She had always said that she would take care of her master in his old age. In this current situation, would it still be considered as her taking care of her master?

  Although they were both elderly and were in poor health at the same time, Old Master Zhai and Old Lin were treated quite differently. Qiao Nan pitied Old Lin for this difference in treatment and was in greater misery for not being able to fulfill her promise to stay by Old Lin’s side and take care of him while he was ill.

  As a disciple, she had not fulfilled her responsibilities.

  The next day was the children’s birthday, but the Zhai family was not joyful. Instead, the mood was somber.

  Zhai Hua, who had just returned home, was unaware of the situation. Upon seeing his son whom he had been separated from for a long time, Zhai Hua happily held Xiao Bao in his arms and forcefully kissed his son’s face. “Xiao Bao, did you miss me?”

  Xiao Bao, who was being hugged too tightly, pouted and disgruntledly wiped off the saliva from his face. “I did. Mom, when are you free? Can you send me to the nursery?” Every time he went to school, his mother had never appeared. All the other children in the nursery had joked that he was an orphan.

  “Sure, baby.” Zhai Hua was extremely proud. After all, he was like a piece of herself. Even though she did not spend much time with her son, her son still treasured her as his biological mother. “Mom has a long holiday this time. Even after National Day is over, I won’t leave. I’ll send you to school then. How’s that? Then, during the National Day period, I’ll bring you over to grandma’s house for a few days and play with you four for a while.”

  \r \r \r

  “Mom, you’re the best! I love you!” Xiao Bao’s eyes twinkled as he let out a squeal in his baby voice. His chubby little hands held onto Zhai Hua’s face and he puckered up his cheeks to kiss her. “Mom, why are you only back now? I missed you so much!”

  With Xiao Bao’s sweet talk, Zhai Hua and Xiao Bao’s intelligence and expression completely changed. Zhai Hua was up in arms by Xiao Bao’s cajoling and after a few kisses from him, Zhai Hua was so absorbed that she could not tell the directions anymore!

  In an instant, the whole Tian family could only hear the sounds of Zhai Hua and Xiao Bao chatting. Xiao Bao would ask a question and Zhai Hua would reply. Then, Xiao Bao would say, “Mom, you’re the best.” Zhai Hua would then smooch Xiao Bao’s face, replying that Xiao Bao was even better.

  “This fruit is so fresh! Auntie bought it today. Try it!” Seeing that his own wife was about to erupt out of jealousy, Father Tian quickly took a piece of fruit and fed it to Mother Tian in an attempt to appease her. “I ate it. It’s not particularly sweet. It’s a little sour, like the kind that you like.” This was not just a little sour. It was like a whole sea of vinegar that could drown someone in it.

  Was it abnormal for a son to stick to his biological mother?

  Even though Zhai Hua did not spend as much time with Xiao Bao as compared to his wife, it could not be helped since Zhai Hua was Xiao Bao’s biological mother and had grown up with Zhai Hua’s milk. How could it possibly be the same?

  After she had spent enough time with her son, Zhai Hua carried Xiao Bao and said, “Xiao Bao, let’s go to bed earlier today. It’s your brothers’ and sister’s birthday tomorrow. We have to celebrate for them!”

  “Okay! I want to sleep with Mom tonight.” Xiao Bao obediently sat within Zhai Hua’s embrace. That sense of security made Xiao Bao feel as though he was being hugged by his father rather than his mother. Xiao Bao did not understand. It clearly felt different when his uncle and aunt hugged him, yet he got the same feeling when his mom and dad hugged him.

  “Good boy.” Zhai Hua smiled serenely. “So what kind of gift is Xiao Bao planning to give to your brothers and sister tomorrow? Have you prepared it already?”

  “Yes.” Xiao Bao nodded obediently. “Grandma took me and we picked them out together. One each for Da Bao, Er Bao, and San Bao.” Xiao Bao held out his small hand, counting each name with a finger. He held up three fingers just as he finished saying the names of the three children. Zhai Hua was pleasantly surprised. “Xiao Bao, you can count?”

  Xiao Bao smiled widely. “Of course! From one to ten!”

  The atmosphere between the mother and son was great and they returned to their room while chatting.

  “Mom, Xiao Bao’s accompanying Hua Hua. I’ll accompany you.” Tian Dong sat beside the empress dowager of the Tian family. “Mom, eat these fruits. When you’re done, I’ll go cut some more for you.” Normally, just the Qiao family and the three children of the Zhai family were enough to make his mother feel sore. Now that Hua Hua was back, his mother’s mood was sure to be even worse.

  Mother Tian’s words dripped with jealousy. “Accompany me? It’s rare that your wife is back. I thought that the two of you would only have eyes for Zhai Hua. Would you still remember that you still have your mother around? It’s not easy. I didn’t mean it. Forget it. Just go accompany your wife and son. I still have your dad.”

  Most importantly, what she needed was for her grandson to accompany her. Not her son. In the presence of her grandson, she could not care less for her son and husband.

  Now that Mother Tian had said that, Tian Dong could not rebuke her, but Father Tian could. “Look at what you’re saying. You don’t sound like an elder. Are there mothers-in-law who compete with their daughters-in-law for affection? Aren’t you afraid that other people might make a joke of you because of this? What Dongzi suggested sounds good. Xiao Bao accompanies his mother, so your son is going to accompany you.”

  Mother Tian understood that, but it was another thing to accept it. “Forget it. I’ve seen through it. You three are in cahoots against me. I’m just an outsider. It’s late and I’m sleepy. I don’t want to spend time with any of you. It’s too frustrating.”

  Even though Mother Tian’s tone was curt, at least she did not continue throwing her tantrum and instead decided to go to bed. Father Tian and Tian Dong breathe a sigh of relief. “Your mom’s temper is getting worse. Technically, your mom’s menopause should be over, right?” Why was she still always throwing tantrums?

  Tian Dong felt a little awkward. “I think that ever since Mom returned from abroad, she’s had too much free time. It’s only natural that her mind will wander.” As long as his father found something for his mother to do, his mother might no longer throw tantrums. “Dad, why don’t you take this opportunity during the National Day holiday and bring Mom on a holiday to have some fun? Don’t worry about anything at home.”

  Tian Dong had not suggested this flippantly. He knew that Qiao Nan had gotten Shi Peng to use this method to appease Feng Cheng. Although his mother was older than Feng Cheng, Tian Dong felt that they were both women, so the results of such a method should be similar.

  Father Tian hesitated. “Will that be okay? I’m fine with it, but the question is whether your mother will be willing to go with me. You should know too. Ever since Xiao Bao was born, we’re all less important than Xiao Bao. Xiao Bao is the most precious in your mom’s heart. Will she be willing to leave Xiao Bao behind and go on a holiday with me?”