After dinner, Wen Shu and Yue Sihai ran away almost as if fleeing. Ren Zhong felt awkward, "Am I really that unpopular?" "Dad, you always have a stern face. If you weren’t my father, I would want to run too when I see you," Ren Zi’an said very seriously, "Look, Teacher Wang is very amiable! You should learn from him." "Kids say whatever comes to mind! It’s good for adults to have the dignity of a regional official," Teacher Wang quickly replied. As a teacher, he couldn’t be compared to a County Magistrate. If the County Magistrate appeared overly friendly, it would seem quite odd. Moreover, being overly friendly doesn’t exude authority at first glance. "You can be stern while dealing with cases, and amiable in private," Ren Zi’an distinguished clearly. "Parents should adopt some of the children’s suggestions," Meng Yao interjected. The words Ren Zhong had at the tip of his tongue turned into two simple ones, "Alright." Ren Zi’an smiled, his brows curving, "Dad, a man should keep his word. If you fail to do what you promise, I certainly won’t keep your secret. I’ll let everyone know you don’t keep your word." Ren Zhong thought silently, "Is this really my child?" Meng Yao managed to stifle her laughter—at least giving the man some face, right? Ren Zhong cleared his throat, "Alright, we should be going." Ren Zi’an looked pitifully at Meng Yao, hoping to stay. "Stop right there, today’s not the day. Tomorrow morning, you have to leave with me," Ren Zhong said, "That’s what we agreed." "You could get up a bit earlier to pick me up, so it won’t delay anything. Moreover, you might even get to enjoy a breakfast," Ren Zi’an winked, "You’ve been reminiscing multiple times about Auntie’s cooking." "You brat..." Ren Zhong felt rather helpless. "Let Brother An stay here. He’s right; you can pick him up earlier without delaying anything," Meng Yao suggested. Ren Zi’an showed a cunning smile of success. "Fine, alright," Ren Zhong had no choice but to compromise, "After tomorrow’s tasks, whenever you have time, meet Brother An’s uncle and aunt?" Temporarily borrowing the role of Brother An’s mother’s sister, it was indeed proper to meet them. Meng Yao nodded, "Brother-in-law, you arrange it." Zhao Dahe escorted Ren Zhong away. Meng Yao took Ren Zi’an to wash up. "Auntie, tomorrow morning I want some sesame and peanut stuffed buns, sweet ones. The ones Dad brought me were not good at all," Ren Zi’an said pitifully. "Then you sleep on your own for a bit, Auntie will go knead the dough, and we’ll have buns for breakfast," Meng Yao offered after a bit of thought. "I’ll watch Auntie knead the dough and then sleep together with Auntie," Ren Zi’an said, looking up with his little face. With such an innocent expression, how could Meng Yao refuse? Considering that Ren Zhong and Api would also eat tomorrow, and additionally, they had to bring some for Xiaohua and the others. Meng Yao roughly calculated the amount needed and kneaded a large bowl of dough, covering it with a steamer cloth to let it rise. After getting into bed, Ren Zi’an insisted on listening to Meng Yao’s stories, finally closing his eyes contentedly after hearing them. Official source is novel(ꜰ)ire.net Meng Yao rose half an hour earlier than usual, exercised as usual, and started kneading dough to make buns. By the time Ren Zhong came to pick up Ren Zi’an, a majority of the buns were already made. Besides the sweet sesame and peanut filling, Meng Yao also made savory stuffed buns with sauce meat. That scholar lived outside the city, with a slightly eccentric personality, most detesting lateness. Meng Yao had no choice but to wrap some buns in oil paper for them to eat on the road, and afraid that Ren Zi’an might choke on them, Meng Yao also prepared a bamboo tube of rice soup for him. Ren Zi’an left with Ren Zhong, smiling broadly. Meng Yao heard him boast to Ren Zhong, "If it weren’t for me, Dad, you wouldn’t have such delicious buns to eat." "It’s your Auntie who made it, not you. What’s there to be proud of?" Ren Zhong retorted. "If I hadn’t said I wanted some, Auntie wouldn’t have made them. You think they can just be made easily? No way, it’s a lot of work. Yesterday after you left, Auntie spent quite a while kneading the dough. She made them because she loves me!" "Okay, okay, I owe it to you." When Zhao Dahe and the others woke up, Meng Yao had already made all the buns. The buns received unanimous praise from everyone. Unexpectedly, Yue Sihai and Wen Shu both adored the sweet ones, their eyes shining while eating, openly claiming they had never had such tasty buns. Su Ye preferred the savory ones. Sweet and savory alike, Meng Yao wrapped ten in oil paper and took them to Hundred Herbs Hall. Zhao Dahe grabbed another savory bun and held it up, "Mom, I’ll send you off." "You just do your own thing." "I’ll digest and escort you over, and it’ll be just the right time to study when I return," Zhao Dahe said as he took the bamboo basket from Meng Yao. "So diligent?" Meng Yao raised an eyebrow, no diligence without ulterior motives, right? "Mom, I’m your son!" Zhao Dahe emphasized, "With our relationship, isn’t it just easier to say anything directly?" "Then say it directly," Meng Yao nodded. Zhao Dahe chuckled, "I just want to know if Dad has been contacting you again, and how do you communicate? Can you tell me?" "Mom~" Zhao Dahe acted spoiled. "Stop right there; you think you’re as young as Brother An?" Meng Yao looked at him disdainfully, "No evasion—it’s just no and can’t. His situation isn’t that safe right now, our casual contact might cause trouble for him. If there’s anything, he’ll come find me." "Then, when he comes to find Mom, can Mom take me along?" Zhao Dahe asked sheepishly. Meng Yao glanced at Zhao Dahe and said slowly, "Don’t be so hasty; patience is essential." Zhao Dahe reluctantly replied, "Understood." "Do you still want to continue escorting me?" Meng Yao asked him. "Yes, of course! Dad’s matter, I just asked in passing," Zhao Dahe stated, "Sending you is the main thing!" Arriving at Hundred Herbs Hall, Meng Yao extended her hand towards Zhao Dahe, "We’ve arrived. Hand the basket over, you go back now." "Since I’m here, I should at least greet Xiaohua; otherwise, she’ll whine about me being an unreliable older brother," Zhao Dahe argued. He had to see if his mom’s apprentices were reliable or not. And then there’s Lu Luoxing, always trying to lure his mom over to the Lu Family. "When did you and Xiaohua become such close siblings?" Meng Yao was surprised. "Always close siblings, our usual way of getting along involves some banter," Zhao Dahe explained. Meng Yao smirked, okay, whatever you say it is. Zhao Dahe followed Meng Yao into the backyard. Eight people were skipping rope in unison. Upon seeing Meng Yao, they all stopped. "Mom, I didn’t oversleep; I set an example by leading my junior sisters and brothers to skip rope. I’ve skipped over two thousand times," Zhao Xiaohua announced. Meng Yao was delighted, "You haven’t eaten breakfast, right? I brought buns for you guys. Anyone who wants to eat can come over and have some." "Are they sweet?" Zhao Xiaohua asked excitedly. "Both sweet and savory," Meng Yao replied, "Look, this one’s sweet." Zhao Xiaohua reached out to grab one, but Meng Yao slapped her hand, "Go wash your hands first."