Chapter 7

Chapter 7: First Birthday Peace

　　Another two months passed.

　　On this day, the weather was pleasant and cloudless.

　　Xu Ming stood in the courtyard with his hands on his hips, looking up at the sky.

　　Today marks the start…

　　I’m one year old!

　　In the past year, Xu Ming’s life could not be described as carefree, but it was certainly uneventful.

　　His good-for-nothing father had only visited him and his mother three times within a year, each visit being brief.

　　By the estate’s people’s accounts, that meant his mother had fallen out of favor.

　　Not long after, Suyan emerged.

　　But Xu Ming felt more at ease.

　　If he hadn’t guessed wrong, this grandmother should be the elder with the highest status in both the Qin and Ning mansions, the sole wife of the late Duke Xu.

　　Everyone who entered the mansion would bow to the old lady sitting at the front.

　　By her side were four elegantly dressed women.

　　However, Xu Ming found it strange that his mother didn’t eat much during today’s banquet. Did she really like those dishes?

　　Returning to the rear courtyard, compared to the lively banquet, it was rather quiet.

　　One was Wang Feng, the main consort of the Xu household, and Zhao Qing, the main consort of the Qin household.

　　The other two, Xu Ming guessed, were probably the two secondary wives of his good-for-nothing father, each holding a little boy in their arms.

　　“Fifth Lady, the celebration is about to begin, you should…”

　　Xu Ming saw many unfamiliar faces.

　　All eyes followed Qingwan’s gaze, landing on Xu Ming and Suyan.

　　Putting down the stone, Xu Ming panted heavily.

　　Then the old matriarch dressed the baby in new clothes and jewelry, symbolizing a fresh start, filled with auspiciousness.

　　Of course, none of this included Xu Ming.

　　“Very good, very good.” The old patriarch smiled even wider. “It’s best when the family is harmonious. Take your seats. Today, His Majesty sent over Yulong meat from Xiliang. You’re all in for a treat.”

　　Finally, both the Xu and Qin households sealed two bottles of wine each. When Xu Xueno and Qin Qingwan come of age and marry, they will open one bottle each.

　　”General Zhongqi and General Li present two Snow Tiger carvings, to bring blessings and ward off evil for Miss Qin and Miss Xu.”

　　”Mingy, Mother has a surprise for you~”

　　Suyan gently pulled Xu Ming: “Mingy, pay respects to the old matriarch and the ladies.”

　　”Mingy pays his respects to the old matriarch and the ladies.” Reluctantly, Xu Ming greeted them, knowing it was necessary to keep up appearances.

　　Feeling his body getting stronger day by day, Xu Ming strongly empathized with his fellow gamers.

　　The old matriarch was delighted today and naturally agreed, specially dividing the remaining delicacies from the kitchen into small portions for the women in the rear courtyard.

　　Next, the old patriarch rolled a peeled boiled egg over the baby’s clothes, chanting “roll away calamities, roll away calamities, calamities roll away,” symbolizing good luck and constant health for the baby.

　　Xu Ming quickly did a hundred push-ups, a hundred sit-ups, and a hundred high knees in the yard.

　　Suyan carried Xu Ming forward, placed him down, and bowed to the old matriarch: “This humble woman pays her respects to the old matriarch, to the main consorts of the Qin and Xu families, to Ladies Qian and Lin.”

　　In wealthy households, while life may not be extravagant, at least there’s no worry about food or clothing.

　　After a year of understanding, Xu Ming knew that the status of a illegitimate son in the Great Wu Kingdom was incredibly low.

　　After the first birthday celebration ended, Suyan took Xu Ming to bow before the old matriarch, then left.

　　Xu Ming tried lifting a large rock in the courtyard.

　　”The Minister of Rites, Official Wang, presents two jade ruyis, wishing Miss Qin and Miss Xu all the best.”

　　Xu Ming paid no attention, seizing the opportunity to do push-ups and sit-ups in bed.

　　Regardless of anything else, among peers on this street of the Qin and Ning mansions, he should be the top dog.

　　Elders then gave New Year’s money to Xu Xueno and Qin Qingwan, wishing the babies healthy growth.

　　Chun Yan suspected she had seen wrong and rubbed her eyes.

　　”Yes, Old Patriarch.” Suyan took Xu Ming back and sat at the table with the Xu family members.

　　Still, Suyan managed to get some leftover banquet food from the kitchen.

　　Before the banquet began, Xu Zheng, Xu Ming’s father, held Xu Xueno, while Lord Qin Ruhai from the Qin family held Qin Qingwan, letting the babies pass through a door hung with an onion, symbolizing health and intelligence.

　　Every time he turned, Xu Ming felt like he had used his axe to last-hit a minion in the game.

　　Living with his mother was quite leisurely.

　　Chun Yan explained the details of the first birthday ceremony and then went to inform the other ladies.

　　Putting down the stone, Xu Ming clapped his hands and lay down on the grass in the yard to do Russian twists.

　　Lady Qin looked around and quickly smiled as she walked forward, gently holding Xu Ming: “Isn’t that right, Old Patriarch? I adore Mingy the most. Qingwan also likes Mingy the most, isn’t that right, Qingwan?”

　　”Hahaha, Mingy is already so articulate at just one year old.” The old patriarch laughed.

　　The spacious front courtyard was bustling with activity.

　　While his mother was using the restroom,

　　Suyan placed Xu Ming on the bed and then left the room.

　　Qin Qingwan, in the old matriarch’s arms, seeing Xu Ming, happily waved her hands and feet, calling out in her childish voice: “Gege Ming (Big Brother Ming), Gege Ming (Big Brother Ming)”

　　”The Hall of Worthies’ Mr. Ai presents two Fire Phoenix pens, wishing Miss Qin and Miss Xu to be well-read and virtuous, and wishing the Qin and Xu residences to be filled with scholarly fragrance.”

　　But it doesn’t matter.

　　The old grandmother had Xu Xueno and Qin Qingwan sitting on either side of her legs, laughing heartily.

　　[Strength +1, Abdominal Flexibility +1, Abdominal Strength +1]

　　As the ceremonial announcements continued, everyone gradually took their seats.

　　Suyan carried Xu Ming to the front courtyard.

　　Qin Qingwan nodded cutely: “I like Brother Ming the most~”

　　Because it was a joint first birthday celebration for the young miss of the Qin Mansion and the young miss of the Xu Guo Mansion, relatives and friends from both estates gathered together.

　　Just as Xu Ming was enthusiastically doing Russian twists, Chun Yan entered the yard. Her first sight was of a one-year-old infant lying on the ground, his abdomen curling and spinning so fast it created a blur.

　　Xu Ming felt this stone weighed about thirty catties.

　　Being able to lift a thirty-catty stone at just one year old.

　　As he exercised, the door opened, and Xu Ming quickly “plopped” onto the bed.

　　”I must have been mistaken,” Chun Yan muttered to herself, then hurriedly approached, picked up Xu Ming, and dusted the dirt off his back. “Young Master Ming, you can’t lie on the grass; it’s muddy.”

　　When Xu Ming woke up again, he was sound asleep on the ground.

　　On the small stone table in the yard lay the dishes his mother had requested from the old lady today.

　　Suyan held Xu Ming and seated him on her lap: “Mingy, Mother can’t give you better things, so I could only ask for these dishes. Sister Chun Yan also asked for two jars of wine, one for adulthood, one for marriage.”

　　Suyan carried Xu Ming out of the yard, and Xu Ming saw Chun Yan panting as she carried two unopened jars of wine inside.

　　Suyan kissed her child’s forehead: “Mingy, Happy First Birthday.”

　　Chun Yan also joyfully took her seat: “Young Master Ming, Happy First Birthday~”