Call Me Daddy

Su Youwen didn’t realize that he had once again been duped by his mother. This farce, stirred up by Li Shi, ultimately ended with her fleeing in disgrace.

However, the fact that she wet herself out of fear when her stepson almost punched her wouldn’t be forgotten just because she left. On the contrary, it would become a hot topic of conversation among the villagers, circulating in this small village for a long time to come.

In the future, if Li Shi got into an argument with any of the more aggressive women in the village, just a mention of her wetting her pants would be enough to send her running back home, embarrassed, and she might not show her face for days.

Even if she was a scholar’s mother, so what? A scholar’s mother wetting her pants would be an even more amusing story to spread.

In contrast to the mocking and ridicule directed at Li Shi, the villagers were much more enthusiastic toward Su Aobai. After all, he was the savior of the Heir to the Marquis’s household. With this connection, Second Su was destined for great success. Moreover, everyone knew he was different from Li Shi; he was a man of deep feelings and loyalty. Those who had helped him in the past might find themselves rewarded once he rose to prominence.

Such a relationship couldn’t be lightly discarded, and before Second Su and his daughter left Shili Village, the villagers were eager to show them warmth and care one last time.

As a result, in just half a day, Su Aobai’s home was filled with various local goods.

There was grain that could be stored for a long time, homemade pickles and smoked meat, dried dates, mushrooms… all meant for him to take to Lin’an. Every time he took a bite, he would be reminded of his relatives back home.

Su Youtian was the last to visit. Unlike the other villagers who had little to do with Second Su before, Su Youtian felt a bit embarrassed and guilty for showing up now.

Second Su was his younger brother, but to be honest, he hadn’t helped him much over the years. In fact, because of his affection for Li Shi, he had scolded and even beaten his brother, eventually allowing him to be bullied by her without interference.

The two brothers, who should have been the closest, were actually quite estranged.

Su Youtian couldn’t help but feel that his visit now was more opportunistic than the other villagers’ straightforward ones.

But there was no choice. His wife had been urging him, and since his brother was going to Lin’an, a place so far away that many people never got the chance to go in their entire lives, Su Youtian worried that he might never see his brother again. After much internal struggle, he finally came, bringing along a string of sausages prepared by his wife.

However, when they sat down, the brothers found themselves at a loss for words.

“After I leave, I’ll leave those 3 acres of land to you, big brother. I don’t need the rent or anything. The land isn’t very fertile, and if nothing is grown on it for a few years, it might turn into wasteland.”

Su Aobai spoke first.

“Alright, I’ll take some fertile pond mud to improve the soil. Maybe when you return, the land’s fertility will have improved.”

Eldest Su didn’t decline. In fact, his wife had urged him to visit not just to maintain a good relationship with his now-successful brother, but also because of those 3 acres of poor farmland.

After the brothers each started their own families, they naturally had their own little schemes, but as long as it wasn’t excessive, it was acceptable.

In his previous life, Su Youtian couldn’t see through their father’s coldness and devoted himself to opposing Li Shi. As a result, his life turned out even worse than that of the original owner, who was merely Li Shi’s lapdog, occasionally needing financial help from this younger brother.

Su Youtian had once looked down on the original owner, but he had never harmed him. In fact, he had advised him several times not to be so foolish as to treat those who wronged him as benefactors. But the original owner never listened, and even later, he smugly thought that his stepmother and the two brothers she bore were genuinely good people.

After Su Aobai entered this body, he could also feel Su Youtian’s concern for him. So, whenever he could help, he was willing to do so.

“After I leave, big brother, don’t argue with the old family too much.”

Su Aobai said another sentence, causing Su Youtian to frown deeply.

Wasn’t it said that second brother had fallen out with the people in the old family? Why did he still seem concerned about that old hag?

“They have some luck over there. That woman wasn’t entirely wrong; the girl from the third brother’s family indeed has extraordinary luck. All these years, you’ve been opposing the third and fourth brothers, but you’ve never truly gained any advantage.” Su Aobai subtly hinted.

Seeing that his brother wasn’t speaking on behalf of the people at the old house, Su Youtian’s expression relaxed considerably. As for Su Aobai’s reminder, he pondered it for a moment, and his expression gradually became more serious.

Second brother is right. Over the years, despite all his efforts, he hadn’t really gained anything. At most, he did slightly less work than second brother and kept a little bit of private savings, but he couldn’t compare to the third and fourth brothers.

Moreover, thinking back, it seemed that every time he targeted the third brother’s household, unexpected incidents always occurred, and that girl from the third brother’s family indeed had an unusually good fortune.

“Second brother, you really have changed.”

Su Youtian took a deep look at his younger brother, almost beginning to suspect that the brother he used to know had been playing dumb all along.

The two brothers exchanged a few more pleasantries, but given their lack of deep feelings, the conversation quickly became awkward. After sitting for only a short while, Su Youtian left the string of sausages and hurriedly took his leave.

***

“Dad, are we really going to leave?”

Late at night, after sending off the last villager, Su Erniang swiftly packed their belongings while her mind buzzed with hope and anxiety about their future.

“What kind of place is Lin’an? Do we have a house there? Are there mountains? What are the people like?”

The little girl’s mouth was full of questions, one tumbling out after another.

“Dad has never been to Lin’an, so I don’t know what it’s like there. But the young master who asked me to be an officer said he’s arranged for us to have a house about the same size as the one we live in now. It even has a courtyard. When we get there, Dad will clear it out so you can grow anything you want to eat. As for the people there, Dad hasn’t met them yet, but with how well-behaved and adorable Er Niang is, you’ll surely make many new friends.”

In Su Aobai’s view, taking Er Niang to live in a new place would be better for her growth.

Even though people now seemed to treat Er Niang differently, the early rumors of her being a jinx and bringing bad luck had taken root deeply in people’s minds. And there was still Li Shi, along with the painful memories of her first 8 years of life.

Starting fresh in a new place would give Er Niang a chance to begin a new life.

“Dad, can I plant jujube trees?”

Hearing that the people there wouldn’t know her or her father, Er Niang’s lips curved into a faint smile, revealing a barely noticeable dimple.

Her tone became much more cheerful, clearly showing that deep down, she didn’t mind the idea of a completely unfamiliar environment and was even looking forward to it.

Shili Village held too many bad memories for Er Niang. Even some of the children she played with now had once shunned her and refused to play with her.

Did she really have no resentment in her heart? Not exactly. It was just that the environment she had grown up in taught her to be pragmatic and make decisions that benefited her the most.

Going to a completely new place; will I make real friends there? Er Niang wondered, uncertain.

“Plant them, plant two.” Su Aobai didn’t know if jujube trees could grow in Lin’an, but he decided they’d plant them anyway.

“Can I raise a few hens? That way, we can have eggs every day at home.”

Er Niang made another small request.

“Yes.”

Su Aobai nodded. Since he had to report to the camp, he knew that the Seventh Prince, being so thoughtful, would surely arrange for a woman to take care of his daughter. Even if they raised a few more chickens, it wouldn’t be too much for her.

“Dad, can I raise a few pigs too?”

Er Niang thought to herself that she could raise pigs to be fat and strong, and these would belong to her and her dad. Unlike the ones she had raised at the old house, which were slaughtered without them even getting a taste of the blood.

The little girl licked her lips, imagining that when they butchered the pigs she raised, they’d be able to eat until they were full.

“Well… maybe we don’t have to raise pigs…”

Su Aobai, sweating, looked at his daughter. Having a child who was too industrious could be a bit of a burden sometimes.

“Raising pigs is too tiring. If you want to eat pork, we have plenty of silver to buy it. Once I become an Officer, I’ll give you my monthly pay to manage. You’ll be the head of our household, and you can buy whatever you want.”

He wanted his daughter to be a little more spoiled, a little more confident.

But Er Niang still wanted to raise pigs herself, thinking it would save a lot of silver, even if it meant more work. She didn’t mind the hard work.

As for the silver that would be handed over to her, she planned to save it all. Her father was too extravagant, and that wasn’t a good habit.

The little girl glanced at her father, remembering how he had bought an entire sugar coated haws staff before, and her eyes were full of disapproval. In the future, as soon as Dad receives his pay, I’ll have to take it immediately, not giving him a chance to squander it.

The little girl began to calculate in her mind. She decided that each month she would only give her father a small amount of pocket money.

She wondered how much an Officer’s monthly pay would be. Leaving Dad 5… hmm, 10 copper coins should be enough, right?

Counting on her fingers, she then giggled at herself. I’m a generous daughter.

Er Niang knew that the house they were going to live in at Lin’an was lent to them by the high-ranking official her father had saved. But she wanted a house that belonged to her and her father, so she planned to save the rest of the silver to buy a big house and to ensure they had enough for their old age.

At just 8 years old, the little girl already had the makings of a shrewd housekeeper. Her future husband would be pitied, as even her father was only allowed 10 copper coins as pocket money; her husband would be lucky to get 5, and no more.

That night, the little girl’s affection for her father grew quickly, even surpassing the increase she felt when Su Aobai had taken her away from the old household.

To her, that place was a cage, but she was about to break free, following a strong bird, ready to soar into the sky.

***

On the way to Lin’an, the Seventh Prince didn’t make an appearance. At this point, his relationship with Su Aobai couldn’t be revealed. Once Su Aobai started making a name for himself in the military, there would be people who would begin to take notice of him and investigate his past.

The only person who could be associated with Second Su was the Heir to Marquis Shou’an, who had also happened to be traveling in the south at the time.

Fengyang County and Lin’an were separated by hundreds of miles, one to the south and the other to the west. It took Su Aobai and his daughter, along with Tang Shengzong’s trusted aide, over half a month to reach Lin’an City.

Lin’an City was close to the northwest military garrison. Just to the west lay the Southern Border, which had long been at odds with the Tang Dynasty. If the northwest garrison were ever breached, Lin’an City would be the first to suffer.

For the past 2 years, the Southern Border had been restless, with several skirmishes breaking out between the two sides. Both had seen victories and losses, but the Southern Border had never managed to break through the northwest garrison’s defenses, leaving Lin’an City in a state of peace and tranquility.

Many officers in the northwest garrison had brought their families with them, and some soldiers had married local women. Most of their families were settled within Lin’an City, making it convenient for visits.

The courtyard that Tang Shengzong arranged for Su Aobai was located among a group of Officers’ families.

The courtyard wasn’t large, consisting of five rooms in a small two-entry layout. The front entry housed the gatekeeper’s quarters, while the rear entry, which was slightly larger, had two bedrooms for the main family, a guest hall, and a spacious kitchen. The courtyard also had a well and a cellar, along with two sheds; one for storing miscellaneous items and the other serving as a bathhouse.

The courtyard had been tidied up in advance.

Before Su Aobai and his daughter arrived, a woman had already come to oversee the place, directing a group of men to repair the roof and walls daily. A carpenter worked inside, hammering away, crafting all the furniture from scratch.

Curious women living nearby inquired about the new occupants, and the woman supervising the work explained that she was preparing the courtyard for her master and young lady.

An Officer was a low-ranking officer without an official noble grade, and most of the families living here were ordinary folks with few servants or maids.

Soon, word spread that a new Officer was moving in, and it was rumored that he had some sort of backing. The scale of the preparations only heightened the neighbors’ curiosity.

***

On the day Su Aobai and his daughter arrived, every door in the small alley was slightly ajar, and mischievous children climbed onto the walls to watch.

During the journey, Su Aobai hadn’t been idle, undergoing several more rounds of body tempering.

It seemed that in this world, physical enhancement was the only path forward. After each session of body tempering, his physique grew stronger. Now, he stood 6 or 7 centimeters taller than when he first entered this body, his muscles knotted and bulging. Even with clothes on, the solid muscles of his chest, back, and his thick arms were evident, resembling a real Tarzan or a walking black bear.

When he jumped down from the carriage, the ground beneath him seemed to tremble.

“Gulp—”

The onlookers swallowed nervously, eyeing this obviously strong and fierce man with a bit of trepidation.

No one dared argue with a woman married to such a man. If she complained to him, and he slapped someone, they’d probably be left crying for a long time.

After the man got off the carriage, he didn’t head straight for the house. Instead, he spread his arms wide towards the carriage, and a small girl with fair skin and twin braids emerged from the carriage. Smiling, she was carefully lifted down by the burly man who looked like a black bear.

The 8-year-old girl, Er Niang, appeared no bigger than a child of 6 or 7. Against Su Aobai’s towering physique, she seemed even more petite.

This must be the young lady the servant woman had mentioned, the daughter of the ‘black bear.’ But could such a burly, imposing man have such a delicate daughter?

The crowd couldn’t help but imagine what the ‘black bear’s’ daughter should look like; perhaps a little black bear herself.

The father and daughter walked towards the courtyard, while the coachman, who had been driving the carriage, led it around to the back gate.

It was only then that the onlookers realized they hadn’t seen the mistress of the house. The servant woman hadn’t mentioned her either, sparking curiosity and speculation among the crowd.