Chapter 60 : A Slap

Yu Xiaopang placed the handkerchief he was holding on the table, stood on tiptoe to open it, and inside were two red doll-shaped hairpins, identical to the one he had broken before.

“Xiaxia, my mom bought these when she got off work. She asked me to bring them to you.”

Shen Jinxia picked up one of the hairpins. “You only broke one of mine, so I only need one. I can’t take both, taking extra is not right.”

“Huh?” Yu Xiaopang’s mind couldn’t quite keep up. “But my mom said these are a pair, and she asked me to bring both.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but notice the delicious smell coming from the room.

The food on the table looked so tempting, and Yu Xiaopang, who loved to eat, had a soft, round belly. He had been in such a rush to deliver the hairpins to Shen Jinxia that he hadn’t eaten yet.

He swallowed, unable to resist.

Shen Jinxia insisted on only taking one. “Then tell your mom I can’t take both. You can take this one back.”

Yu Xiaopang looked at the hairpin, then at the food on the table, and cautiously asked, “If I take one more hairpin, can I have just a little bit of your family’s food?”

Shen Jinxia had said that her mom’s cooking was delicious, and today, it must be her mom who made it. It smelled amazing.

Shen Jinxia turned to Fang Xiaoluo. “Mom, can I?”

Before Fang Xiaoluo could respond, Yu Xiaopang quickly added, “I’ll just taste it. Just a little bit.”

Fang Xiaoluo went to get a bowl and served Yu Xiaopang a portion of food.

She also brought over a chair. “Sit here and eat.”

Yu Xiaopang sat down, looking at the bowl of rice mixed with minced meat and mashed potatoes, and didn’t forget to thank Fang Xiaoluo. “Thank you, Auntie.”

He picked up his spoon and immediately shoveled the food into his mouth, completely mesmerized by the flavor.

He was so hungry that he didn’t even have time to say anything, just spoonful after spoonful into his mouth.

Soon, the bowl was completely clean, even the bowl was licked.

Fang Xiaoluo asked him, “Are you full?”

Yu Xiaopang still felt like he could eat more, but he thought he had already eaten a lot. He stared at the big bowl on the table longingly but forced himself to say, “Thank you, Auntie, I’m full.”

He jumped off the chair. “Xiaxia, I’ve eaten your family’s food. Now you can take both hairpins.”

Shen Jinxia looked at Fang Xiaoluo, who nodded.

Shen Jinxia picked up both hairpins. “Okay, I’ll take both.”

Yu Xiaopang was very happy. He had not only delivered the hairpins but also had the chance to eat the incredibly delicious food that Shen Jinxia’s mom made.

When he got home, he couldn’t even stomach the food made by Han Weiping.

“Mom, brother, you wouldn’t believe it, but Xiaxia’s mom’s food is so good, it’s even better than the dishes in restaurants in the capital!”

“It’s just potatoes and meat, but it’s so delicious!”

“And, and, Xiaxia’s mom is so pretty, so gentle when she speaks, and her cooking is amazing. Xiaxia is so lucky to have such a good mom.”

Han Weiping glared at him. “Xiaxia’s mom is perfect, huh? Why don’t you go to her house tomorrow and call her mom?”

Yu Xiaopang muttered, “You can’t just call anyone mom.”

Han Weiping angrily walked off with the bowl and chopsticks.

Yu Feixu said, “Yu Xiaopang, are you crazy? You’re praising Shen Haifeng’s family. Don’t you know our families are enemies?”

Yu Xiaopang was unconvinced. “I don’t care. I like playing with Xiaxia, and now I’ve got something else I like. I love the food Xiaxia’s mom makes!”

Yu Feixu tapped Yu Xiaopang on the head. “I’ve warned you many times, stay away from them!”

“Hmph, none of your business!” After saying this, Yu Xiaopang ran off to play.

After finishing dinner, Fang Xiaoluo and the others were cleaning up. Shen Haifeng went to wash the dishes first, then took his homework to Fang Xiaoluo’s room.

Shen Haifeng had little homework, and with Fang Xiaoluo’s help, he quickly finished it. Then, it was time for Fang Xiaoluo to teach him.

Fang Xiaoluo taught him pinyin, mixing the initials and finals together. This way, Shen Haifeng would have a set of characters to practice spelling every day.

For example, in the morning, they’d cover the initials b, p, m, f, and in the evening, a, o, e, i. This way, the initials and finals could be combined.

The homework Fang Xiaoluo gave him was to practice writing simple words like ba, pa, ma, fa.

Shen Haifeng adapted to this method quickly. He found Fang Xiaoluo’s explanations simple and easy to understand. He realized learning could be this straightforward.

As for math, Fang Xiaoluo also followed a gradual approach, starting with numbers within ten.

She taught addition and subtraction, comparing sizes, and quantities, allowing him to master the basics before moving on to numbers between 10 and 20.

Shen Haiping didn’t know when he had moved into Fang Xiaoluo’s room. He had brought a little stool and was sitting there, holding his notebook, while Fang Xiaoluo and Shen Haifeng studied.

Meanwhile, Zheng Lanhua and Shen Jinxia passed by the door.

Shen Jinxia asked, “Grandma, how does Mom know everything? She’s so amazing.”

Zheng Lanhua nodded but didn’t say anything.

After the evening study session, Shen Haifeng took the homework that Fang Xiaoluo had left for him and went to his room to finish it.

The next morning, Shen Haifeng handed his homework to Fang Xiaoluo, full of confidence.

He had never felt like his homework went so smoothly before. He actually got everything right.

As before, Fang Xiaoluo handed him a steaming bowl of fragrant milk powder.

While he drank, Fang Xiaoluo reviewed his homework.

When he finished drinking, Fang Xiaoluo picked up a ruler and tapped it lightly on her palm. “What’s nine minus three?”

Shen Haifeng lowered his head and started counting on his fingers. “Six.”

Fang Xiaoluo pointed to the number on the paper. “What did you write?”

Shen Haifeng looked down and realized he had carelessly written seven instead of six.

“Extend your hand.”

Shen Haifeng had previously promised Fang Xiaoluo that if he made a mistake on her lessons, he would be punished. For each mistake, he would receive a hit on the hand.

He looked at the thick ruler, then extended his right hand.

“Use the other hand. This one still needs to write.”

Shen Haifeng stretched out his left hand, and Fang Xiaoluo showed no mercy. She gave him a firm slap, and he sharply inhaled, feeling the sting. It really hurt.

But he held back from crying out.

Fang Xiaoluo noticed the redness in his palm. “Let me tell you, being careless and sloppy are not excuses. When it comes time for the college entrance exam, no one will care if you were careless. Mistakes made because of carelessness are the same as not knowing the answer!”

“Everyone says my child is smart but just not careful, that’s nonsense!”

Shen Haifeng said, “I understand.”

Fang Xiaoluo immediately started the day’s lessons.

Shen Haifeng’s palm stung, but he didn’t dare slack off.