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Before Fu Yuzhang’s first birthday banquet arrived, the Spring Festival came first.

Fu Yuan had been on leave since the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month and was not expected to return to his duties until the fifth day of the first lunar month. By that count, the Great Qi Spring Festival offered a seven-day holiday—a "Golden Week," which didn't sound like a big deal, as the future had its own October Golden Week.

But! Fu Yuzhang remembered clearly that just last month, during the Winter Solstice, Fu Yuan had also taken a seven-day holiday! Following that were the Grand Ancestor’s birthday (one day off) and the Empress Dowager’s birthday at the beginning of the month (another day off).

At the tender age of just over eight months, having been in this world for a little over two hundred days, Fu Yuzhang calculated that Fu Yuan had already taken nearly seventy days of leave! The sheer volume of holidays would make any corporate slave from the future weep.

Although Fu Yuzhang had never been a corporate slave himself, hospitals were never short of them. Whenever he heard doctors and nurses talking about holidays and compensatory leave with such resentment, Fu Yuzhang felt that the Evil Sword Immortal must have been born in the wrong era. If he were placed in the future, just by visiting any office building or hospital, the gathered resentment would be enough to resurrect ten of him.

The holidays in Great Qi were truly marvelous, and Fu Yuan even managed to arrive late and leave early on the days he was supposed to work. Fu Yuzhang was full of envy; he wanted a job like this when he grew up.

Fu Yuzhang looked at Fu Huai’an with anticipation: *Brother, I’m counting on you from now on. Surely a genius brother like you can teach your own little brother to succeed?*

Overcome with excitement, Fu Yuzhang suddenly blurted out, "Brother... study!"

Everyone present was stunned. "Oh my, Zhang-ge’er can talk!"

The Old Madam’s smile widened. "Zhang-ge’er and An-ge’er are truly close."

Fu Yuan also nodded with satisfaction.

Fu Huai’an was struck by the immense surprise and turned to confirm with Fu Yuan, "Father, did I hear that right? Did Zhang-ge’er just call out?"

"You did."

But Fu Huai’an was also puzzled. "I’ve already finished my lessons for today, so why is Zhang-ge’er asking me to study?"

Fu Yuzhang was anxious to explain, but he couldn't form long sentences yet. He struggled to tame his tongue. "I... study."

Xie Yaoniang had initially felt a bit jealous—Zhang-ge’er was the flesh and blood she had brought into this world; how could he call Fu Huai’an first! But upon hearing this, she beamed. "Our Zhang-ge’er is truly remarkable. He’s already thinking about his studies at this age—how ambitious!"

*No, that’s not it! I want Brother to teach me how to study!* Fu Yuzhang gestured with his hands and feet, but he couldn't quite get the word "teach" out. He let out a string of sounds, "Brother... I..." like he was singing. Not having teeth really made speaking difficult!

Fortunately, since this was his first time speaking, the Old Madam and the others assumed he was just parroting them unconsciously. Only Fu Yuan took a closer look at Fu Yuzhang, always feeling that this little boy was far too clever—he could understand what everyone was saying, he just couldn't speak yet.

The Old Madam was also amazed. "Usually, children just call for their mothers when they first start talking, learning one word at a time. Zhang-ge’er is indeed exceptionally bright; he started with four words at once."

Xie Yaoniang and Fu Yuan felt a sense of pride, and Fu Huai’an puffed out his little chest, acting like a miniature adult, and said with feigned composure, "Zhang-ge’er has always been bright."

Everyone burst into laughter.

After a bit of gibberish, Fu Yuzhang realized he couldn't say it and gave up. Hearing the Old Madam’s words, he immediately hugged Xie Yaoniang and said sweetly, "Mother—"

It was hard for Xie Yaoniang to describe the feeling of that moment; it was like drinking honey, or like a field of flowers suddenly blooming in the ocean of her heart. She could almost hear the flowers opening. She was so overjoyed that tears welled up in her eyes.

Fu Yuzhang panicked and tried to reach out to wipe her tears, but because it was freezing, he was bundled up into a little ball and couldn't get his hands out in time. Xie Yaoniang quickly calmed down and wiped her tears with a handkerchief. "Look at me, crying from pure joy."

"All mothers are like that," the Old Madam sighed. "When Yuan-er first called me mother, I almost shed tears too."

Fu Huai’an pursed his lips, and Fu Yuzhang loudly called out again, "Brother!"

Fu Huai’an immediately beamed. "Yes—"

Fu Yuzhang shook his head happily. When he met his father’s expectant gaze, he looked up at the sky and played dumb. *Alas, I don’t understand, I don’t understand.*

Fu Yuan was almost amused to the point of anger and lightly flicked Fu Yuzhang’s forehead.

Fu Yuzhang was indignant. *What a horrible, mean father! I’m going to unilaterally cut ties with this bad father for half an hour!*

Fu Yuzhang’s chubby cheeks puffed out. He had gained a lot of weight this winter, making his face look even rounder. His large eyes took up nearly a third of his face, bright and sharp, making everyone who looked at him feel a sense of joy.

Even stern people like Fu Yuan and the Old Madam unconsciously softened their expressions.

With Fu Yuan on holiday at home, the servants worked with extra care. Sweeping the courtyards, tidying the interior, replacing the peach wood charms, putting up door gods, hanging lanterns... everyone was bustling with activity.

Xie Yaoniang was even more generous. "Once we’re done with this rush, I’ll give out three months' worth of wages at the end of the month, and another month’s bonus next month."

Motivated by the rewards, the servants worked even harder. The Changping Marquis’s household had few people; the legitimate masters were only the Old Madam, Fu Yuan, and Xie Yaoniang—five, if you included Fu Huai’an and Fu Yuzhang. Fu Yuan did have two concubines, said to have been taken in while Fu Huai’an’s birth mother was pregnant, but Fu Yuzhang rarely heard of Fu Yuan visiting their rooms. Xie Yaoniang was quite considerate toward them, ensuring their needs were met and not requiring them to perform the usual morning rituals. Her philosophy was essentially: *out of sight, out of mind.*

Fu Yuan had someone bring two new peach wood charms and took up the brush himself, writing two characters on each. Fu Yuzhang watched with curiosity, thinking his father’s calligraphy was truly bold, a sharp, piercing energy radiating from the strokes. But Fu Yuzhang... couldn't read them.

The writing looked like cursive script, and even with his built-in simplified-to-traditional character conversion system, Fu Yuzhang couldn't recognize what the four characters were.

His thoughtful brother, Fu Huai’an, immediately told him the story of Shentu and Yulei. Only then did Fu Yuzhang realize that Fu Yuan had written "Shentu" and "Yulei." The people of Great Qi didn't put up spring couplets for the New Year; they used peach wood charms, either writing the names of the two gods, Shentu and Yulei, or painting their portraits to hang by the doors to ward off evil.

Fu Yuzhang wrinkled his nose and glanced at the characters on the charms with disdain. *Any characters I can’t read are bad characters.*

*Brother is good, Father is bad!*

His expression was so vivid that Fu Yuan felt his hands itching. By the time he realized it, he was already pinching Fu Yuzhang’s baby fat. It felt quite nice, so Fu Yuan subconsciously pinched a few more times.

Fu Yuzhang angrily rescued his chubby face from his father’s clutches and pouted unhappily. "Bad Father!"

Xie Yaoniang couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Good news: Zhang-ge’er called him Father.
Bad news: He called him "Bad Father."

Fortunately, Fu Yuzhang’s muttering wasn't loud, and only Fu Yuan, Xie Yaoniang, and Fu Huai’an heard it clearly.

Although Fu Yuan always demanded strict discipline from Fu Huai’an, he wouldn't actually hold a grudge against an eight-month-old baby. Even though he felt a bit dejected, he figured he had started it by pinching first, so he had to endure it, silently watching Fu Yuzhang’s antics.

Fu Yuzhang laughed even more recklessly, his crisp giggles filling the room. Fu Huai’an had initially held his breath for his brother, but after sneaking a look at Fu Yuan’s expression, he relaxed. Seeing how happy Fu Yuzhang was, and thinking about his stern father being called "Bad Father" by his little brother, Fu Huai’an couldn't hold back either; his smile grew wider and wider until he and Fu Yuzhang were laughing in a duet.

Fu Yuan: ...*Well, that’s some "filial" behavior.*

After the two brothers finished laughing at their father, their bond continued to warm. Fu Yuzhang started chanting "Brother" like a mantra.

Fu Yuan, annoyed, pinched Fu Yuzhang’s cheek again and grumbled, "Brother is good, and Father is bad, is that it?"

Mentioning this, Fu Yuzhang became energized. He struggled to lift his hands and shook them, the bells on his wrists jingling. He tugged at the longevity lock on his chest and touched the sparkling jewels on his hat, his eyes gleaming as he showed off to Fu Yuan. "Brother gave!"

*Everything was given by Brother—what a generous, good brother!*

Fu Yuan looked closely and realized these items were indeed from Fu Huai’an’s private collection. He couldn't help but look at Fu Huai’an. "You’re quite generous."

The excitement in Fu Huai’an’s eyes hadn't faded, and upon hearing this, his expression stiffened into a respectful, formal one. "The teacher said, brothers should be friendly and respectful; that makes a harmonious family."

Fu Huai’an thought happily that his brother was very kind to him, too; the first word he ever said was "Brother." If that wasn't being respectful to one's brother, what was? So, as the older brother, he naturally had to be loving toward his younger brother!

Fu Yuan was happy to see the brothers getting along and nodded with satisfaction, saying no more.

Fu Yuzhang was still there jingling his bracelets. Fu Yuan sighed helplessly and tapped his nose. "Why did you turn out to be such a little money-grubber?"

Fu Yuzhang turned his head away, refusing to look at him.

Fu Yuan chuckled and took a piece of malt candy to tease Fu Yuzhang. Fu Yuzhang had grown two front teeth earlier that month and could finally try some solid food, but many things were still for looking, not eating. For instance, the malt candy in Fu Yuan’s hand—as the name implied, it was particularly sticky. Giving a baby who had just grown teeth sticky malt candy? *Definitely a bad father!*

Fu Yuzhang twisted his body, wishing he could turn his butt toward Fu Yuan.

Fu Yuan had recently found that teasing the baby had its own unique joy. Mostly because no matter how much he teased him, Fu Yuzhang never cried or fussed, and the expressions on his chubby face were incredibly vivid and entertaining.

Seeing that he had teased Fu Yuzhang into an anxious state, Fu Yuan calmly pulled two red silk pouches from his sleeves, embroidered with exquisite auspicious clouds. He gave one to Fu Huai’an and then dangled the other over Fu Yuzhang’s head.

Fu Yuzhang immediately whipped his head around, his eyes locked on the pouch. The red silk pouch was embroidered with golden threads—beautiful!

Fu Yuzhang reached out to grab it, but Fu Yuan raised it slightly higher. "Call me Father."

Fu Yuzhang’s tongue was very sweet now. "Father—"

Fu Yuan felt completely satisfied and finally gave the pouch to Fu Yuzhang. That evening, the family went to Rongshou Hall to watch the New Year in.

The dinner was exceptionally sumptuous, with a table so full of dishes that Fu Yuzhang couldn't count them all. At a glance, he saw spring platters, noodles, crystal meat, golden jade soup, crispy bone fish...

Fu Yuzhang only hated that he was growing too slowly and couldn't eat whatever he wanted, stuck with rice cereal and steamed egg custard.

After dinner, the family gathered to stay up for the New Year. The maids cleared the dishes and brought out a table full of snacks: pine nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, dried peaches, pear strips, roasted chestnuts, candied fruits, date cakes, milk cakes, honeycomb cakes... and a pile of treats Fu Yuzhang didn't recognize, all intricately made and elegantly plated, every bowl and saucer a work of art.

Outside, every household lit lanterns, the firelight illuminating half the sky and dyeing the heavens red. The crackle of firecrackers and the joyful sound of gongs and drums rose one after another, never ceasing. Listening to these sounds, Fu Yuzhang could imagine how lively it was outside and wished he could go out and see it for himself.

The Old Madam took out two money bags containing New Year’s money and handed them to Fu Huai’an and Fu Yuzhang with a smile.

Fu Yuzhang hugged the money bag happily—receiving gifts was super fun!

In his excitement, Fu Yuzhang showed off what he had been practicing in secret these past few days. "Grandmother—"

Although the pronunciation was still a bit fuzzy, it was clear enough for everyone to understand what he said.

The Old Madam was overjoyed; she reached out to hold Fu Yuzhang and gestured for Fu Huai’s to come over as well, pulling them both into her arms and calling them her "hearts" and "darling treasures."

Late at night, Fu Yuzhang was drifting off to sleep when he vaguely heard the cheerful cries of "selling stupidity" from outside. Fu Yuzhang’s spirits suddenly revived. *What is this? Let me listen carefully.*

Seeing Fu Yuzhang’s adorable expression, Xie Yaoniang couldn't help but laugh. "An-ge’er and Zhang-ge’er are so smart, you won't need to go out on the street to 'sell stupidity'!"

The Old Madam also laughed. "That’s right, the cleverness of our two boys is something many families would give anything for."

Fu Huai’an understood the longing on Fu Yuzhang’s face, so he quietly held his hand and whispered, "When you grow up, I’ll take you to the street to sell stupidity. But you must not answer any other children, or their stupidity will be sold to you."

It sounded quite interesting. Fu Yuzhang became intrigued, looked at Fu Huai’an solemnly, nodded vigorously, and shouted, "Play!"

Fu Yuzhang and Fu Huai’an were, after all, still children; they couldn't stay up late and fell asleep before they knew it.

Fu Yuzhang was awakened by someone tapping him. In his daze, he felt his head was cool, and something was gently tapping his skull.

Fu Yuzhang immediately opened his eyes and vigilantly raised his chubby, lotus-root-like arms to protect his head: *Who is messing with my skull?*

As he opened his eyes, he happened to meet the gaze of Fu Yuan, who was holding a bunch of scallions.

Fu Yuzhang widened his eyes: *Shocking! The current Marquis is using scallions to tap his infant son’s head. Is this a distortion of human nature, or a decline in morality?*

Fu Huai’an, also awakened by the scallions, rubbed his eyes and comforted Fu Yuzhang patiently. "Don't be afraid, Zhang-ge’er. Father is helping us add some cleverness."

Fu Yuzhang didn't understand, but he was deeply shocked.

Fu Huai’an explained patiently, "The word for scallion sounds like the word for clever; adding scallions is adding cleverness."

Fu Yuzhang blinked, looked at the scallions in Fu Yuan’s hand, then touched his own head aggrievedly and turned his face away, ignoring Fu Yuan. It wasn't until Fu Yuan brought a plate of milk cake over to feed him personally that Fu Yuzhang turned around with a giggle, took a big bite, and left a small mark on the cake.

Outside, the clear, loud voice of a monk sounded, announcing the dawn: "Salvation for all living beings, relief from suffering, all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The fifth watch is here, the rain is drizzling—"

Fu Yuzhang blinked, realizing a beat late: *A new year has begun!*