The Laid-back Life of a Stepmother

After the family of three finished their afternoon tea, Wen Ye had Tao Zhi and Yun Zhi bring in the two stacks of books she had brought back, then told Xu Yuxuan, "Go ahead and touch them, they're all yours."

Xu Yuxuan's eyes widened, and instinctively, he walked over and touched the books as Wen Ye had instructed. His voice immediately trembled as he turned and called out, "Mother, they're so heavy~"

Wen Ye replied, "...Did you just find that out by touching them?" Her expression was somewhat hard to describe. Xu Yuxuan nodded his heavy head firmly, "Mm-hmm!"@@novelbin@@

With a determined tone.

Wen Ye immediately said, "Then you'll learn them one by one, and slowly it won't feel heavy anymore." Xu Yuxuan looked at the two stacks of books, then turned back to look at Xu Yuejia.

The former remained unchanged, while the latter calmly lowered his gaze, not meeting his eyes. Xu Yuxuan's eyebrows were almost furrowed together like a trumpet flower.

★

Time flew by.

The weather gradually became hotter.

One day, Wen Ye woke up from her afternoon nap. Tao Zhi entered the room with a smile on her face, saying, "Madam, there's a letter from Wen Mansion. Madam Liu has given birth."

Wen Ye, who had been a bit drowsy, instantly woke up and inquired, "Has she given birth so soon? Is it a boy or a girl?"

Tao Zhi happily replied, "The messenger said it's a girl."

"Then it's a little niece," Wen Ye said. "Go tell Yun Zhi to add a small silver lock to the washing ceremony." Tao Zhi responded, "Yes, Madam."

With the birth of the child, the full moon banquet was just around the corner. Wen Ye would soon be able to see her aunt and younger sister again, making her whole day filled with a radiant mood.

When the people from Wen Mansion came to inform the Guogong Mansion, Madam Lu, who was in the main courtyard, naturally found out quickly. At the moment, she was reading the letters from her eldest son, which arrived almost every few days without fail.

In the past month, things had improved slightly. She received one every seven or eight days, whereas before, she got one every three or five days.

At first, she could still reply with one or two pages of content. Nowadays, Madam Lu directly treats the letters like ledgers, drawing a red circle after reading them and writing a few words of encouragement.

After hearing Nanny Xi's report, Madam Lu set down the paper filled with densely packed words and murmured to herself, "A girl, a girl is good."

Madam Lu carefully put away the letter and pondered for a moment before saying, "Nanny, go make a small golden pig pendant. By the time the baby has her full moon, have Madam Wen Ye bring it for me."

Nanny Xi lowered her head and responded in agreement.

After the washing ceremony, Wen Ye had nothing to do and strolled over to the West Courtyard. Xu Yuxuan had just woken up, his little hair bun disheveled, with a few strands of hair hanging in front of his forehead, which felt damp when touched.

It wasn’t clear whether it was sweat or whether he had dreamed about something delicious, but it was probably saliva.

Wen Ye rarely visited the side courtyard, so Xu Yuxuan was a bit surprised to see her and immediately brightened up his eyes. He called out, "Mother!" Nanny Ji was helping him put on his outer robe, a deep blue color that made him look even more rosy and delicate.

Xu Yuxuan tried to climb down from the bed with his short legs, but Wen Ye stopped him, speaking sharply, "Stand still. Nanny Ji is helping you put on your clothes." Hearing this, Xu Yuxuan obediently stood still on the bed, showing a great sense of discipline.

Wen Ye had noticed before that this little kid didn’t hold grudges. The worse she treated him, the more he listened to what she said. Now, he also had a talent for charming people, seeming to know exactly what he looked like when to it would win people's hearts. After standing still, he immediately gave Nanny Ji a sweet smile, warmly calling out, "Nanny~"

Nanny Ji’s heart warmed up, and she became even more indulgent, saying, "If the little master wants to jump, feel free! Nanny will catch you."

If it were Madam Lu here, Nanny Ji would never dare to say such things, but since it was Madam Wen Ye, Nanny Ji loosened her sense of propriety a bit.

It seemed like Xu Yuxuan understood because Wen Ye saw him sneakily glance at her with a triumphant little look.

After Nanny Ji helped him put on his outer robe and boots, Xu Yuxuan finally got down from the bed. Rindung brought in a copper basin of warm water and helped Xu Yuxuan wash his face and hands.

Once everything was done, Wen Ye told Xu Yuxuan some good news, "Xuan'er, you have a cousin now, you know?" Hearing this, Xu inquired, lifting his head to look at her with a confused little face, "Cousin?"

Wen Ye explained to him, "Do you remember your cousin Cheng?" Xu Yuxuan nodded, "Mm-hmm, I remember. The bookmark, cousin gave it to me."

Wen Ye continued, "Your cousin is Cheng's sister." Xu Yuxuan seemed to be thinking, then suddenly asked, "Does cousin have to read books?"

Wen Ye laughed and said, "Not for now." Reading was a way to gain knowledge, and Xu Yuxuan became even more puzzled: "Why not? Xuan'er has to."

Wen Ye replied, "Because your cousin is still very young."

Xu whispered, "Xuan'er is also young~"

Wen Ye didn't quite catch it, but then he said earnestly, "Can't not read books."

After that, he grabbed the hem of Wen Ye's sleeve and said, "Xuan'er wants to give cousin a gift!"

Wen Ye raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you want to give her?"

Xu Yuxuan's mouth was about to split into a grin, but he held it back and said, "Books!"

Wen Ye: "… You've gotten clever, haven’t you?"

Xu Yuxuan covered his mouth, secretly laughing in his heart: Hehe, I’ve given them away~

On the day of Madam Liu's daughter's full moon, Wen Ye took Xu Yuxuan and his father to the Wen Mansion.

As the first girl in the current generation of the Wen family, the full moon banquet for granddaughter Wen Siying was prepared by Madam Shen on a grand and lively scale.

Today, there were many guests, and since Wen Ye was a daughter of the Wen Mansion who had been married out, Madam Shen only briefly greeted her before letting her wander around freely. As long as she didn't cause trouble, she could go wherever she wanted.

Wen Ye separated from Xu Yuejia in the front hall, he went to the men's section, while she planned to go to Madam Liu's courtyard to see the baby.

As for Xu Yuxuan, Wen Ye asked about his thoughts. He said he wanted to see his cousin, but Wen Ye suspected he actually wanted to quickly give away the two books he had brought.

Asked why there were only two books, when that’s pertaining to Xu himself: being small and having small strength meant he could only really carry two.

Before leaving, Wen Ye had personally seen Xu Yuxuan pick out two thick books from the bookshelf. On getting both Wen Ye's and Xu Yuejia's confirmation, even Nanny Ji didn’t dare to help him. So only two books, three was 'unmanageable', in terms of covering ones ability. Of being able to carry them all the way.

Wen Ye then led Xu Yuxuan to the courtyard where Madam Liu stayed. It was even more lively here, with not only Madam Liu's relatives but also Madam Yang and a few of the other Wen women who had been married out. Wen Ye arrived last.

After presenting her gifts for the baby and Madam Liu, Wen Ye went closer and took a look at the child.

Madam Liu had a difficult labor in this pregnancy, so Madam Shen had told her to rest for twice the traditional time. The baby had just finished nursing and was asleep. Wen Ye gazed at it thoughtfully, reminiscing in her mind if it looked different from Wen Siying she previously had seen from kids on Madam Wen's side. Regardless, she still praised her: "She's really beautiful, just like Second Sister-in-Law."

Who wouldn't like it when their child was being praised? Madam Liu's face, which hadn‘t entirely recovered yet, gained color and she said, "Your second brother says she looks like him."

Although Madam Liu didn't have any preference for whether her first child was a son or daughter, she was worried that her mother-in-law and husband might care. When she found out it was a daughter, she was both delighted and apprehensive.

She was afraid that her mother-in-law and husband might be disappointed, but fortunately, her worries didn't come true. Madam Shen very much liked Siying and so did her husband. Wen Ye didn't respond to this. She thought it was probably because of the father's biased look.

Just then, Xu Yuxuan squeezed over with the books in his arms and interjected, saying, "This is, Xuan'er's gift to his cousin." Madam Liu was surprised, glancing at Wen Ye, paused, and asked, "Is Xuan'er doing this?"

Wen Ye explained on behalf of the child, "After knowing he has a little cousin, he selected two books himself, saying it’s for Siying as a full moon gift."

Madam Liu laughed, and looking at the child with the glow of a mother, her eyes softened and filled with affection. She stroked Xu Yuxuan's head and said, "Then I, as Siying's mother, thank you on her behalf, little Xuan'er."

Having successfully given away the books, Xu Yuxuan had an expression of relief on his face, responding merrily, "No need to thank me, Mother would've insisted!"

From the side, Madam Yang observed and commented, "Xuan'er seems a little more lively than when I last saw him.'

Wen Ye replied, "It's been a while since he began formal schooling."

Having seen Madam Liu and her niece, Wen Ye didn’t stay for much longer, bringing Xu Yuxuan out of the inner room, leaving the space open for Madam Liu and her family members to talk. In the hall, the ones who had seen the child before her were leisurely sipping tea and chatting with each other.

The children in the Wen family didn't have any significant quarrels, even the usually not approachable Wen Hui today showed much more tranquil aveuer.

Wen Yuwan brought her daughter, Lin Shuer, while Wen Lan also came along. The two little girls were of different ages, but they still managed to play together. Standing by Wen Hui's side was her eldest son, Du Mingyou.

Wen Ran was still in the palace, and Wen Ye would probably only see her before the banquet started.

Xu Yuxuan was only slightly familiar with Wen Cheng, and Madam Yang had repeatedly reminded Wen Cheng to take good care of the younger brothers.

Although Wen Cheng was only six years old, he was much more steady than children of the same age. With so many people in the hall, he decided to take the younger brothers to the courtyard to play.

There was a group of nannies and maids keeping an eye on them in the courtyard, so everyone present felt at ease.

Xu Yuxuan was the youngest among the children, and Wen Cheng took the most care of him. Du Mingyou, trying his best to appear mature, suggested: "Why don't we play a guessing game?"

Wen Cheng slightly frowned: "Che and Xuan are too young, they won't be able to guess."

Wen Che, only slightly older than Xu Yuxuan, retorted in a childish voice: "Che can do it!"

Xu Yuxuan followed suit: "Xuan can too!"

Du Mingyou naively believed that when they said they "could," they really meant they could. So he began: "Then I'll start with a question."

"Let's start with a one-word riddle, it's very simple," Du Mingyou started, "It has both thick and thin versions, with words and pictures, knowledge hidden within, the more you read, the more you love it."

It was indeed quite simple, and Wen Cheng almost immediately guessed the answer, but he didn't say it.

/

Wen Che couldn't guess it, and Xu Yuxuan looked completely bewildered.

Du Mingyou scratched his head and said, "Maybe you didn't hear it clearly? Let me say it again."

He repeated it twice, but the two little ones still couldn't guess it. Wen Che started to get anxious and looked at his older brother for help. Wen Cheng patiently said: "Che, it's the character 'book.' And Xuan, didn't you just give two books to Siying sister?" Wen Che seemed to understand.

Du Mingyou continued: "Exactly what Cheng said, the character 'book'."

"But, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍but..." Xu Yuxuan suddenly spoke up, "Xuan doesn't like reading. It won't make me 'love it more and more.'"

Du Mingyou disagreed: "That's impossible. My father said that all children like reading."

At first, he didn't like reading either. It was only after his father told him that if children didn't like reading, they would easily be deceived. That's when he gradually cultivated a love for reading.

Xu Yuxuan insisted: "Xuan just doesn't like it!" Du Mingyou retorted: "My father wouldn't lie to me!"

Seeing the youngest and the even younger ones about to quarrel, Wen Cheng quickly intervened to mediate: "Mingyou, Xuan is still young. You didn't love reading as much when you were his age."

Du Mingyou thought about it and realized it was true. His previous confidence instantly faded, and he said: "It was Mingyou who didn't think things through." Xu Yuxuan pouted his little mouth: "Xuan understands now!"

Then, he raised his chin and said with certainty: "Brother Mingyou loves reading because he wants to marry a wife!" Wen Cheng was shocked. Who had taught his cousin Xu Yuxuan that?

Du Mingyou's face turned red, and he quickly denied: "I don't! I haven't!"