"Brother." Zhi pushed open Min’s room door: "Aren’t you going to school today?"

Min put down the coat in his hand, turned around to catch the approaching Zhi, and nodded with a smile: "I was just planning to, have you had breakfast?"

"No." Zhi shook his head: "I want to eat with Brother."

Min glanced at the clock hanging on the wall; time was tight. Dongling came in with a backpack, saw Zhi there, and nodded respectfully towards Min. Min nodded slightly: "Just right, neither of us has eaten; let’s eat together."

Zhi nodded with a smile, climbed onto the chair, and looked around, then said to Min: "Hurry and get dressed." Looking at Min’s big room with envy, he pouted: "When will mother let me have a courtyard like this?"

"When you get to be my age, you’ll have one." Min finished dressing and turned to instruct Dongling: "Go prepare breakfast." Dongling paused, as breakfast had been cleared away; now she had to go to the kitchen again. Nodding, she said, "I’ll go right away."

"Let’s go, we’ll feed the parrot breakfast." Min took Zhi’s hand, the two brothers went out the door, took some millet to feed the parrot until Dongling brought breakfast and set it up. Min then ate breakfast with Zhi, and Mrs. Zhou wiped Zhi’s mouth. Zhi said, "I’m full, Brother, go to school." He added: "I’ll pick you up at noon."

Min pursed his lips into a gentle smile, nodded: "Okay!" Took his backpack: "Shall I take you to mother?"

Zhi nodded: "Okay, mother probably won’t go out today." Saying that, the two left Min’s courtyard together; Zhi jumped along: "Brother, can I sleep with you tonight?"

"Sure!" Min responded with a smile.

"Can you tell me stories like mother does?"

"Sure!"

Zhi’s eyes turned into crescent moons, bouncing behind Min to the main room.

"Mother." Zhi ran into the adjacent room, thinking mother should be up by now, but upon entering, he was taken aback, seeing his father rare at home sitting and drinking tea: "Father?" He approached: "You’re not going to the office today?"

Fourth Master Xiao glanced at his son, then nodded towards Min: "You should go to school, don’t keep the teacher waiting."

"Yes!" Min bowed and replied, then glanced at Zhi, stepped out quickly to the school, where Mr. Ji was already waiting inside. Min bowed deeply: "Sorry, I’m late!"

Mr. Ji looked at him briefly, then lowered his head to look at his book, speaking slowly: "Write the poem we talked about yesterday ten times." Without further explanation.

"Yes!" Min sat down with his head bowed and silently started writing.

Mr. Ji raised his eyes to glance at him, inwardly nodding, and then lowered his gaze back to the book. When Min put down the pen: "Teacher, I’ve finished."

"Hmm." Mr. Ji didn’t check his Xuan paper, nodding: "Do you know why I punished you?"

Min sat properly and replied word by word: "Because I was not punctual." Mr. Ji nodded with satisfaction: "Understanding is good." Then walked to Min, pointed outside at the big tree, and broke into a smile: "Reading indoors always, today let’s go under the tree; there’s a breeze and fragrant flowers to add some interest."

Min lowered his head in agreement, carrying the book and following Mr. Ji out.

Zhi looked at Fourth Master Xiao with a grin, asking: "Father, are you resting today?"

Fourth Master Xiao nodded.

Zhi’s smile widened, leaning to Fourth Master Xiao: "Father, they say you’re highly skilled in martial arts, is that true?"

"Hmm?" Fourth Master Xiao asked: "Why are you curious whether I’m skilled?"

Zhi replied with a laugh: "Just curious, hehe..." After speaking, turned to go outside, Fourth Master Xiao raised an eyebrow, calling out: "Where are you going?"

"I’m going to find mother, so we can go fishing!" He said and headed out.

Fourth Master Xiao coughed, Zhi stopped his steps, turned back to look at him. Fourth Master Xiao said: "Your mother is busy." Paused and asked: "Do you want to fish?"

Zhi initially wanted to ask about mother’s business but was more focused on fishing, nodded: "Yes, I want to fish! Mother promised to take me fishing these days."

Fourth Master Xiao’s brows moved slightly, stood up: "Let’s go, I’ll take you!"

Zhi’s eyes lit up, laughing: "Great, I’ll ask Qingshan and Qingyuan to bring the fishing rods." He ran out the door, also reminded: "Father, wait for me!"

Fourth Master Xiao chuckled and nodded.

Zhi quickly turned and ran out, swiftly came back to peek at the door, confirming Fourth Master Xiao was inside, sighed with relief and ran out again, shortly came back, Fourth Master Xiao asked: "Ready yet?"

"Ready, ready." Wiping sweat off his head: "Let’s go now."

Fourth Master Xiao first stepped out the door, Zhi jumped and followed him, when outside the courtyard he tugged on Fourth Master Xiao’s sleeve, whispered: "Father, I’m hot."

"Hmm." Fourth Master Xiao replied.

Zhi tugged again: "My legs hurt!"

Fourth Master Xiao remained expressionless and kept walking: "Hmm."

Zhi caught up with a few quick steps: "Father, it’s hot, stuffy, and my legs hurt." He held tightly to Fourth Master Xiao’s clothes.

Fourth Master Xiao stopped, looked down at him, Zhi grinned and opened his arms: "Father, hug!" Fourth Master Xiao furrowed his brow: "A big boy like you, still want hugs!" Then turned and kept walking.

Seeing his father didn’t agree, Zhi’s eyes turned, handed his things to Qingshan and Qingyuan, and jumped onto Fourth Master Xiao’s back, climbing rapidly with nimble legs.

Fourth Master Xiao kept walking.

Zhi climbed onto Fourth Master Xiao’s shoulders, then flicked his legs and sat steadily atop his father’s shoulders.

"Haha." Zhi laughed delightedly, making faces at Qingshan, Qingyuan, and Tiancheng who were shocked behind.

Fourth Master Xiao’s lips curled into a subtle smile.

Xiqiu awoke rubbing her waist, Chunliu had been waiting by the bed, she frowned and asked: "What’s the hour?"

"Quarter past seven." Chunliu reported the time, came to support Xiqiu up, placing a pillow behind her and handed her a cup of water, Xiqiu rubbed her forehead, murmuring: "Has Min gone to school? Where’s Zhi?"

Chunliu replied: "Young Master Min went to school; the Second Young Master went fishing with Fourth Master."

Xiqiu nodded, passed the teacup to Chunliu, got out of bed, feet hitting the ground but weakened, Chunliu supported her: "Madam, what’s wrong?"