Rodeé con mi brazo la esbelta cintura del hombre fuerte

Capítulo 40

Xiao Bao tilted his head and grinned, his innocent and romantic manner making Danmei and Xiqing laugh. The laughter reached Xu Jinrong's ears, and he too smiled slightly, his eyes filled with warmth.

When the carriage arrived at the gate of the prefectural government's residence, the gatekeeper, who had been waiting, rushed in to announce their arrival. A moment later, Yang Huan and his wife came out to greet them personally.

Since Danmei had already confirmed with Xu Jinrong the night before, she was not surprised to see that the couple was indeed the same perfect pair she had encountered before. She simply smiled and stepped forward to greet them. Xu Shirong, on the other hand, was stunned when he saw Danmei and the little baby she was holding.

A few years ago, when Xu Shirong was in the capital, the marriage between Xu Jinrong and the daughter of the Prime Minister's family was a popular topic of conversation among the noble ladies, so she had heard about it to some extent. A few days ago, she heard Yang Huan talk about the troubles in Xu Jinrong's family, how he had been abandoned by his wife and had been searching for her for years. Surprised, she became curious about the daughter of the Prime Minister's family, wondering what kind of woman would have the audacity to do something that even Xu Jinrong, a man of his caliber, would find so troublesome in the current social climate. Now, upon seeing her, she immediately felt that she looked familiar, and upon closer inspection, she realized that she was the mother and son she had seen by the lake before. Although their clothes and appearances were completely different, the gentle and elegant demeanor in their eyes and brows remained the same. Especially the little boy, with his clear black and white eyes and long, curled eyelashes, came to her without his mother saying a word and gave a proper bow, asking, "Where is the little sister I saw the other day?" She immediately took a liking to him and quickly took his little hand to lead him inside, turning back to Danmei with a smile, "My little girl is having a small birthday celebration, and we didn't want to bother anyone. We just made her a bowl of longevity noodles. But my husband likes a lively atmosphere, and he said that with the Xu family reunited and it coinciding with my little girl's birthday, it's a double celebration, and both families should get together to celebrate. I think that makes sense. My little girl is fine, but the happy reunion of you two is truly a joyous occasion, so I shamelessly invited your family to our home to join in the festivities."

When Danmei arrived, she expected the prefectural government's residence to be bustling with guests, but instead found it quiet. She was somewhat surprised, but after hearing Danmei's explanation, she understood the reason and admired the couple's low-key behavior even more. She was led into the inner courtyard and saw several maids carrying trays and cups back and forth in the corridor. The little girl she had seen before was dressed up lively and cute today and was looking this way. When she saw Xiaobao come in, she paused for a moment, then cheered and ran over, lifting her skirt. The wet nurse beside her hurriedly chased after her, shouting, "Be careful not to fall!"

Xiao Bao had been talking non-stop when he arrived, but now that he saw people, he became a little shy and just stood there without moving. The little girl grabbed his hand and pulled him inside, saying happily, "Big brother, how could it be you? My dad brought me some new and interesting things yesterday. It's perfect that you're here, let me show you."

Xu Shirong and Danmei followed them inside. The two played with the child while chatting, and found they got along very well. Before long, they even felt like they had known each other for a long time.

A maidservant lifted the curtain and entered, smiling, "Madam, Madam Xu, the little girl's birthday banquet has been set up in the garden. The master said that he and Lord Xu are like brothers, so the two families are like one family. Let's set aside the formalities and sit down together. It will be just as lively."

Xu Shirong and Danmei exchanged a glance and laughed simultaneously. They didn't mind at all; they had just started a conversation and unexpectedly, the two men had also made the same suggestion—they were on the same page. They then called Xiao Niu Niu and Xiao Bao, and together they went to the garden. They saw a banquet set up by the artificial hill and pond, and even a stage for a shadow puppet show. The performers hiding under the stage, seeing the two adorable little children approach, began their performance without being told, much to Xiao Niu Niu and Xiao Bao's delight, who clapped and laughed incessantly. It turned out it was all Yang Huan's idea.

Halfway through the banquet, the little girl had also eaten her longevity noodles. The two children had long lost their appetite and were now glued to the puppet show stage, watching intently. Yang Huan put down his wine cup, stared at the backs of the two children's heads for a moment, then suddenly slammed his hand on the table and said to Xu Jinrong, "I have an idea. I'll tell you what you think."

Xu Jinrong laughed and said, "Brother Yang, if you ask, I will go through fire and water for you."

Yang Huan laughed and waved his hand, saying, "No need, no need. I just saw how well these two little kids hit it off, and that's when I suddenly had a thought. Why don't our two families arrange a marriage between them? That way, I'll have a son-in-law and you'll have a daughter-in-law, saving us from having to search everywhere when they grow up. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Without a second thought, Xu Jinrong readily agreed. However, before the two could even clink glasses in celebration, his wife exclaimed in unison, "That's inappropriate!" Not only were Xu Jinrong and Yang Huan bewildered, but Xu Shirong and Danmei were also surprised. They exchanged glances and then chuckled to themselves.

Xu Shirong smiled at Danmei and said, "When I said it was inappropriate, it wasn't because I thought it was wrong for our two families to arrange a marriage between our children. It's just that the children are still so young and their personalities haven't settled down yet, so it's not appropriate to arrange a marriage so early. If they are still so compatible when they are older, I would be more than happy to have someone as pleasing as your son as my son-in-law. I wonder what you think, sister?"

Danmei nodded and said, "What you just said is exactly what I was thinking. It would be better to wait until the child is older before discussing the engagement."

Yang Huan and Xu Jinrong really aren't afraid that my good son-in-law will run away.

Upon hearing this, Xu Shirong and Danmei both laughed. Xu Jinrong also laughed, looked at Xu Shirong, nodded slightly to her, and then turned his gaze to Danmei opposite him, staring at her for a moment.

Seeing him looking at her with a smile on his lips and eyes full of affection, Danmei felt a warm breeze in her heart and smiled back at him slightly. Only the two children standing side by side, still craning their necks to watch the puppet show, were unaware that their father had almost arranged their marriages, and were still pointing and whispering among themselves.

After finishing their meal and resting for a while, Xu Jinrong and Danmei took their leave, with Xiaobao and Xiaoniuniu bidding each other a reluctant farewell. The family then spent two more days sightseeing in Hangzhou before setting off for Suzhou, again by waterway.

Author's Note: The next chapter will be the grand finale. Aside from some necessary explanations, please leave a comment and let me know what you'd like to see next, and I'll try my best to write it.

Also, because I need to organize my thoughts, I will be taking a break tomorrow, and will post a sweet finale the day after tomorrow.

Qingge thanks everyone for accompanying her all the way.

Thank you so much!

Chapter 87

Author's Note: Everyone, I'm sorry... I was planning to post the final chapter tonight, but my little one is insisting on seeing the movie "Dragon Knight," so I'm going out to take him to see it and get ready to join the National Day crowds... Sorry for breaking my promise, the final chapter will be posted tomorrow.

Everyone shared their opinions in the last chapter. Except for Meimei's suggestion that "a time-traveling female protagonist speaking fluent English" is really difficult, everything else will be written down...

Have a wonderful holiday everyone!!!

Thank you so much, Meimei, for dropping the landmines and rocket launchers. You've gone to a lot of trouble.

Traveling from Hangzhou to Suzhou by waterway is very convenient, and the journey was already halfway complete in just a few days.

Before, Xiao Bao only knew that he had a mother and Aunt Xiqing. For the first time in his life, he realized that in addition to his father, he also had maternal grandparents, a grandmother, an older brother and an older sister, and that he would have to meet them all in the future. He bit his fingers for a while before looking at Danmei and asking cautiously, "Will they... be as happy to see me as Father?"

Before Danmei could answer, Xu Jinrong chimed in, "Of course. You are your father's little treasure, so you are their little treasure too. They will be overjoyed to see you."

Xiao Bao was relieved and turned to look at Danmei, pouting as he said, "Mom is bad. She never taught me that I have a father, maternal grandparents, paternal grandmother, older brother, and older sister. If I had known earlier, I would have gone to find them myself."

Danmei had been feeling homesick these past few days, and the closer they got to Suzhou, the more uncertain she became. She didn't know how to face her parents, whom she hadn't seen for many years, or explain this unexpected grandson. Now, faced with Xiaobao's question, she couldn't answer and looked to Xu Jinrong for help. He smiled, picked up Xiaobao, and tickled him a few times; the two of them laughed and played together. After lunch, as in the previous days, he carried him to the bow of the boat, pointing out the scenery for a while. When it was time for his daily afternoon nap, and his eyelids started to droop, he was finally handed over to Xiqing on the back boat.

Xu Jinrong returned to the foreboard and saw Danmei still sitting on the bench by the porthole, gazing at the distant mountains with a slightly troubled expression. Knowing her thoughts, he went over, picked her up, and sat her on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and leaned close, saying, "The closer we get to Suzhou, the more worried you seem. When you see your in-laws, you'll probably burst into tears. If they question me, how should I answer?"

Danmei heard his teasing tone, glanced back, and saw that he was indeed looking at her with a smile and a hint of mockery in his eyes. She sighed, leaned lazily against him, and stared blankly for a moment before stammering, "After so many years of not showing your face, you suddenly came back, and now you have a little treasure..." She couldn't finish her sentence.

Xu Jinrong leaned back in his chair, raising an eyebrow as if waiting for her to speak. Seeing that she had stopped, he simply pulled her into his arms, turning her towards him, before slowly saying, "Hmm? Now you finally realize you can't speak? Why didn't you think about these things more when you left?"

Seeing that he was clearly gloating, Danmei became angry and punched him twice. She tried to get off, but he held her tightly and she couldn't break free. She snorted and said, "You're just waiting to see me make a fool of myself, aren't you?"

Xu Jinrong then burst into laughter, a laugh that was almost unrestrained. Annoyed, Danmei was about to punch him again, but he grabbed her hand and gently pulled her into his arms. He said, "I noticed you've been restless all this way; it turns out it's because of this. Don't worry. I helped you keep it from them before, and now that you're back with me, why would I bring up the past and cause them unnecessary worry? Just eat well, sleep well, and get plump and healthy so they can see you."

Danmei looked up at him, somewhat puzzled, only to see him smile and whisper a few words in her ear. Her eyes lit up upon hearing this, but she quickly looked up at him again, somewhat uncertainly, and asked, "This...this can really work?"

Xu Jinrong reached out and pinched her cheek, then hummed in agreement, "Why not? Your in-laws will be overjoyed to see Xiaobao, they won't care about anything else."

Hearing his words, Danmei finally felt relieved after days of worry. She let out a long breath, gently nestled against his chest, and whispered, "Thank you for thinking of me so much..."

Xu Jinrong looked down and saw her nestled obediently in his arms. His heart slowly filled with tenderness. He held her close and nuzzled her ear for a moment before saying, "From now on, don't mention thank you to me anymore. When you left like that, I was mostly to blame. Although four years were wasted in between, just these past few nights, waking up to find you by my side, I felt as if those four years were nothing more than a dream. It's all in the past. Let's just treat it as if we both had a dream, and from now on, let's live our lives well."

Danmei responded and hugged him even tighter.

Xiao Bao was already napping at the back of the ship, so there was no fear of anyone entering the cabin to disturb her. Xu Jinrong leaned back in his chair, letting Danmei lean against him. In the cool breeze of the cabin, the two of them looked at the summer scenery on the shore outside the cabin and talked. Gradually, he couldn't hear her voice anymore. He looked down and saw that she had fallen asleep against him. Remembering how intense their entanglement was last night, which was why she was sleepy during the day, he smiled slightly. Without disturbing her, he simply grabbed a coat that was lying nearby and gently covered her with it. Then he closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair to keep her company.

A few days later, the ship approached the Suzhou wharf. Considering that Danmei's parents were both old, and fearing that such a sudden trip might cause them to be too excited and something bad might happen, Xu Jinrong sent Jiang Rui ahead of time to inform them. Only then did he and his group disembark and proceed at a leisurely pace.

The Qin couple hadn't seen their daughter for several years. Although their son-in-law sent people to visit every year, when asked why, they always said they were too busy or would come another time. Wen's father was fine with it, but Qin's mother, having not seen her daughter for years, naturally missed her. However, once a daughter is married, it's like water spilled from a cup; let alone just a few years, if her husband's family is far away or harsh, she might only see them a few times in her entire life. Therefore, although she missed her terribly, she also had some doubts. She only knew that her son-in-law was always considerate of their daughter, so she was relatively at ease, only occasionally thinking of her and mentioning her a few times. Today, however, she suddenly saw the young servant boy at the front gate rushing into the courtyard excitedly, almost bumping into her maid. Just as she was about to scold him, she heard the boy stammer, "Madam… the guard Jiang from the son-in-law's residence has come! He said the son-in-law and his wife are coming together, they'll be there soon, and… they've brought their grandson to see you!"

Qin was initially stunned and didn't react. When she came to her senses, her legs went weak. If it weren't for the quick hand of the maid next to her, she would have slipped and fallen to the ground. She grabbed his collar and widened her eyes, saying, "What did you just say? The two of them came together, and they even brought my grandson?"

The gatekeeper nodded with a grin and said, "That's right. I was wondering why the magpies in that tree in the yard were chattering so loudly today. Turns out it's the son-in-law's family! They haven't been here for years, and now they've even brought the little boy with them!"

Qin cried out in delight, her heart pounding wildly. She rushed towards the main gate, forgetting even to tell her husband. Her maidservant called out to a passerby, telling him to hurry to the study and inform the old man, and she herself hurriedly followed.

Madam Qin and Wen's father, who arrived later, waited anxiously inside the gate. A short while later, they indeed saw carriages approaching their gate in the distance, and leading the way was none other than their son-in-law! Overjoyed, they hurried to greet him.

Before her son-in-law could dismount, Madam Qin saw the door of the carriage behind them open, and a small child's head peeked out, its eyes looking over curiously. The child's face vaguely resembled her son-in-law's, and she knew this must be her grandson. She was struck dumb, frozen in place, staring intently at the child until the carriage reached the door. Her son-in-law dismounted, took the child down, and helped a young woman down—none other than her daughter, whom she hadn't seen for years! Only then did she call out in a trembling voice, "Daughter..."

Danmei spotted her parents immediately. Seeing how much they had aged in the past four years, and how their faces were filled with emotion as they looked at her, even her usually reserved father, she felt a pang of sadness, her throat tightening. But fearing they might arouse suspicion, she forced herself to hold back. Seeing Qin Shi calling for her to come forward, she quickly called out "Mother!" and rushed forward to support her. Xu Jinrong, standing nearby, also greeted his father-in-law.

Qin hugged Danmei tightly, touching her face a few times, her eyes already glistening with tears. Danmei sniffed and quickly pulled Xiaobao, who had been tilting his head to look, from behind her. Xiaobao had already been taught by her, so he didn't need to say much. He bowed to Qin and called out "Grandmother" and then "Grandfather" in a clear and loud voice.

Overjoyed, Madam Qin wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, then hugged Xiao Bao tightly and kissed her cheeks five or six times, calling her her darling. She looked at Xiao Bao from left to right, her eyes crinkling with laughter. Although Mr. Wen was also happy, he was more composed and coughed, saying, "Your son-in-law and his family have come from so far away. What's the appearance of blocking the door like this? Hurry up and welcome them in." Reminded, Madam Qin then took Xiao Bao's hand and happily went inside.

After everyone was seated and tea was served, Qin Shi complained to Danmei without taking a sip: "You are really absurd. It's one thing that you haven't come to see your mother for several years, but how come you didn't send anyone to inform us of such a joyous occasion as the birth of Xiaobao? No family members from my mother's side went to the baby's one-month celebration, one-day celebration, and one-year celebration. If others find out, won't they say that I am lacking in manners?"

Danmei felt guilty and lowered her head when Qin Shi questioned her. Xu Jinrong glanced at Xiqing beside her, who understood and smiled as she took Xiaobao from Qin Shi's lap and coaxed him out to play in the garden. After he left, Xu Jinrong coughed and then smiled, "It was indeed our fault, please forgive us, father-in-law and mother-in-law. There is a real reason. When this child was still in my womb, we met a Taoist master who had opened his third eye. The master said that he had a special destiny, but if he wanted to have a smooth life, he had to be carefully raised until he was three years old before he could show his face to his relatives. Although I don't really believe in this, since the master said so, it's better to be careful, so I kept it a secret until now. Today, my husband and mother-in-law are the first of Xiaobao's elder relatives to see him. Even his grandmother doesn't know yet. We were just thinking that after visiting the two elders here, we would hurry back to see his grandmother."

Madam Qin was extremely surprised and stunned for a long while. When she finally came to her senses and realized she had met him before his stepmother, she was overjoyed. Without thinking further, she smiled and said, "So that's how it is! I've heard of families raising boys as girls for good luck. This is the first time I've heard of raising a child this way, avoiding kinship. But since it was said by my master, it must be true. Now that you're here, that's good, that's good..."

Danmei glanced over and saw that Xu Jinrong was speaking with such seriousness that her parents hadn't doubted him. She breathed a sigh of relief and gave Xu Jinrong a grateful look, which he caught. The two exchanged a smile, which Qin Shi happened to see. Little did she know the secret thoughts behind their relationship; she simply assumed her daughter and son-in-law were very much in love, and she was even more pleased, smiling to herself.

Xiao Bao's sweet words kept the two elders beaming with joy, making them wish they could stay longer. Qin Shi doted on him, practically raising him like a sugar doll in a honey pot; Wen's father only taught him simple poems from previous dynasties, such as "Quiet Night Thoughts" and "Spring Dawn," most of which Danmei had taught him before. Seeing that he could recite many of them fluently at such a young age, and understand their meaning quite well, she was extremely pleased. One day, Xiao Bao, in high spirits, even recited "Who knows that every grain on the plate is the result of hard work?" which he hadn't been taught, deeply moved. Upon seeing Xu Jinrong, he repeatedly praised his son, saying he was a promising child, understanding the hardships of life at such a young age, and that his future was limitless. Xu Jinrong knew this was due to Danmei's excellent upbringing, and, appreciating her hardships over the past few years, his already deep affection for her deepened even further. One was grateful that he had kept it a secret for her, and the other pitied her for the hardship of bearing and raising his son. When they were in bed together, they naturally became very affectionate and deeply in love. Now they understood the meaning of "the spring night in the boudoir is short".