Shen Mama had intended to continue speaking, but then she noticed a soft drip-drop sound and realized a warm, wet patch on her side.
“Oh, my little ancestor, you’ve showered your old servant with luxury!” Shen Mama said cheerfully. “I understand our Huai Ge’er’s intentions now.”
The true culprit—little Pei—couldn’t resist the heavy drowsiness any longer and had fallen fast asleep, his tiny fists resting in front of him. His long eyelashes fluttered, and his little mouth twitched as if he were dreaming something sweet.
Lin Shi took advantage of the moment, quietly escorting Shen Mama away so she could have some peace.
“Shen Mama, go change your clothes first,” Lin Shi said. “I’ve taken in everything you said. From now on, I’ll be more cautious in handling matters.”
“My old self will take leave first.”
After Shen Mama and Qing He left, Lin Shi let out a long sigh. The servant’s words had added to her worries—whether to believe them or not, she hadn’t fully figured it out yet.
…
Since Pei Shaohuai had become fully aware, he had refused to drink breast milk.
At six or seven months old, it was the right time to start eating solid food.
Lin Shi had no choice but to have the kitchen prepare all kinds of meals—steamed egg custard, minced meat, fruit purees, porridge of mixed grains…
Though Shen Mama was simple-minded and talkative, she was truly loyal. Privately, she told Lin Shi, “It’s easy to give birth, but raising a child is hard. Whatever Huai Ge’er eats, you must be careful.” So for every dish, she personally oversaw its preparation before bringing it to Lin Shi’s room.
Pei Shaohuai, being clever even as a baby, had many thoughts every day, consuming a lot of energy, and naturally had a hearty appetite. Thanks to Lin Shi’s careful feeding, he had grown quite strong—his cheeks rosy, wearing a tiger-head hat, looking absolutely adorable.
When Grandmother Pei learned that her eldest grandson had started eating solids, she was delighted and gathered fresh ingredients, frequently having someone bring him over to eat with her.
…
One day, the grandmother’s servant came to Chaolu Courtyard again.
“Pay respects to the First Madam,” Zhou Mama bowed gracefully, smiling. “Grandmother sent someone to the Ten-Mile Restaurant early this morning to pick up some fresh ingredients. Now that the minced meat is steamed, she asked me to bring Young Master Huai over for a taste.”
Lin Shi naturally felt at ease having her son go to his grandmother’s, but inwardly, she felt a twinge of displeasure.
At first, the grandmother only sent someone every few days to take Huai Ge’er over. Gradually, it became more frequent, and now there was a new excuse every day to bring him away, staying longer each time.
Her own child was absent from her side for half a day at a stretch, and Lin Shi couldn’t help feeling upset.
She handed Huai Ge’er to Zhou Mama, then turned to Shen Mama and said, “Shen Mama, take some of the young master’s clothes with you as well. Don’t let him run out of changes if he wets himself.” She meant it more as a precaution, so someone would be there to return him when the time came.
Shen Mama understood and replied, “Yes, Madam.”
“First Madam, the young master’s clothes are already prepared in Grandmother’s room, all ready to go. No need to trouble anyone further,” Zhou Mama said, still smiling. “Last time, Young Master Huai wet Grandfather, and Grandmother even praised him for being clever, deliberately targeting him to share some childlike fun… Afterwards, Grandmother ordered plenty of clothes and silk bedding for the young master, so he’d always have fresh changes.”
Pei Shaohuai felt utterly speechless. “Target Grandfather deliberately”? Last time he peed on Grandfather, it was because that old man Jingchuan kept poking his goat-like beard—prickly and itchy. That was the only way to escape the “suffering.”
Lin Shi hadn’t expected her words to be twisted and returned like a Tai Chi move.
“Grandmother said after the young master finishes his meal and takes his nap, he’ll be brought back to First Madam when he wakes,” Zhou Mama added, bowing slightly, then took the baby back to report.
Watching her son being carried off and hearing Zhou Mama’s words, Lin Shi felt increasingly uneasy.
She had seen through Grandmother’s intentions but had no way to refuse. If Grandmother insisted on raising Huai Ge’er, her husband might not side with her. Feeling aggrieved, she couldn’t help whispering, “Huai Ge’er is still such a little child…”
Shen Mama comforted her, “Young Master Huai is yours, Madam. If you refuse, can they force him away?” This was also meant to encourage Lin Shi to be firm. “You need to speak up yourself. Otherwise, if they take him daily with excuses until evening before returning him, it’ll never end.”
Lin Shi hadn’t yet figured out her strategy, so she dealt with things as they came.
…
Meanwhile, Pei Shaohuai was brought to Grandmother Pei’s room by Zhou Mama.
Coincidentally, his father—Pei Bingyuan—was also there, evidently making a special visit to have a meal with the grandmother. He usually focused on his studies and rarely came, so today he had the leisure to do so.
Pei Bingyuan, in his early thirties, was tall and slightly thin, wearing a dark blue silk round-collared robe, his hair neatly tied, without adornments—a scholarly, clean-cut appearance.
His features were regular and deep-set, with slight angularity. If one were to nitpick, his eyebrows were too smooth, lacking some boldness.
Pei Shaohuai thought to himself that with parents like these, he would likely grow up handsome as well.
According to books, Pei Bingyuan was gentle, polite, uncompetitive, and rarely lost his temper. His greatest strength—and weakness—was his gentleness.
The books also said he was absorbed in studying for the imperial examinations, and after passing the Maocai exam, his career prospects stagnated. Conversely, he showed little interest in household matters.
In the original story, Pei Shaohuai grew up spoiled partly because of Pei Bingyuan’s inaction.
…
“Grandmother, Young Master Huai has arrived.”
Grandmother Pei wore a loose brown robe, her hair gray but body still strong. Seeing Huai Ge’er, her face lit up with smiles as she reached out, “My good grandson, let Grandmother hold you.”
Pei Shaohuai was cute and clever, the eldest legitimate grandson, naturally beloved.
“Father, hold him too,” the grandmother said, handing the baby to Pei Bingyuan.
Though he had fathered several children, Pei Bingyuan was still awkward with handling infants. He pinched Huai Ge’er’s cheeks lightly. “It’s been a while. You’ve grown quite a bit.”
The pinch, though gentle to an adult, hurt Huai Ge’er. Determined to teach his father a lesson, he thought of peeing on him—but luckily, Pei Bingyuan only held him briefly before returning him to Grandmother, so he escaped the ordeal.
The three then ate together. Pei Shaohuai ate the minced meat obediently, and Grandmother chuckled, “As long as my Huai Ge’er likes it, Grandmother will make delicious food for you every day.”
Huai Ge’er could not speak, only thinking, I eat like this just to grow healthy, not because I particularly like it.
…
After the meal, Pei Bingyuan stayed to chat with Grandmother.
She noticed Lin Shi had brought several female servants from her family and complained, “It’s not to spite her, but if she requests so many, it will look like our Pei household can’t afford enough servants. If she’s short-handed, she should ask—I would have sent some reliable ones. Why make it so complicated?”
“It’s just petty,” she added.
Lin Shi bringing her own servants suggested she was building her own support—something the grandmother disliked.
Gentle as he was, Pei Bingyuan disliked domestic quarrels. He reassured her, “A daughter-in-law wouldn’t usually ask for servants. Shizhen first had Ying, now Huai Ge’er—raising two children alone, she naturally needs help… If you had trained your servants earlier, she might not have had to request more. You can’t blame her.”
Shizhen was Lin Shi’s given name.
He further argued on Lin Shi’s behalf: “You know the household servants’ character. Having a few she’s used to ensures someone will follow her instructions and properly care for your eldest grandson. It’s trivial, nothing to get upset over. I’ll talk to her to consult you in the future.”
Grandmother finally admitted her mistake, waving her hand, “Alright, I’m not petty.”
Pei Shaohuai listened, thinking his father was sensible and could give advice—though only when prompted; normally he ignored matters. What a shame.
“Back then, you insisted on marrying her. I reluctantly agreed,” Grandmother muttered, turning to old grievances. “Our family could have married anyone—your stubbornness! Look at your aunt Mo’s cousin Lanxi, well-bred, excellent family, not better than her? You didn’t choose her…”
Before she could finish, Pei Bingyuan interrupted, “Lanxi’s cousin hasn’t married. Why keep bringing her up? She lives separately now. Does her appearance matter?”
He gestured to the clever, handsome baby, “Shizhen gave you such a smart grandson. Why dredge up old complaints?” Grandmother laughed, conceding, “Alright, alright, enough.”
Pei Shaohuai mused: in his grandmother’s eyes, any girl not married to his father was perfect. But for him, the key was that each person in the family had their proper role; otherwise, conflicts would only escalate.
“Has Lotus Jie’er’s marriage been arranged yet?” Grandmother asked. “Next summer, she’ll be of age. We should hurry.”
Lotus Jie’er, Pei Ruolian, was the eldest granddaughter of the Pei household, Pei Shaohuai’s half-sister by the late Madam Ning, named for her birth in June.
Pei Shaohuai pricked his ears to listen. He only remembered she was promised to a good family, but not the details.
Unexpectedly, Pei Bingyuan shook his head. “It might take a while to find a suitable match.”
This… didn’t match what Pei Shaohuai remembered.