Dusk was falling in all directions, and the sun was setting in the west.

After taking care of everything in the shop, the night sky was already completely covered with ink.

The winter night was especially cold. Su Zhi was afraid that her mother would wait too long, so she had no choice but to bid farewell to Elementary Scholar Li and leave with an anxious heart.

Today, they came back early and the children were still awake.

After leaving early and returning late in the past few days, the two children seemed to have not seen their mother for a long time. One on the left and one on the right, they threw themselves at Su Zhi, unwilling to let go.

"Mother, you always came back so late these few days. My sister and I fell asleep before you came back."

Su Zhi crouched down and hugged the two warm little babies. Her tiredness from the day had been washed away quite a bit.

Danxue and Bee busied themselves with the charcoal stove, and Tinker's mother served hot tea and prepared food.

The family was also enjoying themselves. Although the yard was not big, it was warm and harmonious.

"Madam, I took Jin'er and Lan'er for a walk today. The two children are still too excited to sleep."

Su Zhi smiled gratefully at her mother. It had been a while since she had last lived in Xuan City, but she hadn't had the time to take her two children out for a stroll.

Seeing A Jin and the small tofu boy laughing so happily, Su Zhi could not help but feel sad.

"My sister and I also bought a drawing book, but A Jin doesn't know many words. Can mother read it to us?"

A Jin took out a small booklet wrapped in string from her bosom and showed it to her.

Inside, there were some heroic deeds and folklore. The paintwork was extremely lifelike, and the characters were vivid. No wonder the children liked it.

Su Zhi took over the picture book and turned a few pages, feeling very gratified. "In a few days, things will settle down in the shop. Mother will find you a school so A Jin will know a lot of words."

"Mm, thank you mother ~"

Dan Xue and Bi Yue looked at each other and smiled. One in front and one behind, they joked, "Our Brother Jin is really smart. We can still go to school later."

"Yeah, Jin'er knows a lot more than her peers."

Mother Ding scolded the two young maidservants, "With your abilities, our Big Brother Jin will be someone who can accomplish great things in the future."

Dou Bao slapped the table and shouted, "Big news! Big news!"

The serious and cute faces made them burst out in laughter.

"Look, even Miss Lan knows that you two little girls are the most useless."

From time to time, there would be sounds of laughter coming from the quiet courtyard. The faint yellow light of the lanterns gave a layer of warmth to the cold winter night.

As Xiao Qian hurried over with the biting cold, he heard the laughter of the entire courtyard.

He grinned and laughed too.

Mother Ding was the first to hear the sound of movement outside the door. She hurriedly opened the door and saw that it was Xiao Qian who had come. She quickly curtsied and greeted him.

"The general is here."

Dan Xue and Bi Yue hurriedly went out to greet him.

A Jin and Soybean Pouch ran out to the left and right sides to welcome the incoming attack.

"Uncle Xiao!"

"Father, mother ~"

Xiao Qian crouched down to catch the two kids and hastily replied, "Ai ~"

Su Zhi was still sitting there without moving. She was amused by Xiao Qian's extremely quick response.

This man dared to say that he had the nerve to call him father.

"The general came early today. Have you eaten? I'll go to the kitchen and prepare some dishes. "

Xiao Qian waved his hand and replied, "I've already eaten. There's no need to trouble yourself."

He carried the two children into the main hall from left to right. Seeing Su Zhi not even raise her head, he knew that she was unhappy and did not pay attention to him as he continued to eat.

"It's a bit cold tonight."

Su Zhi finally raised her head and glanced at him. "Mn, wear more."

It was still Mrs Ding who immediately ordered the two maidservants to get another brazier.

Xiao Qian was unsatisfied. After putting down the two children, he sat down next to her and said, "After riding on a horse for a while, I feel a little hungry."

Su Zhi glanced at him again, then glanced at the half-eaten bowl of rice. After hesitating for a moment, she pushed the bowl and chopsticks in front of him.

"Then eat."

Xiao Qian rolled his eyes at her. "Why did he come here just to steal her food?"

Does this woman understand gentleness?

Su Zhi had eaten enough, so she didn't bother with him anymore. She went to her room and took out a few fur-covered bedding and began to busy herself.

Xiao Qian's nose was covered in dust as he dragged the two kids into the room. The two of them stared at her dumbly.

"Are you unhappy tonight?"

Su Zhi shook her head. "No."

"Didn't we settle the matter at the store?"

"Oh, yeah, thank you."

Xiao Qian was completely speechless. After staring at Su Zhi for a while, he opened his mouth again.

"What is this?"

"The cloaks I made for the two children, they can be used for when the weather is cold."

Did he not know it was a cloak? He just wanted to ask if he had a share!

"You sent knee guards next door?"

Su Zhi nodded impatiently. She had sent a few pairs of knee guards to Aunt Bai and Sister-in-law Gu's home. It was necessary to maintain the relations between the neighbors. Besides, Auntie Bai had helped take care of the child for so long, so she had to show some gratitude no matter what.

"Then... What about me? "

Xiao Qian pointed at himself as he eagerly asked.

Su Zhi burst out laughing. "The clothes you're wearing are all the best. I'm not worthy enough for you."

She had made cashmere and fur coats from the system. Using the warmest materials to make winter clothes for her child would also be the most effective way to protect her child from the cold. Xiao Qian was not worried about food and clothing.

However, he was no longer happy. Su Zhi had already prepared all the neighbors, only he did not have any.

Angry, very angry!

"Then... My knee pads are all last year's, aren't you going to make a few new pairs? "

Su Zhi raised her head and looked at him, puzzled. "Do you need me to do it for you?"

That was a must! A few years ago, Tan Zhao had flaunted his wife's skills in front of him. He didn't care at the time, but now it wasn't as if he didn't have a woman.

"Oh ~ Alright, I'll see if there's enough left for you to make a collar for. If there isn't, I'll give you the sole of my shoes."

Xiao Qian was completely speechless.

He had already asked for it, but she didn't even plan to give it to him!

There was still only enough left for him!

"Can you not be biased?"

he muttered, with a hundred disgruntled feelings.

A Jin helped him shout, "That's right, mother, don't be biased."

Good son! Xiao Qian patted A Jin's head affectionately and smiled in satisfaction.

"Not biased ~"

"Hahaha, did you hear that? Even the green bean bun said not to be biased."

Su Zhi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She rolled her eyes at the three generals who were sitting across from her.

To be honest, Su Zhi's strange attitude tonight was somewhat influenced by An Yang.

She felt that Xiao Qian had caused her a great deal of trouble, but then she thought that Xiao Qian already had the qualifications to make all these women fall in love with him. Furthermore, he had never given An Yang any thoughts since the beginning. He could not allow anyone to look down on his man just because he was outstanding.

"Alright, I'll make you two pairs of knee guards."

Xiao Qian felt both wronged and relieved that his daughter and his daughter had given him such an item. No matter what, the child wasn't in pain for nothing.

"I'd like to take you and your child to the tea garden on the outskirts of the city in a few days' time. "Now that it's the season and tea is in bloom, and I'm free, why don't you push the matter of the store a bit? Let's go over there and have a look."

Su Zhi thought about it and did not reject it, but she was still a little worried.

Xiao Qian had a lot of admirers, so there was a chance that some princess or young miss would appear. Thus, it was best not to let others find out about the relationship between the two.

"It's okay, I was thinking about taking the kids out for a walk anyway. But it must be me with the children, and the general had better not go too close to us. There are many people who know you in Xuancheng and Beijing, so it's hard to avoid gossip. "

Xiao Qian didn't mind. Since they were going out together, how could they split it into two groups?

"Why do you care so much? Who dares to gossip about me?"

Su Zhi, on the other hand, was very stubborn. "In short, General, you don't have to be too close to us from the outside. I'll take notice of it myself."

Xiao Qian couldn't force her, so he could only agree.