Chapter 814 – Jianzhou, Decision for Beijing (3)
“No matter how cute my daughter is, she’s still a mischievous little brat,” Feng Jin decided without hesitation to hand the child over to the wet nurse, letting Changsheng return to her room for some sleep.
“Changsheng needs to be a bit stricter with her eating; she can’t keep gaining weight like this,” Feng Jin thought he should be a bit heartless. After all, the women of the Feng family were all raised this way, and he couldn’t indulge Changsheng, or that would truly be harming her. “In a while, I’ll write to my elder brother again to help find a more patient female tutor within the clan. Changsheng may be young, but it’s about time we started her education.”
In the end, he still doted on his daughter. Feng Jin believed that the temperament of the tutor was more important than their talent.
Once a teacher, always a parent.
The tutor was a mentor, and as a student, Changsheng couldn’t disrespect them.
But Changsheng had been spoiled by them, and her temperament was a bit strong. If she got punished by the tutor for being naughty, it would break their hearts.
Picking someone with a good temperament meant at least she’d be more tolerant.
Upon mentioning education and rules, Wei Jingxian’s expression changed as she hesitated, “But Changsheng is still so young…”
Feng Jin’s resolve wavered, but he ultimately gritted his teeth and said, “Being young doesn’t mean she doesn’t understand. Neither of us can indulge her.”
In an era where one could marry and start a family at thirteen or fourteen, Changsheng was already two years old, which indeed couldn’t be considered young.
In the Feng family, children were expected to start learning and understanding rules as soon as they could speak, unlike Changsheng who was allowed such leisure.
Look at how often she eats; it’s a miracle she isn’t much fatter with all that chubby little meat on her!
“Besides, if Changsheng learns to be more sensible early on, you can relax a little, too.”
Feng Jin felt that his daughter was really a pitiful situation. Clearly, he was a married man with a wife and daughter, yet he lived as lonely as Xu Ke, stuck at home night after night!
Wei Jingxian, though reluctant, found it hard to oppose him. Feng Jin loved his daughter dearly; how could he harm Changsheng?
A parent’s love for their child is often far-reaching in its plans.
Still… Feng Jin needed to ask that mischievous child if she’d even agree to it.
“Ma—Ma!”
Changsheng, feeling wronged, was carried back to her courtyard by the wet nurse. She took off her clothes and lay down on the couch while the wet nurse helped her tuck in the embroidered blanket.
“What’s wrong, Eldest Lady?” The wet nurse was a gentle and dignified woman. Although called a wet nurse, Changsheng had grown up on Wei Jingxian’s breast milk; this wet nurse was only responsible for Changsheng’s daily needs. “Does Eldest Lady still feel uncomfortable in her belly?”
With her parents indulging her, Changsheng ate whatever she wanted, easily going through five or six meals a day, with snacks before bed being a must.
“Daddy…” Changsheng pouted, “You don’t want Changsheng anymore?”
The wet nurse gasped, panic flashing across her face, and hurriedly said, “Eldest Lady, you mustn’t say such things. Your father dotes on you the most. He carries you in his hands, afraid you’ll fall, and holds you in his mouth, afraid you’ll melt. You can’t say that again.”
Though kids often speak their minds, even mindless words can create distance in parent-child relationships.
Changsheng blinked her big eyes, sulking as she responded, then turned over, settling into a comfortable position.
“Ma—Ma…” Changsheng closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep, but she simply couldn’t drift off. “… I miss Wei Susu.”
The wet nurse looked troubled and said, “It’s late now; Mr. Wei is probably already asleep.”
The Wei Susu mentioned by Changsheng was none other than Wei Ci, who lived just a street away from Feng Jin.
Ignoring the wet nurse’s words, Changsheng clumsily crawled off the couch, grabbing her small clothes as she prepared to head out.
“I want to see Wei Susu.”
The wet nurse: “…”
Don’t let the young age fool you; Changsheng had quite the stubborn streak. It’s not that she was bad-tempered, but rather, she was incredibly determined.
Once she got an idea in her head, she’d see it through, and anyone trying to stop her would face her wrath.
Feng Jin and his wife had spoiled their only daughter, much to the dismay of their staff.
The wet nurse could only headache-sigh and go report to Feng Jin and his wife. Once Eldest Lady’s stubborn temper flared, no one could hold her back!
Meanwhile, Feng Jin was enjoying a tender moment with his wife, cherishing their time alone: “…”
What a troublemaker, this daughter!
“Let her go! Just send someone to keep an eye on her! Please ask Zixiao to take care of Changsheng for the night, and bring her back tomorrow!”
Feng Jin wanted to be mad but couldn’t allow his daughter to run off alone outside the house, so he had to send someone to escort her.
His friendship with Wei Ci was good; he’d even occasionally send invitations for him to visit. Perhaps it was fate, but Changsheng was quite taken with this handsome uncle… Later, Feng Jin would come to realize that his daughter had simply fallen for Wei Ci’s looks.
At such a young age, already a fan of good looks!
Wei Jingxian suppressed her amusement and said, “It’s pretty late; do you think it’ll bother him if Changsheng goes over?”
Feng Jin rolled his eyes secretly.
Wei Ci was a solitary bachelor, single and without a nightlife, what kind of disturbance could it possibly cause?
Sending the little ancestor over was honestly a relief for him!
Thus, Wei Ci ended up with a little dumpling knocking on his door at midnight.
“Changsheng?”
Wei Ci wasn’t asleep yet; he was up late dealing with matters, when he faintly heard a knock at the door, and the doorkeeper informed him of a visitor.
To his surprise, it was Changsheng!
Hearing from the wet nurse that this child had run over all by herself, he couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You little rascal, did you have another spat with your father?” Wei Ci grinned, picking up the heavy Changsheng and telling the ladies attending her, “Go tell Huaiyu that Changsheng is staying with me tonight. Have him send someone to fetch her back tomorrow…”
In Wei Ci’s house, aside from the cook and the maid doing the laundry, there were no other women.
Occasionally, when Changsheng stayed over, he would send all the maidservants off.
Having those ladies hang around his residence would lead to some unsavory gossip.
Changsheng pouted and wrapped her arms around Wei Ci’s neck, looking all serious as she declared, “Daddy wants a baby brother now; he doesn’t want Changsheng anymore.”
Wei Ci held back a laugh, realizing she was feeling neglected and anxious about being replaced.
He comforted her, “How could that be? Ten little brothers wouldn’t be as lovely as you, Changsheng.”
Changsheng still seemed a bit sulky. Although young, she was keenly aware of the emotions of others.
For example, she instinctively knew that Jiang Pengji was someone she needed to hold onto tightly.
If Daddy was mad at her, clinging to Jiang Pengji’s leg was sure to make things right.
And she felt an innate closeness with Wei Ci, sensing that he genuinely liked her. To her, such affection meant he was completely harmless.
“But Daddy still wants a baby brother!”
Changsheng sighed dramatically, sitting obediently beside Wei Ci, her eyes like black grapes darting around, checking this, then that. Though sitting, her heart was already flying somewhere else, and her little bottom couldn’t sit still.
Wei Ci set down his pen; with Changsheng the little ancestor present, he knew he could forget about working late tonight.
“Changsheng is the best.”
Changsheng felt a huge sense of comfort wash over her.
Snuggling in, she said, “Wei Susu is the best!”
Though Wei Ci wasn’t married, he had a perfect way of caring for children and soon had Changsheng lulled into a sleepy state.
He shifted his slightly sore arms, secretly amused at how Feng Jin had spoiled his child, nurturing her to be so heavy.
Unbeknownst to him, just then, the doorkeeper returned with news of another visitor.
