Huo Shu scooped up the little child in one go, holding him at his side. He saw Xiao Taohe holding a peach, a crisp peach with a few shallow bite marks from thin little bites.
Huo Shu rubbed Xiao Taohe's fine, soft hair lying against his forehead. It was a little damp, so he wiped it dry and asked softly: "Can you eat it?"
Xiao Taohe held the peach: "Mm!"
"Let father see if you've grown any new teeth."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Taohe immediately lifted his chin towards Huo Shu and opened his mouth wide: "Father, look."
The smile in Huo Shu's eyes softened further. After looking at the little milk teeth in Xiao Taohe's mouth, he pinched his two cheeks. After holding him for a while, he was immediately no longer a stranger.
"In the blink of an eye, I wondered where he had run off to."
Ji Taoyu was directing people to tidy up the garden, and when he turned his head, he couldn't see the little one who had been sitting on the stone stool, nibbling on a peach.
Just as he was getting anxious, he saw the father and son coming in.
He saw the little one nestled tightly under Huo Shu's chin, clinging to his father as he nibbled his peach. He pinched the back of his hand: "Who is holding you, that you're so affectionate?"
"Father."
Xiao Taohe replied unclearly through a mouthful of peach.
"Is that so?"
"Could you have mistaken him? This uncle hasn't been seen for a long time, is he really father?"
Xiao Taohe looked at Ji Taoyu, who was asking with a serious face, and couldn't help but tilt his head to look at Huo Shu more carefully.
"It's father."
This time he raised his light-colored eyebrows and answered definitively.
Ji Taoyu laughed heartily.
He looked at Huo Shu, pursed his lips: "You didn't even say you'd be home today."
"Rushed to get back, I wasn't sure of the date and afraid you'd wait in vain."
Huo Shu hadn't seen Ji Taoyu for a long time and had long been thinking of him. Now, seeing him in good spirits, he felt much more at ease.
But after feeling at ease for a moment, seeing him like this, he had some other guesses. He pulled the person in front of him and asked if he had missed him.
Ji Taoyu's ears turned slightly red: "They say the capital's wealth dazzles the eye. After this trip, even your mouth has become slick."
"I've been busy with matters at the residence these days, how would I have any spare time for that."
Huo Shu heard this and turned to survey the large, three-courtyard residence, which was now in perfect order. Even the flower pond in the garden had been newly planted with lotuses and stocked with red carp, and two gravel paths had been laid.
To organize such a large residence, even with servants handling it, would require considerable mental effort.
Seeing it this way, it seemed true, he really hadn't had any spare time.
Huo Shu didn't speak.
"How was it? Is everything in the capital settled?"
"Mm."
"What kind of rewards were there?"
Huo Shu sighed softly and jerked his chin towards the back.
Seeing this, Ji Taoyu quickly called for the servants to bring the things in. A group of people bustled towards the main gate.
Huo Shu felt that with the family's wealth and business growing, he was somewhat losing favor.
Xiao Taohe watched as his father, for some reason, put him down on the ground again and turned to go over to his other father.
He climbed back onto the stone stool by himself and continued gnawing on the peach, which was nearly worn down by his little milk teeth. He watched as everyone went in and out, steadily carrying many boxes into the house.
The new emperor was quite generous to his meritorious officials upon his accession, not only rewarding this large residence.
Ji Taoyu checked the list and saw that in addition, he was rewarded with fifty acres of good farmland outside the capital, some gold, silver, and valuables, a series of silks and cloth, and also some long spears and swords for military officers.
It seemed to cater to his preferences, there wasn't a single piece of calligraphy, painting, or antique.
Ji Taoyu had been hoping in vain, he had originally expected some rewards of famous calligraphy and paintings, not only to appreciate but also to collect.
But the Emperor probably thought that a rough military man like Huo Shu wouldn't appreciate such things.
"How do you plan to arrange these fifty acres of land outside the capital?"
Ji Taoyu held the land deed and asked Huo Shu, who was standing at the storeroom door.
"I've already arranged for people to manage it, it won't lie fallow."
Now that he was an official, he couldn't guarantee he would always stay in one place. It was hard to say if he would be transferred to the capital someday. Having some land and assets there wouldn't be a bad thing.
Ji Taoyu nodded.
"You've been gone for so many days and only just returned. I sent someone to deliver a message to father and mother. Tomorrow the whole family will have a reunion meal together."
Ji Yangzong had once again taken up the role of village head in Mingxun Village. Although the entire family could have moved to the city to enjoy a comfortable life, he found himself unable to relinquish the various responsibilities and affairs of village life.
Having done this work for many years, if he suddenly became idle and stopped, he wouldn't be accustomed to a life in the city of carrying bird cages, drinking tea, and watching operas.
Since the village was not far from the city, he genuinely enjoyed his work, and he was not yet very old, Ji Taoyu and Huo Shu decided not to press the matter. They agreed that when he was older and could no longer manage the duties, he could move to the city to retire in peace.
Nowadays, whenever there was free time, either the elderly couple would come to the city to visit their eldest grandson, or Ji Taoyu would take Xiao Taohe back to the village. Huo Shu, busy with his duties at the military camp, would often ride back to the village after his work was done.
As for Yuan Huiru, Wu Lianhe, and Zhao Pan, they continued to live together with them in the large residence. The compound was spacious enough to comfortably accommodate several families.
Yet, with their relatively small household, the vast residence sometimes felt a little too quiet.
Huo Shu watched as Ji Taoyu checked the rewards and arranged tomorrow's matters. He followed him from this room to that room.
Finally, he couldn't help but ask: "I've returned, covered in the dust of travel. In this weather, aren't you even going to prepare hot water for me?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Taoyu widened his eyes: "I told the kitchen to prepare it as soon as you returned. If you're not going to bathe, why are you following me around?"
Huo Shu didn't argue. He stretched out an arm, wrapped it around Ji Taoyu's slender, soft waist, and pulled him tight against his chest.
He lowered his head and covered Ji Taoyu's mouth.
Although this person wasn't as warm, soft, and dependent as before, kissing him felt just the same as always.
Ji Taoyu was kissed until his legs felt a little unsteady.
When he first entered this large, three-courtyard residence, he had vowed to himself that he must become a proper head of the household from now on, and never again be as soft as before, relying on his husband for everything.
He had only just managed to act like a proper head of the household for two days. How could this man be like this, shaking his resolve the moment he returned!
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