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  ~~~~~?

  Shen Zhongge turned his head, with a look of inquiry, Zhen Shiniang's mind went blank. "General!" she called out in a slightly trembling voice, "...do you play Go?" She vaguely remembered that Xikuai had mentioned he was a chess enthusiast.

  "Whose child is this?" Unaware of Zhen Shi Niang's inappropriate expression, Shen Zhong Ge's gaze remained fixed on the front yard, seemingly hesitant about whether to go over.

  "It's a short worker's house." Zhen Shi Niang quickly came up with an idea, "I'm going to harvest the lotus seeds, so I hired two short workers."

  He let out an "oh" and Shen Zhongjie finally turned his head around.

  Zhen Shi Niang had already sat down on the stone bench, "......I'll be right there, General. Will you accompany me to finish this game?" In an instant, she had calmed down.

  What chess does a woman play at home?

  In his heart he was disdainful, but Shen Zhong's gaze still fell on the chessboard in front of him, and his body shook:

  Is this what she put out?

  Never saw her play chess before, didn't expect her chess skills to be so profound!

  The Way of Go, emulates the image of Heaven and Earth, with its infinite changes and hidden dangers, has a similar charm to fighting on the battlefield, making him even more fascinated. Especially when he is thinking about deploying troops and arrays, he likes to sit in front of this black-and-white chessboard, deep in thought.

  "...Haven't you ever seen me play chess before?" Shen Zhongge sat down opposite Zhen Shiniang, looking at her in astonishment.

  Zhen Shining pointed to the chessboard, "In this square inch of space, the pieces are arranged in a circular pattern, with empty and solid spaces alternating, black and white pieces giving birth to each other. I love its endless changes, and when I'm absorbed in it, I find it endlessly fascinating."

  "You..." His voice trailed off, "and five years ago... it's like you're a different person." The image of him holding her just now, reluctant to let go, while she was eager to break free, flashed before his eyes. This was the complete opposite of her personality from five years ago.

  "In five years' time, many things can change." Zhen Shi Niang's eyelids didn't even flicker as she reached out and picked up a white chess piece, moving it steadily.

  He looked at her deeply, Shen Zhongge picked up a black chess piece and fell into thought.

  This chess game is too profound, and even if he concentrates fully to respond to it, he may not be able to solve it. Shen Zhongge didn't notice that she had given him the black piece that was already in a subtle winning position.

  Listening to the incessant noise of Jianwen and Jianwu in front, Zhen Shiniang raised her head to look at Shen Zhongjie, who was holding a chess piece that refused to fall, "Shall I go and pour tea for the general?"

  "Go ahead..." Shen Zhongjie waved his hand and didn't even lift his head.

  Zhen Shining slowly stood up.

  "Sister!" Jian Wu and Jian Wen were quarreling and making a ruckus, wanting to go to the backyard. Seeing Zhen Shi come over, they both rushed over together.

  "Wen Ge and Wu Ge are both awake." Zhen Shi Niang smiled and pulled the two into the house.

  “...Sister is secretly playing chess again!” As soon as they entered the house, Jian Wu asked, “Why didn't you wake me up? I also want to play with Mother!” The two children both loved playing chess. Usually, Zhen Shiniang would put away the chess before they woke up, but today she was delayed by Shen Zhongjie and didn't make it back in time. Knowing that she was setting up the Go board behind them, Jian Wu and Jian Wen naturally rushed over to pester her.

  "...the girl is playing chess with an old acquaintance." Having a modern way of thinking, Zhen Shiniang did not want to cheat the child.

  "Who's there! Let's go and see!" Jian Wen pulled Jian Wu and was about to run outside.

  "No!" Zhen Shi Niang grabbed both of them at once.

  "Why not?" asked Jianwen and Jianwu in unison.

  "Hmm..." Zhen Xiayi thought seriously for a moment, "Mother is afraid that he will take you away... and not let mother see you again..." This was also the truth.

  He's just here to rest for a while, if Shen Zhongjie finds out he has two more sons, he'll definitely take them away.

  Zhen Shining had always respected children and never lied to them. With such a serious expression, it must be true. Jian Wen and Jian Wu suddenly jumped up, "I don't want to leave Mother! Mother..." Jian Wu hugged Zhen Shining's waist tightly, his voice trembling with tears, "Mother, please don't abandon Wu'er, Wu'er will listen..."

  "Then you'd better hide, don't let him find out." said Zhen Shi Niang.

  "Hmm..." Jian Wu nodded repeatedly and looked around, "I'm hiding in the wardrobe!" Jian Wen first spotted the wardrobe on the kang.

  "My cat is under the table!" Seeing that the wardrobe was occupied by Jianwen, Jianwu's gaze fell on the desk on the floor.

  After all, they were just kids. As soon as the word "hide" was mentioned, both of them immediately thought of their usual game of hide-and-seek and quickly found what they thought was a favorable hiding spot.

  Zhen Shiniang was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

  Seize two little guys who say move and move, "No, if he comes in and sits for two hours without leaving, won't you suffocate?"

  "Also!" Jian Wen's small face instantly fell, "...then where can we hide?" His eyes searched around again.

  "You two go to Aunt Jixiao's house first, and after a while, I'll come pick you up." Zhen Shiniang affectionately rubbed the hair of the two children, "...okay?" Thinking that from now on, she and her son would be homeless, Zhen Shiniang's words were tinged with a hint of melancholy.

  Jian Wen thought she was just afraid of being robbed, so he nodded dejectedly. "It's the only way." His tone carried a hint of resignation and magnanimity, as if he were an adult who had suddenly become aware of his own insignificance.

  Is this okay too?

  To be honest, don't even need to cheat?

  Jian Wu was surprised that Zhen Shiniang had agreed so quickly, and the magpie-like girl looked at her with eyes full of admiration. Just now, she had been thinking of doing just that, but no matter how hard she and Qiu Ju tried to persuade them, they couldn't fool them. Unexpectedly, Zhen Shiniang had sent them off with just a few simple words. Unconsciously, she thought to herself, "Miss's skill in coaxing children is truly unmatched." Her hand subconsciously pressed against the slightly bulging belly, "In the future, when this child is born, it must also follow Miss's example."

  There was no tea at home, so Zhen Shiniang found some dried lotus seeds and brewed them. They tasted a bit bitter, so she added some rock sugar.

  She walked into the backyard, and Shen Zhongge had just put down his black piece. He was waiting for her while staring at the chessboard with a frown, deep in thought. When he saw her approaching, he said, "I think I've found that the previous move would have led to a win for the black piece."

  "You only know that I'm letting you win!" Zhen Shi'niang thought to herself, lightly putting down the tray and picking up the teapot to pour a cup for Shen Zhongge, "General, have some tea." She also poured a cup for herself, sat down across from him, picked up a white stone and made her move, only then saying, "Just now when you arrived, I had just finished playing with the black stones, it was about time for the white ones to make their move..."

  That means she didn't intentionally let him, it was just a coincidence.

  With a thoughtful look, Shen Zhongge glanced at her and picked up his teacup without saying a word.

  Even if she had deliberately let him win, it was only right that he should be at a disadvantage after twenty or so moves. He really had nothing to say. He stretched out his hand to pick up a black piece and was about to make his move when he suddenly furrowed his brow, "What kind of tea is this?" It was bitter, yet somehow carried a hint of sweetness.

  "Lotus heart tea, I'm afraid it's too bitter for the general to drink. I added some rock sugar." This lotus heart tea was sold in supermarkets in my previous life.

  "...Lotus Heart Tea?" Shen Zhongke lowered his head and gazed at the floating green lotus heart in the cup.

  Zhen Shining immediately thought of how people in the Great Zhou Dynasty still didn't consider lotus hearts as a type of tea.

  She said calmly, "Lotus heart can clear the mind and relieve fire, dispel summer heat and annoyance, and help with sleep. I often suffer from insomnia, so I always drink this."

  She can't afford tea, right?

  He glanced at the white clothes that Zhen Shining was washing, and Shen Zhongge let out a soft sigh, but didn't say anything, only saying, "The flavor is still good, it's just a bit sweet." He had never liked eating sweets, as he said this, he gently placed the chess piece in his hand down.

  You're really hard to serve!

  Zhen Shiniang secretly curled her lip, and with a swift motion, she pulled out a white pellet which fell with a "pa" sound, ruthlessly killing one of his large dragons.

  Just as he was about to touch her, Shen Zhong's hand froze in mid-air. He took a deep breath and looked up at Zhen Shi Niang with a stunned expression.

  For the first time, he actually lost to a woman!