Rebirth Counterattack with Space

As soon as Shitou stepped into the family compound, his spiritual power extended out and enveloped his own little courtyard.

He "saw" Guaibao, his son also called Pei Yi, wearing diapers and toddling around the courtyard. However, he could only take a few steps before plopping down onto the thick carpet on the ground.

Several toys were scattered across the carpet, but it was obvious that Pei Yi was not particularly interested in them. Despite repeatedly tumbling over, the little one didn’t cry or fuss and didn’t need anyone to hold him. Whenever he fell, he would clamber up on his own, huffing and puffing; it was clear that he was tireless in his delight to walk by himself.

Watching his son, with his chubby little legs, wobble around inside the carpet that was encircled by giant foam blocks, Shitou’s heart instantly melted...

Apart from Pei Yi, there was no one else in the courtyard. Shitou smiled, knowing that at this time, Lu Yun would usually be in the kitchen. He extended his spiritual power into the kitchen and indeed saw Lu Yun placing the last dish she had cooked onto the dining table.

The timing was just perfect.

After removing her apron and smiling contently, Lu Yun sensed Shitou’s spiritual power and spoke through their connection, "If you’re back, then hurry up and bring the little stinker in. Dinner’s ready."

"Coming."

Shitou responded through their connection as well and soon pushed open the half-closed gate of the courtyard. As he passed by Pei Yi, he scooped the child up effortlessly and slung him over his shoulder to carry him into the house.

"Giggle giggle giggle."

Shitou’s action elicited a string of giggles from Pei Yi. The child reached out his little arms, which were as chubby as lotus roots, and embraced Shitou’s head with skilled joy. The laughter was music to Shitou’s ears.

Instead of heading directly to the dining room, Shitou, carrying Pei Yi, took a detour to the restroom. He filled a basin with water, set the little one down from his shoulder, and rolled up his sleeves to begin washing his hands.

Seeing water, Pei Yi’s eyes lit up with excitement and he started squawking and laughing as he vigorously splashed the water with his chubby hands. Father and son made a mess, and soon both had water droplets splattered on their hands, faces, bodies, and sleeves—wet through.

"Just indulge him, why don’t you? It’s such a fuss washing hands every day. Now you’ll have to change clothes again, right? Just wait, after dinner you’ll need another set."

Lu Yun had been waiting outside for the father and son duo for quite a while, and without looking, she knew they must have been playing in the washroom again. She stood helplessly at the door, immediately seeing that both of them, typically, were soaked through.

"It’s fine, I’ll just wash the clothes later after Guaibao has had his bath and we’ve eaten dinner."

Shitou, smiling, finished drying the hands of his jubilant son and then picked him up, ignoring his struggles, and left the restroom to come into the living room, where Lu Yun had prepared dry clothes for them both on the sofa.

Changing clothes was another "battle".

During mealtime, Pei Yi sat on his high chair that belonged only to him and settled down at the dining table with the two adults. He had his own dedicated insulated bowl, filled with his portion of food specially prepared by Lu Yun—cut into small pieces and cooked until soft.

After dressing Pei Yi in a bib, and then handing him a small spoon, no one paid him any more attention.

Lu Yun and Shitou chatted as they ate their own meals.

Mid-way through the meal, Shitou glanced at Pei Yi who was grappling with his food using a spoon, and seeing him covered in food, he laughed and said, "Not bad, there’s progress, ah! He can finally use a spoon now. It’s a big improvement from before when he couldn’t hold the spoon and could only grab at his food with his little paws."

"It’s already been a week or two, of course, his grip has gotten a lot stronger. Too bad he’s still making such a mess. Even with a bib, he can’t keep it contained. Who knows when he’ll be able to eat neatly?" Lu Yun also looked over, her voice tinged with disapproval.

"Don’t rush it; he’ll get better as he gets older. Anyway, after eating, a quick wash and he’ll be clean again. Are you really determined to wean him this time?" Shitou raised his eyebrows, "Don’t let his crying and fussing make you give up halfway again."

"Yeah, it’s time. In another two or three months, we can send him to the nursery class; if we let him continue breastfeeding, it’d be a wonder if he’d be willing to go. This time I’m planning to take a retreat for about ten days to half a month as well. I feel like my spiritual power has reached a bottleneck, and a breakthrough is imminent."

Lu Yun nodded. Their research institute’s kindergarten nursery class could take children after a week and a half. It was equipped with specially trained nannies, and kids were better off there, having peers to play with, rather than staying at home, lonely, and just following adults around all the time.

"You go ahead with your retreat with peace of mind; I’ve got this," Shitou assured her.

The topic of weaning Pei Yi first came up when he was ten months old, and they had attempted it twice, both times ending in failure. Shitou had long been dissatisfied with this.

Though he felt somewhat reluctant at the thought of not seeing his wife for ten or so days, the idea that the little rascal wouldn’t be hogging his wife at night, crying for milk, brightened his entire mood.

"As if. Let’s see how you manage when he really starts making a fuss. I’ve already spoken to my mother, and she said that she and father will come and stay for half a month," Lu Yun remarked, casting a doubtful glance at Shitou’s confidence.

"Of course, it would be best if mom and dad could come and lend a hand," Shitou said, smiling at her words.

From the time Lu Yun had finished her confinement period, she and her son had followed Shitou to this new post on an island. By now, with Pei Yi one year and two months old, their family life had gradually become very regular.

During the day, aside from going to the research institute, Shitou also needed to check on things at Tenglong Company. Lu Yun, while regularly breastfeeding Pei Yi, also needed time for concocting Elixirs, cultivating her spiritual power, and learning to make new Elixirs. Thus, during the day, they needed Su Qiaoling and Wen Shan to help with taking care of Pei Yi, both of whom had thus transitioned from close-body guards to skilled nannies.

When evening came around, Shitou would return home on schedule if he wasn’t on a mission, and Su Qiaoling and Wen Shan would leave as well. That’s when Lu Yun would start preparing dinner.

The evening then became an important time for the family of three to spend together.

During this period, because Xia Yuan and Lu Aiguo were worried about the couple looking after both work and child, they would visit Pei Yi from time to time.

Zhang Min, who also had a child to care for at home, and the busy Qingyuan could not find the time for a special trip, so whenever Shitou and Lu Yun were free, they would take their child back to Capital City.

As a result of these visits, Pei Yi was not at all unfamiliar with the family; his memory was better than average, and he could remember people even after periods of not seeing them, especially showing great attachment to Xia Yuan and Lu Aiguo. Hence, when Lu Yun resolved to wean him this time, she contacted Xia Yuan, who immediately agreed to come over after arranging everything.