“Mother, father, I have taken two students from the town. They may come to study under me next month. I will teach them in the afternoon, I don’t know if it was alright for everyone?” Liao Tingyu broke the news while everyone was eating dinner together.

There was nothing wrong in mother Deng’s opinion. Liao Ming took a sip of his wine and asked, “Where did those children came from?”

“They are the sons of wealthy businessmen in the town. Although, their reputation wasn’t very good but I have met them and their characters are upright. They were sensible person; they only need to enlighten their children. If they could be admitted in the Qingshan Academy, it will be nice.” Liao Tingyu said.@@novelbin@@

“Then, do you plan to accept them as disciples?” Liao Ming asked.

“No, I will just teach them here. Naturally, I have to test them first, to be a scholar also depends on the talents. Everyone have their own abilities, if they have some talents, I will accept them.”

“Well, you can do what you want. I won’t say much, but you have to be careful of your reputation. No matter what step do you want to take, your fame as scholar must be protected.” Liao Ming told him carefully.

He had seen things from his life, scholars usually chose to teach common families or noble families if they were lucky. But it was rare for them to teach in a merchant’s families.

In this world, everything was relayed on status. Scholar had higher status than common people, although the merchant had huge wealth but they were treated as the bottom rock in their society.

Liao Tingyu understood very well. Although not everyone in the Qingshan Academy raised their head high with pride. But they were few of them who held prejudice against the merchant.

He wasn’t a saint; he was ordinary human. He chose to use the fastest way to earn more money and satisfied his desire.

Although it doesn’t make much sense in the eyes of people here but it felt better for him.

After telling his family, he received no objection and mother Deng fully supported him. She planned to let him teach in the study room, it was nice and enough to accommodate three people, she just needed to build a table.

.

Everyone was sleeping well, when suddenly there was a scream in the middle of the night.

Mother Deng got up from the bed. Before she could ask what was going on, Liao Shi pulled her and shouted, “Mother, hurry up. Get the midwife, Xiuer is about to give birth.”

Mother Deng didn’t have time to pull her cloak, she ran out to find the midwife.

Because the child wasn’t raised well in the early stage, the baby wasn’t very big and it was born a little advanced.

During the delivery, Liao Tingyu looked at his big brother who was extremely nervous. They listened to the screams inside the room, it was heart-breaking!

Fortunately, the midwife was very experienced, Wen Xiuer’s delivery went smoothly. She gave birth to a baby at dawn/

According to mother Deng, this child was very good.

When the child was taken out, Liao Shi wanted to hug it with trembling hands. But mother Deng rushed out and knocked his hands off. She pulled Liao Tingyu over.

This way, Liao Tingyu was the first person in the family who held the new-born baby. The midwife kept correcting his posture to held the baby, he looked at the small red child in his arms, so soft and weak but it made people felt love and warm.

As a father, Liao Shi could only watch helplessly as his younger brother hugged his son.

In order to see his son’s face, he had to compete with his mother and father who were crowding Liao Tingyu. It was really frustrating for him to be a father!

“Oh, look how cute this kid is.” Mother Deng took the child’s hand and stretched the fingers in her palm.

“Look, look, these little hands are really strong. Ouch, they caught me so tight.”

Liao Ming smiled happily at the side; his hands were ready to move but he didn’t dare touch the baby.

The birth of new baby was a festive event, so mother Deng hung a red string cloth on the door in front of their shop. At the same time, she didn’t forget to kill an old hen for this baby.

Even after the family got better, no one could match the treatment like this. Only Liao Tingyu the most precious child in the family ate half of the chicken.

Wen Xiuer looked at the chicken soup and drank it happily, even if she had no appetite, she must swallow it no matter what.

When she couldn’t drink anymore, mother Deng said in gentle voice, “Daughter-in-law, that is enough. If you can’t drink it, don’t force it. There is still some in the kitchen, I will warm it up for you later. You must do a good job during confinement period. Rest well, eat as much as you can. You can’t be like me.”

Mother Deng looked at Wen Xiuer who had given birth, she felt so much emotion from her past. When she was in the same situation, although her mother-in-law wasn’t harsh but she had to go to work in the fields after resting for half a month from giving birth.

As a result, she often had backaches during rainy days. She was lucky enough to have another son after a few years. Otherwise, she didn’t know how her life would be.

Liao Shi looked at his son in the cradle and felt a little sulky. He complained to his father who was sipping wine while looking at his grandson, “Father, I couldn’t figure it out. Why didn’t mother let me hold my child first… it was the son born by my wife, but my little brother who hugged him first. I have practices for a long time in order to hold my baby first.”

Liao Ming replied calmly, “I was the one who held you first when you were born, but look at what you now. Your little brother was held by the village chief first, but look at his achievement. I used to be as ignorant as you and my father was very angry with me. There is a saying among the older generation, when a child is born, then he must be held by a capable person first. Unfortunately, when I learned this, it was already too late for you.”

Liao Ming felt a little sorry for his eldest son but thought it was his wife who gave birth in hurry. There was no capable person in the house, so it was becoming like this.

Finally, Liao Shi understood but couldn’t believe it, “Is that true? I remember my cousin was carried by second uncle who was a scholar but he didn’t have good future. Isn’t my cousin still digging the ground now?”

Liao Ming glanced at him, “He is digging the ground but he is smart. You can’t compare to him at all when he was young. If it weren’t for your little brother, you might be worse than him. Don’t think about his big family but he and his brother work diligently. They even build a house and buy more lands. Do you have the same ability?”

Liao Ming thought about the situation in the village and talked non-strop in front of Liao Shi. He told every rule and basis of the village while Liao Shi listened.

“You are just like me. Although you can’t say anything with your mouth but your heart was like a mirror on your face. I only hope your son could be as capable like your little brother.” Liao Ming looked softly at the small baby who was pouting his little mouth.

Liao Shi understood his mother’s painstaking effort to ensure his son’s future and blessing from Liao Tingyu. He simply stopped worried about it, regardless who hugged the baby first. This son would call him father from now on.

.

Since there was an addition of a small baby. The family had become very busy but full of laughs.

Liao Tingyu looked at the child who kept moving around, he liked to tease him when he had free time. It was very interesting to watch the hands waved around. Sure enough, raising a child was really fun.

The child nickname was Mi Gao, which had already decided on. The name could only give when the child reached the age of ten years old.

Then, the name would be engraved into the family tree. When the child was twenty years old, the ancestral hall would be opened again and another name would be added as his curtesy name.

It was precisely because of this little baby that Liao Tingyu felt his status in the family had plummeted down. Mother Deng always fussing around the child and Wen Xiuer.

Liao Tingyu went to mother Deng to complain, “Mother, you don’t love anymore.”

Mother Deng was busy pouring goat milk for her grandson. Wen Xiuer was in poor health and had little milk, so the child didn’t have enough to eat. Liao Tingyu simply bought them a female sheep,

But the smell of it was so strong, mother Deng bought a few kilograms of tea to control the smell. Tea was a rare item; it could cost two taels for a few kilograms of good tea.

Every time she made the milk, mother Deng would put the tea inside and the tea would decreased immediately.

“You are so old now. Someone will take care of you in the future. Son, do you have sweetheart? If you do, I will ask someone to tell them. You can’t act like baby anymore in front of your mother. Look at your big brother, he already has a son. What about you? I want you to have one soon.”

Liao Tingyu was stunned when he heard this. Now, his family’s main attention were the baby and his marriage.

As for Huang Zilan, Liao Tingyu didn’t know how he was doing right now. Huang Hao was so tight-lipped about it.

In order to avoid his own random thoughts. Liao Tingyu went to buy school supplies for his future students.

Zhang Yi and Yang Shu dressed their own children early in the morning and talked a lot of precaution into their ears.

Mother Deng also remembered about Liao Tingyu’s students, “Hey, will your students be coming over tomorrow? Is there anything needed to prepare?”

Unfortunately, after asking this she walked away to do another thing. As if it was just chatting with Liao Tingyu.

Liao Tingyu sighed helplessly. Sure enough, she already forgot about her precious son after having a new grandson.

Listening to him, mother Deng smiled and hit him on the head, “Don’t think nonsense. Why don’t I love you? You should drink this chicken soup; you are such a big man but acting like a baby. Your sister-in-law’s father brought us a big fish today. I will make you a fish soup.”

“I want to eat pickled fish.” Liao Tingyu said.

“Pickled fish? There are no pickled vegetables at home. There are no fish left to be pickled, the market already left, there is only small fish and eels.”

Liao Tingyu opened his eyes and looked at his mother with a bright face.

Mother Deng shook his head against Liao Tingyu’s pleading eyes, “I will fry the fish for you. Let’s talk about it more later.”