Sick Man Turns Out to be a General

Mu Chen was sitting on the low couch near the window reading a book. Hearing Shen Jingli's words, he raised his eyebrows, "Coal mine? What can we do? "    

"You can burn coal balls if you want to." Shen Jingli answered and poured a bowl of tea for him, "Drink some tea."    

Mu Chen put down the book and moved his mouth. He was indeed a little thirsty, so he picked up the tea bowl and gracefully drank half of it.    

Shen Jingli sat beside him and glanced at the book he was reading. It was another military book, a man's ambition wouldn't be extinguished that easily.    

Thinking about the past when he played games in the middle of the night, Shen Jingli laughed, and then heard Mu Chen say: "That coal ball is easier to use than firewood?"    

"Aren't rich families supposed to burn charcoal in the winter to keep warm? The coal ball has been burning for a long time, and after cooking it, it has left behind some heat that can be used for heating. However, for heating it with coal, you must pay attention to ventilation and it is best not to put it in the bedroom, otherwise it might be harmful to the human body. " Shen Jingli did not dare to say that he was poisoned. The ancient people did not know what carbon monoxide was, so if they could not explain it clearly, it would attract the suspicion of others.    

"When Shang Jing rushed to take the examination, didn't he have to take it for a few days? In the beginning of spring, the weather was so cold. Every time there was a test, the examinees would freeze their limbs and feel the cold. If they had brought some coal, this situation would not have happened. " Not only could he heat it up, if he brought a small coal stove, he could also cook. Thinking about it, it was a good deal.    

Mu Chen muttered to himself for a moment, then nodded his head: "Wait until after Ancestor sacrifices, I will follow you to take a look."    

"Alright." Shen Jingli drank a bowl of tea and looked out the window: "I wonder where Xun Er and Huaixin went to play, and they still haven't come back yet?"    

Seeing his worried look, Mu Chen reached out and hugged him, saying, "You seem more and more like a Mama."    

Hearing these words, Shen Jingli was not happy, what did he mean by he looked more and more like a Mama? Didn't he look like that before?    

"What do you mean? Am I abusing your son? " Shen Jingli reached out and pinched Mu Chen's abdomen. Although Mu Chen's body shape was not strong, he had trained all year round, and had a good physique, so his abs were well-developed. Shen Jingli's pinch felt like he was scratching an itch, and it wasn't painful nor itchy.    

"It's that you're getting better and better at taking care of your children." Mu Chen was worried that he might hurt his hand so he took the initiative to hold his hand and help him massage. He suggested, "Next time don't pinch your abdomen, pinch your buttocks or neck, use your strength there."    

His kind reminder made Shen Jingli extremely angry, "Is it convenient for me to use my strength, or are you using your strength?"    

Mu Chen raised his head, and looked at him innocently.    

Shen Jingli chuckled as he reached out to tug at his face, "Mu Shisi, why do I feel like your skin is getting thicker and thicker?"    

Mu Chen gave a shallow smile and continued to massage his hand. He turned and looked at Mu Chen, who was rubbing his fingers with his head lowered. His palm was very warm.    

Shen Jingli's throat felt a little tight, and his mouth was parched. He really wanted to hug him and take a bite.    

"Fourteen, I want to bite you again." He leaned over and put his head on his shoulder, chuckling.    

Mu Chen also laughed softly, his mood becoming more and more joyous. Just as he was about to hug Shen Jingli for a while, Xun Er's voice came from outside.    

"Mama, I brought you fruit. Quickly come out and take a look …" Xun Er shouted as he pushed open the door, stepped across the threshold and ran in.    

Shen Jingli turned his head and saw a dirty Xun Er. His face and clothes were all stained with soil and grass.    

"Where did you go to play?"    

Jin Yu and Nian Hua carried a basket and chased up from behind, explaining, "Young Master is playing shuttlecock with Young Master Xi."    

"And … and …" Xun Er quickly added, "And to pull the grass, Xun Er is still feeding the chickens."    

Hearing Xun Er's words, Jin Yu and Hua Hua immediately wanted to die. They were worried that Shen Jingli would scold them and cause them to fail to look at Xun Er properly, so they let Young Master do such menial work.    

"Madam, Young Master Xi has said that he will go to the garden to pick some old leaves for the chickens to eat. Young Master will definitely follow him there …" Jin Yu said with a pale face, her heart was slightly afraid, just how precious was the Young Master's identity, why didn't she stop him before?    

"Xun Er helped feed the chickens?" Shen Jingli squatted down and wiped the dirt off his son's face.    

"Yes." Xun Er nodded his head, looking very happy, "Huaixin has gone to feed the chickens, he is still at brother Xi's house, I have come back to deliver the fruits to Mama."    

He spread his hands, and inside his hands were two dates. They were beautiful, but also plump, "Mama, look, isn't it big? I left it for you. "    

"I left it for me." Shen Jingli was overwhelmed by the favor. Looking at his son who was bashfully twisting his body, his heart was filled with happiness.    

"Mm, one for you and one for dad." Xun Er lied on top of Shen Jingli's body and said softly.    

Mu Chen had just walked behind the two of them. Hearing his son's words, his gaze softened as he reached out to scoop his son up and carry him in his arms. He turned his head to instruct Jin Yu and Nian Hua, "Go and boil some hot water, help Young Master bathe."    

"Dad, will you wash it for me?" Xun Er's eyes were full of anticipation.    

Mu Chen nodded his head and immediately clapped his hands in joy.    

"..."    

Jin Yu and Nian Hua quickly boiled the water and brought it into the room one by one. Then, they prepared the bathtub, the big towel, and a small towel.    

Mu Chen first washed his hands and adjusted the water's temperature. First, he washed Xun Er's face with a soft towel before helping him take off his clothes.    

Xun Er was moving around happily, and asked some questions from time to time.    

"Father, can I take a bath together with Huaixin?"    

"No." Putting away the clothes that he had taken off, Mu Chen tested the temperature of the water again to ensure that it was not too hot or cold.    

"Why?" Xun Er patted the water, which splashed all over Mu Chen's face.    

Mu Chen patted Xun Er's little fart, "You are a man, and Huaixin is a pair. It is against the rules for you to bathe together with him."    

"If you don't conform to the rules, you have to hit the board." The moment he thought of hitting a board, Xun Er immediately reached out to cover his own fart, shaking his head with all his might, "Xun Er doesn't want to be hit by a board, beating a board hurts."    

Although Shen Jingli had a good temper and didn't really care about servants, he still gave them high wages, but there were always some ambitious people in the house who would do things in secret. When Shen Jingli dealt with these people, he would beat them up and then sell them off, and Xun Er had also secretly seen them once before, when he heard that person being beaten up crying loudly, the little guy was scared to the point that it didn't dare to sleep, and only slept after being coaxed by Shen Jingli for half a night, thus it was deeply impressed.    

"So you can't bathe together with Huaixin, and you can't watch Huaixin bathe." Mu Chen lectured.    

"Got it." Xun Er nodded and started to play with the water again. He twisted his body and slid like a loach, just not willing to let Mu Chen clean his body.    

Mu Chen watched him play, he did not stop him, but only tested the temperature of the water from time to time, if it became cold, he would add some hot water, maintaining a certain temperature, so that Xun Er would not catch a cold.    

After playing for a while, Xun Er sat down obediently and let Mu Chen wipe his body. He even sneakily brought his small feet up to Mu Chen's eyes and said, "Father, rub for me, wipe for me …"    

When Mu Chen held his little feet and wiped them clean with the gaps of his fingers, Xun Er started to giggle.    

After showering, Mu Chen used a large towel to help him clean his body, then helped him change into clean clothes.    

Mu Chen called Jin Yu and Nian Hua in, and took Xun Er's bath water to wash the other items. Xun Er on the other hand, jumped up and down on the bed happily, sometimes jumping on the blanket, and sometimes rolling around with the pillow in his arms. He even intentionally threw the pillow at Mu Chen, and his mischievous look made Mu Chen want to throw him out.    

After playing for a while, someone from the front hall called for them. They said that they were going to the patriarch's house for lunch and asked Mu Chen and his family to quickly pack up and go out.    

When Xun Er heard that he needed to go to the Patriarch's house to eat, the first person he thought of was Mu Xi. He hurriedly urged Shen Jingli to put on his shoes, then swiftly ran off to find Mu Xi.    

The two families were close, so Shen Jingli decided to go with Qing Sheng.    

Just as he walked out of the door, he saw Qing Sheng's husband bringing over two children. Mu Yifann had changed into a long robe and combed his hair into a neat bun.    

Mu Yu was a scholar, so he had a good impression of Mu Yifann, who was also a scholar.    

felt that he was completely bored, since Mu Jing and Mu Jin were both cheerful people, and were normally too used to it. When they came to the Mu Family Village, they were like birds that released their cages, and naturally they were not restricted from playing around everywhere, but Mu Yu was different. He was a scholar, and knew how to get back to his ways, and paid full attention to rules and regulations.    

Now that he had found someone who shared the same interests as him, the conversation began. This scholar's chattering was much more talkative than the old lady's chattering.    

Mu Yifann was an Elementary Scholar, he wanted to take the examinations, and his literary skills were not bad. However, Mu Yu was once the top scholar, so when the two of them started chatting, it was really too late.    

Because Mu Chen's group was invited to dinner, the clan leader's family bought chicken, duck and fish meat, cooking ten dishes.    

Female servants were not allowed to sit at the main table, so Shen Jingli and Qing Sheng led the children and sat together with the Madam of Patriarch.    

When the Great Daughter-in-law saw Qing Sheng, she said in a weird tone, "Brother is really lucky."    

Although she did not know what to say, everyone knew that she was saying that Qing Sheng did not come over to help with the cooking, but instead came to freeload.    

was glad that he did not have to live in the Marquis Zhen Yuan Mansion. Otherwise, his life would probably be even worse than Qing Sheng's.    

"Mama, Xun Er wants to eat chicken." Xun Er did not understand the battle between humans, he only knew that if he did not give them food, his small stomach would beat like a drum.    

Shen Jingli picked a piece of chicken, took off the bones, and fed it to Xun Er. Then, he fed a few pieces of chicken to Huaixin.    

Due to Xun Er's interruption, the atmosphere around the table became a little better. Madam of Patriarch cordially greeted Shen Jingli with dishes and the Great Daughter-in-law also chimed in with a smile.    

After eating, Shen Jingli followed Qing Sheng back. On the way, they asked about the Ancestor in a few days.    

Qing Sheng told him that on the day of the worship, he must get up before daybreak to kill chickens and prepare the offerings. After they were done, he would first pay respects in the ancestral hall, then go up the mountain to sweep the tomb.    

The women did not need to go up the mountain to sweep the tomb. Instead, they would stay in the village to prepare lunch and wait for the people who went up to sweep the tomb to come back.