Call Me Daddy

Su Kuishan nodded, looking at the piece of meat his daughter-in-law was carrying, feeling somewhat reassured.

“Humph, is this all the filial piety you show? If you really cared about me and your father, next time there’s a provincial exam, you should have Fu Bao stay with your younger brother for a while. Let Fu Bao pray for her uncle to become a scholar. You think running a breakfast shop makes you impressive? Having a scholar in the family would bring real honor, and it would benefit Fu Bao when she starts looking for a suitor.”

Li Shi threw the clothes into the wooden basin with a huff. She didn’t understand why the third couple was unwilling to do something that would benefit everyone.

Was he jealous that his younger brother was more successful?

Li Shi had dismissed Su Youliang’s earlier explanations, thinking that depleting good fortune was just an excuse. Who cared if their bad luck in this life was due to the previous life?

Excuses, just excuses!

With that thought, Li Shi shot another scowl at Fu Bao, feeling regret for having been kind to this ungrateful child.

Su Youliang was about to respond to his mother’s repeated complaints when the village head burst into the courtyard, his face flushed with excitement.

***

“Old Second, Old Second, your family’s Old Second!”

Breathless from running too fast, he struggled to catch his breath.

“Your second brother has been appointed as a general!”

After taking several deep breaths, Village Chief Wang managed to get the words out.

“Youniu has succeeded! The old Taoist was right; your family has indeed produced a distinguished person!”

Village Chief Wang was visibly excited. The general he was referring to was the renowned general who had reportedly conquered the southern frontier. They had heard of the former General of Lin’an but had never imagined that it was Su Youniu.

With such a prominent figure emerging from their village, no one would dare to provoke them in the future. Even he, as the village chief, would gain considerable prestige.

“And there’s more! Youniu’s—no, I mean, the general’s daughter, your second daughter—has been granted the title of Second-Ranked Princess of Changning by the Emperor. That’s a title usually given to a Prince’s daughter. It’s a great honor and glory for your family!”

Su Kuishan and the others were stunned.

Second Brother = General?

Second Daughter = Princess of Changning?

Had the village head lost his mind?

But soon, they realized that it was all true.

Officials from the county had arrived, including the Prefect, who came to deliver letters from Su Aobai.

The entire village had crowded into the village head’s courtyard, with many people climbing onto the walls to hear the contents of the letter.

At first, the officials showed great respect to the general’s parents, but their expressions changed drastically once the letter was opened and read.

The letter conveyed several key points.

First, it announced the addition of a new name to the Su family genealogy; Su Baozhu.

This was the name Su Aobai had chosen for his second daughter. His naming skills were limited, and although Baozhu was somewhat common, it was clear in meaning—Baozhu, the precious pearl, the treasured gem.

This name had been chosen 8 years ago, and to Su Aobai, it wasn’t a particularly formal name.

On the day the name was chosen, the little girl’s favorability finally exceeded 70 points, and Su Aobai received his first reward, though he didn’t dare claim it.

It was a money tree—a literal money tree that bore coins!

Since Su Aobai wasn’t lacking in silver, he saw no need to take such a risk.

After the name was chosen, the name “Er Niang” was rarely mentioned again. However, seeing the little girl’s happiness, it was clear that she liked the name Baozhu.

The sensitive young girl needed such straightforward and passionate affection. She felt that there could be no name more beautiful than Baozhu.

According to current customs, even if a woman was granted her own household, her name couldn’t be recorded in the family genealogy until an heir was born. However, now that Su Aobai was a general and Su Baozhu had been granted the title of Princess Changning by the Emperor, recording the name of a Princess Changning in the Su family genealogy was an honor for the clan.

Even if Su Aobai didn’t mention it in the letter, the clan elders would certainly hold a ceremony to honor their ancestors, announcing this grand news and making a prominent entry in the family genealogy.

The second matter concerned his parents’ old age.

The letter stated that the 3 acres of land given during the separation of the family estate were officially transferred to his elder brother. As for the parents’ support, since he had always been the son least favored by them, to ensure their comfortable and pleasant old age, he would never appear before them to cause any inconvenience. Instead, he would send 10 taels of silver every year as his filial tribute.

***

The officials’ expressions changed drastically upon reading this section. It turned out that the general didn’t have a good relationship with his family and even harbored some resentment.

Su Kuishan and Li Shi’s faces instantly darkened. Although Su Youliang felt some disappointment, he was somewhat relieved by the fact that his previous treatment of the second brother had been so lacking.

Had it been him, he too wouldn’t have been able to repay malice with kindness.

In addition, the letter contained instructions to local officials not to show favoritism or injustice due to his influence.

This served as a reminder not to allow the Su family to flaunt their power and mistreat others. They were to live their lives as they had before.

Li Shi’s face was as dark as could be. The woman’s son had actually become a general! The very noble person the old Taoist had spoken of, and it turned out to be the second son she had always looked down upon!

She nearly fainted from the shock but realized that if the second son had succeeded, there might still be hope for the fourth son. However, the content of the letter completely dashed this thought.

In stark contrast to Li Shi’s indignation were the excited and joyful reactions of Village Chief Wang and others.

The letter mentioned that Su Aobai appreciated the help he had received from the village chief and other villagers in the past. Therefore, every year he would donate 100 taels of silver to the village school to support the children’s education. Additionally, for exceptionally talented children, he would assist in connecting them with academies for better education.

What family didn’t have children? Who didn’t wish for their children to succeed?

Su Aobai’s actions provided them with an opportunity to change their fortunes. This was a significant act of kindness.

Even some villagers who had previously thought that his treatment of his parents was too indifferent now had nothing bad to say about him. It was clear that Su Aobai was indeed very grateful, and it was entirely Su Kuishan and his wife’s fault for driving such a good child away.

Feeling the scornful gazes directed at him, Su Kuishan wished he could dig a hole and hide in it.

His most successful son! The true pride of their family! And yet, he had become estranged from him.

If I had treated this son better back then, might I now have been summoned to the capital, enjoying the splendor and wealth as an esteemed elder in the general’s household?

Su Kuishan regretted his past actions. He glared bitterly at the old woman beside him. It’s all her fault; she had caused the estrangement between me and my son.

Because of this letter, Su Kuishan and Li Shi ended up on the path of mutual reproach and hatred.

No one noticed Su Youwen, who stood outside the crowd, frozen with despair.

His nightmare had come true. His second brother had indeed become a dream he would never catch up to.

***

The people from his hometown were no longer connected to Su Aobai. After sending that letter, he had already anticipated the general outcome.

He wouldn’t allow those people to act in his name, but he also had no intention of being ruthless. Life was too short to waste on irrelevant matters.

Most of Su Aobai’s life was spent on various border posts. Under his protection, the borders of the Tang Dynasty were as secure as iron walls, and no tribe dared to invade. In the hearts of the border city’s residents, he had become the guardian deity of the Tang Dynasty.

Since Su Aobai had only one daughter and had never been close to his nephews from his hometown, Tang Shengzong never doubted his loyalty. Instead, he, as Su Aobai wished, bestowed all his military achievements upon his precious daughter.

Su Baozhu, indeed, ended up with the young man from the Yang family. Their relationship began with a childhood friendship. Yang Qiwu’s outgoing and passionate nature made him unreserved in expressing his feelings for Su Baozhu.

His affection was never subtle; it was direct and fervent. His personality easily accommodated Su Baozhu’s minor flaws, making their union a natural progression.

After marriage, they had a daughter. The couple decided that their daughter would take the surname Su, and after that, there were no more news of Su Baozhu’s pregnancies. It was said that Yang Qiwu, frightened by the pain his wife endured during childbirth, was too afraid to let her bear more children. He thus asked a doctor for a recipe for a male contraceptive.

Anyway, his brothers had enough sons, and the Yang family’s lineage didn’t depend on this branch.

In this lifetime, the child’s affection grew very slowly. By the time Su Baozhu passed away, she had outlived her father, who had endured countless trials.

Her affection skyrocketed from 74 to 99.

***

“I’m not afraid anymore…”

Su Baozhu, now full of wrinkles, laid in bed, holding her father’s hand. As she closed her eyes, tears rolled down the corners of her eyes, and her smile, with its upturned corners, was fixed in a blissful and relieved expression.

In her final moments, she finally confirmed that the sudden fatherly love she had received at the age of 8 would never be lost.

Su Aobai felt a tightness in his chest, unable to breathe properly. This was the first child he had to bid farewell to, and he realized that when someone was in extreme grief, they didn’t even know how to cry.

What shocked him even more was his daughter’s last words before she died.

He had thought that childhood traumas, which seemed easy to heal, required a lifetime of careful affirmation for a child. It was at this moment that he deeply understood the responsibilities of parenthood.