Before he finished speaking, a middle-aged man in neat and loose clothes had already strode into the main hall door.
The person who came was none other than Xiang Xu, Cong'er's "biological father" who rarely came back, a senior official in the Song Dynasty.
"My husband is back!" Mrs. Xiang couldn't help but be overjoyed when she saw that it was the head of the family who hadn't come to visit them for a long time. She quickly stood up, walked around from behind a few cases, walked quickly forward and knelt down to worship.
The servants also immediately bowed down together. When the children saw this posture, they realized that it must be the same, and they all turned towards the male master. They lay down at their respective places, in the layout of everything facing the sun, and walked towards Xiangxu. The same style of kneeling and worshiping.
Although Cong'er was only three years old, he was sensitive enough to perform this salute, so he also knelt down in the same way, but he was not so willing in his heart: "What! How often do you not come to see me? If you come once, let me do it." If you kneel down, you're not as good as that Uncle Zhao Wu who always pokes me in the butt and lifts me up high!"
"Madam, please get up!" Xiang Xu walked up to Little Madam Xiang, bent down and stretched out his hands to help her stand up, and then waved to everyone else, "Everyone, please get up too!"
The servants who then got up quickly arranged for the two masters to sit side by side and serve refreshments so that the male master could return to his seat.
"Mr. Zuo Shifu, did something happen when you suddenly returned from Hedi this time? What is it?" Mrs. Xiang asked softly as she followed Dr. Xiang back to the main hall and the chairman of the hall. "He , would you like to give you a chance to come and see us two?"
After Dr. Xiang Zuo sat down, he turned to his young lady and said, "When I come back this time, I have an appointment with Brother Zhao, and I am preparing to mobilize all the countries again to fight for the second 'annihilation'. I am busy with official business, so I will leave here." When I made an appointment with Brother Zhao in Lidu, he only knew that I was meeting with Brother Zhao and did not know that I would come to Lidu to meet you and Cong'er."
"You have the nerve to say come to see me! Every time Uncle Zhao comes over, he is the first one to come and hug me. You are so good. As a biological father, although he is not a real biological father, he is in name at least. When he comes, he only cares about sitting upright. , ignore me at all, alas! I don't like him." Cong'er felt that she had not received the attention she deserved, and secretly complained about this "father".
"Chong'er, come near me!" He just said he didn't take it seriously, but in the second sentence, Xiang's father started to give orders to Cong'er.
"Yes, father!" Cong'er had no choice but to stand up, from the seat next to her, close to her mother's side, past her mother, and walked to her father's desk, saluting solemnly again, "Cong'er wishes father well-being! "
This father, who looked more solemn and serious, with a sense of strangeness and alienation, saw this little man. After not seeing him for a while, he had unknowingly begun to take on a human appearance. Compared to the last time he came here to see him, he didn't know anything anymore, and even He even had hearing problems, which made him feel a little disgusted. This time, he saw that not only could he listen and salute, but he could even say a salute. Although it was not standard enough and the intonation was a bit strange, it was at least close to "normal spoken language". After saying the courtesy, he was still quite happy. The corners of his mouth raised slightly, the anaconda trembled, and he raised his right hand in a gesture of greeting, saying: "Okay, okay, come to me! Come here!"
Cong'er came closer to him timidly, and was hugged by this "dad" who suddenly came back. He was even hugged tightly to his chest. This was different from being hugged by his mother, being hugged by "little tail", and being hugged by Ji Yu. The feeling of hugging is different. This is a strong hug from a strong adult man. It gives him a stronger "trust" in addition to feeling some pressure, pain, and even breathlessness. , and "family affection"? ——I don’t know whether it was a sudden feeling of “dependence”. This hug made him feel that he suddenly understood what the word “reliable” meant.
"If our Chong'er was still alive, he should be this old!" In fact, the moment he held Cong'er, what Xiang Xu thought of was his real "Xiang Zhong", his biological son who died of rabies. Mrs. Xiang didn’t know about this “replacement” at all. He was just an orphan, but as long as she believed in him, he would be our “loved son”.
Compared with the wife's son Xiang Zheng, this "important son" was not only looked down upon by the wife because he was born by a concubine, not to mention he was born with a hearing impairment. According to her, he and his madness were not the same. Mom is very worthy. She only deserves to be hidden in a far away place. She should never come out to see others and cause trouble and shame to the Xiang family. The people all over the place were watching every move, word and deed of Xiang Jia! The Xiang family could not afford to lose face by obeying the emperor's orders and eating the offerings of the local people.
Although he was not his biological child, Xiang Xu was still a little touched when he hugged her tightly. He sighed that Brother Zhao Wu could help him take care of the mother and son so well. He was also touched that at such a young age, this strong child could actually... He was overjoyed to be able to work hard to overcome his disability and reach the level he is today. He even shed a tear from the corner of his eye.
"My husband cares about the people of the world and forgets his own interests. We are so lucky to come to visit us! I should give you a smart and cute boy. Your dear son, he can not only understand what we say. What's the matter, she can still read the poems and texts on the bamboo slips of Guo. In recent days, she has been going to the library every day to check and sort out the slips from various countries. No one has taught her. She can still read the different texts. The words in different fonts in the country are really unheard of, and it is extremely surprising!" Mrs. Xiang was so excited that she cried when she saw her husband holding his son, so she quickly and proudly introduced this "genius" son He is gifted, not only can he overcome hearing impairment, but he can also understand the characters in different fonts of various countries without any teacher.
"Is there anything like this?" Dad Xiang obviously didn't believe that such a miracle would happen to his family.
"You can try the canal." Mrs. Xiang was very confident and proud as she gave a test suggestion to Dad Xiang.
"You, bring the memorial I brought with me!" Xiang's father gave an order to a subordinate who came back with him. This little secretary-like follower immediately opened the file box he carried with him and randomly took out something from the middle. A roll of bamboo slips was presented respectfully.
The servant a few days ago took the document and forwarded it to Doctor Xiang.
Doctor Xiang unfolded the document, picked out a column of text at random, pointed at the text, and said to Cong'er: "Well, what's going on under your eyes?"
Cong'er looked along where her father's finger was pointing, and saw that the vertical text he was pointing to was in large seal script, and the content was:
