Guaizai put the bowl away and ran back in. He pulled Fang Zichen to sit in the yard, used his sleeve to wipe his sweat, then moved a small stool, climbed onto it, stood on tiptoe, and with his small, egg-sized fists, started pounding Fang Zichen's back.
His strength was small, and he was careful, afraid of hurting Fang Zichen. It felt more like tickling. Fang Zichen looked at him, his feelings complicated.
Ah, forget it.
He's my son, this is just fate!
There's nothing wrong with a boy being a bit virtuous. At least he's sensible. When I'm old, my son won't just be thinking about the funeral feast.
"...Comfortable," he said, playing along. "My son is so good."
Pleased with the praise, Guaizai was satisfied. After finishing pounding Fang Zichen's back, he refused to rest and ran to the backyard. It was unclear whether he was chasing chickens, playing with the dog, or doing something else, but the chickens suddenly began squawking loudly.
Zhao Ger came out of the kitchen to check, just as Guaizai emerged from the backyard. His hair, meticulously cared for all afternoon, was now a mess. In his arms, he held a chicken flapping wildly.
"Daddy, Guaizai wants to kill the chicken!"
This chicken wasn't very big yet, about three jin (1.5 kg). Although it had been raised for almost three months, there was no feed here, and Zhao Ger couldn't bring himself to feed it rice. Usually, he just threw it some vegetable leaves and the earthworms Guaizai dug up. Because of this, the chicken grew slower.
If raised longer, it could still gain another two or three jin. Killing it now was a pity. Knowing Fang Zichen was returning, Zhao Ger had bought a duck from Fourth Grandfather He yesterday. It was already roasted and could be sliced and served directly.
"Let's keep it for now, okay? We have duck tonight," Zhao Ger said.
"No, chicken meat is tasty. Father went to take exam, very hard. Guaizai wants to kill chicken for Father to eat." Guaizai dodged, not letting Zhao Ger touch him, and ran into the kitchen.
Zhao Ger chased after him. "We can kill the chicken tomorrow. There's duck tonight. It's too much, we won't finish it, and it will be wasted. Have you forgotten what your father taught you?"
Guaizai said with difficulty, "Guaizai didn't forget. Father said wasting is wrong! Wasting is shameful. But, but Father bought Guaizai a doggie. This is a gift. Guaizai... Guaizai also wants to give Father a gift. Chicken is tasty. Guaizai wants to give it to Father to eat. If he eats tasty food, Father won't want to leave anymore."
Zhao Ger squatted in front of him and touched his head. "Father won't leave."
Guaizai hugged the chicken, hanging his head without speaking.
Zhao Ger sighed, compromising. "Alright then. Let's kill a small one, okay?"
Guaizai immediately looked up, cheering. "Okay~"
Zhao Ger heated water for him. Guaizai waited in the kitchen, the dog on his back and the chicken in his arms. Fang Zichen tried to come in and help, but Guaizai pushed him out. "Father worked hard, wait outside. Guaizai will kill chicken for you to eat."
Zhao Ger helped, killed the chicken, and put it in the pot. By then, the sun was almost setting.
The roasted duck was quite good, authentic in flavor. Receiving Fang Zichen's approval boosted Zhao Ger's confidence. However, roasted duck still needed to be paired with sauce. Zhao Ge said when he had time, he would try to make some.
The chicken was delicious too, stewed. Guaizai stood on tiptoe to serve him some, telling him to eat more, then looked at him eagerly. During the meal, Fang Zichen had to praise his husband and then praise his son, which was truly exhausting.
He had brought back many things, his bundle was stuffed full. After dinner, Fang Zichen carried out the small bicycle and held the back, teaching Guaizai how to ride.
The bicycle wobbled unsteadily. At first, Guaizai was a little scared, but Fang Zichen held it steady. Moreover, sitting on it was comfortable and exciting. With one push of the pedal, the bicycle moved as if flying, the wind whistling past his ears. He fell in love with it almost instantly.
"Let's put the doggie down first, okay?" Fang Zichen asked.
Guaizai agreed this time. "Mh! Put in basket." As soon as the dog was put down, he couldn't wait. "Father, Guaizai wants to ride bicycle more, Guaizai wants to ride bicycle more."
"Okay, okay~"
Watching the father and son having fun in the yard, Zhao Ger went inside to organize his bundle.
He separated the food, clothes, and toys. The clothes were all newly bought, but only for himself and their son. The food was also sweets and candies, again things he and their son liked to eat. Zhao Ger held back the sour feeling in his nose. After organizing everything, he went into the kitchen to heat water.
Guaizai played until he was covered in sweat. The more he rode the bicycle, the more addicted he became. Since he had never fallen off, his confidence grew with each lap around the yard.
Zhao Ger bathed him and carefully washed the puppy too before letting them play on the bed.
Even with the longed-for puppy, Guaizai still stuck close to Fang Zichen. His absence of several days seemed to have made Guaizai afraid, always worried that if he didn't keep an eye on Fang Zichen, he would disappear again when he turned around.
Fang Zichen tricked Guaizai, saying he needed to use the outhouse. Instead, he took a piece of candy and went into the kitchen, handing it to Zhao Ger. "Try this. I heard this candy is very tasty."
The candy's wrapper was of high quality. Jingpinzhai also sold this type of candy, though in different colors. It was quite expensive—a single piece cost as much as several jin of meat.
"Why did you buy this?" he said.
Fang Zichen said, "To eat, of course! Or should we play with it?"
Zhao Ger added a stick of firewood to the stove. "It's too expensive. It's a waste for me to eat it."
Hearing this, Fang Zichen was unhappy. "How is giving it to you to eat a waste?"
Zhao Ger felt a warmth in his heart. "I..."
"If I bought it, just eat it," Fang Zichen said, unwrapping the candy and bringing it to Zhao Ger's lips. "It's the same whoever eats it. Do you think if you eat it, you'll poop waste, but if someone else eats it, they'll poop gold? I'm telling you, it's impossible. When I was still the Third Young Master Fang, I ate everything. Whatever you eat still turns into poop. The tastier it is, the worse it smells when it comes out. Eat it. There are only a few pieces. Don't let our son know. Eating candy at night is bad for his teeth."
Zhao Ger: "..."
Zhao Ger didn't refuse anymore and ate it from his hand.
It was indeed sweet, much tastier than the cheap candy they bought before, with a hint of fruit fragrance. He narrowed his eyes, looking as satisfied as a cat that stole a treat.
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