Chapter 389
The kitchen wasn't far from the main hall. Guaizai was about to return, and as Fang Zichen heard the footsteps drawing closer, he didn't care about getting dirty anymore. He quickly scooped up that sausage‑like strand of noodle and stuffed it into his sleeve.
"Father, here's the water, drink up quick! Eh, Brother Xiao Feng, you eat noodles so fast." Guaizai handed the water to Fang Zichen, then sidled up to Xiao Feng and asked solicitously, "Is it that good? Are you full? If not, there's still flour in the kitchen – Guaizai will make you some more."
Xiao Feng hurriedly said, "Enough, enough."
There was still a little left in the bowl. Guaizai stood by and watched him finish it, completely satisfied, then took the bowl and chopsticks to the kitchen for him. When he came back out, he saw Xiao Feng clapping a hand over his mouth and dashing into the latrine. Fang Zichen and Zhao Ger were standing outside looking at each other, both a little worried.
Guaizai walked over with a serious look on his face, hands clasped behind his back, and said in his best grown‑up voice:
"Father, Daddy, let's go first! Brother Xiao Feng might need some time alone."
Fang Zichen watched him look utterly melancholy, then shake his head with a hint of smugness and sigh: "Ah, it's just a bowl of noodles – how can he be so easily moved!"
He's even run into the latrine to cry secretly.
Oh dear, what's to be done!
Three years ago, when they were still in the capital, Zhao Ger had also celebrated Xiao Feng's birthday. Back then, the Zhao family all sent gifts, and the evening was very lively. Zhao Ger even made a big cake. Xiao Feng had no idea until Guaizai led him in front of the cake, made him make a wish, made him blow out the candles, and then everyone said "Happy Birthday" and gave him gifts – only then did he react.
At that moment, he couldn't quite put into words what he was feeling. His chest felt tight and achy—gratitude, joy, and happiness all swirled together, pressing and jostling against his heart. It seemed something inside him had cracked open, and at the same time, something had suddenly been lit up. His nose stung, his eyes welled up in an instant, and he broke down crying right there.
Guaizai thought that today, Xiao Feng had been moved to tears by him again.
Fang Zichen studied Guaizai carefully. Sometimes he truly didn't understand — was the boy clever or dense?
If dense, then how did he have a photographic memory and learn anything after just one or two glances?
If clever — then why run into the latrine clutching his mouth to cry? Was crying in the latrine somehow more fragrant?
Guaizai clenched his fists and said solemnly, "Next year Guaizai will make some for Brother Xiao Feng again. Today I made too little – it felt like Brother Xiao Feng didn't quite have enough. Next year I'll make more."
Zhao Ger: "..."
He was afraid that if Xiao Feng heard that, he'd be even more upset.
"Didn't you have your exercise today? Go on, get to it."
"Okay."
Once Guaizai had gone, Xiao Feng came out of the latrine.
Fang Zichen took out that noodle strand, looked at it – it was still clean, since Aunt Jiang swept every day at home.
Zhao Ger watched as he waved Gungun and Dandan over and asked: "Sons, do you want some?"
Zhao Ger: "..."
Zhao Ger gave him a punch: "These are your own sons!"
"I was just asking." Though Fang Zichen hated wasting food, he gritted his teeth and tossed that half‑raw noodle into the latrine.
What else could he do? Even a dog wouldn't eat it.
Zhao Ger looked at Xiao Feng with some concern: "Are you alright? Want me to have Physician Li take a look at you?"
After all he just ate something bad.
Physician Li had previously opened his own medical hall, but later he received orders and went with the Qin family soldiers to serve as a military physician for the soldiers.
The new recruits trained hard, and at first they often had aches and pains here and there. Later, Fang Zichen thought about it – there were so many new soldiers, and if they normally had a headache or fever, or accidentally got injured, it would be too troublesome to have to run out of the training grounds to find a physician.
In modern military units, they all have medics attached!
So Fang Zichen sent Physician Li over.
The training grounds were full of seventeen‑ or eighteen‑year‑old lads – young, passionate, full of vigour. Staying with people like that, Physician Li felt like he'd grown decades younger himself.
During breaks, they often came by to chat with him—talking about their villages, or what they got up to as children. One of them joked that his butt was so small now because his mother had spanked him too much when he was little, and his butt got so scared it just refused to grow. All sorts of funny tales like that.
Sometimes it was busy, but more often it was slow. Yet Physician Li never felt bored – no matter what, Fang Zichen had promised him six taels of silver a month. That might sound like little, but he had no children, only an apprentice, and that apprentice was already with Fang Zichen and never went hungry. No matter how much he earned, he couldn't take it with him, so he didn't think about opening another medical hall. The training grounds were just fine! Every day he watched those young lads yelp under the whip and run around clutching their backsides – it was entertaining too. He'd come back in the evening chuckling and telling his wife about it, which made her so curious she wanted to go see for herself.
The training grounds had only taken two days off for New Year, and training had already resumed. Physician Li wasn't at the Fang residence today.
Xiao Feng said he was fine – throwing up had made it better.
Naturally, Zhao Ger made him another big cake. There were many people in the household with a sweet tooth, and if the cake was too small, there wouldn't be enough to go around.
That evening, Feng momo and Uncle Tang slaughtered both a chicken and a duck and made a full table of dishes. They waited for Physician Li to return, and everyone had a lively, hearty meal together.
When the sky had dimmed a little, the cake was brought out, with two small candles stuck on top. Xiao Feng's eyes instantly lit up, and an uncontrollable smile spread across his face.
Guaizai jumped up, more excited than anyone: "Brother Xiao Feng, make a wish, make a wish!"
The cake looked soft and fragrant, with a faint sweet aroma wafting over. Gungun and Dandan didn't fuss – their hearts had already flown to the cake. Their gazes were fierce as wolves, fixed on it, and their drool stretched into sticky threads – one end still at the corners of their mouths, the other nearly touching the floor.
The candlelight was dim and yellow. The people around him – Physician Li's family, Feng momo and Uncle Tang, Xiu Ger, Uncle Zhao, Uncle Fang, Guaizai, and Gungun and Dandan – all wore smiles on their faces.
Xiao Feng's gaze swept over each of their faces, one by one. Finally, he pressed his palms together, closed his eyes, and was silent for a moment before blowing out the candles.
"Hooray! Time to eat the cake!" Guaizai was overjoyed.
Cake wasn't easy to make, and they'd been busy since arriving in Hezhou – Guaizai hadn't had any for nearly a year, so he was thrilled now.
Zhao Ger gave him a big slice. Guaizai grinned: "Daddy, you're so pretty today. Guaizai loves you lots."
Zhao Ger pinched his cheek: "You only talk sweet when there's food."
Gungun and Dandan got their shares too. They held the cake in both hands and looked at it for a good while, then climbed onto their stools and took a bite. Their eyes went wide – sweet, smooth, creamy frosting, rich cheese flavour. Their little short legs kept kicking in the air, absolutely delighted, and they couldn't stop eating.
One slice wasn't enough.
"Daddy, more please."
Zhao Ger wouldn't give them any more, so the two little ones immediately looked at Fang Zichen. Fang Zichen turned around, putting his back to them.
Gungun and Dandan pouted, feeling that their father was quite unreliable. Then they looked at their dearly beloved big brother... Guaizai had also turned his back.
Gungun and Dandan then looked at Uncle Tang, who usually spoiled them the most. Four dark, gleaming eyes, burning bright yet pitiful, full of hope and pleading. Uncle Tang's heart softened – but the moment he saw their chubby faces, he turned away too.
They looked at Xiao Feng, who also lowered his eyes and pretended not to see.
Gungun and Dandan: "..."
Playing pitiful didn't work either.
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