The Young Master Becomes a Wife Chapter 40

Chapter 40: The Children  

Although Yan Jingshu had first met these children over a year later in his past life, he still recognized them now, even though they were a bit younger. Seeing the children staring at him in a daze, he bent down and called each of them by name. "Let me guess—you're Erwa, you're Tieniu, you're Xiaohua, and you're Xiaodou, right?"  

The children never expected this beautiful older brother to know all their names and were even more astonished, their mouths hanging open wide enough to fit an entire Ruyi cake.  

Jiang Chenghan, who was unloading things from the carriage nearby, was also surprised. He had only mentioned the children's names to Yan Jingshu once, yet Yan Jingshu had remembered them all without a single mistake. But then again, recalling that Yan Jingshu always seemed to know things about him, he didn't find it too strange anymore.  

"Brother Yan, Brother Jiang, I had a feeling it was you two!" Huang Sanniang walked out from inside, delighted to see Yan Jingshu and Jiang Chenghan. She hurried over to help Jiang Chenghan carry the items and scolded the children, "What are you all standing around for? Don’t you recognize Uncle Jiang?"  

Only then did the children snap out of their daze and notice Jiang Chenghan behind Yan Jingshu. Shouting, "Uncle Jiang, you’re finally here!" and "Uncle Jiang, I missed you so much!" they crowded around him.  

Two more people emerged from the courtyard—an elderly man with a graying goatee, wearing a faded and patched robe, and a plump middle-aged woman in her forties. The old man, surnamed Chen, was the manager of the charity home, responsible for accounts and purchases, while the woman, Aunt Zhao, had been hired to cook for the children and elderly residents.  

"And who might this be?" Seeing Yan Jingshu standing outside, neither of them recognized him, so Old Man Chen asked.  

Yan Jingshu smiled and replied, "I’m Chenghan’s fulang. I came with him today to see the children."  

"Fulang? Ah, yes, Sanniang mentioned that Xiao Jiang got married. What good fortune to have such a handsome fulang! Come, don’t just stand at the door—come in and sit." Old Man Chen had heard from Huang Sanniang about Jiang Chenghan’s marriage and knew he had married a shuang'er. He warmly invited Yan Jingshu inside.  

"You’re too kind, Old Man Chen," Yan Jingshu said with a slight nod. Turning back, he saw that Jiang Chenghan had finished unloading the carriage, carrying two bundles with the children following him while Huang Sanniang and Aunt Zhao brought up the rear with the rest. He stepped inside first.  

The courtyard was small, centered around a patio with a large vat standing in its middle. A compact circle of houses surrounded the space, all meticulously kept. Flowers and plants grew beneath the windows, though now, in late autumn, they appeared somewhat withered and sparse. Only the persimmon tree by the gate remained vibrant, its branches heavy with fruit—a cheerful sight against the seasonal barrenness.  

Jiang Chenghan, Huang Sanniang, and the others brought in the supplies—fabrics, cotton, charcoal, and the like were stored in the rooms, while snacks like pastries and candies were placed on the wooden table under the persimmon tree to be distributed to the children.  

"Jingshu, you handle giving these to the children. I’ll take some inside for the elderly," Jiang Chenghan said as he set down the items.  

Aside from orphaned children, the charity home also housed two elderly residents who had lost their families. Due to the cold weather and limited mobility, they stayed indoors.  

"Alright," Yan Jingshu agreed readily and began unwrapping the pastries.  

"Thanks for your help," Jiang Chenghan said with a smile before turning to the eagerly watching children. "Have you forgotten what I taught you before I left? Line up from tallest to shortest—At ease! Attention!"  

The children varied in age, but to prevent injuries from scrambling, Jiang Chenghan had trained them to line up properly. Seeing them quickly fall into order, he took two packages of pastries and headed into the main house.  

"Here, one piece each—no grabbing," Yan Jingshu said. Since children had small appetites, he gave them only one piece each to avoid spoiling their meals, saving the rest for later.  

The first in line was the youngest, just over two years old, barely steady on his feet but utterly adorable. He held out his chubby little hands to receive the Ruyi cake and said in a tiny voice, "Thank you, brother."  

"You’re welcome," Yan Jingshu said, reminded of his nephew, Xin'er. Unable to resist, he leaned down and gently kissed the child’s forehead. The little one, holding his pastry, touched the kissed spot with one hand, blinking his big grape-like eyes, then did something unexpected.  

"Yummy… for brother," the child said, offering the cake back to Yan Jingshu.  

Touched beyond words, Yan Jingshu pinched the child’s cheek and smiled. "Brother has already eaten. This is for Xiaodou—you have it."  

Only then did the child lower his hands, but he still didn’t eat it himself, instead toddling over to Old Man Chen to offer it to him. Of course, Old Man Chen declined, urging him to eat it himself.  

Yan Jingshu continued distributing the treats, but when he handed one to the next child, the boy didn’t move.  

Yan Jingshu said, "Everyone can only have one piece, or you won't have room for dinner later."  

Hearing this, the child pouted slightly, then pointed at his own forehead and said, "Kiss?"  

Only then did Yan Jingshu realize what he meant and quickly leaned down to give him a peck. The child, now delighted, happily took his pastry and went off to eat it.  

By the time it was the next child's turn, Yan Jingshu didn’t need reminding—after handing out the pastry, he automatically gave the child a kiss as well.  

Soon, the package of pastries was nearly gone, and the last one went to a boy named Tieniu, the oldest child in the charity home at eight years old.  

When Yan Jingshu handed him his pastry and went to kiss him as usual, Tieniu suddenly ran away, leaving Yan Jingshu momentarily stunned, wondering if the boy disliked him.  

But then he noticed Tieniu stealing glances at him from a distance, his face flushed. Realizing it wasn’t dislike but shyness, Yan Jingshu couldn’t help but chuckle.  

Jiang Chenghan had stayed inside the house for a while longer before coming out. Besides delivering pastries to the two elderly caretakers, he had also asked after their well-being—how they were doing, their health, and whether they were eating well—which took some time. When he finally stepped outside, he saw a group of children gathered around Yan Jingshu, who was sitting on a wooden stool beneath the persimmon tree, writing something on the table.  

Jiang Chenghan approached quietly and saw that Yan Jingshu wasn’t writing but drawing. The sketch already showed the rough outline of the charity home’s courtyard, including the persimmon tree by the gate, and now he was adding a group of playing children.  

Yan Jingshu wasn’t a master artist, but he had skill. With just a few strokes, he captured the lively, carefree expressions of boys, girls, and shuang'ers alike.  

Tieniu and the other children watched in amazement, gasping in delight every time Yan Jingshu finished a figure.  

Old Man Chen, sitting by the sunny windowsill, smiled as he watched Yan Jingshu with the children. When he spotted Jiang Chenghan, he said, "Xiao Jiang, I always knew you were blessed. To marry such a fine fulang..."  

Though he didn’t know Yan Jingshu’s background, Old Man Chen had seen enough of the world in his youth to recognize nobility in his bearing and demeanor. That someone of such status would visit their humble charity home and play with the children without hesitation moved him deeply. He had once thought Jiang Chenghan would remain a bachelor forever, yet here he was, married to such a kind-hearted person.  

Jiang Chenghan smiled without reply, his gaze softening as he watched Yan Jingshu. No one needed to tell him how good his fulang was—he knew better than anyone.  

Without proper paints, Yan Jingshu made do with the ink and paper meant for the older children’s calligraphy practice. Since the sketch didn’t need color, he finished quickly. When he stood and turned, he was surprised to see Jiang Chenghan standing behind them.  

"When did you come out?" Yan Jingshu asked instinctively.  

"Not long ago," Jiang Chenghan replied with a smile, stepping forward to wipe ink stains from Yan Jingshu’s hands with his sleeve.  

"Uncle Jiang, look! That’s me!" 

"And me! That’s me too!"  

Their moment alone ended as the children swarmed Jiang Chenghan, pulling him toward the painting and pointing out which figures were theirs.  

Jiang Chenghan let himself be dragged away, releasing Yan Jingshu’s hand. The ink stains couldn’t be fully wiped off, so Yan Jingshu glanced around the courtyard and, spotting strings of garlic hanging by the kitchen doorway, guessed that was where he could wash up.  

Inside, Aunt Zhao was chopping meat on a cutting board while Huang Sanniang sorted vegetables.  

"Since Xiao Jiang and his fulang are visiting, we should make something special—a celebration for their marriage," Aunt Zhao said.

Huang Sanniang, sorting vegetables nearby hesitated. "That fulang of his seems... refined. I’m not sure if he’d be used to our simple meals. Maybe I should buy some dishes from restaurant instead."  

Aunt Zhao considered this, recalling Yan Jingshu’s elegant appearance, thinking it wasn’t a bad idea, but buying restaurant food would cost more than she could decide on alone. "You’d better ask Old Man Chen. He manages the funds."  

Huang Sanniang stood, wiping her hands on her apron. "Alright, I’ll ask him. But who knows—maybe they won’t even stay for..." She trailed off as she turned and saw Yan Jingshu in the doorway.  

"May I wash my hands here?" Yan Jingshu asked politely.  

Huang Sanniang froze, but Aunt Zhao quickly answered, "Of course! There’s water in that vat—plenty to use!" She moved to help, but Yan Jingshu stopped her.  

"Thank you, I can manage."  

Aunt Zhao, ever blunt, decided to ask outright. "Xiao Jiang’s fulang, will you two be staying for lunch?"  

Yan Jingshu rinsed his hands and smiled. "Of course. My husband often praises your cooking—I've been looking forward to trying it."  

Aunt Zhao waved off the compliment, though clearly pleased. "Oh, Xiao Jiang exaggerates! I’m no match for the chefs at Xiankelai."  

Yan Jingshu dried his hands. "Then we’ll trouble you and Sanniang for the meal."  

"It’s no trouble at all! Just two more mouths to feed—hardly a difference," Aunt Zhao said cheerfully. Cooking for a dozen daily, two extra servings meant little.

By the time Yan Jingshu returned to the courtyard, Jiang Chenghan was playing with the children—spinning them in the air, letting them swing from his arms, even doing push-ups with five of them piled on his back.  

After a while, noticing they were sweating, Yan Jingshu stepped in to make them rest, wiping each child’s brow with a handkerchief.  

When Aunt Zhao called them for lunch, the children cheered, washed their hands, and sat obediently at the table.  

The morning’s excitement left the children drowsy after the meal. Huang Sanniang tried to usher them to bed, but they clung to Yan Jingshu, unwilling to sleep and miss seeing him later.  

Finally, Yan Jingshu carried them to their beds himself, promising to visit again and telling them a story until they drifted off.  

By the time he emerged, it was late afternoon. With Aunt Zhao and Huang Sanniang elsewhere, they bid farewell to Old Man Chen and left the charity home.  

Instead of taking a carriage, they walked home.  

Remembering how Jiang Chenghan had played with the children, Yan Jingshu asked, "Do you like children very much?"  

Jiang Chenghan smiled. "I wouldn’t say I particularly do or don’t. They’re just... simpler than adults."  

Yan Jingshu pressed further. "Do you prefer boys, girls, or shuang’er?"  

Jiang Chenghan understood the implication. Meeting his gaze, he said softly, "To me, they’re all the same—precious gifts. I’d love any child."  

Blushing under his tender look, Yan Jingshu smiled softly, murmuring, "...You’ll be the best father someday."  

Jiang Chenghan leaned closer, his voice a whisper. "We both will be."