Chapter 68: A Day Out

Returning to Ya Garden, Xiao Jingkang wore a sullen expression. His beloved daughter being excluded by others was far from a joyful thought for a parent.

“Alright, stop sulking. It’s just a misunderstanding among a group of kids. Let’s pretend we don’t know anything about it. What else can we do?” Tong Mingyu dismissed the servants with a wave, her tone filled with helplessness.

“They had no right to bully my daughter like that!” Xiao Jingkang vented his dissatisfaction with childish indignation.

“In a way, it’s not entirely a bad thing. Ping’an has had it too easy. Facing some setbacks might actually toughen her up.”

Was this her real mother speaking? Xiao Jingkang could hardly comprehend such reasoning and strongly disagreed with his wife.

“I’ll go check if Ping’an is asleep.” He couldn’t bear the thought of his daughter crying herself to sleep uneasily. The more he thought about it, the more his heart ached.

Tong Mingyu sighed silently. She could bet that their daughter was either already asleep or happily playing with Xiao Yuan. The worrying scenario her husband fretted over was unlikely to happen.

With a sigh in her heart, Tong Mingyu stopped her husband, who was about to comfort their daughter. She had something important to discuss.

“Elder Sister told me today that Madam Ruan has left the palace. The Wen family has arranged for us to meet her in three days. Let’s see if Ping’an can impress her.”

“Do we really need to go through a selection process? Forget it. Why let our daughter face such humiliation?” Xiao Jingkang, already unsure of how to ease his daughter’s sadness, vehemently objected.

“In a few months, Ping’an will turn six. Whether or not we invite Madam Ruan, it’s time for her to start learning arts and etiquette. Considering her talent in painting, don’t you want her to have a renowned teacher?”

Hearing this, Xiao Jingkang hesitated. The most important thing in the world was his daughter, and he couldn’t afford to let anything delay her progress.

Seeing her husband wavering, Tong Mingyu pressed on, “Madam Ruan has taught princesses in the palace for many years, particularly those who earned titles and favor. Nowadays, every household with a daughter of the right age is trying to invite her. Several families have already been turned down.” Tong Mingyu felt uneasy, uncertain if Ping’an would be lucky enough to earn Madam Ruan’s favor.

“A meeting wouldn’t hurt. If she’s selected, great. If not, it’s no big deal. By the way, does Ping’an know about the visit to the Wen family?” Xiao Jingkang asked suddenly.

“She knows.”

“Does she know why?”

“I haven’t told her.”

“Good, that’s good,” Xiao Jingkang said with relief.

Tong Mingyu looked at her husband in puzzlement. Was this some kind of post-trauma behavior? His words seemed inexplicably odd.

“It’s better for Ping’an not to know the reason. Think about it—if you tell her, she might get nervous and underperform during the meeting. If Madam Ruan selects her, all is well. But if not, she’ll be hurt. Why upset her unnecessarily? Don’t you agree?”

There was no father more doting than him, unwilling to let his daughter suffer even a hint of pain. No wonder he was so angry earlier.

“Alright, I’ll follow your advice.” Tong Mingyu agreed, finding his reasoning sound.

After the discussion, Xiao Jingkang still wanted to check on Ping’an, but as soon as he reached the door, a maid informed him that his daughter had already fallen asleep. He had no choice but to turn back, taking slow, reluctant steps, all the while thinking about how angry he had been and how hard it might be for him to fall asleep. Meanwhile, Ping’an had fallen asleep quickly, much to his relief.

As long as his daughter was unharmed, losing sleep was a small price to pay, he consoled himself.

Tong Mingyu, following her husband’s advice, refrained from telling their daughter the real reason for visiting the Wen family. Left with no outlet for her nervousness and anticipation, she channeled her energy into carefully choosing Ping’an’s clothes, accessories, and shoes, meticulously considering every detail.

Xiao Jingmin, serving his second term in Songjiang, now had full control of all affairs. He planned to stay a few extra days during his father’s birthday celebrations before returning. No one was happier about this news than Xiao Yuan, as it meant more time for fun. Their grandfather had promised to take them out, and Xiao Yuan eagerly envisioned the outing: a hearty meal at Wangxian Residence, trying new pastries at Yixiang Garden, strolling through the bustling markets, and, if lucky, going beyond the city walls.

General Xiao was a man of his word, especially when it came to his granddaughters. Even if they forgot his promises, he would remind them. This left Xiao Rui grumbling about the unfairness of it all. When he was younger, outings with his grandfather were either brief or excuses were made to pass the responsibility to his uncles. Now, everything had changed for the granddaughters. Time, location, and enthusiastic company were readily available.

Sometimes Xiao Rui wished he had been born a girl, sparing himself the envy he felt toward Ping’an and Ruyi.

Since they were visiting the Wen family the next day, Tong Mingyu asked her husband to request that his father keep the outing brief. They would only have a meal and come back early to let Ping’an rest.

General Xiao considered the suggestion and agreed, recognizing that it was time to invite a tutor for his granddaughter. Given that the Wen family had arranged for Madam Ruan, she must be exceptional.

Had General Xiao known it was merely a meeting with Madam Ruan and not a certainty, he might not have agreed so easily.

Rarely venturing out, Xiao Yao wanted to visit a bookstore, a passion she retained from her past life. Despite the rise of e-books, her love for printed books endured. Meanwhile, Xiao Yuan couldn’t wait to visit Yixiang Garden and Wangxian Residence for a feast.

General Xiao, balancing their wishes, suggested, “We’ll grab some snacks at Yixiang Garden, visit the bookstore, and then have a meal at Wangxian Residence. How does that sound?”

Both sisters readily agreed, their requests fully accommodated. General Xiao silently praised himself for being so thoughtful.

At Yixiang Garden, the trio found the place bustling, its decor elegant and business thriving. General Xiao had sent someone ahead to secure a spot. Xiao Yuan eagerly pointed out various treats—lotus paste cakes, rose crisps, steamed custards—with her enthusiasm growing with each mention.

When Xiao Yao heard her mention the seventh treat, she quickly intervened, joking, “Are you buying snacks or planning to buy out the whole shop?”

Soon, the fragrant snacks were ready, and the three continued to their next destination.

At the bookstore, Xiao Yao browsed casually, asking the clerk to recommend the latest travelogues and histories. The clerk, surprised by her refined demeanor, thought, A martial family raising such an elegant young lady? Remarkable!

“Whatever Ping’an likes, we’ll buy it all,” General Xiao declared grandly.

Xiao Yao smiled silently, tempted to pick up some romance books out of curiosity but quickly abandoned the thought, wary of her mother’s disapproval and the prospect of being punished with endless recitations of The Admonitions for Women.

Their final stop, Wangxian Residence, was everything Xiao Yuan had dreamed of. As the waiter led them to a private room, General Xiao generously ordered, “Bring one of every signature dish.”

Xiao Yuan looked up at her grandfather with shining eyes of admiration. No words could capture her excitement. Meanwhile, Xiao Yao and General Xiao chuckled at her delight.