Chapter 50: Simple and Free

 

 **Chapter 50: Simple and Free**

“Uncle Chang!”

   

Ah Dian followed into the General's residence and immediately rushed to hug Chang Kuo, nearly hanging onto him like a bear wrapping around its prey.

 

He was slightly taller than Chang Kuo and, being younger, was in the prime of his youth, resembling a large bear enveloping the man.

“Alright, alright.” Chang Kuo laughed as he straightened him up, patting his shoulder, “Our Ah Dian has grown taller again!”

Looking at the middle-aged Ah Dian in front of him, Chang Suining couldn’t help but sigh—Uncle Chang’s opening line was timeless; it could be used forever without change.

Yet, Ah Dian loved it, responding joyfully, “Uncle Chang, why have you all been gone for so long this time?”

“Well, when you’re at war, you have to win before you can come back,” Chang Kuo replied with a smile. “It’s been a while since we last saw each other; this time you have to stay for a few more days!”

“Of course! I want to stay a long time!” Ah Dian replied eagerly.

Chang Kuo laughed heartily but didn’t believe him at all.

This child, Ah Dian, shared a common trait with ordinary kids—before going to a relative’s house, he was all cheerful, claiming he would stay for days. However, once he was actually there, he would cry to go home after the first night, only managing to hold out until the next day.

In Ah Dian’s heart, the Xuanzhe residence, where he had lived with the Crown Prince, was his true home.

Chang Kuo had already prepared to send him back the next day, so he instructed Butler Bai to take Ah Dian to settle in for some rest.

“Little A Li, remember to come play with me!” Ah Dian shouted as he followed Butler Bai out, “We made a promise on the carriage!”

Chang Suining nodded in response.

“Are Sui Ning and Ah Dian really getting along so well?” Chang Kuo asked, somewhat surprised.

“He’s a really nice person, very sincere,” Chang Suining replied curtly—when unsure what to say, complimenting someone was always a safe bet.

Hearing this, Chang Kuo looked at her with a satisfied expression, saying, “Our Sui Ning has truly grown up.”

Saying this, he sat down in an armchair. “Come, sit down and tell your father, did you gain anything from going out today?”

The door to the side room had been closed, and the servants had retreated outside to keep watch.

“The biggest gain today… should be that we bought a donkey,” Chang Suining scratched the back of her head and said.

Chang Kuo frowned at his son. “Taking your sister out, why would you buy a donkey?”

He thought his son looked like a donkey!

There was no need for a second one at home!

Chang Suining explained, “Father, it was actually Ning Ning who wanted to buy it.”

Chang Kuo was momentarily taken aback but then smiled at his daughter, “A donkey is good; it’s more docile than a horse. If you want to buy it, then go ahead; it’s just a matter of adding another pair of chopsticks to the stable!”

Chang Suining didn’t find anything wrong with her father’s two-faced attitude. Just as she was about to say more, Chang Suining, being vigilant, interrupted.

“There were indeed some gains.” She hurriedly cut in, “But it’s inconvenient to explain to Brother on the way.”

She really didn’t want to hear any more about the mutual salvation involving her and the donkey.

Both father and son looked at her.

“It’s just that I ran into Pei Shi from the Yao family at the flower fair today—”

“Pei Shi?” Chang Kuo frowned and asked, “The wife of the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, Yao Yi… the legitimate eldest daughter of Pei Min who got married?”

It wasn’t that he had an intricate understanding of the familial relationships of officials in the capital, but he had been investigating the Pei family recently, so he naturally remembered it clearly.

“Yes,” facing Chang Kuo, Chang Suining spoke rather straightforwardly, “Though I’m not sure why, my intuition tells me this person is somewhat suspicious.”

Chang Suining was filled with trepidation at her brother’s response—intuition? 

Whenever he mentioned those two words, their father would want to slap him across the face and deliver a sharp critique—You have no brain, so what intuition could you possibly have!?

At that moment, he instinctively looked at his father’s reaction.

“Good.” Chang Kuo nodded seriously, “I’ll have someone investigate this Madam Pie.”

Chang Suining didn’t have time to feel bitter; she subconsciously blurted out, “Let Jian Tong investigate it!”

Jian Tong, standing nearby, hesitated—since it involved female relatives, he hoped that this time the Lord would pay attention to the degree of detail and discretion when he assigned him tasks.

“Jian Tong investigating is one aspect,” Chang Kuo thought for a moment and said, “But there’s an even better method…”

Seeing both his son and daughter looking at him expectantly, Chang Kuo said, “Write a letter to Yu Zeng shi.”

Chang Suining: “…”

This felt like being asked how many steps it takes to steam a basket of buns.

A normal person would answer, “Four steps—first knead the dough, then mix the filling, place it in the steamer, and light the fire.”

But a lazy person would answer, “One step—call Mom!”

And if given a choice, she would certainly pick the second option.

As a person, if there’s an easier way, she absolutely couldn’t understand.

So, she looked at Chang Kuo with approval, though a bit hesitantly, “The previous list was given by Master Yu, and he owes Deputy Minister Wei a favor because of it. Since we’ve troubled him multiple times, isn’t it a bit inappropriate?”

After all, from what she had heard in recent days, Master Yu was quite hard to deal with, and she hadn’t been able to see him in person. If they chose this shortcut, she couldn’t help but feel a bit uncertain.

Chang Kuo thought for a moment, “I don’t think it’s inappropriate, but… we should show some gratitude.”

“Then let’s send something over?” Chang Sui'an suggested, “But Master Yu doesn’t lack anything; precious gifts aren’t particularly rare. There must be countless people trying to bribe him… So, how about Ning Ning makes a basket of snacks? That way, it’s not something anyone else would send, and it also expresses our feelings!”

“This is a good idea.” Chang Suining nodded in agreement, “But I’ve completely forgotten how to make snacks.”

She simply didn’t know how.

Otherwise, why would she choose “one step to call Mom”?

“Then we’ll have to think of another way…” Chang Sui'an continued to ponder.

“I remember Master Yu likes to play the zither?” Chang Suining suddenly asked.

“Ah… right.” Chang Kuo thought for a moment, “But he rarely plays in front of others, so not many people know about this hobby.”

Chang Suining nodded, “This is perfect; since it’s not well known, ordinary people wouldn’t think to give a gift like this. How about we send him a rare zither score?”

“Hmm… this method is excellent!” Chang Kuo’s brows lifted in delight as he stroked his beard, “Very well, let’s go with this.”

Chang Sui'an also thought it was a good idea, though he cautiously asked, “Father, do we have a notable zither score at home?”

Chang Kuo paused in his gesture of stroking his beard and frowned as he thought it over, but didn’t reply.

Chang Suining fell silent for a moment, deciding to let go of the gift-giving thought, “…Father, just write the letter.”

After everyone reached a consensus, they ended up expressing their gratitude in a straightforward manner, adding words at the end of the letter—thank you.

Simple and free.

   

…

Fortunately, even though the letter was simple, their relationship was solid. Within two days, Yu Zeng shi sent back a reply.

On the same day, Jian Tong also had some progress.

**End of Chapter 50** 

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