Chapter 230

In early spring of the following year, Zhou gave birth to a daughter prematurely.

Although the baby girl was born before full term, she was perfectly healthy.

After raising her for a month, she became plump and lovely, adored by everyone who saw her.

Mu Yunchuan doted on this daughter who looked so much like him. He gave her a nickname, Xiaotuan.

A person who had always seemed somewhat aloof and distant, once he became a father, he appeared more lively and gentle.

The full moon celebration for Mu Xiaotuan was simple yet lively. During the banquet, Shen Cui asked if Xiaotuan’s name had been decided.

Zhou smiled and said, “Even if you didn’t mention it, I was going to bring this up.”

With that, she took out a neatly folded piece of paper from her sleeve.

The paper was filled with several names, with many of them circled.

Without a doubt, these were the names that Mu Yunchuan had chosen for their beloved daughter, and the circled ones were the ones he particularly liked but couldn’t decide on.

“My husband said it was up to me to decide, after all, it was my hard work carrying and giving birth to our daughter. But I only know a few characters. I thought I’d ask for your advice.”

Shen Cui couldn’t help but glance at Mu Yunchuan, who was talking to Er Pang. Zhou understood and said, “My husband agrees too.”

In the end, she just needed help choosing among the names he had envisioned. After all, he was the one who came up with the names.

This also confirmed that Mu Yunchuan had truly let go of the past grievances.

Shen Cui carefully looked at the names— all taken from the Book of Songs and the Songs of Chu, showing a considerable cultural depth.

As she pondered their origins, she noticed a very simple character at the end— the single character ‘莲’ (lotus), which seemed somewhat out of place compared to the other names.

Zhou instinctively covered that character with her hand, blushing, and said, “This character isn’t for Xiaotuan, it’s… it’s for me.”

Like many girls from farming families, Zhou didn’t have a formal name. When her parents were still alive, they just called her ‘Yatou’ or ‘Yaya.’

Not long ago, Mu Yunchuan suggested giving Zhou a name as well when he named their daughter.

A name too elegant wouldn’t suit Zhou, who wasn’t well-educated. Instead, the character ‘莲’ (lotus) was very suitable for her— struggling from adversity, breaking through the mud, yet remaining simple and unadorned.

Shen Cui couldn’t help but laugh again, then waved her hand and said, “Don’t be shy. I’m happy to see you and your husband getting along so well. Yunchuan has thought of some great names for Xiaotuan, and I can’t decide either. But he’s right, Xiaotuan came from your womb. Would she ever think the name you chose isn’t good enough? If you can’t decide now, just take your time!”

Zhou laughed along and said she would think about it later.

That summer, Wei Shu married Chu Zhongling.

Not long after, Mei Ruochu and Xu Shan’er got married.

Their marriages were bestowed by the Emperor, so the weddings were held much earlier than planned.

After marrying, Mei Ruochu moved out, but coincidentally, the small house bestowed by the Emperor was not far from Cuiwei Academy.

When he was off duty, he could come over occasionally.

In the second half of that year, Shen Cui and Zheng Shi also began to arrange the marriage of Mu Er Pang and Liu Muyue.

Shen Cui still felt a bit sorry for Liu Muyue.

They still couldn’t afford a house.

However, her book sales and soap business were doing well.

If she saved up a bit more, in another two years, they could afford a decent house.

By then, she could let Liu Muyue, the future mistress, choose one she liked.

Thinking this way, Shen Cui no longer dwelled on this matter.

After Mu Xiaotuan’s first birthday celebration, it wasn’t long before Mu Er Pang and Liu Muyue’s wedding.

Mu Xiaotuan was indeed as clever as her father.

At around ten months, she could speak quite fluently.

Before her first birthday, she could even toddle around without assistance, walking quite steadily on her two little legs.

In terms of temperament, however, she took after Mu Yunchuan and Zhou, with a strong desire to explore.

She would smile at everyone, talk fluently, and could chat with anyone for a while.

To describe her, Shen Cui would say she was a natural “social butterfly.”

Everyone who had contact with her, regardless of blood relationship, liked her a lot.

Even Xiaoci who initially didn’t like her at all, thinking that her arrival completely changed the situation, gradually changed his attitude under her soft and sweet Big brother Xiaoci attack.

If she didn’t see her for a few days, Xiaoci would run to Shen Cui and ask, “Why didn’t Fatty Tuanzi come?”

Shen Cui said, “We’ve been busy with Er Pang’s wedding recently. People keep coming over with wedding cakes and red lanterns. It’s crowded and noisy. She’s doing so well, what if someone tries to kidnap her? I told her not to come over these days.”

Xiaoci nodded and said, “Oh.”

Shen Cui saw that he wasn’t very interested, so she continued writing the wedding invitations and gave him a piece of candy to eat.

The rock sugar in this era was a bit bitter, and Xiaoci didn’t really like it.

However, since it was her son’s wedding, Shen Cui had bought quite a few candies from the future through the system.

After removing the packaging, she used them as wedding candies.

With business dealings with the Cui and Wei families, Shen Cui could easily acquire candies that were uncommon in the market.

Xiaoci indeed enjoyed the candy and eagerly looked at the plate for more.

Shen Cui reluctantly gave him the whole plate.

Xiaoci even complimented her, “Shen… Headmasyer is becoming more generous. Next time…”

Shen Cui quickly interrupted, “This is the only time for Er Pang’s wedding! There won’t be a next time!”

Xiao Ce, with a mouthful of candy, said cheerfully, “Of course, I know that getting married is a once-in-a-lifetime event! I meant, next time there’s a happy event in the academy, will you give me this candy again?”

Realizing she had misunderstood him, Shen Cui said, “That’s my mistake, misinterpreting your meaning. But if there’s a happy event in the academy next time, you’ll have to wait.”

Now, Xiaoci was the only student in the academy, and since he wasn’t a real person, he couldn’t really get married.

When Xiaoci became completely obedient and the limelight of the previous batch had passed, Cuiwei Academy would naturally start recruiting students like other academies.

At that time, the number of people would increase.

Xiao Ce was actually quite clever. When he realized, he immediately felt a little disappointed, but then he looked at Shen Cui and said, “But there’s still you, right? You’re still not …”

“What about me…” Shen Cui didn’t finish her question, knowing he was referring to her.

In this world, Mu Cheng was already deceased, and Xiaoci, who possessed the power of the law, had arranged for a disappearance ending to avoid affecting Mu Yunchuan’s imperial examination.

This child is starting to worry about her wedding just for a piece of candy.

Seeing Shen Cui’s smile disappear, Xiaoci didn’t need to be told to leave.

He picked up the candy plate and slipped out agilely.

Zheng Shi came in to refill Shen Cui’s tea, and she had heard the conversation just now.

There was a hint of a smile on her face.

Shen Cui couldn’t show a displeased expression in front of her mother, so she pretended not to notice and continued writing.

Eventually, Zheng Shi couldn’t hold back and said, “Actually, I think the child has a point.”

Shen Cui hurriedly begged for forgiveness.

She didn’t consider her own feelings, but rather spoke about Mu Er Pang, “His father has been missing for many years, and according to the law, I could remarry. But Mu Er Pang is entering the officialdom, where reputation is crucial. For the mother of a distinguished court official to remarry is not a good thing. Moreover, now that Xiaotuan has been born, I am a grandmother. How can someone of my status remarry?”

Zheng Shi didn’t dwell on the topic, only expressing regret, “I actually think Master Lao is quite good. You are similar in age, have experienced so much together, and he is also Mu Er Pang’s teacher…”

Shen Cui couldn’t help but laugh, “Mother, it’s fine if you say that to me, but please don’t mention it to Master Lao. I’m afraid it might scare him away.”

Her relationship with Lao Buyu was very good, but it was purely a comradely relationship, transcending gender.

To suggest any romantic development between her and Lao Buyu would be no different from suggesting it with a same-sex friend or even a family member.

It would be absurd!

Zheng Shi patted her and laughed, “How can you say that about yourself? Why would you scare him?”

As they talked, they heard a loud noise outside.

Zheng Shi quickly went out to see, and saw Lao Buyu with a look of horror, saying, “I came to help Xiaoci with the plate and also wanted to ask for some candy from the Headmaster. I accidentally dropped the plate!”

Shen Cui gave Zheng Shi a look that seemed to say, “See, I told you so,”

And then said to Lao Buyu, “It’s okay, just a plate. But I can’t let him have any more candy, not because I’m afraid of him getting cavities, but because today’s topic was all brought up by that kid.”

Xie Jiulu, upon hearing the commotion, immediately came over.

Seeing the shattered porcelain on the ground, he asked Shen Cui and Zheng Shi to step aside.

Zheng Shi watched as he skillfully used a broom and dustpan to sweep up the shards.

Even after sweeping, he still wasn’t satisfied and bent down to carefully check for any missed pieces.

Zheng Shi had always liked him, and she glanced at him and then at Shen Cui.

She also felt that Xie Jiulu was not bad—her daughter was willing to be cared for only by him when she was present.

If it had been someone else in the academy, even Lao Buyu, her daughter would have been the one making decisions and doing the work.

If it had been Mei Ruochu or Mu Er Pang who came to help clean up, her daughter would have definitely insisted on doing it herself, not wanting them to hurt themselves.

However, with Xie Jiulu, her daughter’s attitude was different.

How it was different, Zheng Shi couldn’t quite say.

But she didn’t bring up that topic again.

On one hand, Shen Cui’s words just now had an effect, starting from the child’s perspective, and on the other hand, Xie Jiulu and Shen Cui were of different generations.

Zheng Shi wasn’t open-minded enough to broach that subject.

In the classroom, taking advantage of his identity as a child, Xiaoci who had just sold his cuteness to Lao Buyu to get candy, didn’t get more of what he wanted.

Instead, he only received a stern look from Lao Buyu.

Lao Buyu was particularly soft-hearted towards children and had always been the most doting on him in the academy.

However, today, he really acted as a strict teacher, scolding him for not focusing on the right path at such a young age.

He punished him by making him copy the Analects, and not only that, but he also watched him copy with a ruler in hand, ready to slap his palm if he made a mistake.

That late spring, Mu Er Pang and Liu Muyue’s wedding took place as scheduled.

Shen Cui had previously envied Cui Wuniang for having such a good daughter-in-law in Sun Ruowei, but now she was the one being envied for her close relationship with her daughter-in-law, as if they were mother and daughter.

Moreover, Mu Er Pang, who Shen Cui used to think was not very bright, had truly changed.

Without Shen Cui’s prompting, he would always remember to bring things back for Liu Muyue when he returned from duty.

Sometimes it was a beautiful flower, sometimes it was a trendy snack from the capital, sometimes it was a box of cosmetics…

They were all small and inexpensive items, but in these matters, what mattered most was the thought, and he also knew to get one for his wife, and for Shen Cui and Zheng Shi as well.

This made the whole family very happy.

Later on, Wei Xiu also married the daughter of the Wang family, a court official.

And as for Shen Aosuang, who had been quiet on this front, she finally had news.

The old Shen family had chosen a girl from the Wang family, the daughter of a high-ranking official, for her.

The students got married one after another, and although the brides had different personalities, they were all understanding, intelligent, and polite.

They would also come to visit Cuiwei Academy from time to time.

Although they didn’t know each other before, they got along well, as they were of similar ages and had all married brothers. So they got along exceptionally well.

With her daughter-in-law accompanying her, occasionally entertaining the younger generation, and with a granddaughter like Mu Xiaotuan who was so familiar, although Cuiwei had not yet enrolled students, it was still lively every day.

Zheng Shi and Shen Laoye, seeing how well she was doing in the capital, completely let go of their worries and prepared to tidy up and return to the county to retire.

Despite Shen Cui and Mu Er Pang’s repeated attempts to persuade them, they couldn’t keep the two old folks, so they had to let them go.

But as luck would have it, on the morning when the two old folks were all packed up and ready to leave the capital, they were having breakfast together as a family when Liu Muyue suddenly felt nauseous.

Seeing her reaction, Zheng Shi immediately smiled and asked someone to fetch a doctor.

When the doctor arrived, he actually gave them some good news.

Now the two old folks stayed in the capital for a while longer, helping Shen Cui take care of the pregnant Liu Muyue.

Nine months later, Liu Muyue gave birth to a chubby baby boy.

The young couple asked Shen Cui to help with the name, so she gave her grandson the nickname “Yuanyuan” first.

It not only matched the round appearance of the little guy, but also echoed with Mu Xiao Tuan’s name.

After the full moon celebration for their great-grandson, the two old folks left the capital contentedly and returned home to enjoy their retirement.