With the broadcast spreading names like Ping’an, Zi’an, and Ru’an, they became well-known. Of course, the broadcast always regretted the tricky names Liu Yi and May 1st, which Mother Zhang found hard to pronounce.

This is how it goes...

"Xiao Wu, is it ready? May 1st can’t wait anymore." Mother Zhang cradled her grandson, giving her youngest son a reproachful look. Where did his usual cleverness go?

Zhang Guoqing didn’t bother to correct his mother. How nice is the nickname Ru’an! These days, he was often thrown into confusion by these names.

Lin Lishan quickly took the baby bottle handed over by her son-in-law, "It’s ready. We’re here. Go and accompany your father, or go find Da Yi and them to play."

Such a real mom! Zhang Guoqing lifted his head, touched, only to find his mother-in-law didn’t even glance at him, eagerly running to dote on her grandson.

Does she really care about me, or is she disdainful?

On the kang, Zhou Jiao covered her mouth, stifling her laughter, and waved him over.

"Wife..."

Behind others’ backs, Zhou Jiao mouthed silently, "I love you the most."

It seems his own wife is the best. Any favoritism is fake. As soon as his mom and mother-in-law saw the twins, they were grinning ear to ear, forgetting about their youngest son.

"I wonder how Ping’an is doing with his master? Do you want to go over? I’m worried Dad can’t handle the two of them."

Zhang Guoqing recalled the scene he saw yesterday, his face turning strange as he looked outside.

Zhou Jiao looked at him, puzzled.

"What’s up?"

Zhang Guoqing glanced at the three surrounding the twins, whispering, "I’ll tell you, but you can’t sneak out."

He had refrained from telling Zhou Jiao for a day, afraid she’d want to join the fun.

"Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t go."

"Old Hu somehow got two chickens. When I went over yesterday, he had Ping’an holding the chickens for experimenting with medicine. Our son said the chickens were in a state worse than alive yet couldn’t die."

"Pfft," Zhou Jiao couldn’t hold back a chuckle, she could already imagine the chaos in that small courtyard. No wonder Ping’an didn’t bother to come home last night.

What’s there to be amused about?

Zhang Guoqing remembered his son’s gleaming eyes, giving him a headache. His wife was thinking too simply! That unreliable master of hers wouldn’t just stop at a few small tricks.

However, he didn’t plan to say more, guessing that besides drugging the fish at the river at night, there were many more antics. That old man was truly crafty!

Not just Zhang Guoqing, even Mr. Zhang felt he’d gained insight. He had never seen such a, well, he couldn’t say ’irreverent old man’, just hadn’t seen such a childlike elder.

In the hutong courtyard, Old Hu grabbed a handful of golden corn kernels mixed with white rice, waving Ping’an over: "Master will teach you a trick; we can have meat every day without raising pigeons."

Mr. Zhang retreated to the inner room, smiling and crying at the same time. Would his well-behaved grandson turn to stealing? Last night he brought back a big bucket of fish, and this morning he brought back two softshell turtles and a pile of loaches and eels.

Now, he was eyeing pigeon meat.

Old Hu climbed the ladder to the west roof, adding corn, rice, and water to the trap set up there. After climbing down, he dusted his hands, looking at his apprentice’s grandson smugly.

Ping’an watched silently, giving him a thumbs up. A little stone could easily solve it; was there a need to risk stealing chickens and losing rice too? 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Isn’t it fun? Let me tell you, there are countless tricks to learn. It’s a pity there aren’t many families raising dogs anymore; dog meat is the tastiest. Tsk tsk, just thinking about it is mouthwatering..."

Ping’an glanced at his mouth, relieved there was no drool. He rolled his eyes and pointed at the two chickens recovering in the corner, "Master, we can test more medicine now."

"Uh, it’s too hot, let’s wait for the sun to set. Do you want something to eat? How about Aunt cooks something sweet? Or send Old Hu to buy you popsicles?"

"It’s too hot, no need." Ping’an hurriedly shook his head. His dad had advised him not to truly treat Aunt and Old Hu as servants. Those two elders stayed by his master’s side to repay kindness, and his lame grandfather was actually a retired soldier injured fighting the Japanese.

Old Hu looked at him proudly and laughed, walking towards the well, "Then let’s have watermelon first."

Before he got close, Old Hu hobbled on one leg, taking the watermelon to the kitchen, "You take the boy back to the room to rest, I’ll bring it to you."

In the main room, Mr. Zhang, who was listening to Beijing Opera, saw the elder bring Ping’an in, and quickly stood up, "Uncle Hu, sit here, there’s a cool breeze."

"Why be so polite, you listen to your opera."

"There’s time to listen tomorrow. Do you want to nap?"

Old Hu waved his hand, "No, I’d rather accompany our Ping’an, right? Little one."

Ping’an obediently nodded.

Old Hu observed the child. Through long interaction, he noticed the child had great talent. Especially in the past two days, whenever he saw him making medicine, those big eyes would light up.

He pondered for a moment, "Master will tell you about his early adventures in the rivers and lakes, interested?"

Ping’an nodded; he had nothing else to do anyway.

"Our country is vast; way back, traveling by water from Beijing to Guangfu, do you know where Guangfu is?"

Ping’an nodded, "Lingnan, my mom has been there before."

"Right, it took nearly three months by water all the way to Guangfu. Not to mention going to your Northeast from there. I remember the journey cost a lot, over a hundred liang for the boat fare, eight people on a small boat."

Ping’an understood this part; boats could vary greatly. Spending a thousand liang wouldn’t be surprising.

"I was only in my teens then, not yet famous, naturally lacked that much silver. Using my learned medical skills, I traveled from south to north, resting for three months, then from north to west this way, earning money while treating patients and enjoying the scenery."

"Several times I ran into robbers who spared me upon seeing I was a doctor. Some even rewarded me with silver after I treated them..."

Hearing this, Ping’an quickly ’shushed’, "Master, never mention these things to outsiders." He gestured cutting his neck, "Or hang a sign!"

Doctor Hu shook his head disappointedly. How could he make this clever kid interested? Should he just tell him? The son might take after the father.

"Master has realized throughout his life that being a doctor is the best profession. You won’t starve empty-handed and can save your life. Want to learn a few tricks from Master?"

"My mom learning from you is enough."

Doctor Hu got stumped by his words, frustrated, "Aren’t you jealous of Master wandering and enjoying scenery everywhere?"

Ping’an curiously tilted his head, looking at him, "I have to learn martial arts, go to school, and take care of my two younger brothers, I’m very busy."

Beside them, Mr. Zhang watched joyfully as the old man was left speechless by his grandson, shaking his head toward the boy. At such an old age, teasing may cause issues.