Tian Jing called her husband over, asking him to help her grandfather get out of bed and walk. It was suggested that he should be able to walk on his own within a few days, gradually.
Grandpa Xiao was completely convinced by his granddaughter and did as he was told.
"Li Zhengguo, is that right?"
"Yes, Grandpa, hello. You weren't feeling well just now, and I didn't get a chance to greet you properly."
"It's alright, it's alright, we're family, no need to be so formal. Put on the jacket by the head of the bed for me, I want to go see the three babies."
When it came to taking care of people, no one was more meticulous than Li Zhengguo.
Grandpa Xiao was surprised. "Seeing you like this, do you often do this at home?"
"Yes, when Tian Tian was inconvenient, I took care of her."
"Did you just go wash the diapers?"
"Yes, yes. This kind of thing isn't suitable for women to do, especially women who have just finished their confinement. Tian Tian's physical foundation isn't good, and I can't bear to let her suffer."
Li Zhengguo was not shy about showing off his strengths.
Grandpa Xiao nodded with satisfaction. "Indeed, women work very hard. For giving birth to children for you, you should take good care of her."
"That's for sure," Li Zhengguo nodded. "After Tian Tian came to my home, my family underwent earth-shattering changes. All of this is because of Tian Tian's kindness to me and my family. I can't take it for granted."
"Between people, there is no such thing as 'should', only sincerity. If you can't keep your lover's heart, then this person is a failure."
Grandpa Xiao smiled. "Yes, this is the simplest truth, yet many people fail to understand it. They blame their partners for changing their minds or for disliking them."
"Men should look for the reasons within themselves. A woman's heart is simple; love and sincerity are the foundations for her willingness to give everything."
As they spoke, Li Zhengguo had already helped Grandpa Xiao out of the east room.
Just as Xiao Shuyuan received the high-quality hundred-year-old fresh ginseng from the young lady, his face still showing surprise, he saw the old master being helped out by the young son-in-law.
He hurried to help from the other side. "Old Master? Your legs aren't weak anymore?"
"They are still a bit weak, but I can stand. I want to see the three babies, and then I'll go back to lie down."
Grandpa Xiao said, flinging his arms, not allowing Xiao Shuyuan to support him. "Don't help me. Zhengguo is doing a good job by himself. He takes better care of people than you do. Right, Jingjing?"
Tian Jing nodded. "Yes, as soon as I was pregnant, he treated me like a baby and took very meticulous care of me. Don't worry, he won't let you fall. He's strong enough to carry you."
"Heh heh, I'm not worried, not worried at all. Where are the babies?"
Tian Jing pulled over a pure wooden chair from the main hall for him to sit on. "You sit here, and I'll call them out."
"Alright, alright, I'll sit here and wait."
Tian Jing, holding her daughter, came out with her two sons.
"Hao Hao, Xiao Bo, say hello to your great-grandfather."
"Hello, Great-Grandpa."
"Hello, Great-Grandpa."
Looking at the two handsome great-grandsons, Grandpa Xiao beamed.
"Eh, eh, good, good, all good. Ah Yuan, go get the gift I prepared."
"Yes, yes."
Xiao Shuyuan put down the ginseng and secretly wiped away a tear. The old master hadn't been this happy in a long time.
Tian Jing placed her daughter in front of Grandpa Xiao. "How about this one? Are you relieved?"
Grandpa Xiao was stunned, then chuckled. "Heh heh, relieved, relieved. Seeing Hao Hao and Xiao Bo, I was worried about this one in your hands. I didn't expect... this little girl will grow up and be blessed."
"Hao Hao is also envious."
"Is that so? What did Hao Hao say?"
"Hao Hao said his sister is capable, and he and his younger brother are too clumsy."
"Hao Hao is a smart child, he knows how to talk."
"Xiao Bo is even better at talking."
"Oh? What did Xiao Bo say?"
"Xiao Bo said that Daddy will love them a little more, and Mommy will love his sister a little more."
Grandpa Xiao was taken aback for a moment, then understood. "Hahaha, hahaha, these two children are very smart, and you've raised them very well."
Grandpa Xiao's joyful laughter startled Ah Guang, who had just returned with the purchased items.
Tian Jing glanced outside. "Grandpa, you should go back and rest."
"Wait a moment."
Xiao Shuyuan entered with a wooden box and placed it in front of Grandpa Xiao.
Grandpa Xiao took out two large and one small peace locks. "Jingjing, you wear them for them. Hao Hao's is orchid, and Xiao Bo's is bamboo."
Tian Jing reached out to take them. She could feel the coolness and knew it was good jade, even if she didn't understand it.
"Hao Hao, Xiao Bo, thank you, Great-Grandpa."
"Thank you, Great-Grandpa."
"Thank you, Great-Grandpa."
Grandpa Xiao waved his hand. "You're welcome, you're welcome. You wear them first. When you grow up, there will be bigger ones, and Great-Grandpa has prepared them for you."
Li Weihao looked up at his kind great-grandfather. "When we grow up, Great-Grandpa, will you put them on us with your own hands?"
Uh~ Grandpa Xiao was reluctant to deceive the child.
Tian Jing answered, "Yes, you can. Your Great-Grandpa is just sick and will get better soon."
"Mm-hmm, we believe Mommy."
"Jingjing~" The great-grandson's words made Grandpa Xiao worry that his granddaughter would break her promise.
"Don't you trust me?"
Remembering that his granddaughter had mentioned a secret recipe from elsewhere to recuperate, which had indeed made him feel a bit better after drinking it, Grandpa Xiao nodded. "I trust you."
"That's good. Zheng Ge, help Grandpa back to bed to rest."
Xiao Shuyuan went to prepare the wine. The ginseng was of such good quality, and the old master was in such good spirits. Perhaps...
Tian Jing put the peace locks on her two sons. "This is jade, it can break easily. But if you wear it for a long time, jade can nourish people. Be careful."
"Mm-hmm."
For her daughter, there was a budding peony carved. Tian Jing didn't put it on her yet; her daughter was still young, and they would wait until she was a year old.
...
Li Zhengguo left the east room and carried the items Ah Guang bought into the west room.
Ah Guang wanted to give him the remaining money, but Li Zhengguo waved his hand. "I might ask you to buy more things. Just keep the accounts."
Ah Guang found his godfather.
His godfather was brewing wine. "Listen to their words, follow their arrangements. As for the young lady, wait until she comes and has a spar with the young miss."
"Then, should we inform the young lady?"
"Not yet. Wait until the old master's health has improved for a while. I think there's hope; this ginseng is very good."
"Then, do we not need to take sides?"
"Take sides, take the old master's side. We'll do whatever the old master arranges for us. Don't say 'take sides' again."
"Yes."
...
Xu Ma asked the old master what he wanted for dinner.
Grandpa Xiao thought of the hardships his granddaughter had endured. "What did Jingjing bring?"
"Sauerkraut and vermicelli buns, fried dough fish, pickles, pan-fried cakes, and boiled eggs."
"Then I'll have half a bun, a small piece of fried dough fish, and half an egg, with half a bowl of millet porridge and a few pickles."
Despite being simple food, Grandpa Xiao felt very comfortable in his stomach after eating what he had ordered.
Xiao Shuyuan, who was accompanying him, was startled. "Old Master, are you... full?"
"Not full, it's just right. I chose the easily digestible items from the food Jingjing brought."
Xiao Shuyuan picked up the empty bowl and turned to leave. "I'll go eat quickly."
They were already eating in the dining room.
Ah Guang was eating his fifth boiled egg. "Godfather, hurry up and eat. The boiled eggs are delicious, no, even the pickles are delicious. The pan-fried cake with pickles is especially good."
Tian Jing "..." She regretted letting these returnees taste authentic farm food.
The grains and vegetables from their Kushan mountains were all imbued with a little of her wood-element ability, especially those from the families she was close to.
If only they had a refrigerator...
Tian Jing reached out and snatched the pickles. "Steward Xiao, does your old master like them?"
Xiao Shuyuan stopped his chopsticks. "Yes, the old master ate them all."
"Pickles can be stored for a long time. Serve them with porridge for the old master."
Ah Guang, who had extended his chopsticks, quietly retracted them. There were clearly still a few pickled radishes, so why did she snatch the plate of cut ones?