wood in the evening, this man would have tried to hide the fact that his shoulders and arms were so severely scratched."You're not afraid of getting an infection""Don't you want arms""Or are you just...Fang Jinxiu made up her mind not to look at him crying with a tear-stained face. Yuán Bǎo clutched onto his mother's clothes, crying so hard that he started hiccuping. A group of people outside the courtyard heard this and felt their hearts breaking for them.

Just as Mu was about to speak up and tell Fang Jinshu to stop pressuring Yuanbao, Yu Lian grabbed his wrist and stopped him.

"Mother, sister-in-law is not someone without measure. I am also reluctant to part with Yuánbǎo, but if he truly commits a serious mistake, it's better to correct him in time, lest we regret it later and create even greater mistakes."

The daughter's words made sense, so Mu could only sigh and endure.

Yuán Bǎo cried for almost half an hour. Fāng Jǐnxiù didn't say a word, letting him cry.

She was going to make this little thing understand today that tears wouldn't work here, nor were they his weapon of wantonness.

YUAN BAO finally seemed to realize this, gradually shifting from loud sobs to quiet whimpers, until eventually, there was no sound at all.

Only after he stopped crying did Fang Jinshu re-open her mouth and ask again.

"Why do this."

Yuan Bao lowered his head and held onto his mother's leg, even though he was afraid, he didn't want to let go.

Finally, she stammered out the reason.

"I don't want a companion."

Yuan Bao's voice was very soft, so soft that a normal person definitely wouldn't be able to hear it, but Fang Jinshu heard it clearly.

"If you don't want a playmate, why not just tell mother"

"Do you know how dangerous this is"

Fang Jinshi's voice turned sharp, and the little boy's tears started flowing like a faucet had been turned on.

"Oh, Yuanbao, Yuanbao doesn't want to make Mama unhappy."

But Yuánbǎo didn't want other children surrounding his mother. His mother was Yuanbao's alone, and she could only praise Yuanbao.

Fang Jinshi was shocked. Her son was only two years old, where did he get such a strong sense of possession

Besides, it hasn't even happened yet.

She knelt down and finally reached out to touch the little guy's head, soothing him gently.

Yuan Bao sensed his mother's softening heart. As soon as she lifted her hand, the little guy instinctively rubbed his head against her palm, rubbing desperately.

still whimpering her name.

"Mother, Yuanbao knows he was wrong."

"Mommy, Mommy, precious gem, hug me, gem."

Fang Jinshi's heart wasn't made of stone, let alone the small thing in front of her who was born from her own womb. She couldn't bring herself to be heartless, so she reached out and held Yuanbao, cradling him in her lap and soothing him.

"Okay, Yuánbǎo, don't cry."

"Now that you know you were wrong, later go with me to apologize and offer compensation to the person you wronged."

Although Yu Bao's heart was unwilling, she knew that she couldn't afford to anger her mother at this moment. She could only obediently nod and agree.

"Understood, Yuánbǎo will listen to Mother."

After this incident, Fang Jinshu began to observe Yuan Bao and discovered that the little guy had a strong possessiveness towards her.

When Yuanbao was at home, he was a perfect little angel. But when facing outsiders, he became incredibly mature and cold, almost frighteningly so.

But once she found a clue, the little one would use some clumsy means to hide it, making Fang Jinshi very distressed.

Fortunately, she discovered it early, and nothing major has happened yet.

But how can we completely change this child's temperament

Four months have passed in the blink of an eye, and the autumn examinations are over. Every day, people from all levels of the family keep watch at the foot of the mountain, fearing that they might miss the good news from the government.

Mu Shi's mind was in a daze as she asked, "Can our Zong Bo really pass the imperial examination"

This month, Mu has asked this question no less than a hundred times.

Suddenly, Tie Zhu rushed in and reported, “Sister Jinxiu, Lord Pan is here!”

Fang Jinxiu's eyes lit up, her voice tinged with an unusual urgency.

Here!

If it was Pan Zhi'an himself who came to announce the good news, then there is a high possibility that he attended Zhongbei High School. Who knows, he might even have a very high ranking.

It can't be the second- or third-ranked scholar, right

She calmed her excited mood and received Pan Zhi'an. As soon as Pan Zhi'an entered, he smiled warmly and went straight to the point without beating around the bush. He nodded slowly towards Zong's family and others in their eager gazes.

Congratulations to you.

"Zong Bai passed the imperial examination and became the top scholar."

Top scorer!

Mu Shi simply couldn't believe her ears. Her son had actually passed the imperial examination on his first try, becoming the top scholar.

Jinxiu, Jinxiu can you hear me Zongbai has passed the imperial examinations and become the top scholar!

Mu Shi was so agitated that she burst into tears, clutching both Jade Lotus and Jin Xiu in her hands. She simply didn't know what to do.

Fāng Jǐnxiù still remembered her mother-in-law's frail health, unable to get too excited. She soothed her repeatedly.

"Mother, we all heard that Zong Bo's hard studying hasn't been in vain. Don't get too excited, be careful of your health."

The entire family was immersed in immense joy because of the news, but Pan Zhi'an frowned, his expression conflicted as if he wanted to say something but held back.

It wasn't until Fang Jinshu's questioning gaze landed on him that he spoke.

"Lady Zong, may I have a word with you"ho even has spare rations these days""Don't you all just go out every day to dig wild vegetables and gnaw on tree roots""Are we really able to dig a canal like this We might all starve to death in th...