The Blessed Farm Girl Has a Spatial Storage

Scholar Meng stroked his beard and chuckled. "That little rascal is in the kitchen. He said he just learned a few new dishes and wants to cook them for me."

Zhao Zhitong and the others were delighted that day. They felt they had done a good deed by helping Scholar Meng finally meet his long-missed son.

So, when they returned home, Zhao Zhitong shared the good news with Zhao Dong and Sun Mei. The couple was very surprised. How did Zhao Zhitong know that Meng Fusheng was Scholar Meng's son?

Zhao Zhitong declared proudly, "I heard your conversation last night!"

Meng Fusheng actually returned to see his father around this time every year, but they had never managed to meet. Meanwhile, Scholar Meng would inquire about happenings in all corners of the country, searching for any news of his son. Their feelings for each other were quite reserved. Without Zhao Zhitong and the others' help this time, it was uncertain when they would have finally overcome their reticence and reunited.

It could be said that Zhao Zhitong had helped them immensely.

「The next day」

After school, Scholar Meng brought Meng Fusheng to the Zhao family's home to express their gratitude. Sun Mei and Zhao Dong enthusiastically welcomed their teacher and his son, and Sun Mei even cooked several special dishes.

When Zhao Zhitong and Zhao Yu returned from Qiao Muchen's house, they were overjoyed to find their Teacher already there and immediately swarmed him with questions.

Even Zhao Yu, who was usually timid, became unusually active and engaged Meng Fusheng in conversation. At first, he was a little hesitant and reserved, but he was soon captivated by Meng Fusheng's tales of all corners of the country and completely forgot his shyness.

Zhao Yu's eyes sparkled as he asked, "Mr. Meng, are all the heroes in all corners of the country like you, fighting evil and upholding justice?"

Meng Fusheng smiled. "Not all of them. There are also sanctimonious individuals who masquerade as heroes but commit deeds more heinous than villains. This requires you to develop keen eyes, able to see through their false facade."

After listening to the stories for a while, Zhao Yu's gaze fell upon Meng Fusheng's sword. He asked cautiously, "Mr. Meng, may I have a look at your sword?"

"Of course," Meng Fusheng replied readily, drawing his sword without hesitation.

Zhao Yu didn't dare to touch it, only gazing at the blade with admiration. "It's beautiful," he praised.

"HAHAHA." Meng Fusheng laughed heartily. Encountering a child so interested in all corners of the country reminded Meng Fusheng of his younger self, and he laughed heartily. "Let me show you a few moves."

With that, he leaped up and began to demonstrate his swordplay in the courtyard.

This instantly attracted Zhao Zhitong. She rushed out of her room and stood in the courtyard with her brothers, all of them watching Meng Fusheng intently. Zhao Yu watched with particular intensity, his eyes unblinking, afraid of missing a single move.

After finishing a sequence of sword forms, Meng Fusheng sheathed his sword with a flourish.

Just then, Sun Mei's dishes were ready. She called out for everyone to stop what they were doing and come eat.

This was the first time Meng Fusheng had tasted Sun Mei's cooking, and he was astounded. "Sister-in-law," he exclaimed, "your culinary skills are comparable to those of a master chef in a fine restaurant!"

He wasn't exaggerating in the slightest. Having roamed all corners of the country for many years and tasted countless delicacies, he found Sun Mei's cooking to be truly exceptional.

Sun Mei served the last hot dish and smiled. "You're too kind. It's really not that special."

When her maternal grandfather's family had visited before, they were all considered close relatives. The rural custom of men and women eating at separate tables wasn't strictly observed then. However, Mr. Meng and his son were guests, so Sun Mei and the children ate at a separate table from them. This didn't mean they went without; Sun Mei had set up another table for them, laden with the very same dishes.

Although Sun Mei privately disdained the custom forbidding women and children from sitting at the main table, she knew they had to adapt to local traditions. That was the reality of the era. If one couldn't change it, it was best to conform; otherwise, they risked being branded as deviant. Besides, she couldn't let Scholar Meng and his son feel they were being slighted.

Once Sun Mei took her seat, Zhao Zhitong suddenly thought of something. In her childish voice, she asked, "Mother, since Mr. Meng calls you Sister-in-law, does that mean we can't call him Mr. Meng anymore?"

Sun Mei replied, "Hmm, indeed. You should call him 'Uncle.'"

Zhao Zhitong blinked. "Hmm, hmm, but I still think 'Mr. Meng' sounds more impressive!"

After saying that, she lowered her head and continued to eat. Sun Mei chuckled, not bothering to correct her further. Meng Fusheng was only twenty-two or twenty-three years old. Moreover, Zhao Zhitong was Scholar Meng's disciple; calling her teacher's son 'Mr. Meng' wasn't considered a significant breach of etiquette.

「Later that evening」

After seeing off Scholar Meng and Meng Fusheng, Sun Mei heated water to bathe the children.

Zhao Yu had found a wooden stick somewhere and was practicing swordplay in the courtyard, imitating Meng Fusheng's moves. He looked quite convincing.

Zhao Zhitong watched from the side and asked in surprise, "Xiao Ge, did you memorize all of Mr. Meng's sword techniques?"

Zhao Yu shook his head shyly. "No, no, I only remembered a little bit. I'm just playing around."

Zhao Zhitong exclaimed, "Wow, that's already very impressive! Especially since you only watched him once."

Nearby, Zhao Dong watched for a while, appearing deep in thought.

So, later, before bedtime, Zhao Dong called Zhao Yu aside. He casually asked if his nephew was fond of martial arts.

Zhao Yu blushed. "Uncle, I... I just find it really interesting."

Zhao Dong smiled. "Well then, if I were to find you a martial arts master, would you be willing to study diligently with him?"

Zhao Yu, that child... although a bit quicker on the uptake than Zhao Cheng, wasn't exceptionally bright. Zhao Dong had previously wondered whether to send the boy to school, perhaps to study for official examinations. But seeing Zhao Yu's enthusiasm today, he was having second thoughts. Literacy was important, yes, but he was now more inclined to nurture the child's interests. Besides, watching him practice those few moves in the courtyard earlier, perhaps he truly had a talent for it.

Hearing this, Zhao Yu looked up at Zhao Dong, his eyes wide with disbelief. "R-really, Uncle?"

Zhao Dong patted his shoulder. "Of course. But first, we'll need to find Mr. Meng—Meng Fusheng, that is—and have him assess whether you're suitable and possess the aptitude for martial arts."

Zhao Yu nodded eagerly. "Alright! I'll listen to you, Uncle!"

"Good. Now, go to bed."

Zhao Yu's heart leaped with joy. He happily ran back to his room to share the wonderful news with his elder brother, Zhao Cheng.

Hearing the news, Zhao Cheng didn't share Zhao Yu's excitement. Instead, he sat there, pondering for a long time. Later, after Zhao Zhitong had fallen asleep, he quietly called Zhao Ya over.

The three siblings sat together on the bed. Zhao Cheng's expression was solemn, reflecting the gravity of an elder brother. He looked at his younger brother and sister, his voice serious. "Our uncle and aunt's family has shown us immense kindness, a debt we can never truly repay. Although they are not our birth parents, they have treated us better than our own parents ever did.

"In the future, no matter where we are or what we become, we must never forget the depth of their generosity and care. If any of us ever dares to forget this, or worse, repays their kindness with betrayal, I, as your older brother, will be the first to condemn it. Do you understand?"