Before this, she could not tell that Brother Zhai had matured and that he was behaving like a father.

  This year, Lunar New Year was particularly joyous as they had Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing with them.

  Now that Shi Qing was at the Zhai family’s residence, she could no longer hide from her parents that she was back in the capital. Once Shi Peng received news that Shi Qing was back and she had done well for the mission, he dashed to the Zhai family’s residence in the shortest time possible.

  Shi Peng was in a bad mood when he reached the Zhai family’s residence. He was all ready for a ‘battle’. Although he did not have a sword with him, he brought a feather duster that he had kept for many years with him. He raised it high into the air. As soon as he saw Shi Qing, he did not even talk to her but used the feather duster on her.

  Shi Peng was swift and harsh. Shi Qing jumped in surprise and turned her back on him so as to protect Da Bao who was in her arms. She feared that Da Bao would be accidentally hit by her father.

  If she did not have Da Bao in her arms, given Shi Qing’s skills, she would be able to dart around agilely like a monkey. Shi Peng would not be able to land his feather duster at the corner of the lower hem of her clothes. However, with Da Bao in her arms, it was difficult for her to escape from her father’s whips. Her father managed to land half of the whips on her.

  Qiao Nan tidied her clothes and came downstairs to see that her living room was in chaos. The feathers from the feather duster were floating around and Shi Qing was jumping around the house.

  Qiao Nan was lost for words when she saw how Shi Qing held Da Bao in her arms and jumped about to avoid being whipped by Shi Peng. She feared that Da Bao would be frightened and wanted to get Da Bao from Shi Qing.

  However, when she took a closer look, she realized that the young brat was excited and thrilled. He would flail his arms occasionally, as if to cheer Shi Qing. There was a glitter of joy in his eyes at being able to ‘fly’ around with Shi Qing as she jumped about, avoiding being hit by her father.

  It was obvious that Da Bao was enjoying himself. It was as if he was filming an action movie.

  As for Er Bao and San Bao, they were enjoying the show. They held the teething rusks and stared intently at Shi Qing and Shi Peng. They looked to the left and the right, and they would lift their head to look upward, their gaze never leaving the two of them.

  \r \r \r

  When it got exciting, they would stop chewing on the teething rusk, widening their mouths in shock. It was as if they were empathizing with Shi Qing. Thereafter, they would resume chewing on the teething rush, though biting on it harder than before, and continue with the show.

  “.……” Qiao Nan rolled her eyes at the scene. She was speechless at the scene in the living room.

  “What are you doing?” Qiao Nan finally stepped in to stop the game of hiding and chasing between the father and daughter. She was worried that the triplets would learn the bad ways and she felt that Shi Qing had received her due punishment. She hurried to save Da Bao from Shi Qing. “Uncle Shi, Shi Qing has finally come back. You should be considerate of her feelings when there are outsiders.”

  Shi Qing smiled widely after passing Da Bao to Qiao Nan. She felt pain all over her body. “That’s right, Dad. You are being too vicious. It is eight o’clock in the morning. Aren’t you supposed to be working? Don’t tell me that you’re skipping work? This is so unlike you.”

  Shi Peng sneered. “Unlike me? If I don’t teach you a lesson, I might lose you forever. Tell me. Why are you so daring to go on a……”

  At the thought of how daring Shi Qing was, Shi Peng felt like using his feather duster on her again to teach her a lesson. “Nan Nan is right. I will let you off for the time being. I will wait until we are back at home to discipline you.” Did she think that everything was over after a few spanks? No way!

  Settle accounts?

  He would do so at home!

  There were more to come.

  Shi Qing stiffened, turning to look at Qiao Nan. “Is that what you meant just now?”

  Qiao Nan wiped the saliva off Da Bao’s cheeks and said calmly, “If not, what else could it be?” She definitely meant that.

  “Brother Zhai, you didn’t do anything and just sat by the side, watching the show with the triplets?” Qiao Nan raised her hands to catch hold of one feather that was floating in the air. “Uncle Shi, the feather duster is of low quality. Half of the feathers are gone.” He had yet to give Shi Qing a lesson, but half of its feathers were already gone.

  Shi Peng smiled. “Don’t worry about it. Ever since…… I bought a lot of feather dusters. Do you know how the shops sell the feather dusters? They sell it in bundles just like how one would sell the candied fruits on bamboo skewers. I bought the entire bundle of feather dusters. It is alright that this is spoiled. I will simply throw it away.”

  Shi Peng was not joking. He was serious.

  Shi Peng used to serve in the army and he was a high achiever in the army. That was why he was able to contend for supremacy with Zhai Yaohui.

  When he was young, he had participated in all kinds of dangerous missions and he had sustained different types of injuries. Shi Peng had been through the difficult days but he was indifferent about it.

  However, it was another matter when he knew that his only daughter went through the same hardships as him. He could not take the news as calmly as when he himself was injured.

  There were many nights where Shi Peng would be jolted awake due to nightmares. He would dream of the horrible sights that he faced in the past. The only difference was that his daughter was the person who went through all the hardships in his dreams. He could only watch helplessly as his daughter was in great risk time and again. She was injured but he could do nothing about it. She was bleeding profusely from her wounds in his dreams. Shi Peng would always wake up feeling heartache and immense pain.

  Although Shi Peng knew that it was only a dream, he was unable to shake off this fear of seeing his daughter in agony.

  Shi Peng had been on tenterhooks for the longest time ever since his daughter lost contact with him.

  Shi Peng’s health had just gotten better. If he continued to be under stress and constant worry, Shi Peng might suffer from another illness—heart disease!

  He must make sure to teach Shi Qing a lesson this time.

  Qiao Nan smiled, gazing at Shi Qing, wishing her luck.

  No matter what, Shi Peng could finally feel at ease now that his daughter had returned safely. He looked at her, hinting that he would teach her a lesson later. He then smiled and reached his hands toward Da Bao, who was in Qiao Nan’s arms. “Is he the elder brother or younger brother? He looks sturdy and strong.”

  “This is Da Bao.” Qiao Nan handed Da Bao to Shi Peng. She would not stop Shi Peng from carrying her babies, as she would be watching by the side. “The baby that Zhu Baoguo is carrying is Er Bao. The baby in Brother Zhai’s arms is San Bao. She is the only daughter.”

  “I could tell at one look.” Shi Peng touched Da Bao’s chubby arms. He had finally calmed down. “Zhai Sheng, your dad has good fortune.” Of course, Zhai Sheng had chosen well.

  Zhai Yaohui and he were of the same generation and they were of similar age. However, Zhai Yaohui was already a grandpa and had three grandchildren.

  What about him?

  Although he could not become a paternal grandfather, he was contented to being a maternal grandfather. The problem was he had no idea when he would become a grandfather and hold his grandchild in his arms.