The Grand Secretary's Child-Raising Diary

There were only two masters in the mansion, Lu Shiyan and Lu Youning, and the dishes prepared by the kitchen were naturally according to their preferences. However, for some reason, when they saw the dishes being placed into Lu Youning's bowl by Ah Xiu's hands, both Shouyan and Huaiyan felt a sudden unease.

It was as if it wasn't a delicious and visually appealing dish, but a venomous snake that could ignite the young master's evil personality.

Fortunately, the thing the two were worried about did not happen. Lu Youning quietly ate all the food that Qian Xiu had put in his bowl.

Qian Xiuben was also uneasy. When she lived in Jiangyin, she often heard people say that the sons and daughters of wealthy families were the most difficult to please. Tonight, seeing Lu Youning dressed in fine clothes and with a beautiful face as exquisite as if carved from jade, she was surprised to see that he already exuded an air of nobility at such a young age.

She felt both pleased and afraid. Now that she saw the young master eating the food she had picked up, Qian Xiu immediately burst into laughter.

At the next meal, Qian Xiu, without her mother's reminder, kept a close eye on Lu Youning. Whenever she saw that his bowl was empty, she would immediately put new dishes into it.

Finally, it was Zhang's mother who spoke up to stop him: "Miss Qian, that's enough. The young master has a weak stomach and shouldn't eat too much at night."

Qian Xiu blushed and whispered, "Oh, okay."

Lu Youning put down her chopsticks and thanked Qian Xiu, "Thank you, Aunt Xiu."

Everything seemed exceptionally harmonious, and Madam Qian's smile never faded. Seeing this, she said to Lu Shiyan, "Young Master is so sensible; he gets along so well with our Ah Xiu."

Lu Shiyan was also quite surprised by Lu Youning's attitude.

He knew his child best. From a young age, apart from the maids and servants who were close to him, he always spoke as little as possible to others. Even Tan Xiuwen was able to play with him only because he was thick-skinned. Today, however, he was somewhat close to Qian Xiu.

In the past, Lu Shiyan would always wait for Lu Youning to put down her chopsticks at the dinner table. Today, with the addition of Mama Qian and Qian Xiu, Mama Qian would occasionally say a few words to Lu Shiyan, so Lu Youning couldn't just leave the table after finishing her meal.

Seeing that it was getting late, Lu Youning was patient, but Zhang Shi couldn't wait any longer. She stepped forward and said, "Second Master, it's getting late. The young master still has homework to do."

Upon seeing Qian Mama, whom he hadn't seen for many years and who was like a mother to him, Lu Shiyan was so happy that he neglected Lu Youning. It was only after Zhang Shi reminded him that he realized it was indeed getting late.

He looked at Lu Youning and said gently, "Then Aning, go back and do your homework first. Father will come to see you later."

Lu Youning nodded, and without needing Zhang Shi to carry her, she jumped off the stool to greet Lu Shiyan, and then said goodbye to Qian Mama and Qian Xiu: "Grandma Qian, Aunt Xiu, I'll be going back now."

He turned to leave, and Madam Zhang hurriedly stepped forward to tie his cloak, carefully instructing him, "Young Master, walk slowly, be careful not to catch a chill."

Inside the dining room, watching the two leave, Mother Qian praised, "Erlang has taught this child well; he is so polite at such a young age."

As a father, especially a single father like Lu Shiyan raising a child, it's hard for anyone to refuse praise for their child.

He smiled and said, "Ah Ning has been a sensible child since she was little, and she has never caused me any worry."

Outside, seeing Lu Youning walking towards the garden, Madam Zhang whispered, "Young Master, it's getting late. Why don't we not go to the garden today?"

Lu Youning didn't even turn her head: "Let's go, we've eaten too much."

Upon hearing the words "ate too much," Zhang immediately fell silent and followed Lu Youning step by step to the garden for a walk to aid digestion.

Her heart was filled with mixed feelings. Instinctively, she felt that the woman who had come to her had ill intentions.

Second Master, no matter how special that Madam Qian is, there should still be a distinction between master and servant, right? Now the young master has two more elders on his head for no reason.

The more Zhang's mother thought about it, the angrier she became, but she could only suffer in silence, not daring to show it in front of Lu Youning.

Lu Youning was unusually calm. He had been in Daqian for four years, becoming Lu Shiyan's son, Lu Youning. Times had changed, and he was no longer mentally ill or crazy. He had to learn to think like a normal person.

The cheap father was also a pitiful person. He probably viewed Qian Mama in the same way that Zhang Shi was to him.

It doesn't matter much if there are one or two more people in this huge mansion of the Junior Minister. As long as they behave themselves and their adoptive father is happy, they can stay.

Having figured this out, Lu Youning felt much better and, too lazy to walk back herself, reached out to Zhang Shi for a hug.

That evening, after helping Lu Youning to wash up and fall asleep, leaving Ren Dong to keep her company, Zhang Shi went to the outer room and told Sun Mama in detail what she had seen and heard in Songtao Courtyard that day.

Sun Mama was old and knowledgeable. Ever since the incident at the Chengen Earl's Mansion, Zhang Shi admired Sun Mama very much. Now, she would ask Sun Mama for advice on anything she was unsure about.

"What does Granny Qian mean by this? It's one thing to come to our door on your own, but what's the point of bringing a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl with you?"

Madam Sun had spent more time in the inner quarters of Xun Gui's household than Madam Zhang, and she understood almost instantly what Madam Zhang was worried about. Putting down her work, Madam Sun comforted her:

"I know what you're worried about, but the Second Master is still young and only has one child, the young master. Now that he's separated from the Chengen Marquis's Mansion, it's only a matter of time before he marries a new woman."

Zhang understood this principle perfectly well. She had been thinking about it since the first day she moved into the Shaoqing Mansion, but her young master had only had a few days of peace.

As the old saying goes, a stepmother is bound to have a stepfather. The thought of the child she raised having to be subservient to another woman made her heart ache.

Picking up the half-finished undergarment in her hand, Zhang Shi stitched it with great effort, saying, "You didn't see it today, but that Granny Qian was sitting next to the Second Master, waving at our young master, really acting like she's our Third Master's grandmother."

Although Sun's mother did not see him, it did not stop her from feeling uncomfortable when she thought of that scene.

She glanced at the thick darkness outside, thinking that it was too late for the Second Master to come over, and then said calmly, "Didn't Madam Qian say that the girl's fiancé died in her hometown and that she came to the capital to seek refuge with the Second Master? I'm afraid she's hoping to find a family in the capital."

"Don't panic yet, lest you make a mistake and embarrass the young master. I'll go and sound out Qian Shi's opinion tomorrow."

After hearing Sun Mama's words, Zhang was still indignant, but she was able to suppress her anger.

"Alright, I know it's hard for women to live in this world, but we've watched the Third Young Master grow up since he was a child, and I'm just worried that he might be wronged."

Madam Sun understood perfectly well that everyone in their courtyard cherished the young master as their most precious treasure. If the Qian aunt and niece were to stay peacefully, they would naturally keep to themselves. But if they harbored other intentions, there would likely be many conflicts in the future.