It was still early. The oxcart stopped at the entrance of the government office. Zhao Ger, holding the Guaizai, stood waiting beside the cart. Yang Mingyi glanced at him a few times and walked over.
"Brother Zhao."
Zhao Ger looked up at him.
He had heard about Yang Mingyi before from Fang Zichen, and also from Guaizai.
After Guaizai came back that time, he told him that there was a pretty uncle where Father worked.
Fang Zichen said he would teach him for half a shichen during the noon break, and the two would be alone together. Zhao Ger had initially felt a bit uneasy about it.
His possessiveness towards Fang Zichen was something he couldn't control. Although he knew he shouldn't feel that way, he couldn't help but feel somewhat uncomfortable.
The other party was the employer's ger, literate, well-educated, and good-looking. Because of his inferiority complex and lack of self-confidence, Fang Zichen seemed exceptionally outstanding in his eyes. Therefore, whenever any girls or gers appeared around Fang Zichen, he would feel anxious, restless, and overly suspicious.
However, upon seeing Yang Mingyi now, he felt relieved. Although Yang Mingyi was good-looking, he seemed still young. Moreover, his aura was cool and aloof, definitely not the type Fang Zichen would ever choose for a partner.
This kind of person was good-looking, yes, but best admired from a distance, for appreciation only. Being with this kind of person would probably leave one feeling quite frozen.
Fang Zichen considered himself a cold, aloof man. Two cold, aloof gods being together, talking about love, unable to squeeze out a single sentence for half the day, competing to see who is colder - would that be interesting?
"You are Yi Ger, right?" Zhao Ger asked with a smile.
"Mm!" Yang Mingyi moved closer, his gaze falling on the still sleeping, rosy-cheeked Guaizai in Zhao Ger's arms.
Zhao Ger shifted Guaizai slightly, revealing his entire face.
Yang Mingyi found it novel and couldn't help gently poking his cheek. The touch from his fingertip was warm and soft, like poking cotton. He couldn't control himself and poked again. Now, he understood why Fang Zichen loved kissing Guaizai so much—he was soft and squishy, the sensation must be very good. Guaizai's little mouth wriggled a few times, his eyebrows furrowed, his eyelashes fluttered lightly, he seemed about to wake up. Yang Mingyi was startled, his heart leaping into his throat. Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, Guaizai grabbed it.
Yang Mingyi hadn't had many opportunities to interact with such a young child, but it wasn't none. In previous years when Old Lady Yang celebrated her birthday, people always brought children. The journey was tiring, jostling along, and the children often fell asleep in the carriage. When they were carried down upon arrival at the Yang residence, the change of place would make the children immediately start crying and fussing, wailing loudly. The adults would be flustered, unable to soothe them no matter how they tried.
Zhao Ger saw he was quite frightened and smiled, saying, "It's alright."
No sooner had he spoken than Guaizai rubbed his eyes with his other hand and then slowly opened them. "... Yang pig?"
Guaizai was happy to see Yang Mingyi. Even though it had been a long time since they last met, he still remembered him. Guaizai smiled: "Why are you at my house? Did you come to see Guaizai?"
Zhao Ger picked him up upright: "You're still muddled from sleep. Look where this is."
Guaizai was still holding Yang Mingyi's finger. He looked around. Zhao Ger had almost never been to this government office area—usually, after entering the county gate, he went straight to West Street to set up his stall. If he needed to buy something, it was only over in East Street.
The government office was an 'important place', sacred and imposing. Zhao Ger was busy every day like a spinning top—after selling the chili sauce, he had to rush back, wash clothes, chop chilies, peel garlic. His tasks were packed full, without a moment's rest. Even if he wasn't busy, he wouldn't bring Guaizai here to stroll around.
Guaizai found the surroundings very unfamiliar, and there were many people queuing not far away. He immediately tightened his grip on Yang Mingyi's hand. "Daddy..." Guaizai asked, "Where is Father?"
Zhao Ger brushed him off: "Father went to work."
"Oh!" Guaizai got down from his arms: "Then Guaizai will be good!"
Once on the ground, he went to hug Yang Mingyi's calf, looking up with big, black eyes full of excitement: "Yang pig, I missed you so much, did you miss Guaizai?"
Yang Mingyi pursed his lips: "... I did."
Guaizai laughed, these words made him happy.
Yang Mingyi's words were actually true. Although he had only spent one afternoon with Guaizai, he had been rendered speechless by him several times, leaving a deep impression.
Guaizai went to hold his hand. Yang Mingyi bent down and picked Guaizai up.
A ger's frame was naturally smaller than a man's, and Yang Mingyi was quite thin. Zhao Ger said: "He's heavy, don't tire yourself out."
Yang Mingyi shook his head slightly: "It's fine."
Zhao Ger took a bun from the basket and handed it to Guaizai. Guaizai didn't take it: "Has Daddy eaten?"
Zhao Ger: "I've eaten."
"What about Yang pig?" Guaizai asked again. Yang Mingyi's expression was still cool, but his gaze had softened a bit: "I've eaten too."
"Thank you, Daddy~" Only then did Guaizai take the bun and began eating it in small bites.
Yang Mingyi watched him holding a bun bigger than his face and munching on it, and couldn't help finding it amusing: "Can you finish it?"
"I can!" Guaizai said: "But if I can't finish it, I can't waste it. Daddy will wrap it up, I can save it to eat at noon."
Zhao Ger had originally wanted to wait for Fang Zichen to come out, but seeing him not emerge after so long, and it was already time to set up the stall—yesterday a customer had set a time to buy chili sauce, and it was almost the appointed time—he couldn't wait any longer.
He told Yang Mingyi, asking him to watch the ox cart for a while. Yang Mingyi had nothing else to do and agreed.
Zhao Ger went to the ox cart to put on his backpack. Guaizai was set down on the ground. He said to Yang Mingyi: "Yang pig, Guaizai is going with Daddy to sell the delicious chili sauce now. Guaizai needs to earn big money for Father to study, very busy. When Guaizai has free time, Guaizai will bring you a gift and visit you."
"... Okay," Yang Mingyi said.
Just as Zhao Ger led Guaizai away, Fang Zichen, along with the village chief and others, happened to come out of the government office. Fang Zichen needed to return to work, so the village chief and the others went back by themselves.
Before leaving, the village chief suggested to Fang Zichen that he take a couple days off to go home and study. Since he had already signed up for the exam, he should show some attitude towards it. Cramming at the last minute might allow him to answer one or two questions when the time comes.
Fang Zichen waved his hand and said it wasn't necessary.
A top student never crams at the last minute. A top student also never fears exams.
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