CHAPTER 345: 345. INSTRUCTIONS, CARE

The time spent together always feels especially short.

Lian En hadn’t even had a chance to savor the happiness of family reunion properly when time silently swept through the entire last month, the New Year, and now it was the sixteenth day of the first month.

With only three or four days left before the school term starts, no matter how reluctant Lian En was, he had to get on that departing train.

Eating the farewell dumplings that his mom, with her big pregnant belly, specially made, he suppressed for the thousandth time the thought of dropping everything and staying by his parents’ side to fulfill his filial duty.

He repeated his advice to his younger siblings over and over, until even Xinqing, who was always closest to him, impatiently furrowed her little brows: "Got it, got it, big brother! Mom’s situation is different now from before, so we must be careful, careful, and more careful.

Don’t worry, we’ll definitely take good care of mom and handle all the household chores we can manage.

We’ll have second brother and big sister, second sister work hard and strive to make all the dishes mom wants to eat become their specialties.

Listen to mom and don’t make her angry.

Spend as much time with her as possible and help with prenatal education for the little brother.

Be even more careful when mom reaches seven months and could give birth at any time. Make sure someone is always with mom, never leave her alone.

If we notice any discomfort in mom, we’ll call an ambulance right away...

Aiya, hearing it countless times, I can recite it by heart already!"

Xinqing’s little look of disdain made everyone in the room laugh uncontrollably, even Lian En, who got lectured, shook his head and chuckled: "Big brother’s just afraid you’ll forget! I’ll be far from home, and when my little brother is born, I probably won’t have started my summer break yet. The heavy responsibility of taking care of mom falls on your shoulders now, so be careful, careful, and even more careful, understood?"

"Haha." The younger ones put on such identical faces of despair that it made Lianshan laugh out loud: "My eldest son, you should focus on school. If you can trust those unreliable siblings, can’t you trust your dad? I’ve been taking care of your mom since she was pregnant with you, all the way until young Xinqing grew into a fine young woman. I’m very experienced!

Don’t worry about it.

With dad around, nothing will go wrong.

You on the other hand, you’re having the time of your life at home, but things can be tough outside, so take good care of yourself and your mentor.

We don’t cause trouble, but we don’t fear trouble either.

No matter what happens, your mom and I have got your back!"

The heartfelt and caring words warmed Lian En’s heart, and he couldn’t help but open his arms to give his father a big hug. Just like when he was little and dad would happily hold him and call him his big bumpkin.

However, the little guy had grown into a tall young man, and the once towering figure of his dad now showed slight wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

"Mm, dad, don’t worry, I’ll take care of myself. I won’t bully anyone, nor will I let anyone bully me. I’ll consult with my mentor often and never act recklessly. I’ll just focus on studying, learning to paint, and not be concerned with outside matters. I’ll come home as soon as the holidays start!" Lian En smiled lightly and said solemnly.

Lianshan, still somewhat flustered by his son’s sudden intimacy, couldn’t help but cough lightly when he heard those words: "Uh, you’re nineteen now, and by next year, you’ll be twenty. If there’s an appropriate little junior, it’s only right to start thinking a bit about your future. Get to know each other now, spend a couple of years together, and once you graduate and settle down, you can get married. Isn’t that perfectly logical?"

"Peh! Get out of here with that nonsense! My apprentice, who couldn’t be more diligent if they tried, and you’re undermining instead of wholeheartedly supporting them? Is that something a person would do?" After finally, painstakingly getting his precious apprentice to focus and work hard on their art, Feng Ju was ecstatic with their rapid improvement!

As Old Yang would say, he brags to everyone he meets, afraid others wouldn’t know he has a young, outstanding apprentice with a promising future.

With drinks in hand, listening to Lianshan’s advice on child-rearing was more than any mentor hoping their apprentice would succeed could tolerate.

Immediately, he rebutted Lianshan with two loud comments, and after seeing Lianshan quietened down, earnestly began speaking to Lian En.

The central theme was: dear apprentice, listen to your mentor. For a man, the most important thing should be his career.

The pleasures of gentle companionship can most easily erode one’s ambition and zeal.

Prioritizing marriage over career is a misguided notion, and you shouldn’t listen to your dad’s chatter.

The most crucial thing is to study and paint well.

Once your abilities and finances have improved, won’t you then have the upper hand in choosing girls?

If you lack the capability, even if you start from kindergarten, targeting since their childhood, it’ll be pointless, won’t it!

Regarding Feng Ju, who always seemed to oppose him and even risked taking away his precious eldest son, Lianshan could only describe him as increasingly disagreeable.

He listened to his absurd proclamations, even dragging him and Shuzhen into it.

Lianshan couldn’t help but snort, opening his mouth to firmly jab at the other’s shortcoming: "My son can learn anything from your mentor, just don’t listen to his talk on marriage. It’s true that marriage should be taken seriously, but don’t be overly picky. After all, nobody is perfect; everyone has this or that little defect.

As long as the person is upright and has good character, and can get along with you, that’s a good match.

Don’t be too picky; you’ll end up like your mentor, staying single!

Charming talents are of what use?

Aren’t you alone as well!"

Being a lifelong single dog, or whatever, is truly pitiful just thinking about it!

Feng Ju slammed the table: "What’s this talk about being single? I’m clearly choosing carefully and not settling!"

Lianshan spread his hands: "Regardless of the reason, being left behind is a fact, isn’t it? I’m hoping my eldest son will have a harmonious marriage, with children around, so Shuzhen and I can enjoy the joy of having grandchildren! He can’t be like you, playing some hard-to-get game."

Seeing that his father and mentor were about to start bickering again, Lian En, who really didn’t want to be the sandwich between them, quickly changed the topic.

Everyone here had his best interests at heart, so couldn’t bear for anyone to be unhappy because of him, right?

Despite the greatly improved relationship with his precious apprentice, Feng Ju knew he couldn’t compete with the position of a real father.

Wise as he was, he wasn’t interested in continuing a definitely losing battle. Instead, he thought about what events or exhibitions he could arrange for his apprentice during the summer break.

If he could make Lianshan, the loving dad, go a whole summer without getting to see his apprentice’s face, that’d be something to gloat about!