My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 116 Part 2

"Ah! I'm going to tell your father when we get back!"

Xiao Taohe giggled: "Big fish."

The old man selling river delicacies was also startled. The child who had been so well-behaved while following the adult had become completely uncontrollable the moment he was let go.

Ji Taoyu quickly handed the basket to a servant and took the dripping wet little one back to change clothes.

Fortunately, the weather was warm, so there was no fear of him catching a cold.

When they returned to the residence, Ji Yangzong and Huang Manjing happened to arrive. From afar, they saw Ji Taoyu marching over angrily, dragging Xiao Taohe.

"Grandfather, Grandmother."

Xiao Taohe called out in a soft, sticky voice. Ji Yangzong and Huang Manjing hadn't seen their eldest grandson for several days and had been missing him terribly. Hearing the little one call them, they immediately withdrew the foot that had just stepped into the residence gate and turned to meet him.

"Oh, my Xiao Taohe, where have you been?"

"The street."

Xiao Taohe answered Ji Yangzong obediently, stretching out his arms for Ji Yangzong to hold him. This prompted Ji Yangzong to hurriedly take the heavy little one into his arms and plant a kiss on his cheek.

Turning to see Ji Taoyu squinting slightly, staring at Xiao Taohe with a displeased expression, he couldn't help but ask: "What's the matter? Why the long face? Is Xiao Taohe getting too heavy to carry?"

"When have I ever said he was heavy!"

Ji Taoyu indignantly lifted Xiao Taohe's clothes, unable to resist complaining: "I changed him this morning. Just going out to buy groceries, and he went to touch someone's fish and shrimp, getting himself completely soaked."

Huang Manjing, however, laughed upon hearing this: "Little boys are always a bit mischievous."

Xiao Taohe lay on Ji Yangzong's shoulder, blinking his big eyes, his expression utterly innocent: "Grandfather."

"Alright, mother will change Xiao Taohe's clothes in a moment."

The old couple happily carried Xiao Taohe into the residence.

Ji Taoyu could see it clearly now: this kid had a beautiful, harmless-looking face. Just looking at him, anyone would think he was well-behaved and obedient, but in reality, he was very bold and quite the little rascal.

"Just who does he take after!"

When Huo Shu returned from the training field, it was almost noon. As soon as he entered the residence, he caught a whiff of a delicious aroma.

He had been busy at the training field for most of the day, rushing to finish the afternoon's tasks as well, so he wouldn't have to hurry back after eating.

"What are you carrying?"

Huo Shu heard footsteps in the corridor and turned to see Huo Shou holding a hemp sack, looking like he had also just returned.

Huo Shou, upon hearing this, instinctively moved the thing in his hand behind his back and said: "Oh, it's nothing, just... just a few medicinal herbs."

Huo Shu raised an eyebrow: "Since when do you bother with these things?"

"I saw them when I went to the village to fetch bamboo for making bows and arrows, so I just brought them back along the way."

Huo Shu didn't ask further, simply saying: "Your sister-in-law likes to fiddle with these things, give them to him. Come on, let's go in to eat."

Huo Shou glanced at the thing in his hand, grunted in agreement, and turned to go to his own courtyard first.

It was a lively noon. Ji Xinzhe and his husband had come over with Xiao Fu. As Huo Shu entered the inner courtyard, he saw the two little ones under the peach blossom tree in the garden, pinching the peaches that were still green and unripe.

After returning to Tongzhou, Huo Shu recommended Deng Chenheng to the prefect. He was transferred from a local post to serve as a clerk in the prefectural government office.

The prefect did sell Huo Shu a favor by allowing Deng Chenheng to take a post in the prefecture, but only gave him the position of a minor clerk assisting the Deputy Magistrate.

Probably, deep down, he still looked down upon those who relied on connections like this, and just fobbed him off with a minor post.

However, unexpectedly, Deng Chenheng truly had ability. In the post-war recovery of Tongzhou, the public works department was swamped with tasks. Deng Chenheng handled them appropriately, far surpassing the Deputy Magistrate.

Consequently, the prefect himself promoted Deng Chenheng to Deputy Magistrate, greatly praising his talent, saying he would surely recommend Deng Chenheng to the Ministry of Personnel in the future. Such ability was truly wasted on a non-official clerk.

Huo Shu's recommendation of Deng Chenheng wasn't entirely due to family connections, it was indeed because of his capability and the hope that he could help rebuild post-war Tongzhou.

The prefect's recognition and proper appointment of talent was a good thing, and Huo Shu was happy for Deng Chenheng's future prospects.

Now, the young couple had moved to Tongzhou with their child, while their parents had returned to the county town to retire.

As for Jiang Yuhou, who had followed Huo Shu, Huo Shu originally intended for him to return to the prefectural government office. However, Jiang Yuhou actually preferred to continue working with him.

There were also positions for literate men in the military camp, so he kept him at the troop garrison doing calculations and accounting, still managing financial affairs.

In the future, following Huo Shu, he wouldn't fare worse than his brother in the capital.

"You're back."

Huang Yinsheng also found time to come for a meal.

Huo Shu greeted him and walked into the kitchen: "What all have you prepared?"

"Prepared quite a bit, take a look."

Ji Taoyu said while picking up food with chopsticks and arranging it on a plate, then placing it into a food box.

"What is this for?"

"The new Emperor has ascended the throne and opened special grace examinations. The provincial examinations are also being held this year. A-Pan is preparing to take them. There isn't much time left before the provincial exams. He's been leaving early and returning late these past months, and doesn't even have time to come back for lunch. The food at home is plentiful today, so I'm sending some to him. It's like we're eating together."

Ji Yangzong remarked: "This child is diligent. It would be hard for him not to succeed in the future."

Deng Chenheng said: "A while ago, I read one of his essays, it was really quite good. After nearly two years of war and chaos, he must have many feelings about it."

Huo Shu, however, was thinking about how the young man came to see him last night to pay his respects. Without delaying much, he went back to study.

"It's a good thing for the family to have a scholar properly pursuing an official career through the examinations."

If he could achieve something in the future, his father should rest assured in the afterlife.

Huo Shu thought this, but he didn't say it out loud.

"Alright, alright! Time to prepare for the meal."

Ji Taoyu fastened the lid of the food box and had a servant deliver it to the academy, then called everyone to eat.