Chapter 472: Xiao Huai’an Extra: So-called Family (9)

Seeing his two young siblings, Xiao Huai’an smiled broadly, walked up, and picked up Pengpeng in his arms, laughing as he said, “Pengpeng, do you still remember your brother?”

Logically, a year ago when he left home, Pengpeng and Little Tiger were just one year old and shouldn’t have had much impression of this brother.

But perhaps blood is thicker than water, Pengpeng, suddenly picked up by this unfamiliar brother, just tilted his head and looked at him for a while before giggling aloud, reaching out his chubby little hands for Xiao Huai’an to hold, and babbling, “Wow! Brother, brother… nice… hug!”

Seeing this, Little Tiger quickly ran over too, wrapped his arms around Xiao Huai’an’s leg, and stubbornly shouted, “Brother, hug! Brother, hug!”

He pouted his little mouth, looking like an unhappy baby who felt neglected.

Smiling, Xiao Huai’an glanced at Little Tiger, about to tell him he’d hug him later, when Xiao Yuyue from the pavilion also protested, stood up abruptly, and jumped in front of Xiao Huai’an in a few steps, hands on her hips and huffing, “Brother is mine! Brother can only hug me! Pengpeng… Pengpeng and Little Tiger have sister to hug them!”

However, Pengpeng and Little Tiger were still young and didn’t understand any of this, not sparing a glance for their usually most beloved sister, continuing to cling to Xiao Huai’an.

Xiao Huai’an: “…”

At this moment, he suddenly understood what is meant by the happiness of being troubled.

While the group of children were bustling around their rarely homecoming elder brother, a voice more solemn and deep than ten years ago suddenly sounded, “Chang Xiao, you’re back?”

Xiao Huai’an paused, looked up towards the voice, and his eyes instantly narrowed in a smile, “Dad, I’m back.”

There, entering the courtyard slowly, was a tall and handsome man, wearing a three-beam headdress and a black robe embroidered with five-inch floral patterns, his black eyes calm, exuding an aura of authority without anger, making it easy to imagine how he could make civil and military officials apprehensive just by standing on the court.

Matured quite a bit as well, Dongli followed behind his Lord, seeing him pretend, couldn’t help but cough lightly, smiling as he said, “When Lord Xiao sent a letter saying he’d be back today, Lord immediately postponed all the planned matters for today, finishing in advance those that couldn’t be delayed, so he could return on time today.”

The certain old father suddenly exposed: “…”

Xu Jing glanced at the man not far away, also smiled and said, “I can attest to this; your dad was out till midnight for several days, and after returning home, he still had to handle official business in the study. He actually missed you a lot.”

Xiao Yi: “…”

Xiao Huai’an looked at his father, whose face couldn’t quite maintain its expression, and the curve of his mouth raised higher, saying, “I’m aware of Mom and Dad’s concern for me, thank you, Dad.”

Though Xiao Yi had some common men’s problems, he was fairly straightforward; seeing his cover almost blown, he gave up struggling, coughed lightly, and softened his voice saying, “Why thank Dad? You’ve returned home after a year; Dad, no matter how busy, wants to come back to have dinner with you. Have you been well outside this year?”

Xiao Huai’an smiled and said, “Very good, I met many friends and experienced lots of interesting things.”

“That’s good.”

Xiao Yi nodded, saying, “Take the opportunity to spend some time with your mom, I’ll go change my clothes first.”

After that, he picked up Little Tiger, who was about to cry from being neglected, pouted, nudging his little forehead as he smiled and said, “You little one, come keep Dad company, don’t go bothering your mom and brother later.”

This little guy cries astonishingly loudly; no one knows better than his father, who hadn’t slept well since Little Tiger was born.

With that, he turned and left holding Little Tiger.

Xiao Huai’an smilingly petted Xiao Yuyue’s head, whose face was still puffed up angrily, holding Pengpeng in one arm and leading Xiao Yuyue with the other, they headed to the pavilion and sat down.

Xiao Yuyue finally pouted, stopped asking Xiao Huai’an to hold her, and thoughtfully stretched out her hand saying, “Big brother, Mom specially made floral cake and ice cream for you; let me take Pengpeng, it’s inconvenient for you to eat while holding her.”

Xiao Huai’an smiled at her, “Ling’er seems a lot more mature.”

Xiao Yuyue’s cheeks slightly reddened, “Well, I am a sister now.”

Xu Jing also smiled and said, “Don’t mind this little girl messing around usually, but when it comes to taking care of Pengpeng and Little Tiger, your dad and I can’t do it as well as she can; don’t worry, you may entrust Pengpeng with her.”

Xiao Huai’an raised his eyebrows slightly, but ultimately couldn’t bear to let his little sister toil, he handed Pengpeng to Chunyang nearby, smiling, “Pengpeng has others to take care of her, Ling’er, you accompany brother for some food.”

Xiao Yuyue immediately turned her eyes unusually.

Xu Jing promptly cautioned, “This girl already ate quite a lot just now, I only persuaded her with difficulty to leave some snacks for you, don’t go stirring her cravings; this girl has no moderation when it comes to her favorite foods, though luckily she never seems to gain weight.”

Xiao Yuyue’s little scheme fell through, she couldn’t help but whine cutely, “Mom! Humph, I’m growing, what’s wrong with eating more?”

Ultimately, worried the little girl might get an upset stomach from overeating, the remaining snacks were all swept into Xiao Huai’an’s stomach.

Not long after the snacks, it was dinner time.

After a year apart, the family sat all together at the table again, although many big families insisted on no talking at meals or bedtime, Xu Jing always felt this was too lifeless, especially with more children, to constantly restrain their temperament, she couldn’t bear it, thus their family never followed this rule.

The family was as on countless prior evenings, eating dinner and chatting casually.

Looking at the table full of dishes, Xiao Huai’an couldn’t help but blink.

Xiao Yuyue instantly offered as if presenting a treasure, “Brother, these are all your favorite dishes! Qiushui started preparing for today’s dinner from yesterday.”

Xiao Huai’an couldn’t help but glance at Qiushui, smiling, “Thank you, I really missed Qiushui’s cooking when I was outside.”

Among Xu Jing’s maidservants, who were all married women now, Chunyang and Chunxiang still served Xu Jing, Qiushui moved to the kitchen, managing affairs there, while the most meticulous Chuju and Shen cared for the two youngest masters.

Qiushui immediately squinted with a smiling gaze, “It’s my honor that Lord likes my cooking, please eat more, if it’s not enough, I’ll make more.”

Xiao Huai’an couldn’t help but chuckle.

Perhaps, this is what family is, always fearing you’ll be hungry, cold, always feeling they can’t give you enough.

When the family had eaten about enough, Xiao Yi suddenly asked, “On this recent trip to West Continent, you visited your uncle and aunt, are they doing well now?”