Chunliu was overjoyed, lifting the curtain and rushing to tell Nanny Cen: "...Young Master Zhi can speak now." Nanny Cen’s eyes lit up as she grabbed Chunliu and said, "Really? That’s wonderful!" After a pause, she continued, "I told you, our Young Master Zhi is smart and would start speaking early."

Xiqiu, as if encouraged, spent the afternoon with Zhi in the room. Chunliu and Bihuai were asked to grind ink, and she found some thick cowhide paper to cut into appropriately sized pieces. Holding a pen, she wanted to draw some small animals and add their names on the illustrations. She planned to start with teaching him two-character words, gradually adding poems or adjectives next to the illustrations as he grew, following a step-by-step method. Though she had planned it well, drawing the illustrations was quite tedious. She spent the entire afternoon drawing only a few pictures, then applied various colors to make them rich and interesting.

Zhi was on the rose bed, sometimes grabbing a pen to scribble on paper like his mother, sometimes trying to put the brush in his mouth. Mrs. Zhou and Chunliu followed behind to protect him, only feeling relieved when Min came back and Zhi got distracted by him.

Zhi loved following Min the most. Min held his hand, and the two boys leaned on the couch table watching Xiqiu paint. Out of curiosity, Min asked, "Mother, why are you drawing these?"

"These are for teaching Zhi characters and objects, helping him learn to speak." Xiqiu replied without looking up. Min nodded thoughtfully and said, "Then let me help you draw. The teacher asked me to practice painting, so I can also help you."

Hearing this, Xiqiu raised her eyebrows and nodded, "Sure." Then she looked at Min, "With Min here, mother feels much more at ease."

Min blushed and smiled shyly.

Fourth Master Xiao strode into the room, seeing the three of them buried in work, and asked, "What are you doing?"

Hearing this, Xiqiu put down her pen, got off the bed, helped Fourth Master Xiao take off his outer garments, and served him tea, smiling as she explained her idea to him. Fourth Master Xiao nodded, "There’s so much, you can’t finish painting it all alone!" He then noticed Min cross-legged with a pen and greeted his father respectfully, "Father!"

Fourth Master Xiao nodded, then looked at Zhi who was doodling. Zhi looked towards his father, showing a sweet smile with his new six teeth, and immediately returned to doodle indifferently. Fourth Master Xiao was stunned, while Xiqiu pursed her lips and smiled, explaining, "He just discovered the fun of painting."

Fourth Master Xiao then noticed that his son and Xiqiu were both covered with ink stains. Xiqiu laughed and said, "Luckily, I wore some old clothes..." Then she went back to tidy up the afternoon’s work, looking up at Min and Zhi, "Wash your hands and get ready for dinner."

Min nodded obediently, put down his pen, and said to Xiqiu, "I’ll come back to continue painting after dinner." Xiqiu nodded and reminded, "Don’t delay the homework the teacher assigned."

"Yes!" Min agreed. Xiqiu also asked Mrs. Zhou to take Zhi down for washing and changing, and the family had dinner in the adjacent room.

At night, Xiqiu, while in bed, told Fourth Master Xiao about Zhi’s speech milestone today: "...He said ’Mom’ once and then refused to speak again." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Fourth Master Xiao was very pleased, holding his son and laughing for a long time, yet he comforted her, "Take it slow..."

Xiqiu looked at Zhi, and before sleeping at night, she taught him various titles. Zhi only repeated, "Mom... no." Fourth Master Xiao laughed loudly, patting his son’s head, "He hasn’t learned anything yet, but rejection was the first thing he mastered."

With one word ’no,’ he was able to respond to so much.

In the morning, after sending off Fourth Master Xiao and Min, Xiqiu took Zhi in the room to continue with the unfinished illustrations from yesterday. She asked Chunliu to put aside the previously done drawings sorted by category, planning to bind them later with needle and thread. Zhi lay alongside, focused on his doodling, once again covered in ink.

"Madam." Biwu lifted the curtain and entered, replying, "Fourth Miss is here." As Biwu finished speaking, Tong Xiyan’s voice could already be heard from outside. She lifted the curtain and entered with a smile, seeing Zhi covered in ink and surprised, she asked, "Even at such a young age, Zhi has learned to paint, how wonderful. Let your fourth aunt see what you’ve drawn." Saying this, she approached to look at Zhi, but Zhi, excited to see Tong Xiyan, dropped the pen and hugged her, leaving ink all over her.

Tong Xiyan laughed uncontrollably, appearing very happy.

Xiqiu, feeling helpless, had no choice but to ask Mrs. Zhou to take Zhi down to change clothes. After washing her hands, she looked at Tong Xiyan and asked, "You look so happy..."

"There’s nothing much to be happy about." Tong Xiyan took a wet towel from Chunliu to wipe her hands, then sat down next to Xiqiu, took a sip of tea, and replied, "I’m here to deliver a gift for Zhi’s first birthday ceremony." She paused, then took out a book from her sleeve and handed it to Xiqiu.

It was "Student Rules", with yellowing pages that made a crisp sound when turned, and a fragrance of ink wafted around. The font inside was also round, full, and elegant. She asked, "This seems like an ancient book. Using something this valuable just for a first birthday ceremony!"

"It’s not mine." Tong Xiyan replied with a smile, lowering her voice, carrying a hint of helplessness in her tone: "It was sent to the mansion yesterday, specifically named to be given to me. I was puzzled until I opened it and saw this..." She handed a letter to Xiqiu: "It was tucked inside the book. Take a look."

Xiqiu opened it, and with just a few words, she immediately understood who had sent the book. She asked, "Where is cousin now, is he well?"

"The letter didn’t say, and I asked the person who delivered the book, but he didn’t know either. He only said someone paid him to deliver it." Tong Xiyan sighed, "However, if he can still entrust someone to deliver such a book, it seems he’s relatively stable. Since he doesn’t want us to find him, we might as well respect his wish and not disturb him. As long as he’s okay, it’s fine."

Xiqiu held the book in her hand, sighed, and said no more.

The two sat in silence for a while, then Tong Xiyan added, "The eldest sister-in-law prepared many things, and everything necessary for the first birthday ceremony is ready. However, when people come to witness the ceremony and bring gifts, you should still make an exchange to honor their courtesy."

Xiqiu nodded in agreement: "Yes!" Tong Xiyan then thought of Tong Xiyang and said, "I heard he rented a shop on the other end of West Street, as if he intends to open a provision store."

Xiqiu had heard of it but hadn’t paid special attention.

In a blink of an eye, it was the second day of the fourth month. Early in the morning, the Grand Dowager and First Madam arrived, the Grand Dowager joyfully holding the freshly dressed Zhi in red silk short coats and navy blue trousers, saying, "In a blink, our Zhi is already a full year old."