A Noble Marriage

Chapter 72

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Anna doesn't like winter very much. Although there are beautiful snow in winter, if she is given a choice, she would prefer to live in the warm season.

Karenin didn't care about the change of seasons. If it was too hot, the mood of this high-ranking Petersburg official might be affected a little bit, of course, just a little bit.

And their son, Seryozha, seems to love all seasons. In his optimistic little heart, those beautiful places can always be found.

This happened in June, which is early summer. The continuous spring rain has come to an end, and the summer insects have begun to stir up.

Seryozha always woke up very early during this time, and usually opened his big blue eyes after five o'clock. For this reason, Anna kept letting him go to bed early at night. Fortunately, she observed for a while After a while, Seryozha did not show any discomfort, and Anna was relieved.

This morning Seryozha awoke early as usual.

He didn't change his clothes immediately after washing, and was still wearing a white lace nightgown, leaning lazily against the bay window and began to read a book of poetry softly.

Generally, Seryozha would show such an inappropriate appearance only in the morning, and most of the time, he kept himself in a good sitting posture all the time. Because he saw a lot of good habits from his father, and Seryozha hoped that he could become a self-disciplined person like his father since he was a child.

And when Anna opened the door and saw all this, she always felt like her heart was about to melt.

"Mother."

Seryozha saw his mother, he put down his book, opened his smile and called softly.

Anna walked over and kissed the child's round cheek.

"Why do you get up so early?" Seryozha asked affectionately like a little koala while his mother kissed him, wrapping his hands around his neck.

Anna smoothed the curly hair on the forehead for Seryozha. Seryozha who just got up was like a small animal waking up from hibernation. There was always a kind of nascent ignorance between his eyebrows and eyes, and he looked weak and cute.

"Remember what I told you last night? Andre is coming over today, shall we pick him up at the train station?"

Seryozha remembered that his father had said this at dinner yesterday.

Cousin Andre came here quite suddenly this time, it was not his holiday time.

The answer his father gave him was that Cousin Andre was going through another period of change. His response to that answer was to blink, then poke at the beans in the bowl, thinking: This is a bit of a mystery.

Now, with his mother, he could ask in more detail.

"What is the other stage that Dad said? Mom." Seryozha still hugged his mother. His blue eyes were like the sky outside the window, clear and far away, without any impurities.

Anna was also sitting on the woolen cushion by the bay window. She first touched Seryozha's ankle to make sure he was not cold, and then smiled to answer questions for her curious child.

"It's a change of thinking from a child to an adult. During this stage, they sometimes don't like to get some answers from their parents."

Seryozha felt a little inconceivable. In the world of a five-year-old, parents can sometimes mean the world.

"That's weird," he said, blinking. He drooped his eyelashes, thought for a while, and then looked up, "That's why brother Andre came over when he wasn't on vacation, right? Because he wanted to get an answer from Dad?"

"Exactly." Anna kissed the boy's little hand. The dimples on the back of the hand were really cute, while Seryozha looked at his little hand with some concern. Although he knew that many people liked them very much, but when he grew up a little bit, it would be difficult to perform that grown-up handshake ceremony with his dimpled hands, right

"I'm not always going to be so fat, am I?" He looked at his mother, his face flushed, and asked a little shyly.

Anna laughed.

"Don't worry, baby, they won't look like a baby when you're Andre's age."

After she finished speaking, she pretended to look at her little boy seriously, and then affirmed: "And you are not fat at all, you are a very healthy five-year-old boy."

After getting the guarantee, Serezha breathed a sigh of relief. After hearing what his mother teased him, he also laughed, and his joyful voice was like the wind by the stream. After a while Seryozha said shyly:

"I hope they can be like daddy."

He took a serious look at his little hand, spread it out, then clenched it again, it was soft.

"Daddy's hands are very nice."

Slender, powerful, able to hold a gun, strong and powerful when writing, and very warm.

Anna knew that Seryozha adored his father, and she was deeply proud of this feeling, but every time she listened to these declarations from Seryozha's innocent blue eyes, or from his small mouth, she Still feel a little moved.

"Although it may not be exactly the same, we all believe that you will become a better person than him." Anna encouraged hopefully.

"Hmm." Seryozha showed a shallow smile, and his dimples bloomed like marks kissed by stars.

At about ten o'clock, Seryozha and his mother went to the train station to pick up Andrei in a carriage.

Their timing was just right, and after his mother had kissed Andrei on the cheek, Seryozha also went over.

"You don't look very tall, Sergey Sha." The teenage boy was unusually thin, and his high cheekbones should have looked a little indifferent, but they were brightened by the smile in his eyes when he spoke. few.

Seryozha followed Andrei's movement of bending over, and then kissed the other's cheek, and then stood up, not angry, but softly said that he would grow taller in the future.

Andrei stroked Seryozha's little head absently.

Back in the carriage again, Seryozha watched Andre carefully.

After all, he was only five years old, and what he could understand was always limited. But because he was young and sensitive, he also immediately noticed some changes in Andre.

The change wasn't just about height and appearance, it was like, in the past, Andre was the same as him, like a carefree plant, but now, he is restless.

From the occasional exhaustion and irritability in the corners of his eyes and brows, Seryozha thought: So there are so many troubles in growing up!

When he got home, Andre moved his body, as if he was tense before, but now he relaxed because he went home.

Seryozha was still hooking his mother's little finger, until his mother patted his hand and signaled him to let go, then he reluctantly let go.

Anna thought it was a little funny.

This is a small problem of Seryozha. Occasionally, Seryozha will be a little too clingy to those close to him. Once he decides to hold someone's little finger, it seems to be stuck with sugar, and he doesn't want to let go easily. It's open. If you do that, then Seryozha will behave like a kicked puppy, slightly whining.

Anna glanced at Seryozha, then called to Andrei, who turned his head, and Anna curled her lips in a gesture to him.

Andrei glanced down at Seryozha, shrugged his shoulders, and finally took the little boy by his waist and carried him to his room.

"ah-"

The sudden suspension made Seryozha frightened, but soon, he giggled again.

At home, his father would not do such playful things to him, and Andre, to a certain extent, replaced a certain part of his father's role, although before that, he himself was just a little boy.

Andre's bedroom.

Seryozha was sitting on the sofa. He was sitting a little too straight. In contrast, Andrei, who was sitting cross-legged on the carpet with his back against the sofa, looked very inappropriate.

However, no matter how inappropriate, his pretty face, juvenile slender body, and the unique rebelliousness of adolescents still made him look a bit charming.

At least, the little maid who brought Andre the honey water looked a little shy.

"Madam said that honey water can moisten the throat, and Master Andre should drink more now."

"En." Andre responded, then wrinkled his nose and took a sip before moving.

"Brother Andrei, don't you finish your drink?" Seryozha asked, holding his own cup with both hands.

"It's too sweet." Andre wrinkled his face, then continued to read the book in his hand.

Seryozha was stunned. He clearly remembered that brother Andrei didn't hate sweets, although he didn't like sweets as much as himself.

So, when you grow up, don't you even like sweets

Seryozha felt a little scared, and then quickly finished the honey water in his hand.

Seryozha didn't know that his worried expression was completely captured by Andrei. For some reason, Andrei suspected that Seryozha was not a little boy, but some kind of innocent animal although he was young.

No boy is as soft and courageous as Seryozha.

But because of this, sometimes Andre would want to tease each other.

"Open your mouth." Andre lazily held the book in one hand, and made a gesture of opening his mouth with the other.

Although Seryozha was a little confused, he still opened his small mouth and matched his innocent big eyes, like some kind of chick waiting to be eaten.

"ah… "

Andre looked at the boy's teeth, and said, "You haven't changed your teeth yet?"

Seryozha shook his head.

"Then you can still eat it now." Andre nodded, "Even if you lose all your teeth due to eating too many sweets in the future, there will be new ones."

Teeth fell out!

Seryozha's big blue eyes were wide open, obviously panicked.

He was at a loss and asked: "Then, what happens after changing teeth?"

Andre smirked: "Oh, then there will be no teeth, and you can only drink milk in the future."

After hearing this, Seryozha looked worriedly at the little cake brought by the maid just now. He didn't want to lose all his teeth, but the little cake really couldn't be parted.

Seeing Seryozha's tangled look, Andrei's little brown eyebrows were also furrowed, and suddenly he felt that he didn't feel so angry if he didn't like sweets now.

"You'll be fine if you eat one." Seryozha whispered, obviously still unable to resist the temptation of sweets, he stretched out his little white hand.

"The teeth will fall out." Andre said coolly.

The little hand in mid-air stopped.

Andrei looked up, and Seryozha was stunned, then slowly put his little hands behind his back, but his eyes were still fixed on the little cake.

"Well, that's just to tease you." Andrei laughed, and took the cake to Seryozha, and put it in his hand.

Seryozha looked seriously at the little cake in his hand, then laughed, but did not accuse Andrey of deceiving him.

Seeing Seryozha's contentment, Andrei suddenly felt that the emotions caused by his parents' behavior of making decisions for him regardless of his wishes in France were not so strong.

At around four o'clock in the afternoon, when his father came back from the ministry, Seryozha said hello to his father, and the latter took Andrei to the study.

Mother was talking to Sasha in the kitchen, and Seryozha had no lessons at the moment, and it was his free time, so he went to the porter Kapidonitch's.

Kabidonitch knew a lot of things, most of them very interesting, and Seryozha liked to talk to him.

"How did you grow up so quickly?" Seryozha asked curiously.

Kabidonitch looked at the young master at home with fond eyes.

Although in Petersburg he had seen children who were cuter and more beautiful than Seryozha, no one was sweeter than him.

"It's been so long since I can't remember, sir."

"Is there no signal?" Seryozha asked, thinking for a while and then added, "Like a flower, there are buds before it blooms. If you look carefully, the petals will tremble."

"I don't think so. Most people grow up at that time."

There was no answer from Kabidonitch either, and Seryozha felt a little melancholy.

Later, my father said that he would go out with Andre tomorrow.

"May I go?" asked Seryozha.

"You still have French lessons, Seryozha," said Karenin.

Seryozha was slightly disappointed.

"Let him go with him," said Andrei, who knew why Karenin had refused Seryozha's request.

Seryozha looked at his father with shining eyes, and the latter nodded his assent.

"But the class still can't be missed. I will tell your French teacher to ask him to adjust the class time to the evening."

Karenin did not indulge his son in studies. In fact, Karenin never condoned anyone when it came to learning. Although he loves his children, he is also strict with them. What makes him more satisfied is that Seryozha has not been spoiled so much that he is tired of studying, and he has no objection to this.

Anna was packing for them, and Seryozha, seeing his mother putting his hat on, asked, "Where is Papa taking us?"

"Won't you know later?" Anna nodded Seryozha's nose, and the latter laughed.

Everyone always said that he was too curious, but Seryozha felt that it had too much to do with his mother. She likes to tease him like this sometimes.

"I'll find out when I go to see my father's things." He said, then ran away in a hurry, and came back after a while, his little face was a little sweaty, as if he had seen some incredible treasure.

"Daddy's taking us fishing!" he announced.

Anna wiped his sweat for him and smiled: "Satisfied, huh?"

Seryozha nodded, satisfying his curiosity like eating delicious food when he was hungry. If you don't know it all the time, the sensitive Seryozha will feel a little worried and uneasy.

"Remember to drink more water later." She cut the boy's hair, and then said with a smile, "Look at your hair, is it going to be the same as Andre?"

Seryozha patted his head shyly.

"I'll pay attention." He said, seeming to care more about his appearance than Andre.

It took about two hours in the carriage from departure to arrival at the destination. Because of personal reasons, Karenin did not use two carriages, so the three of them were only in one carriage.

Andrei admired Karenin, and this admiration became more and more obvious as he grew up. As for Seryozha, he naturally admired his father, but apart from admiration, he was obviously not afraid of Karenin.

Therefore, on the way, although Seryozha sat upright, he kept talking.

He knew that his father was a person who didn't like wasting time, even if he didn't have documents in his hand, he was still thinking. So Seryozha spoke to Andrei.

Strange to say.

When Andre was in France, he obviously didn't like to talk to others during this time, and he always put on a cold look, but he didn't get bored when Seryozha said those messy words.

He glanced at his cousin and thought: Probably no one would dislike him.

The person concerned did not perceive this affirmation, because although the mother sometimes laughed and said that everyone loved him, Seryozha did not really mean it.

The words that his father sometimes taught made Seryozha think, how can someone be liked by everyone in this world

He himself has such and other shortcomings, but as long as there are a few people who really love him, Seryozha will feel very happy.

"Here we are, get out of the car," Karenin said.

Seeing his father get out of the carriage, Seryozha stopped for a moment, went around and took down the fishing gear. After Andre got off the car, he hesitated.

The carriage was still a bit high, and he was observing whether he could get down safely by himself.

But before he could figure out what to do, a pair of hands were stretched out in front of him.

Seryozha laughed, and suddenly felt that even though Andrei was going through a stage he didn't know, the other party was still Andrei after all.

"If you're picky about eating, you really won't grow taller." Andre pinched the boy's face, and when he released it, a dimple was located on the slightly reddened place.

"You lied to me again. My mother said that when I reach your age, I will grow taller. Maybe taller than you and your father." After finishing speaking, Seryozha put his hands behind his back and walked away like a little adult.

"The child is too old to be fooled." Andre muttered with a smile, and then followed.

This place has a wide view of the lake, and no one disturbs it.

The wind in June is always slightly sweet, Serezha couldn't help closing his eyes and wrinkling his little nose and sniffing gently.

"Don't get so close to the lake."

Andrei tugged at the large collar of Serezha's sailor suit, dragging him back a few steps like a small potato.

"I won't," said Seryozha, but did not go any further.

His father had told him that it was okay to be curious, but not to put yourself in danger because of curiosity.

"Let's play first." Andrei drove Seryozha to a clump of flowers, and then went to Karenin to help.

Seryozha sighed, then lay down on the grass and watched carefully a butterfly on a small yellow flower.

With his hands on his cheeks, he watched carefully and emotionally the butterfly flapping its wings and sucking the nectar. After a while, the calf in white socks also raised up and swayed rhythmically.

When Andrei turned around, he saw that Seryozha was immersed in another world with relish.

The sunshine in June was already a little warm, and Andre's fair face was also a little red, and the tingling sensation woke him up. He saw that his uncle was looking at Seryozha just like him, who was already chatting with Little Butterfly with a smile on his face.

"Andrei, you are too impatient." Karenin said calmly, withdrawing his gaze.

Andre licked his lips, but his eyes were sharp like a teenager: "Maybe, you know, I have never wanted to live my life according to their wishes."

"I know."

Karenin began to put bait on the hook. His tone was flat and flat, just like the comfortable shirt he was wearing. Unlike when he usually wears a tight-fitting suit and a shirt with a stiff collar when he goes to work, Karenin is as comfortable and peaceful as this afternoon. Although, Andrei knew that even at this moment, Karenin's mind could not be completely away from business.

"You have your own ideas since you were a child, and your parents are very worried about it." Karenin said lightly, then threw the fishing rod out, and he turned to look at his nephew.

"Don't forget, they are your parents and they love you very much."

"I know, that's why I went to school." Andre said casually. He'd never been interested in that sort of orthodox study, and that's where it ended up being, so phony and sordid.

Mom and Dad thought he was just having a fight, but it wasn't.

There was nothing wrong with them loving him, but Andrei couldn't tell them what he wanted to do. His heart is free, his soul is free, and he never believes in God. All his behavior and behavior are not inspired by God at all.

From a long time ago, he was thinking: If he becomes a good person in the future, it is because he chooses to be a good person; if he becomes a bad person who is not tolerated in this world, it is only because he chooses to be a bad person.

God did not teach him, the devil did not tempt him.

However, he can't tell anyone about these things that he is so firm about. Therefore, he is unwilling to stay in school and accept the care of his parents. He chose to come to his uncle's house in Petersburg.

Now he feels he is right.

He didn't need to say anything, uncle may or may not know. It doesn't matter, he just needs a place to catch his breath.

"Problems don't appear suddenly, Andre, and problems are not endings. The emergence of a problem is caused by many factors, so there are many ways to solve it."

"People can live freely, but it's best not to forget their responsibilities." Karenin stood up, and patted the young man's shoulder lightly as he passed Andrei's side. This is also the greatest intimacy and warmth he can give.

Andre turned to look at the father and son not far away.

The sun was a little bit fierce, even under the shade of a tree, the boy could only see clearly by squinting his eyes slightly.

He saw Karenin pat Seryozha on the shoulder, and the latter blinked and said something with a smile, as if waking up from a wonderful world.

"Responsibility." Andre chewed on these words, and in this afternoon, the restlessness seemed to have stopped.

That night, Andre went back by train.

This time Seryozha and his father escorted him to the train. He asked Andre if he would go back to school, and the latter just shrugged his shoulders and didn't give a clear answer.

After the train whistle sounded and drove away clang-clank-clank, Seryozha hooked his father's little finger, raised his head and asked naively, "Will he go back to school?"

"Yes." Karenin replied, and then led Seryozha to go back. Anna was still waiting for them.

When he got out of the station, he saw the sky full of stars, and a trace of heat waves wrapped in a layer of sweet breath blowing past Serezha's eyelashes. He thought ignorantly: What is the so-called growth

He turned his head to look at his father again, saw his tightly pursed lips, and the way he was holding his hand at this moment.

Those troubles were shaken away by himself, and he said with a smile: "Father, I will become the same person as you in the future."

"Official?"

"I don't know," said Seryozha honestly.

"I mean, in the future, Seryozha will have the same heart as his father." Because, although he still can't understand what happened to brother Andrei, as long as he looks at his father, he won't be afraid. As long as he becomes an adult like his father, it doesn't matter even if he doesn't know what the future will look like.

my heart? Karenin froze for a moment, saw his son's cheerful little face, and then smiled slightly with the corners of his lips pulled up. He stopped, and hugged the boy when he realized that he was puzzled.

What he does is not unfamiliar at all, because when Seryozha was younger, when he saw his father, he would stretch out his hands and ask for a "hug". Now that he's grown up, he's more polite, but he doesn't often act like a baby.

Seryozha was a little surprised at first, but soon relaxed, and said softly, "Dad, we have to hurry up, Mom is still waiting for us to go home!"

"good."

The author has something to say: I really don't want to grow up, but it's unavoidable. So I feel that since it cannot be changed, we should use a better attitude to adapt to new things. I also hope that I can become the strength of my child in the future, making him happy and not worrying about the unknown. — Mizuki Dragon