The spring breeze was gentle.
Inside Wangsheng Funeral Parlor,
Zhongli—learned and knowledgeable in all things—was explaining the precautions of funeral rites and many ancient traditions to the ritual attendants and apprentices.
Gu Chen didn't understand much of this. He simply sat to the side, sipping tea while listening, broadening his horizons.
Ever since little Hu Tao was born, the smile on the old hall master's face had never faded.
Whenever he had free time, he would carry little Hu Tao around for strolls, never feeling tired of it.
Gu Chen took a sip of tea when he noticed the old hall master coming around the corner with little Hu Tao in his arms.
"Mr. Gu Chen, Mr. Zhongli, come take a look!" the old hall master called out.
Gu Chen stood up in surprise, and Zhongli also turned his head.
The old hall master came over holding little Hu Tao, his face full of joy. "Look at this child—her eyes are like plum blossoms!"
Gu Chen and Zhongli looked toward little Hu Tao in his arms.
The little one was fair and clean, with somewhat sparse brown hair. Her pupils, shaped like plum blossoms, were indeed strikingly beautiful and quite astonishing.
"Rare indeed," Gu Chen nodded.
After watching for a moment, Zhongli said, "By commonly accepted rationality, the probability of this is extremely low. Hall Master, you are truly blessed."
"Hahaha!"
Hearing both guest retainers say this, the old hall master grew even happier. "This child really is just as Mr. Zhongli said—she's very quiet when held. She doesn't cry or fuss at all!"
As he spoke, the old hall master gestured toward Zhongli, presenting little Hu Tao to him.
Zhongli paused for a moment, then laughed softly, taking little Hu Tao into his arms and lowering his head to look at her.
The little one smacked her lips. After staring at Zhongli with her plum-blossom eyes for a long while, her mouth puckered—and she suddenly burst into loud cries.
"What's going on?" the old hall master asked in confusion. "She was calm just a moment ago."
"I've never taken care of a child. I don't know," Gu Chen shook his head.
Zhongli pondered slightly. "Perhaps she's not familiar with me yet. Mr. Gu Chen, you could try."
Saying so, he handed little Hu Tao to Gu Chen.
Gu Chen took her and laughed. "She's not familiar with me either. If you couldn't manage it, how could I—"
Before he could finish, little Hu Tao's crying gradually subsided. She stared at Gu Chen for a while, then broke into a smile.
"It seems she likes you very much," Zhongli said after two seconds of thought.
"How strange," the old hall master said, scratching his head.
"Wait… something's not right."
Gu Chen held Hu Tao with one arm and spread his other hand open.
It felt damp. Gu Chen chuckled helplessly. "Now I get it. No wonder she started crying when Mr. Zhongli held her—it wasn't personal. She was in a hurry. Look, she peed all over my hand."
Zhongli raised an eyebrow, a trace of relief flashing in his eyes. "Fortunately, she was transferred in time."
"Hahaha, that explains it!" the old hall master suddenly realized, patting the back of his head. "I ran into this back when I carried Asen too. It's been so long, this old man forgot! Give her to me—I'll go change little Hu Tao."
Gu Chen handed Hu Tao back to the old hall master, then added, "You continue teaching. I'll go wash up as well."
"Alright." Zhongli nodded with a smile.
[Venti]: Well done, Hall Master Hu! (slippery grin)
[Zhongli]: Luckily it wasn't me. (Hu Tao · bad grin)
[Hu Tao]: …
[Xingqiu]: Hall Master Hu doesn't need to be embarrassed. You were just born—we can all understand! (nodding)
[Chongyun]: Right, it's only human nature. (affirming)
[Xiangling]: Hahahaha… (laughing so hard she's out of breath, 5s voice)
[Paimon]: @[Gu Chen]What does it feel like to get peed on by little Hu Tao? (Hu Tao · bad grin)
[Gu Chen]: Considering Hu Tao was just born, it's understandable. The key point is that Zhongli definitely noticed and deliberately handed her over to me in advance. That old man had ill intentions. (Nahida · pointing)
[Zhongli]: Sect Leader, I've been wronged. (Zhongli · Dragon King crooked smile)
[Furina]: This is called diverting disaster eastward! (Furina · laughing)
[Kaeya]: "Diverting disaster eastward"—perfectly said. (slippery grin)
Time passed slowly.
In the blink of an eye, little Hu Tao reached her one-month mark.
Perhaps because she had once peed all over Gu Chen's hand, little Hu Tao became especially fond of him. As long as Gu Chen held her, she never cried or fussed. Even when she needed to relieve herself, she would stay calm-faced—often catching Gu Chen completely off guard and soaking him again.
Every time Zhongli saw this, he couldn't resist teasing.
"It seems the little hall master likes you very much," Zhongli said with a smile.
"Maybe." Gu Chen didn't mind. After smiling, he continued, "She's one month old now. The hall master will probably want to hold a celebration—better start preparing. I hear a newly opened Wanmin Restaurant tastes pretty good. The chef is called… Chef Mao? Why not invite him to take charge?"
People believed that surviving the first month after birth meant overcoming a major hurdle. To celebrate this and pray for the child's healthy growth, families would usually hold a one-month celebration, inviting friends and relatives to bear witness and offer blessings.
Put simply, it was a banquet—sharing joy and wishing the newborn good health.
Zhongli pondered briefly and nodded. "That works. Let the hall master decide."
The old hall master indeed had such plans. After hearing Gu Chen's suggestion, he went to discuss it with Chef Mao and invited him over.
The old hall master was well connected.
Considering that Wangsheng Funeral Parlor might seem cold and inauspicious to others, he decided to hold the event at Wanmin Restaurant instead.
Wanmin Restaurant wasn't large, but it had decent space and a fairly large open area. It was also not far from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, making it convenient for neighbors to attend.
After a month of recuperation, Axiu's complexion had improved significantly. Aside from avoiding strenuous activity, taking short walks outside posed no problem at all.
At the banquet,
Gu Chen also spotted little Ningguang, who was doing small business.
Thinking of the meaning of a one-month celebration—and admiring the child—Gu Chen invited her as well.
The banquet was lively.
Many of the old hall master's friends were present: the head of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, the head of an exorcist clan, and others.
[Xingqiu]: I see my father and my elder brother!
[Chongyun]: I see my father too!
[Xiangling]: G-hehe, the one-month banquet for Hu Tao is being held at my family's place. (Xiangling · G-hehe)
[Keqing]: I didn't expect Ningguang at this age to be quite cute. Being invited by Mr. Gu Chen even made her shy. (Hu Tao · bad grin)
[Ningguang]: Wishing little Hu Tao healthy growth.
[Nilou]: Wishing little Hu Tao healthy growth! (Ganyu · praying)
[Collei]: Wishing little Hu Tao healthy growth! (Sangonomiya Kokomi · praying)
[Hu Tao]: This hall master accepts everyone's blessings on behalf of video-me! (Hu Tao · thanks boss)
After the one-month celebration, little Hu Tao grew sturdier, no longer as frail as before.
Unlike her mother Axiu, who had been weak since childhood, Hu Tao had a robust body—one capable of supporting her mischief.
Half a month after the banquet, little Hu Tao was already crawling all over the specially prepared carpet for her.
Since little Hu Tao arrived, the once calm-as-water Wangsheng Funeral Parlor had long since become lively.
Gu Chen and Zhongli gradually adapted to this kind of life.
The two were sitting and drinking tea, chatting about recent rumors from the streets or strange tales heard here and there.
Little Hu Tao tugged at Gu Chen's pant leg, trying to stand up.
Gu Chen glanced down at her, then said to Zhongli, "I have a feeling this child will be very mischievous when she grows up."
Zhongli turned his head to look at little Hu Tao, then sighed. "It seems I misjudged."
"Not necessarily," Gu Chen said as he scooped Hu Tao up into his arms. "It mainly depends on how she's educated later on."
"The hall master acts unconventionally. What kind of person this child grows up to be may well be decided by herself," Zhongli replied.
Little Hu Tao wriggled in Gu Chen's arms, wanting to crawl on the ground again. As Gu Chen set her down, he said, "That's true. But Wangsheng Funeral Parlor only has this one sprout now—you and I should put in extra effort."
Watching little Hu Tao crawl and then roll about on the carpet, Zhongli nodded with a smile. "Naturally."
[Xingqiu]: This scene—this scene is called 'Hu Tao's Two Godfathers'. (affirming)
[Chongyun]: Uncle Asen passed away early. Hall Master Hu was raised by the old hall master and Mr. Zhongli from childhood. Just judging by appearances, Mr. Zhongli really does look like her father. (Paimon · shocked)
[Hu Tao]: @[Zhongli]Godfather, send some red envelopes. (Photo of fair hand with ring decoration)
[Zhongli]: Not close. Don't force the relationship. (Keqing · I refuse)
[Azhdaha]: "Not close," huh? As soon as this old man talks about money, it hurts feelings. (Furina · laughing)
[Venti]: Haven't you heard? Morax has no Mora, Beelzebul has no Bells. (slippery grin)
[Raiden Ei]: I have Makoto! (annoyed)
[Raiden Makoto]: (Raiden Ei · soft laugh)
[Keqing]: If you think about it, the era where Morax had no Mora and Beelzebul had no Bells is long past. The Geo Archon has retirement pay now, and Miss Ei's sister is still around. (Paimon · shocked)
[Hu Tao]: @[Gu Chen]Godfather, send some red envelopes. (Photo of fair hand with ring decoration)
[Gu Chen]: Who's this? A friend of one of yours? (confused)
[Venti]: Sect Leader, you really know how to play dumb. (slippery grin)
[Kaeya]: Sect Leader is basically saying, "Even though I have plenty of Mora, I'm reluctant to part with it!" (slippery grin)
[Lumine]: Watching the drama suddenly upgraded me to an elder! If your godfather won't give it, his wife can! (Paimon · no big deal)
[Hu Tao]: Wait! I was just joking—no need to lower my generation like that! (Keqing · I refuse)
[Yae Miko]: Hu Tao: If I take the red envelope and then enter Gu Manor, wouldn't I be a generation lower than you all? Firmly refuse! (Yae Miko · bad grin)
[Xingqiu]: Oh, so that's what Hall Master Hu was thinking! (sudden realization)
[Chongyun]: Alright, alright—I get it! (Hu Tao · bad grin)
[Xiangling]: Ooh~~~
[Nilou]: I ship it! (Nahida · happy)
[Collei]: Me too! (Collei · longing)
[Kirara]: Seconded! (Kirara · please rate me, meow)
[Hu Tao]: 6 (Hu Tao · startling)
Little Hu Tao was exceptionally talented.
After crawling for half a month, she was already able to walk unsteadily.
To prevent her from getting hurt, whenever the old hall master was busy, Axiu, Gu Chen, and Zhongli would take turns watching over her.
Aside from guarding against bumps and falls, Gu Chen and Zhongli also needed to teach little Hu Tao how to speak.
This wasn't difficult—just required patience.
Fortunately, little Hu Tao was gifted. In just two or three days, she could clearly call out "Grandpa" and "Mother," making both the old hall master and Axiu overjoyed.
"Xiao Tao, this is Retainer Zhongli, and this is Retainer Gu Chen," the old hall master said cheerfully as he introduced them while holding Hu Tao.
Gu Chen and Zhongli exchanged glances, both smiling as they looked at Hu Tao with anticipation.
"Zhong-li ke-qin, Gu-chen ke-qin," little Hu Tao said brightly, blinking her eyes.
"By commonly accepted rationality, this already counts as quite good," Zhongli nodded slightly.
Gu Chen smiled broadly and nodded. "Indeed. We can correct her pronunciation later."
The old hall master burst into laughter.
…
Another month passed in the blink of an eye. Under Gu Chen and Zhongli's guidance, little Hu Tao could now speak fluently, though many words were still beyond her understanding. Even so, she could clearly express her general intentions.
The old hall master had been very busy lately. Axiu, though still weak, went to help him as well. The two could only come back every few days.
Little Hu Tao was left in the care of Gu Chen and Zhongli.
Zhongli was often occupied—teaching ritual attendants and apprentices to improve their cultivation and etiquette. Due to his reputation, people frequently invited him to help elsewhere.
Because of this, little Hu Tao spent even more time with Gu Chen.
"Xiao Tao, now that you've learned to speak, the next step is reading and recognizing characters," Gu Chen said.
"Easy peasy!"
Little Hu Tao patted her chest, declaring that reading and recognizing characters would be effortless.
Gu Chen thought for a moment.
Given her talent, it truly wouldn't be difficult for her.
Gu Chen began teaching her to recognize and write characters. Whenever Zhongli had spare time, he would also come to offer guidance.
This stage of literacy was an important part of Hu Tao's growth, so the old hall master had Axiu return to accompany her.
With her mother's encouragement, little Hu Tao became even more motivated.
Her handwriting looked like messy doodles, but in terms of character recognition, she was learning nearly a hundred new characters a day.
"Very high talent—at least far beyond children of the same age," Zhongli evaluated.
Gu Chen nodded in agreement.
Axiu looked at little Hu Tao scratching her head while writing, her face filled with pride and relief. Then she turned to Gu Chen and asked, "Mr. Gu Chen, since Xiao Tao is so talented, do you have any teaching plans for her going forward?"
Gu Chen was taken aback, then fell into thought.
After a while, he turned to Zhongli. "What's your suggestion?"
Zhongli thought for a bit. "At her age, there's no need to rush too much. Take it gradually."
"That's what I think too. She needs some free time to relax," Gu Chen nodded, then said to Axiu, "After she finishes learning all characters and writing, let her read books. She should also learn Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's secret spear techniques—but that can be postponed until she grows a bit stronger. As for the rest, Mr. Zhongli can occasionally teach her knowledge about funeral rites."
"We'll follow the two retainers' advice," Axiu nodded.
She smiled at little Hu Tao, patting her head. "With the two retainers teaching you, Xiao Tao will definitely grow into a remarkable young lady."
"Mhm!" little Hu Tao nodded vigorously.
[Chongyun]: Hall Master Hu was practicing calligraphy at one year old. Meanwhile, a certain unnamed second young master of the Feiyun Commerce Guild writes characters that look like talismans no one can understand. (slippery grin)
[Arataki Itto]: Who? (scratching head)
[Xingqiu]: You might as well just say it's me. (annoyed)
[Kirara]: I'm getting more and more excited for little Hu Tao to grow up! (Hu Tao · acting cute)
[Barbara]: This really feels like… raising a wife from childhood!
[Yae Miko]: Gu Chen: If you want a perfect wife, then raise her yourself from a young age! (Yae Miko · bad grin)
[Osial]: Was this also part of the sect leader's plan? (shocked)
[Gu Chen]: Don't overthink it to that extent. (facepalm)
[Azhdaha]: Sect Leader, we're all bros—everyone understands! (slippery grin)
[Furina]: Exactly! No need to hide it—we're all family here! Boldly reveal your thoughts! (slippery grin)
[Kaeya]: The sect leader didn't say anything—clearly everything is already understood without words! (slippery grin)
[Osial]: Is it really okay for you all to slander the sect leader like this?! Careful or he'll make things hard for you! (slippery grin)
[Paimon]: (Photo of Gu Chen with a sinister smile, writing names into a small notebook)
[Azhdaha]: Sect Leader, there's really no need! (kneeling)
[Furina]: Bro, that's a bit much! (kneeling)
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