Sometimes, mere words could lift one’s spirits, especially when they held truth. Ji Qiuyue, realizing this, brightened. The best thing was to focus on their own lives.
Lu Gu stayed silent beside them, agreeing inwardly. He memorized their words, knowing his own clumsiness in handling such situations. He could only watch and learn from the family’s responses. Even if he rarely spoke to Zhou Yunzhi, if conflicts arose in the future, at least he’d have some idea of how to react.
Breakfast was simple - just steamed buns and eggs, so there was no need to set out bowls and chopsticks. Everyone ate straight from their hands.
Shen Xuanqing’s egg was peeled by Lu Gu. Little Lingjun, having eaten the milk fruit, didn’t fall asleep immediately today. Instead, his dark, bright eyes stayed open, occasionally even smiling—nearly sending his father into raptures.
There was much work to do at the new house. Shen Yaoqing had stayed there overnight, and Wei Lanxiang handed him eggs and buns to take along. Lu Gu followed her over, while Ji Qiuyue, who had meant to join them, had to rush back inside when Zhao’er woke up crying.
Shen Xuanqing, entrusted with the delicate task of babysitting today, was full of enthusiasm. He carefully fitted the small tiger-head hat onto Lingjun and wrapped him snugly in his swaddling clothes before stepping out of the room.
The morning was chilly, but staying in the main hall for a short while wouldn’t hurt, it was good for the baby to get some fresh air instead of being cooped up indoors all day.
Ji Qiuyue held Zhao’er under the eaves to let him relieve himself. Once done, she carried her son back to the main hall and teased, "Little brother isn’t even crying, yet here you are with tears. Aren’t you ashamed?"
Zhao’er understood the word "little brother" and reached toward Shen Xuanqing, so the two of them played with the children in the main hall for a while. Shen Yan, dusting with a feather duster, joined in the fun—after all, she was now an aunt to two little ones.
A wind had picked up outside. Unlike Zhao’er, Lingjun was still too small to withstand the chill, so Shen Xuanqing quickly carried him back to the room.
With no livestock left to tend at the old house, apart from sweeping, there was little work to do. Since Shen Yaoqing had been staying at the main house lately, Ji Qiuyue bundled Zhao’er in thick clothing and took him there. Before leaving, she paused at Lu Gu’s room doorway and teased, "You sure you’ll manage on your own?"
Little Ling ger, as if to support his father, smiled at him again. Shen Xuanqing, brimming with confidence, declared, "Of course. You all go ahead."
Seeing how well-behaved Lingjun was - not crying or fussing, Ji Qiuyue smiled and left reassured.
After Shen Yan finished sweeping, she asked again before heading to the new house. After all, it was usually women and fulangs who cared for children, men looking after babies was rare. But Shen Xuanqing had full faith in himself and waved her off.
The baby in his arms was soft and fair-skinned. Perhaps a trace of the plum-blossom ointment from Lu Gu’s face had transferred to him, because when Shen Xuanqing kissed his cheek, he caught a faint, sweet fragrance.
The more he looked at his little Lingjun, the more delighted he grew. Unable to resist, he kissed the soft cheek again—but this time, he was a little too rough. The stubble on his chin, barely noticeable to him, pricked the baby’s tender skin. Little Lingjun’s face scrunched up, and he immediately burst into loud wails.
Shen Xuanqing panicked, instinctively checking the swaddling cloth, but it was dry. He could only rock and pat the child, trying to soothe him.
Yet Lingjun refused to cooperate, crying so hard that tears streamed down. Just as he finally began to quiet, Shen Xuanqing let out a relieved breath and murmured, "Good Ling ger, your father’s here. Don’t cry, don’t cry."
To his dismay, hearing his voice only made Lingjun cry harder. At a complete loss, with no one left at home to help (having shooed them all away earlier), he hastily rewrapped the baby, covering even his face to shield him from the wind, and rushed outside.
His steps were hurried. Just beyond the gate, he spotted Shen Yan’s retreating figure about to turn onto a side path. "Shen Yan! Yan Yan!" he called.
Fortunately, the quiet morning carried his voice, and Shen Yan turned back.
Neighbor Auntie Miao, sweeping her yard, came out to see. "What’s the matter?"
"Lu Gu’s at the other house, and I can’t get him to stop crying," Shen Xuanqing said, bouncing the wailing baby. "Tell Shen Yan to call him back."
"Second Brother?" Shen Yan called from a distance. Their village had only about forty families - not large, so she could hear the baby’s cries too.
"Go get your brother Guzi! Ling ger won’t stop crying!" Shen Xuanqing shouted.
"Got it!" Shen Yan replied, hurrying down the side path toward the new house.
"It’s cold outside, hurry back inside while you wait. Don’t let the baby catch a chill," Auntie Miao urged, seeing him standing frozen at the gate. A two-month-old couldn’t withstand the wind.
"Right, right. I’ll go back now." The stress of failing to soothe his shuang'er had left Shen Xuanqing momentarily flustered, forgetting even this basic concern.
By the time the crying had lessened slightly, Lu Gu rushed in, panting. Shen Xuanqing exhaled in relief, now feeling somewhat embarrassed by his earlier overconfidence. "I just couldn’t calm him," he admitted sheepishly. "Had to call you back."
Lu Gu, cradling the child, walked around the room patting and soothing until little Ling ger finally quieted.
Shen Xuanqing hovered nearby, peeking at them before complaining in a hushed, aggrieved tone, "Why won’t he acknowledge his own father? After all that soothing, such an ungrateful little thing."
"He’s still small. He’ll recognize you later," Lu Gu said with a smile, pulling a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe Lingjun’s tear-streaked face.
Our Ling ger is clever, he thought. It’s just that he’s too young now. He’ll know his father soon enough.
After all that crying, and with his ahma's gentle rocking, little Lingjun gradually closed his eyes and drifted off. As for his father’s grievances? He was oblivious. Right now, sleep was all that mattered.
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