As for the partnership with Xu Ran, in their opinion, Xu Ran could be considered a family member. Besides, the idea was put forward by Xu Ran, so they had no objections.

When Xu Ran arrived, Qin Shuwu was directing the renovation, telling people how to do the work.

Moreover, it was not his own shop. Xu Ran guessed that Qin Shuwu should have bought the shop. He went forward and greeted him, “Brother Qin.”

Qin Shuwu turned his head, saw Xu Ran, and walked over happily, “Xu Ran! I bought this shop, and the renovation is almost done. Come and see, is there anywhere else that needs more work? I’ll have them handle it.”