They say a loving mother often spoils her child. The children were already quite grown up and should experience more of the outside world to achieve success.

Chen Shi understood this, so she could only put her longing aside for the time being.

It was just that she hadn’t seen her children in a long time, and she missed them terribly…

Su Yujin listened to Chen Shi’s ramblings, feeling comforted and moved by her thoughtful motherly intentions.

As they talked, Ai Cao brought over two porcelain bowls.

One for Chen Shi, one for Su Yujin.

Chen Shi looked at the bowl of milk, which contained red beans and three thumb-sized, differently colored balls. Curious, “What are these?”

“They’re milk and red bean taro balls. Madam, try them and see if they’re delicious.”

The taro balls were made with taro, purple sweet potato, sweet potato, and cassava, each in purple, beige, and white. Floating in the white milk, they contrasted beautifully with the distinct red beans in the bowl. The colors themselves were striking.

She scooped a spoonful into her mouth…

The red beans, simmered with sugar, were sweet and fragrant, with a rich milk aroma. The taro balls were sweet, chewy, and incredibly firm.

Chen Shi nodded repeatedly. “Much better than the red bean glutinous rice balls we usually eat.”

“I’ve already taught the kitchen how to make these taro balls. If you’d like some after we leave, Madam, ask them to make them.”

It had been about three months since He Yanxiu and Su Yujin arrived in Hedong Prefecture.

Last night, Chen Shi had heard Qu Zhiwen mention that everything was going smoothly in the mountains, and that He Yanxiu would be returning to the capital to report in less than a month.

With He Yanxiu’s departure, Su Yujin naturally had to leave as well.

Chen Shi had gotten along very well with Su Yujin recently. While their close relationship wasn’t as close as close friends, it was still close.

The thought of Su Yujin’s imminent departure filled Chen Shi with reluctance.

But even the moon waxed and waned, and when did every good thing in the world last forever?

Chen Shi understood this, but didn’t want to reveal too much to Su Yujin. She simply smiled and agreed, then spoke of the lotus flowers in the small garden that would soon bloom.

Lotus flowers typically bloom in the sixth lunar month, and since Hedong Prefecture wasn’t too far north, and given the warm weather this year, many of the lotus in the pond were already in bloom.

Chen Shi described the beauty of the blooming lotuses, their vibrant crimson against the sun.

But Su Yujin’s mind was preoccupied with how to eat the lotus flowers.

Deep-fried lotus petals seemed to be quite good; they tasted fragrant and refreshing, and even the petals were sweet and juicy.

Héhuā Sīwáwa seemed to be quite good, too. Using lotus petals to wrap shredded potatoes, shredded kelp, shredded carrots, and so on, it was similar to eating vegetarian spring rolls, and it was also incomparably delicious.

Lily, red dates, yams, and lotus soup was also delicious…

The two of them talked until dusk, and by then, Su Yujin’s mouth was already watering from endlessly pondering the various ways to prepare lotus petals. She couldn’t resist anymore.

But at this time, although the lotus had buds, it had not yet bloomed. She could not eat the things she imagined…

There was really no way to do it.

Su Yujin had the small kitchen make Héyè zhōu, and she herself prepared Héyè nuòmǐ zhēng páigǔ, which barely satisfied her craving.

Meanwhile, Chen shi returned home, where the kitchen had prepared Wǔxiāng lǔ yā, Mu Shu Pork, Bōcài chǎo jīdàn, Rúyì tuányuán juǎn, Hóngzǎo nuòmǐ zhōu, and Jiàngròu huājuǎn.

As soon as the meal was set on the table, Qu Zhiwen returned home.

“I saw that no one from the government office came back to deliver the message, so I thought the master would not come back for dinner today.” Chen Shi hurriedly ordered Qiuyue to get the bowls and chopsticks, and ordered the kitchen to add another dish of Kung Pao Chicken.

Qu Zhiwen liked sweet food, and Chen Shi remembered it very clearly.

“I was afraid I’d be too busy late, so I thought I’d just grab a bowl of noodles or wontons at the government office. But things got done quickly, so I came back for dinner.” Qu Zhiwen asked with a smile, “What were you busy with today? Did you find anything interesting?”

“I didn’t go anywhere else today, and nothing interesting happened. I just talked to Miss Su for a while.”

Chen Shi pursed her lips and smiled. “But Master, you ask me this every day when you come home. It makes me feel like a child. I have to explain everything to you.”

“In my eyes, Madam, you are like that child. You need your careful care.” Qu Zhiwen laughed and put the Mu Shu Pork into Chen Shi’s bowl. “Madam, eat quickly. It won’t taste good if it gets cold.”

Mu Shu Pork was Chen Shi’s favorite dish.

“Thank you, Master,” Chen Shi smiled, bringing the bowl to her mouth.

The Kung Pao Chicken was quickly served, and Qu Zhiwen and the Chen Shi couple chatted and laughed while they ate.

“It’s almost the master’s birthday.” Chen Shi paused and looked at Qu Zhiwen. “This year is the master’s thirty-sixth birthday. He is a full thirty years old. Why not call Yuan’er and Wu’er back to have a good time for the master?”

Qu Zhiwen’s hand holding the chopsticks froze in mid-air, and after a moment, it fell on the green spinach. “It’s just a birthday, not a big deal. Why bother calling them back?”

“The workload in the academy is tight, and Jinzhong Academy is the best academy in Shanxi. The teachers are very strict. It’s probably not possible to ask for leave casually. Yuan’er and Wu’er are both filial. If I send a letter, they will definitely miss me and want to come back, but the teacher won’t allow it. Isn’t it a dilemma?”

The light in Chen Shi’s eyes dimmed slightly as she said, “That may be so…”

“But this world has always valued loyalty and filial piety. As a son, it is natural to be filial to your father. If the master explains it clearly to the teacher, I think he will agree.”

“But since ancient times, it has been difficult to be both loyal and filial. Nowadays, we study in the academy so that we can pass the imperial examinations and serve the country loyally. If we pay too much attention to filial piety and delay our studies, isn’t that a sin?” Qu Zhiwen retorted, “Besides, those who achieve great things don’t pay attention to trivial matters. You are still paying too much attention to these trivial matters. Our two children are both motivated people. They are promising people that other families can’t even ask for. If Wu’er and Yuan’er were left in other families, I’m afraid they would not be allowed to do anything. As long as it doesn’t delay their studies, we should not hold them back because of these trivial matters.”

After listening to Qu Zhiwen’s speech, Chen thought carefully and nodded slightly, “Master is right. Wu’er and Yuan’er are both men. Good men have ambitions. In the future, they will become upright people. They really can’t be too attached to home.”

“Master thinks long-term, but I am a little too soft-hearted…”

Actually, she didn’t want the two children to fulfill their filial duties, but she just hadn’t seen them for so long and missed them terribly.

Note: Jinzhong Academy is a fictional fiction

(This chapter is over.)

---