Auntie, Can I Call You Mom?

After laughing heartily, Ye Qiu, feeling that he had the upper hand, was about to share the good news of his breakthrough with Qiu Xiaozhu.

He only remembered halfway there that it was his aunt's birthday.

His plan wouldn't have been possible without his aunt's help.

Therefore, for Ye Qiu, winning over his aunt was a very important thing.

"I need to prepare a gift before I go, otherwise it won't be very sincere."

After pondering for a moment, Ye Qiu looked at a large tree next to him, intending to use the available material to make a wood carving.

While Ye Qiu was busy making birthday gifts.

The Third Elder, who brought Ye Qiu tremendous good news, arrived at a cenotaph without a monument.

After clearing away the weeds near the cenotaph, the Third Elder took out a few pieces of candy from his pocket and placed them in front of the cenotaph.

Only a very few people in the Nine Heavens Alliance know that this is the grave of the Third Elder's sister.

The Third Elder, his face weathered and worn, sat before the grave like an old dog dozing off, his eyes somewhat dazed.

The reason I was so blinded by greed was that I agreed to cooperate with Ye Feilong.

It's simply that they have an obsession they can't let go of.

Back when he was a teenager, he and his equally talented younger sister were favored by the elders of the Qiu Family.

My younger sister has always been lively and has a great longing for the outside world.

However, the Qiu Family rules are in place, and Qiu Family members are strictly prohibited from going out without permission.

Once discovered, they will be immediately disqualified and expelled from the Qiu Family.

However, on her sister's sixteenth birthday, she couldn't resist sneaking out.

The elders quickly discovered this.

After her younger sister was brought back from outside, she was subjected to family discipline.

He knelt outside the ancestral hall that day and couldn't remember how many times he kowtowed.

That still didn't change anything.

My younger sister was simply curious and went out to see the outside world, but she was stripped of her cultivation and expelled from the family.

From that day on, he, who had never been very interested in cultivation, began to cultivate desperately.

He dreamed of one day becoming the person in charge of the Qiu Family.

He brought his younger sister back from outside and changed the Qiu Family.

But after he became an elder, he sent his disciples out to inquire and learned that his sister had died of illness not long after she left.

Even after he became the Third Elder, he was still unable to change the Qiu Family and the Nine Heavens Alliance.

Knowing he was powerless to change anything, he chose to drift along, until Ye Feilong appeared.

That man was trying to steal the Nine Dragons Array from the ancestral tomb.

If he succeeds, the Qiu Family's centuries-long protection will have failed.

But the chain that has bound the Qiu Family here for hundreds of years will also disappear completely.

He didn't think it was a bad thing at all.

There is definitely more than one person in the Qiu Family who shares the same idea.

Because of their family rules, the Qiu Family has been trapped in this place for hundreds of years.

The Qiu Family members with exceptional talent spend their entire lives at the Nine Heavens Alliance, focusing solely on martial arts training.

Those who lack talent can only spend their lives farming, herding sheep, and raising cattle.

Apart from this, the Qiu Family has no other choice in life.

How many people are dissatisfied with this? But what can they do even if they are?

After a self-deprecating laugh, the Third Elder murmured to himself.

"After being a tomb-guarding dog for hundreds of years, it's time for my time to end it, Xiao Qing. I'll come down to see you after my elder brother returns your freedom to the Qiu Family."

Small white flowers sway in the wind before the cenotaph, as if nodding to an old friend.

After spending almost an hour preparing the gift.

Ye Qiu gently blew on the wooden carving, quite satisfied with his work.

The wooden sculpture he carved depicted three people.

A beautiful woman was leading a girl who looked remarkably similar to her.

The girl was holding the hand of a little boy, whose appearance was quite similar to Ye Qiu's.

"My aunt admires my mom the most, so this kind of gift is most suitable for her."

After muttering something to himself, Ye Qiu smiled and headed straight for Qiu Xiaozhu's house.

When he reached the gate of the courtyard, he discovered that there was a small bamboo house next to his aunt's yard.

He glanced at it but didn't pay much attention, assuming it was his aunt who had done it, and strode into the yard.

As soon as he stepped inside, the aroma of food wafted over, making Ye Qiu's mouth water.

In order to concentrate on his seclusion, he has been eating dry rations for the past few days and has almost forgotten what meat tastes like.

He strode inside and saw Qiu Xiaozhu sitting happily at the dining table.

"Master, happy birthday! This is a gift I prepared for you."

He quickly walked over and handed the prepared gift to Qiu Xiaozhu.

He's now used to calling him "Master" to avoid revealing his identity.

"Oh, how did you know it was my birthday?"

I saw my nephew come over to wish me a happy birthday.

Qiu Xiaozhu's already good mood improved even more.

Over the years, she's been too lazy to celebrate her birthday alone.

My apprentice helped me prepare a huge meal for my birthday.

Her nephew also came over to congratulate her, which truly warmed her heart.

"My master is the most important person to me in this world, so it's only right that I take extra care of him."

Ye Qiu sighed.

Qiu Xiaozhu smiled with gratitude and carefully examined the wooden carving that Ye Qiu handed her.

The wooden carving of her sister bore an uncanny resemblance to herself, instantly bringing back memories of the time she spent with her sister.

Because of the early death of his parents.

She grew up with her older sister and respected her as if she were a second mother.

This is why she protected Ye Qiu.

My sister's only bloodline, who was just an infant in swaddling clothes back then.

Even if the Ye Family has committed grave sins, he should not be implicated.

"Thank you for the gift, my aunt loves it."

After thanking her, Qiu Xiaozhu placed the wood carving on the shelf next to her.

Then she called out, "You haven't eaten yet, have you? Hurry up and try these dishes."

"OK."

Ye Qiu nodded, picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, tasted it, and suddenly his eyes reddened, and large tears fell.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Seeing Ye Qiu burst into tears, Qiu Xiaozhu quickly offered her concern.

"I've never had a home in my life, but my master's cooking taught me what home tastes like. If my mother were still alive, her cooking would taste just like this."

Ye Qiu wiped away her tears and looked at Qiu Xiaozhu with emotion, saying, "Master, I... can I call you Mom?"

"Silly child."

Qiu Xiaozhu sighed, feeling a pang of heartache.

If only my older sister were still here, this child must have suffered too much injustice outside.

"Mom..."

Ye Qiu had just called out "Mom" once.

Tang Yu walked in from outside carrying a bowl of fragrant braised chicken with potatoes.

He was still wearing an apron as he walked in and looked at Ye Qiu, saying, "Oh, Senior Brother Ye Qiu, you've finished your seclusion?"

Ye Qiu instantly held back her tears.

Seeing the dishes Tang Yu was holding, he felt incredibly embarrassed.

So it turns out it wasn't my aunt who made the food?

No wonder he said the taste was completely different from last time.