Di Miao is a widowed husband who makes a living running a noodle shop with his five-year-old son.
Lately, strange things have been happening around the noodle shop. The Liu family's chickens inexplicably get so worked up that they fly around at midnight, and strange noises keep coming from the Huang family's bun shop...
Di Miao was frightened when he heard about it, but he made himself stand tall in front of his son. "Don't be scared. Your little dad is here."
Di Xiaosong blinked his clear, bright eyes. "Huh?!"
That afternoon, the young fellow from the shop next door ran over in a panic with a message. "This is bad, Boss Di! Your son has been detained by the county office!"
Di Miao was horrified. After asking around, he learned that the recent strange occurrences in the county had all been caused by a few local children.
And Di Xiaosong was the ringleader.
Di Miao's vision went black. "...Could there be some kind of misunderstanding?"
He hurried to the county office to get to the bottom of things, only to come face-to-face with the newly appointed magistrate.
His vision went black again. Oh no, why does this new magistrate look exactly like his late husband?!
*
Six years ago, the most rebellious younger son of Grand Tutor Qin ran away from home.
Three years later, Qin Ao returned, but had lost his memories of those three years.
The rebellious Qin Ao became steady and ambitious. In just three years, he went from an unknown commoner to earning third place in the palace examination.
Just as everyone thought Qin Ao would now enjoy a brilliant official career with a beautiful wife at his side, he secretly left home and went to serve as a county magistrate in a remote, impoverished region.
Grand Tutor Qin: You rebellious brat!
On his first day in office, Qin Ao was presented with a major case involving supposed supernatural phenomena. He understood at once: the local strongmen were trying to put him in his place...
He immediately sent his subordinates to investigate. Before long, they returned with someone in tow.
Qin Ao looked at the short, round-faced chubby child. "...This is the local strongman you caught?"
After questioning the boy carefully, Qin Ao decided the child's actions were understandable and thought he'd let him off this time.
He was so young. His family could take him home and discipline him.
But when he saw the boy's little dad hurrying over, Qin Ao suddenly changed his mind. "This matter cannot be dismissed so easily. A child who does something wrong needs to mend his ways. How about Boss Di brings him to the county office every day? I'll teach him myself."
Di Miao, who had been planning to run away, had his vision go black for the third time. For the first time, he raised a hand to smack his son's little bottom.
Di Xiaosong! Just look at the mess you've gotten yourself into!
The magistrate had spoken, and Di Miao didn't dare disobey. He brought his son to the county office every day. In the evening, he would pick the boy up and try to hurry away, but the magistrate always found a way to make the child happily stay for dinner.
After this happened again and again, the subordinates realized that the widowed husband their magistrate had been pursuing without success was Di Miao!
They cried out, "Sir, being a stepfather isn't easy!"
Qin Ao's face darkened, but he declared in front of everyone that he didn't mind. A stepfather was a father too!
After hearing that, Di Xiaosong flew into Qin Ao's arms like a happy little bird. "Dad!"
Di Miao, standing nearby, looked guilty.
Fortunately, Qin Ao still thought he was just the boy's stepfather...
[Please note before reading]
1. This story is still being revised before publication. The main characters are a family of three.
==2024/10/12==
Theme: Grow up happily and fight back with all your might.
