Madam Liu, along with everyone else, reluctantly departed from the garrison.
Once the women and children had left, Meng Qinghong, with a somber face, said to his grandson, "Yuting, why did you kneel to that concubine's branch daughter? Have you forgotten what your grandfather taught you, that a man's knees are made of gold?"
"Your grandson has not forgotten."
"Then why did you elevate them just now?" Meng Qinghong asked aggressively.
"Grandfather, your grandson is not elevating anyone. With our current status, who needs our elevation?"
Meng Qinghong was rendered speechless by his grandson's words.
"Grandfather, I was merely thanking Aunt Xiao He in my capacity as a father. Auntie Er just said that without Aunt Xiao He, Bao'er… might have…" Although the words were few, Meng Yuting, as a father, could not say them.
No matter the time, Meng Qinghong never wanted to bow his head to the concubine's branch.
"Grandfather, we still have people in the main branch, and Grandmother is here, and Tang'er is here too. But the one who can help me raise Bao'er is Aunt Xiao He from the concubine's branch."
Hearing his son's words, Meng Qisheng looked ashamed. "Yuting, it is your father who has wronged you."
"My father made mistakes in my marriage, and I also made mistakes. If I had insisted on not marrying a daughter of the Mei family, perhaps things would be different, and at least Bao'er would have a mother to raise her."
To say Meng Yuting felt no resentment at this moment would be a lie.
"Alas, in the end, it is all my fault. If only back then…" Meng Qisheng wanted to say that if he had resisted temptation back then, the Meng family might still be the Meng family.
"What's the point of you two father and son talking about that?"
"Father."
"Grandfather."
"Things have already happened. Pursuing who was right or wrong is meaningless."
Meng Yuting lowered his head. He feared his stubborn grandfather, and also felt a sense of resistance.
In his opinion, his grandfather was sometimes too much. But his grandfather was ultimately an elder, and with filial piety demanding respect, all a junior could do was endure.
The next day, as the sun just began to climb over the mountain ridge in the east, Fu Xinci was already up, squatting on the grass in front of the door and watching the sparkling dewdrops roll on the grass tips.
She was engrossed in watching, thinking about how some meticulous people use dew to brew tea, when she heard the sound of footsteps from the direction of the small river, and not just one person.
When she turned around, she saw the two households of the main branch returning from that direction, not a single person missing.
Madam Li and the others also saw Fu Xinci. Everyone exchanged a knowing smile and said nothing, afraid of disturbing Grandpa Meng and causing him distress.
Yesterday morning, the craftsmen had already agreed with Grandpa Meng that if the weather was clear today, they would build courtyard walls for the Meng family.
And so, early in the morning, Grandpa Meng was discussing important matters with the craftsmen and had no time to pay attention to the two households of the main branch.
After breakfast, the craftsmen who were building the courtyard walls began their work. Looking at the width of the foundation being dug, Fu Xinci could guess that their courtyard wall would be quite wide.
Then, recalling what her grandfather and her 'cheap' father had said last night, their courtyard was to encompass five mu of land.
Fu Xinci began to circle around, watching the craftsmen measure and dig the foundation.
Looking at the area they were enclosing, it was indeed not small. But then she remembered that a large granary was to be built against the west wall, and a threshing ground was to be made outside the wall.
Thinking of her grandfather's plans, Fu Xinci suddenly felt that no matter how large their courtyard was, her grandfather would be able to arrange it perfectly.
She secretly glanced at her grandfather's slightly hunched back and wished she could find a place where no one was around and shout at time: "Even if you are a butcher's knife, don't chase after Grandfather alone!"
If Meng Yutang, who was feeling dejected, had known what Fu Xinci was thinking, he would have loudly told her, "Look at my grandfather, he's been hacked by time beyond recognition, including his father."
To be honest, if it hadn't been for the fact that there were only four people in that room yesterday, he wouldn't have been sure if those people were his relatives.
Especially his father, whom he hadn't recognized at first glance. If it weren't for the memory of his father's silhouette, he would never have been able to reconcile the once dashing and handsome father with the old man with white hair in front of him.
Thinking that his father now looked older than his second uncle, he felt an indescribable ache in his heart.
As Meng Yutang was lost in thought, he heard Meng Qishan and Meng Qitian call him, "Yutang, do you want to go up the mountain with us to pick up branches?"
"I'll go." Meng Yutang truly cared for his father, but their family still had to live, and that was also true. Winter was coming, and the family needed to prepare firewood for the winter, so they had agreed to go up the mountain every day to collect branches.
"Yutang, don't forget to bring your carrying basket. That way we can also pick up some mountain goods."
"Got it." Meng Yutang responded, then turned to go back and get the carrying basket and rope.
When he came out with the carrying basket, he saw Qi He and his elder sister also standing outside with carrying baskets. He forced a cheerful tone and said, "Are you all waiting for me?"
"Yes and no."
"…?"
"There are the Meng Yuwen brothers, and Shuang Bang."
"They're coming, they're coming! Hurry up, you four!"
"Alright."
Fu Xinci watched the younger brothers run up behind them and couldn't help but think that the younger brothers' build resembled Zhou Shi, not the Thirteenth Master at all.
When everyone had arrived, they were chatting and were about to set off when they saw Meng Yuwu and Meng Yusu also coming out with ropes.
"We'll go with you," Meng Yuwu said to Fu Xinci, looking at the group.
"Cousin, climbing mountains is very tiring. Are you sure you want to go?"
"We'll try our best not to be a burden," Meng Yusu said shyly.
Before anyone else could reply, Fu Xinci agreed first, "Alright, just keep up, two elder sisters."
"Mhmm, thank you, Xinci."
"You're welcome. Let's go." Fu Xinci waved her hand, and a group of children of varying heights marched towards the large mountain in front of them.
Fu Xinci had been to this mountain several times, so the novelty had worn off.
Shuang Bang, Meng Yuwu, and Meng Yusu were here for the first time. Along the way, they found everything new and interesting, especially when they saw a hawthorn tree full of fruit. Meng Yuwu wanted to pick some.
It was Meng Yutang who reminded her, "Why are you picking that sour thing?"
"Grandmother didn't say this can help with digestion?"
Hearing her words, Meng Yutang's bad mood vanished. "My dear sister, who in our family needs help with digestion now?"
"It seems no one does."
"Of course not. We are very precise about the amount of food we cook now, and Grandmother doesn't let Aunt Er make any extra."
"Exactly. Every day, Mother discusses with Grandmother for a long time when cooking."
"Discuss what?" Fu Xinci asked, a little confused.
"Of course, it's about how much water to add," Meng Yusu replied somewhat sheepishly.
"Oh." After hearing Meng Yusu's words, Fu Xinci felt embarrassed to ask further.