Chapter 18: The First Birthday Grab (Part 2)

After Xiao Yao waved her hand, she patted the table. It was only then that everyone noticed a winding path had been cleared between the two children. Understanding his sister’s intention, Xiao Jun quickly responded by dashing over as fast as he could.

“Be careful, walk slowly,” Qin Shi reminded her grandchildren attentively, frequently cautioning them.

Xiao Jun reunited with his sister, and the two sat side by side, smiling at each other like golden children, seemingly forgetting the important task yet to be completed. Although the siblings were twins, they didn’t look alike. Xiao Jun resembled their father, Xiao Jingkang, while Xiao Yao inherited the best features of both the Xiao and Tong families but didn’t closely resemble either side.

After a moment, Xiao Yao pointed to the items in front of her, signaling Xiao Jun to pick one. As a habitually considerate older brother, Xiao Jun insisted on letting his sister choose first. Xiao Yao was torn between praising her fifth brother’s generosity or criticizing his rigidity—boys and girls need different things; there’s no need to be so polite!

Not wasting time, Xiao Yao grabbed a ruler in one hand and a book in the other. She waved them toward the family. Books were indeed her passion; if not for considering her mother’s feelings, she would have chosen the book and writing tools without hesitation. Settling for the ruler wasn’t her favorite, but it allowed her to maintain her ladylike demeanor while conforming to expectations.

“The eldest daughter is sure to become a paragon of grace, beauty, and talent!”

“Such an intelligent and remarkable child!”

“How rare, how precious!”

…

Xiao Yao shyly lowered her head, sweating and blushing with embarrassment. Her blatant “cheating” was being excessively praised, leaving her deeply ashamed. Yet, comforting herself, she reasoned that this outcome pleased everyone and satisfied her as well. After all, the first-birthday grab was merely ceremonial. Who would seriously care about the outcome? Choosing something auspicious simply made for a pleasant tale, bringing joy to the family.

Seeing that his sister had made her selections, Xiao Jun grew serious about his own choice. Which one should he pick? After carefully considering for a moment, he moved toward a small wooden sword, picked it up, and inspected it thoroughly before nodding in satisfaction. Unwilling to be outdone by his sister’s two selections, he earnestly chose another item—a silver ingot. Gleefully tucking the ingot into his chest, his beaming smile betrayed the delight of finding a treasure.

Xiao Yao covered her face in exasperation. “Fifth Brother, have you never seen money before? Is our family starving you?”

Xiao Jingkang burst into hearty laughter at his son’s antics. “Anyone who dares to call my son dull will have to answer to me! Grasping both wealth and achievement—what courage and wisdom!” He then continued to praise his daughter. “A talented and virtuous daughter, a courageous and resourceful son—it’s all too perfect!”

Xiao Jun glanced at his father and noticed how happy he seemed. Encouraged by the surrounding smiles, he mimicked his father’s hearty laughter, tilting his head back and letting out a resounding “Ha! Ha! Ha!” Xiao Yao, worried her brother might stumble without watching his feet, reluctantly got up and moved closer.

The two children had wandered away from the center of the table. As they got closer, the table wobbled.

“Ah!”

“Quick, the children!”

Several figures simultaneously lunged toward the children. Fortunately, the table only shook slightly without toppling.

The near scare left everyone on edge. A seemingly simple first-birthday grab had turned into a nerve-wracking ordeal—only in the Xiao family.

“This young master is sure to become a general—truly a child of a military family!”

“A pair of dragon and phoenix twins—what a sight to behold!”

…

With the ceremony finally over, Tong Mingyu hurriedly ordered the children to be carried away from the table. Any more surprises would be unbearable.

The siblings were fed longevity noodles, after which the male guests moved to the front hall, while the female guests stayed in the backyard. On the stage, performers sang and acted, their voices echoing melodiously. In the hall, guests exchanged toasts amid cheerful laughter.

Madam Fang, seated in a prominent position, found herself overwhelmed by the presence of so many official wives. Terrified, she completely forgot her husband’s instructions to network as much as possible. Fang Yufu, however, was not as fortunate. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he was seated far from the court officials and placed among Xiao Jingkang’s subordinates—rough and boisterous men who relentlessly encouraged him to drink. By the end of the meal, he was left drunk and empty-handed.

Back in the backyard, Xiao Jun and Xiao Yao were greeted enthusiastically by Xiao Qi, who had been listless earlier. Seeing his older siblings, he perked up, clapping his little chubby hands energetically.

“You ungrateful little one!” Yuan Yutong teased, laughing. “Your third aunt watched you for ages, and you barely reacted. Now look at you—so excited to see your brother and sister!”

Xiao Qi ignored his aunt’s playful complaints, showering all his affection on Xiao Jun, with Xiao Yao receiving some attention as a bonus. The children played together on the warm brick bed while Yuan Yutong instructed the maids to watch over them carefully. She also kept a close eye on them herself—previous lessons had left a deep impression, and Xiao Yao’s medicine hadn’t yet been discontinued.

About half an hour later, the curtain lifted to reveal Li Jiaoying, her radiant face brimming with mockery. Before anyone could question her, she dismissed the servants and began speaking.

“The two Miss Fang sisters lost their way and mistook the front hall for the backyard. When the gatekeeper refused them entry, they berated him viciously. Their arrogance was unmatched—even our eldest sister-in-law has never been so imposing.”

“And then?” Someone asked, scornful of such behavior. “With conduct like that, they dream of marrying into the Xiao family? Foolishness!”

“Eldest Sister-in-law persuaded them to return to the backyard, but they wept pitifully—as if we’d gravely wronged them,” Li Jiaoying said, rolling her eyes. “I’ve never seen young ladies so oblivious. They embarrassed themselves in someone else’s house and didn’t even realize it.”

“Fight them! Fight them!” Xiao Yao, enraged, stomped her unsteady little feet and prepared to charge out. Xiao Jun, after some thought, followed, patting his chest and storming ahead with a furious expression.

“You two, stop right there!” Li Jiaoying hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from the children, surprised by their quick and spirited response.

“Second Sister-in-law, stay with the children. If anyone dares cause trouble in our house, I’ll teach them a lesson,” Li Jiaoying declared. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a good fight, so don’t blame me if my hand slips.”

“No need,” another person interjected. “Their family has already left. Fang Laoye is sensible enough to apologize repeatedly, but alas!” Dealing with foolish relatives is always exasperating.

With the troublesome guests gone, the Xiao household finally quieted down. In the study, the Xiao brothers sat opposite each other, discussing matters.

“We must resolve the Fang family issue quickly. Have you found anything?” Xiao Jingkang asked.

“Fang Yufu has been frequently associating with a steward from the Han family. He’s also brought an unspecified number of songstresses, three of whom have already been sent to the Han family,” Xiao Jingtai reported.

“So, he’s set on aligning with the Han family,” Xiao Jingkang said, his eyes glinting coldly. “Fang Yufu is ambitious, but the price he’ll pay will be steep. The Fang family’s intentions are clear—status and wealth. But what about the Han family? If it’s just about money, Fang Yufu must be prepared to bleed heavily. If there’s more to the deal, what could it be?”

“What should we do?”

“Gather evidence of his dealings with the Han family and find an opportunity to annul the engagement before their collusion deepens.”

“That won’t be easy. If the Han family becomes aware, could it cause unnecessary trouble?”

“Then ensure we act before they notice. Confront the Fang family directly.”

“I’ll find time to meet with Fang Yufu,” Xiao Jingkang decided. “Merchants prioritize profit. As long as his demands aren’t excessive, we’ll consider it a cost for peace. But if they refuse, we’ll act decisively and send them back to Xuzhou before they can establish themselves. This is a last resort—I’d rather not be too harsh unless absolutely necessary.”

“Understood. Leave the surveillance to me—I won’t let you down.”

“Be cautious. Avoid alerting the Han family, and keep all interactions with them to a minimum.”

“I understand.”

After discussing the finer details, the two brothers dispersed.