Chapter 30: A Collective Day Off to Pick Someone Up!

“Shu Er greets Uncle Liu.”
“Yan Ran greets Uncle Liu.”
“Si Shu greets Uncle Liu.”

Liu Shi Lang was talking to his beloved daughter when he was suddenly interrupted by three voices. He turned to look at the three people behind him.

He recognized Mu Si Shu and Song Yan Ran, but the other one must be the youngest daughter of the Mu Rong family, Mu Rong Shu, who had just returned to the capital, whom his wife and daughter talked about every day.

“So, this must be Shu Er. It’s good that you’re back. When you have time, come to our house to play with your sister Ru Yan.” Liu Shi Lang thought the young lady was elegant and lovely, looking more like Madam Mu Rong.

“Thank you, Uncle Liu!”

“Good girl.”

Then Wen Zhi, Wen Jing, and General Mu came over to greet him. Liu Shi Lang was a bit confused. He had taken a half-day off to pick up his precious daughter, but why were Wen Da Fu Ren and General Mu also here?

“Wen Da Fu Ren, General Mu is taking a break today too!” Liu Shi Lang couldn’t believe the coincidence.

“My wife wasn’t feeling well yesterday and stayed overnight at Hui Mountain Temple, so I took half a day off to pick her and my son up,” Wen Zhi explained, as he had come specifically to bring his wife and son back.

“I also took time off to pick up Shu Er,” General Mu added casually, since he had a good relationship with Liu Shi Lang due to their wives being close friends.

“Same here, same here. Ru Yan didn’t come back yesterday, and I was worried, so I also took a break today to pick her up.” Liu Shi Lang felt that since everyone was here for the same reason, there was no need to hide anything.

“Daddy, aren’t you all afraid of being punished by the emperor for skipping work?” Mu Rong Shu asked curiously. It wasn’t just her, Song Yan Ran and Liu Ru Yan were also wondering. Would the emperor actually approve of these big figures taking time off?

Seeing their curious looks, Liu Shi Lang felt a bit guilty. He scratched his nose and laughed, “It’s fine, we all have permission.” His slightly nervous expression made it clear that he might not be telling the whole truth.

“The emperor uncle won’t punish my daddy. Otherwise, my little auntie would cry!” Wen Yu’s words made everyone laugh.

Song Yan Ran teased the little boy, “How do you know the emperor won’t punish him? What if the emperor secretly punishes your daddy?”

“That’s impossible! I know the emperor uncle is a gentleman, and gentlemen don’t break their promises!” Wen Yu immediately defended his emperor uncle when his words were questioned.

“In order to protect your emperor uncle, you dare to say that your little auntie will cry. Let’s see if your little auntie will scold you when she finds out,” Wen Da Fu Ren teased, pointing at her son’s forehead.

“No, no, my little auntie loves me the most!” Wen Yu said confidently. In his heart, his little auntie was the most loving and doting on him.

“Daddy, tell emperor uncle not to blame General Mu and Uncle Liu. Otherwise, the pretty sisters will be upset.” Wen Yu tugged at his father Wen Zhi’s sleeve. He really liked these sisters and didn’t want their fathers to be punished, which would make them sad.

“Alright, when we get to the palace, I’ll tell emperor uncle. You and your mother, along with your third uncle, can go back home first, and I’ll go to work, okay?” Wen Zhi agreed to his son’s request and squatted down to discuss matters with him. He genuinely adored Wen Yu.

“Don’t worry, Daddy, I’m all grown up now! I’ll take care of Mommy and third uncle. You can go to work, but can you buy me some candied hawthorn when you’re done?” Wen Yu asked with a hopeful smile.

“Of course! Our Yu Er is so well-behaved!” Wen Zhi agreed readily, and Wen Yu’s happiness grew even more.

After descending the mountain, they quickly entered the city in a carriage. At the city gate, they parted ways: General Mu, Wen Zhi, and Liu Shi Lang all went to work.

Mu Rong Shu invited Liu Ru Yan and Song Yan ran to the military estate. The two who had missed the gossip earlier were quick to accept. They could return home later, but they couldn’t miss out on their best friend’s news.

When they parted, Wen Yu was reluctant to leave, but his mother said that his grandmother and second aunt were waiting for him at home, so he reluctantly got into the carriage with his mother.

Even after boarding the carriage, Wen Yu remained upset. Seeing this, Wen Da Fu Ren pulled him into her arms and comforted him, “Don’t be sad. When we get home, I’ll write some invitations. If your sisters are free, I’ll take you to the general’s house to visit them tomorrow, okay?”

“Really? Mommy can’t lie to Yu Er!” The little boy, who had been sulking, immediately became cheerful upon hearing that he could visit the General’s house to see the beautiful sisters.

“You, when has Mommy ever lied to you? But we need to write an invitation first. We can only go when the sisters are free, okay?” Wen Da Fu Ren wasn’t sure if Madam Rong and Mu Rong Shu would be free tomorrow, and she didn’t want her son to be overly excited for nothing, so she made sure to explain this in advance.

“Yu Er knows! Mommy, when we get home, let’s write the invitation to the sisters, okay? We’ll also bring Third Uncle to thank the sisters for saving you.”

“Then you can ask Third Uncle if he’s free when we get back.”

Wen Da Fu Ren knew that her brother, Third Uncle, would definitely have time, but she still had her son handle the matter himself. It was also a way of teaching him how to manage things.

“Third Uncle loves Yu Er so much, he’ll definitely be willing to go with me!” The little boy said confidently.

Madam Wen smiled at her son’s enthusiasm. She knew that her brother had a close bond with Yu Er, but this time, going to the Mu Rong family wasn’t just for Yu Er, her brother likely wanted to go for his own reasons.

She had noticed today that her brother had been stealing glances at Miss Mu Rong while sitting in the palanquin. Was he finally realizing something? As his sister-in-law, she genuinely felt happy for him.

When they returned to the Wen residence, the old madam and the second madam had already sent someone to wait at the front gate. The old madam adored her eldest grandson deeply.

Lunch was served in the old madam’s courtyard. With Wen Yu there entertaining her, the old madam even ate an extra half bowl of food.

After lunch, the little boy eagerly urged his mother to write the invitation for the beautiful sisters. Wen Da Fu Ren spoke to her mother-in-law about wanting to visit the Mu Rong household.

The old madam fully supported the idea. Miss Mu Rong was the woman her third son had been seeking, and someone the Wen family had been looking for as well. It was essential to build a closer relationship with her.

“Miss Mu Rong saved you yesterday, and Master Rong also helped find Yu Er. It’s only right to go and express our thanks. Prepare some valuable gifts. Tomorrow, take Yu Er and the second wife with you. If there’s anything you’re short of, go to the storage room and take it.”

“Understood, Mother!”

“Big Sister-in-law, the medicine Miss Rong prescribed for me is finished. Starting tomorrow, I’ll go to the Rong house with you. I need to prepare some things for Miss Mu Rong too.”

The second madam had been receiving treatment from Mu Rong Shu and hadn’t had a chance to express her gratitude. Tomorrow, she finally had an opportunity, and she was determined to prepare some thoughtful gifts.

After the two sisters-in-law finished speaking with the old madam, they went to prepare their things. The first madam quickly wrote the invitation and sent someone to deliver it to the General’s residence.