Chapter 218

After several days of excitement, the Su family’s three Baos finally arrived at the airport. They boarded the long-awaited airplane and watched as the fluffy white clouds outside the window gradually approached the capital city.

The Three Baos of the Su family felt like Granny Liu visiting the Grand View Garden, overwhelmed by the bustling and splendid sights of the capital city. The airport in the capital was several times larger than the one in their city. ^[1]Granny Liu  is a character from the classic Chinese novel “Dream of the Red Chamber” in the luxurious and sophisticated Grand View Garden, representing a stark contrast between her … Continue reading

All of this is exceptionally fresh for the Su family’s three Bao, and their eyes couldn’t process it all.

Han Cheng borrowed a car from Grandpa Zhang and calculated the time to pick them up.

Grandpa Zhang and Xiao Yu were both eager to see the children, worried that there wouldn’t be enough space, so they found the large car that had been used to pick up Han Cheng’s family last time and came to the airport together.

The four older brothers carried large and small bags, while Xiao Doubao held Xiao Roubao and Yao Bao, and Su Xiaoxiao held Xiao Tangyuan. The family walked out of the airport in a grand manner.

Han Cheng and his group had been waiting there early. Xiao Yu, with his sharp eyes, spotted his long-missed friends from afar. His eyes lit up, and he shouted in his loudest voice, “Aunt Su, Da Bao, Xiao Bao, Fantuan, Zhuzi, Xiao Doubao, Xiao Roubao, Yaobao, and Xiao Tangyuan, I’ve missed you all so much!”

Xiao Yu, who shouted loudly without even breathing, rushed over like an arrow that had left the bowstring.

Fantuan, who was at the front, was caught off guard by Xiao Yu’s sudden embrace and nearly fell to the ground.

Fantuan took two steps back, and Zhuzi, who was walking behind him, supported his back to help him stand firm. Fantuan glared at the culprit and said, “Xiao Yu, are you looking for a fight?”

Xiao Yu let go of Fantuan and went around hugging everyone one by one, shouting excitedly. After he finished hugging and got a clear look at everyone, he exclaimed loudly, “Wow, why have you all turned as dark as Bao Zheng?” ^[2]Bao Zheng was a famous government official during the Song Dynasty in China, known for his fairness and integrity. He is often depicted in folklore and popular culture with a dark complexion, which … Continue reading

Xiao Yu pulled Xiao Roubao and Xiao Tangyuan to look along. “Even you two have gotten this dark? Whenever I’m playing under the sun every day, I won’t get this dark! Is the sun in Sujia Village that harsh?”

Xiao Yu lifted Xiao Roubao and spun around with him. “Xiao Roubao, why did you gain so much weight? Big brother can hardly lift you!”

Xiao Yu didn’t know what they ate for them to grow so fast. Logically, the four elder brothers were supposed to be slightly older than him, but upon closer look, he was the tallest among the five children of similar ages, albeit not very obvious. According to Zhao Xianfeng, people who didn’t use their brains much tended to grow taller faster.

If Xiao Roubao, who grew the fastest in height, knew about this, he would probably be angry with Uncle Zhao, and not even two ice creams would be enough to appease him.

After hugging the children, Xiao Yu wanted to hug Su Xiaoxiao and say, “Aunt Su, you’re still so beautiful! I missed you so much!”

Before Xiao Yu could hug her, Fantuan pulled him away. “Stop it; you’re so big and tall, yet you still act like you’re 3 years old. You’re not allowed to hug my mom!”

Xiao Yu pouted, “So stingy!” 

He was a child who grew up favored by his family, and in front of Zhao Xianfeng and Zhou Yuhua, he didn’t even realize he had grown up already. He still felt like he was still a child.

Su Xiaoxiao smiled and said, “It seems like it’s only been a while since we last saw Xiao Yu, and he’s grown so tall.”

Han Cheng stepped forward, hugged his daughter, and secretly held Su Xiaoxiao’s hand, pinched it gently, then let go, rubbed Xiao Tangyuan’s cheek, and asked, “Does Xiao Tangyuan miss Daddy?”

Xiao Tangyuan hugged his father’s neck and nodded. “I miss… I really miss Daddy a lot.”

Han Cheng looked at his wife with satisfaction when he listened to the children’s chatter; he felt his empty heart finally fill up.

Grandpa Zhang also pulled his grandson and examined him from top to bottom: “Darker and stronger.”

Zhuzi hugged his grandpa and said, “Grandpa, Sujia Village is very fun. We all help with farming in the fields. Next time, you should come with us to see.”

Grandpa Zhang laughed so hard that one couldn’t see his eyes. “Okay, okay, Grandpa will go with you next time.”

Zhuzi then introduced the Su family’s three Bao to Grandpa Zhang. Although it was the first time for Grandpa Zhang to see the children from the Su family, he had heard about them countless times before. He handed over the large red envelopes he had prepared in advance to them.

Da Bao, Xiao Bao, and Yao Bao really like Zhuzi’s grandfather, but they dare not accept red envelopes. 

Han Cheng said, “Thank your Grandpa Zhang quickly.”

Only then did the Su family’s Three Baos accept the red envelopes and thank Grandpa Zhang.

Once they got in the car, the nine children chattered nonstop, each speaking one after another, making it as noisy as a marketplace, almost like a small kindergarten class. Grandpa Zhang joined the children, acting as a guide for the Su family’s Three Baos, who were visiting the capital for the first time. Whenever they saw something that piqued their interest, Grandpa Zhang would enthusiastically explain it to them. He spoke animatedly, and the children listened with great interest, creating a joyful and harmonious atmosphere.

Su Xiaoxiao sat in the front passenger seat. The road was wide and smooth, with hardly any traffic passing by. Han Cheng freed one hand to hold Su Xiaoxiao’s hand, gently squeezing it with affection, overflowing with longing and emotion.

Su Xiaoxiao turned her head to look at him and smiled, then pinched him back. 

She really missed him too.

When they arrived home with a car full of laughter, it was already past seven in the evening. Bai Lan and Uncle Yang knew they were coming back today, so they prepared a particularly sumptuous dinner. The nine children entered in a grand manner, like a mighty force, and one after another, the five boys, who were roughly the same age and height, each full of vigor and good looks, impressed Bai Lan greatly.

“Xiaoxiao, I feel like all the good-looking kids are from your family! These children are so handsome, I haven’t seen such lively ones outside. I can hardly keep up!”

Su Xiaoxiao also found it strange, noting that it was indeed the case. It seemed like all the good kids were gravitating towards their families. These nine children each had their own strengths, with distinct personalities and impeccable looks. Their academic achievements were also quite good. Despite growing up in four different family backgrounds, their relationships were as close as if they were biological siblings. If all of them were to attend university in the capital in the future, anyone who dared to bully Xiao Tangyuan would surely face the wrath of his eight brothers taking turns to teach the bullies a lesson.

Except for Xiao Tangyuan and Xiao Doubao among the nine children, the rest were like hungry little wolves, capable of eating their father into poverty. The airplane meals were so scanty, they couldn’t even fill the gaps between their teeth. On top of that, Bai Lan and Uncle Yang were skilled cooks, but the food they prepared was swiftly devoured like a whirlwind sweeping through remnants. They had thought they had prepared enough food, but it was all eaten up clean. They even had to serve several extra bowls of noodles with thick broth before each child rubbed their stomachs contentedly, saying they were finally full.

Grandpa Zhang was also amazed, saying he had only seen soldiers eat like this. These kids were all in good health; they should all be sent to the army to serve the country in the future.

On this point, Grandpa Zhang coincided with Zhao Xianfeng and Zhang Hongtu. Xiao Bao and Xiao Yu have been their most promising successors since childhood. They always wanted to persuade them to join the army. Zhao Xianfeng even said that when Xiao Yu reached junior high school, he would be sent to the army for training during summer and winter vacations.

After a satisfying meal, the five brothers scrambled to wash the dishes and tidy up. Xiao Doubao led his younger siblings to meet Cotton Candy. When Yao Bao saw such a beautiful dog for the first time, he immediately fell in love with the cute dog. He hugged it and refused to let go, even rubbing his face against Cotton Candy repeatedly.

The brothers worked efficiently, and in no time, they cleaned up the “battlefield,” even sweeping the floor spotlessly, without letting Bai Lan and Uncle Yang have to lift a finger.

Despite appearing like a spoiled young master who doesn’t lift a finger, Xiao Yu was actually accustomed to helping with chores at home. Now, working with his brothers, he was even more enthusiastic.

Bai Lan genuinely appreciated these children. “Xiaoxiao, how did you teach your children?”

Grandpa Zhang stroked his goatee with satisfaction and said with joy, “No need to teach them. Birds of the same feather flock together. The key is that the children in Xiaoxiao’s family set a good example for each other.”

Fantuan, this all-around benchmark, was not only famous for his intelligence and academic achievements but also for his “criteria for making friends,” which was well-known throughout Qingfeng Town. Children who could play with him didn’t have to be intelligent, but they had to study seriously; their handwriting didn’t have to be pretty, but it had to improve day by day; they didn’t have to be good at chores, but they had to help at home; they had to be serious in class when it was time to study, and they had to play well when it was time to play…

Not only do the parents of students in Qingfeng Town like Fantuan, but even the teachers at Qingfeng Town Elementary School said that the years Fantuan spent at the school were the best years for the students’ academic atmosphere. Once he left, it wasn’t the same; the students all reverted to their true nature, all being lazy and making the teachers weary and nostalgic for the days when Fantuan and Zhuzi were at school.

Regarding this, Su Xiaoxiao has never denied that Fantuan and Xiao Doubao were indeed angelic babies, and taking care of them was actually quite easy.

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Their home’s bathroom was also spacious enough. Han Cheng took the boys to bathe, while Su Xiaoxiao helped Xiao Tangyuan bathe.

Xiao Tangyuan’s arms were sunburnt into two colors, and her cheeks were covered with a layer of tan. Su Xiaoxiao had never seen her daughter this dark before, but she looked particularly sunny and healthy.

Su Xiaoxiao dried her daughter’s face and kissed her, saying, “Our Xiao Tangyuan has gotten so tanned.”

Xiao Tangyuan’s eyes were sparkling, and she smiled, staring at her mother, and said, cupping Su Xiaoxiao’s face and kissing her back, “Mommy hasn’t gotten tanned at all, still so beautiful, the mommy Xiao Tangyuan loves the most.”

Su Xiaoxiao laughed heartily. This little girl spent the most time with Xiao Roubao, and she seemed to have learned quite a bit from him about being sweet-tongued.

“Then, Xiao Tangyuan, who do you think is the most handsome among your brothers?” Su Xiaoxiao teased her.

Xiao Tangyuan was also very capable with her hands. Now, she can dress herself. She tilted her little head. She thought carefully for a moment before solemnly answering, “I think Daddy is the most handsome.”

Su Xiaoxiao was stunned for a moment, then pinched the little girl’s face and smiled, “Really? Daddy will be so happy to hear that.”

Xiao Tangyuan counted his fingers and said, “Daddy is tall, handsome, and has a nice smile. He can also save people and loves Xiao Tangyuan and Mommy. He knows everything and can do anything. In short, Daddy is the best. Mommy, didn’t you marry Daddy because he’s the best?”

“Of course, Xiao Tangyuan from our family has a good eye for things, and Mommy also thinks Daddy is the best,” Su Xiaoxiao persisted. “But besides Daddy, who else?

“Brother Zhuzi,” Xiao Tangyuan blurted out.

Su Xiaoxiao was puzzled again: “Why does Xiao Tangyuan think Brother Zhuzi is the most handsome?”

Xiao Tangyuan didn’t hesitate: “Because Brother Zhuzi likes Xiao Tangyuan the most. Whoever treats Xiao Tangyuan the best, Xiao Tangyuan thinks he is the best.”

Oh, that’s amazing! A baby over four years old can actually see that Xiao Zhuzi treats her the best?

Xiao Tangyuan was still young, and she couldn’t really distinguish between “most handsome” and “best.” Anyway, “good” was just fine.

Su Xiaoxiao tied up her braids for her and asked, “Are the other brothers not good enough for Xiao Tangyuan?”

Xiao Tangyuan said, “No, all of my big brothers are very good to Xiao Tangyuan. It’s just that there’s only one sister in our family, that’s me, Xiao Tangyuan. But Brother Zhuzi is the most gentle and quiet. My other brothers are very noisy. Brother Zhuzi also knows that Xiao Tangyuan likes to eat green bean ice pops more than red bean ice pops. He also knows that Xiao Tangyuan likes dark red better than pink… Anyway, Brother Zhuzi knows everything about Xiao Tangyuan, but my other big brothers don’t.”

The little girl wrinkled her nose and added, “Third brother even doesn’t know that I don’t like Zhang Haoran. He plays with him every day. I never said anything, but Brother Zhuzi has only seen him twice and asked me if he bullied me and why I didn’t like him.”

Su Xiaoxiao was stunned. Did this four-year-old girl understand too much? If the little girl didn’t say it, she wouldn’t know that her daughter didn’t like Zhang Haoran.

Su Xiaoxiao held the little girl’s face and looked into her clear and transparent big eyes. No matter how she looked, she was still a naive and innocent little girl. How come she hadn’t noticed before that she was so clever? Would she not have to worry about being deceived by others in the future?

Mothers with little padded jackets at home all knew that raising a daughter was a completely different concept from raising a son. Raising a daughter required much more effort. They worried about raising her into a delicate flower in a greenhouse, being too naive and easily deceived by bad boys, yet also worried about teaching her to be too worldly-wise, ending up unhappy and disliked by others. Anyway, raising children was a big deal, especially raising daughters. ^[3]The term “little padded jacket” has been used metaphorically by the Chinese to refer to daughters, who are often considerate and heartwarming and therefore are compared to a “padded jacket in … Continue reading

Su Xiaoxiao asked, “Can Xiao Tangyuan tell Mommy why she doesn’t like Zhang Haoran?”

Xiao Tangyuan blinked, put her hands on her waist, and said indignantly, “Because his farts are too stinky, they can kill cockroaches!”

Su Xiaoxiao: “……”

Little girl, can your Zhuzi brother still be quiet when he knows this reason?

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The summer in the capital was also very hot. When sleeping at night, the eight boys had to be divided into two rooms to sleep comfortably. But the kids were too excited and had a lot to say, so they refused to sleep separately. Left with no choice, Han Cheng had to add an extra bed on the edge of the kang, so five boys slept on the kang and three on the bed, just barely able to sleep comfortably.

There was still a slight temperature difference in the morning and evening of the capital, and since the fans were on all night, it was still not as stuffy as in Sujia Village.

After a long day of traveling, the boys didn’t stay up too late chatting. They all slept comfortably and peacefully.

But the impatient Mr. Gu, who had prepaid part of the “project funds,” knocked on the door of the Han family early the next morning while the kids were still sleeping.