“Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince, greetings to…” Everyone’s eyes curved into smiles as they went up to give their greetings.
“We’re all family, so there is no need for so many formalities.”
“Sister is back, Sister has come back,” Xiao Lin’er cheered. She was about to pounce over to give her sister whom she hadn’t seen for days a hug.
Yet she didn’t expect that someone would be faster than her in pouncing at Qiao Mu. The small figure clutched her leg and cried out, “Benefactress, Benefactress! Benefactress!”
Qiao Mu couldn’t help but find it amusing, and she bent down to pick up the little monk. She then knocked on his small skull. “You missed me?”
“This young monk especially missed Benefactress. When Benefactress is not here, this young monk cannot rest or eat in peace. Wuwu…” The little monk sobbed with a nod.
“You little rascal.” Wei Ziqin was both annoyed and amused as she declared, “I wonder who it was who was cooking all kinds of vegetarian food to cheer you up.”
“Benefactress’s mother,” the little monk answered in his babyish voice.
Qiao Mu patted his little bald head in amusement. “Mom, let’s go inside to chat.”
The group relocated to the main room, filling the space with happy laughter and cheerful voices. When they got to the topic of the rice distribution on Xiluo Street yesterday, Xiao Lin’er pouted, “Sister didn’t even think of bringing me to something so fun.”
Wei Ziqin gruffly hit her daughter with her knuckle, reprimanding, “You can’t just think everything is fun.”
“Dad, Mom, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Brother, and Sister. I brought you some small presents, here.” Mo Lian had people carry the presents inside as he passed them out one by one.
Mom and Second Aunt got head ornaments and jewelry, Dad and Second Uncle got master paintings and calligraphy, Young Brother got the four treasures of the study[1], Brother Xiao Hu got a famous sword, and Xiao Lin’er got a pair of gold-weave brocade wrist guards.
Everyone was delighted beyond measure as they held their presents, so giddy that they were unable to stop smiling.
“This is for Eldest Aunt and Cousin Ruolan. Mom can bring it over when you go visit them.”
“Okay, okay.” Wei Ziqin nodded continuously with a smile.
Meanwhile, the little monk sat on Qiao Mu’s lap and gazed anxiously at the large and small gift boxes in everyone’s hands. He asked weakly, “I-I, don’t get one?”
Qiao Mu couldn’t help but find it funny. With a shake of her wrist, she took out a furry, pink and yellow cap from her inner world and put it on the little monk’s bald head. “Looks good!”
“It looks good, it looks good, hahaha!” Qiao Lin was cracking up.
“Do you see, Sister embroidered the lotus flower on it! Do you like it.” Qiao Mu’s eyes curved as she looked down and asked the little monk.
On the side, Mo Lian could only silently twitch his mouth.
He didn’t know whether or not he should praise his wifey for her hobby of embroidering lotus flowers.
The little monk nodded his small head reluctantly. “It looks a bit ugly.”
“Pfft…” Everyone hastily stifled their laughter by pretending to cough and picking up their teacups for a sip.
“Don’t complain about this and that, I tell you.” Qiao Mu flicked his small forehead. “Wear it next time when we go out on a stroll. Don’t just keep showing your bald head.”
“But it’s a bit hot.”
Second Uncle Qiao choked on his tea. The weather was about to turn hot, yet his young niece actually gave the little monk a furry cap, this was simply…
“Have you done your morning recitation today.” Qiao Mu changed the topic.
“I finished it yesterday,” the little monk mumbled. He immediately forgot all about his protest just now, throwing it to the back of his mind.
[1] Collective name for the writing brush, ink stick, ink slab, and paper.
