Chapter 112

Su Xiaoxiao originally planned to resign from the Publicity Department. However, with the birth of the twins, she couldn’t manage without the help of adults. Yesterday, taking advantage of Yali’s day off, Su Xiaoxiao asked her to help take care of the children for half a day. She made a trip to the Publicity Department to explain her situation.

After careful consideration, the publicity department has decided to retain her position.

In order to avoid criticism from full-time employees, they would pay her half her salary every month. Her responsibilities would be limited to paperwork, which would be delivered to her home in advance. She could manage her time to handle it. The organization believed that, with her efficiency, she could still find time to complete a project within ten days to half a month.

The publicity department believes that the plans designed by Su Xiaoxiao would generally be more suitable compared to what a team would accomplish in ten days to half a month. Even if there were minor modifications combining both approaches, the overall time spent would be less.

They are really reluctant to lose talents like Su Xiaoxiao. This decision has been unanimously approved by the leaders. Originally, if they continued to pay her full salary, some people would have objections since they received the same salary for sitting in the office every day. However, with half a salary, they had no complaints.

With a lot of activities and promotional tasks at the end of the year, having the assistance of Su Xiaoxiao, who can achieve twice the result with half the effort, is a great help to the team.

Since this was the case, Su Xiaoxiao accepted the half-salary arrangement they agreed to. Even though the money wasn’t much, it was still a considerable income. The very important point was the various tickets given to her, especially the cloth ticket and milk ticket, which became insufficient after the birth of the twins.

The organization sympathized with her and decided to provide extra tickets for the twins every month. For this reason, Su Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth and persisted in this work.

Moreover, Xiao Fantuan was really a great helper. With him at home, she found things much easier, especially now during his winter vacation, when he stayed at home all day. She could manage to spare half a day to handle the work of the publicity team. After a few days, she even submitted the script for the Spring Festival Gala in advance.

…………………..

Days passed day by day, and in the blink of an eye, it was January 1974. Another year was coming to an end. The twins, who had the characteristics of the Dragon and Phoenix, had long been dressed in the little cotton jackets and shoes made by their grandmother, wearing scarves knitted by their mother and the tiger-head caps provided by the organization. They were over five months old and were starting to show distinct personalities.

Normally, children start complementary feeding after six months, but Xiao Roubao couldn’t be satisfied with just formula milk. After drinking milk, he would soon cry loudly due to hunger. Even after giving him the milk intended for both Little Fantuan and Xiao Doubao, it wasn’t enough. Su Xiaoxiao had no choice but to start feeding him porridge two meals earlier than planned.

Xiao Fantuan and Xiao Doubao finally put their wooden baby walker to use. Xiao Roubao has grown so quickly. Despite being only five months old, when he sits on the baby walker, he seems sturdier than other babies who are six or seven months old.

Lately, he’s been rolling over remarkably fast. Even in thick winter clothing, he manages to flip over easily. He can even stand steadily, although he can’t sit for long before toppling over. Yet, he joyfully crawls up and falls down, over and over again. Sometimes, when he gets dizzy from falling, he sits for a moment and then resumes laughing gleefully.

Since Xiao Roubao was able to eat to his heart’s content, he rarely cried. Even if he accidentally falls and hurts himself, he doesn’t cry, showing remarkable resilience.

Therefore, the practical Xiao Roubao became the favorite “big toy” of the two brothers, playing with him whenever they had free time.

The beautiful and quiet Xiao Tangyuan is different. She is always lazy, even if she learned to turn over, she’s too lazy to do it.

Her favorite activities include daydreaming and shaking the little bells in her hands. Apart from getting excited and curious about everything when her mom carries her to the market, most of the time she is still very quiet.

In addition, she particularly enjoys playing with her dad. Going for a walk with her lying on her dad’s shoulder is something she looks forward to every day. Unfortunately, due to the cold weather recently, her dad seldom takes her out for walks.

Not to mention taking a walk, Han Cheng couldn’t even take the children out for morning exercise. He could only settle for practicing boxing in their yard.

Xiao Doubao now also practices boxing with his brother and father. Although he doesn’t have much strength, his small arms and legs imitate his father’s moves perfectly, quickly, and with great precision.
Su Xiaoxiao prepared rice porridge and asked Han Cheng to feed Xiao Roubao, while she went to feed Xiao Tangyuan in their room.

Han Cheng put the sturdy little guy on the baby walker, and his chubby little hands started excitedly drumming on the table.

Han Cheng gave Xiao Roubao the beautiful little bib that Dundun’s grandma had made for him. Xiao Roubao couldn’t wait to eat the rice porridge; he smacked the table even harder.

Han Cheng amusingly pinched his chubby little cheeks. “Where did you get such strength? Doesn’t it hurt?”

Xiao Roubao’s eyes were fixed on the rice porridge, making excited sounds.

“Dad, let me feed my brother.” Fantuan likes to feed his younger brother the most. His brother’s small mouth, opening wide to eat, looked especially cute.

Han Cheng checked the temperature with the back of his hand and said, “It’s still a bit hot. I’ll feed him the top layer first.”

Han Cheng gently scraped the top layer of rice porridge and checked it on the back of his hand before feeding it to Xiao Roubao.

Xiao Roubao grabbed the small spoon from his father and swallowed a mouthful before immediately chasing after the second one.

Xiao Doubao took his small handkerchief, wiped the corner of his little brother’s mouth, and said “Brother, please eat slowly, no one will compete with you~~”

Han Cheng quickly fed the top layer, and Xiao Fantuan couldn’t wait to come and feed his little brother. Following his father’s example, he waited until it wasn’t hot before feeding his little brother, while Xiao Doubao helped wipe his mouth.

Xiao Roubao ate happily, smacking his small hands on the table, the little silver bracelet jingling against the table’s edge. He became even happier, being attended by his two brothers. The little scene was quite amusing.

The bowl of rice porridge, nearly half full, disappeared in no time.

Xiao Roubao wasn’t full yet, still chasing after the small bowl, wanting more.

Xiao Doubao immediately ran to the bathroom and said to his father, “Daddy, my little brother isn’t full, he said he still wants to eat~~~”

Han Cheng picked up the chatterbox and said, “Your little brother hasn’t learned to speak yet. How do you know he still wants to eat?”

Xiao Doubao tilted his head and gestured, “Because I am Xiao Doubao, he is Xiao Roubao. Our hearts are connected, and I know what my younger brother wants.”

Han Cheng: “…” This little kid, I don’t know where he got such a quirky idea.

Han Cheng looked over at Xiao Roubao’s side and noticed him pouting and babbling while chasing after the bowl in his brother’s hand.

Han Cheng had no choice but to go to the kitchen and add a small spoonful more to the little ceramic bowl.

Han Cheng patted Xiao Roubao’s tiger-head hat and said, “Eat slowly, your appetite is almost catching up to your brother’s.”

Currently, the one with the largest appetite in the house is Xiao Fantuan. Han Cheng felt Xiao Roubao might soon surpass Fantuan as he grew up a bit more.

Xiao Roubao couldn’t understand what his father said, he was just happy as long as he had food. He remained content only after finishing the newly added half-bowl of porridge.

Xiao Fantuan went to wash the dishes, and Xiao Doubao carefully helped wipe his brother’s mouth: “Little brother, you’re really amazing. You can eat two bowls of rice porridge. Big Brother can only eat one bowl. When Big Brother was your age, maybe he didn’t even eat as much as you do now. But next time, could you try not to dirty the bib so much? It’s so cold outside, that Mom is tired of washing the bib. Can you try not to pee as much? Mom is tired of washing diapers too. If you promise, when you grow teeth and can eat meat, Big Brother will give you the chicken drumstick to eat~~~”

Han Cheng: “…” If Xiao Doubao hadn’t grown up right under his nose, Han Cheng would have thought his youngest son had been swapped. How could a quiet and gentle little boy like him have so much to say now?

Han Cheng wanted to remind him that he mostly washed the bib and diapers, not their mom. So there’s no chance for his mother to touch cold water.

Han Cheng was worried that Xiao Roubao sitting for too long might not be good for his back, so he picked him up and walked around.

Su Xiaoxiao also finished feeding their younger sister, lifting her to gently pat her back. The twins, lying on their parents’ shoulders, glanced at each other and both let out satisfied burps. The husband and wife shook their heads, sharing a smile at the unexpected encounter of their twins on their shoulders.

Han Cheng went to work around midnight and placed Xiao Roubao on the bamboo mat covered with a cotton quilt, then reached out to take Xiao Tangyuan from Su Xiaoxiao’s hands and kissed her.

Xiao Tangyuan loves it the most when her dad holds her; as soon as he kisses her, she laughs, her eyes forming crescents, with beautiful dimples like her mother’s appearing. Looking at her, Han Cheng’s heart melts, and before placing her a little farther from Xiao Roubao, he reminds her, “Xiao Roubao, don’t bully your sister.”

Xiao Roubao, who has never bullied his younger sister, doesn’t understand and can’t argue with his father.

He worked hard to practice his rolling-over technique on the small cotton quilt.

Han Cheng fastened his collar clip, and Su Xiaoxiao wrapped his scarf around his neck and said, “Look at me, I forgot when your sister-in-law said they would arrive.”

Fantuan’s school is on vacation, and Zhuzi has already gone with his parents to see his grandfather.

Su Xiaoxiao realized that her sister-in-law, her elder, and the children hadn’t arrived yet, so she inquired.

Han Cheng held Su Xiaoxiao’s hand to his lips and sighed, rubbing it. “Your hands are cold. Remember to wear gloves. It should be within these two days at the latest, as per the last time we discussed, they’ll come on the day they buy the tickets.”

“Don’t go out today. I already talked with Old Hu yesterday. He’ll deliver lamb in the afternoon, and we’ll have lamb hot pot tonight. If you don’t want to cook, wait for me to come back, it’s fine to have dinner later,” Han Cheng added.

Su Xiaoxiao hugged him and rubbed against him, saying, “The lamb needs to be stewed for a long time. It would be too late if we would wait for you to come back. I promised the children to cook for them myself, and I won’t break my promise. I’ll boil hot water to wash things, it won’t be cold. You should come back early after work.”

Han Cheng responds, “Okay, I’m not that busy lately. I’ll come back after work.”

“By the way,” Su Xiaoxiao looked up. “Why didn’t you go on a business trip to the capital this year? You could have visited Zhuzi’s grandfather as well.”

Han Cheng shook his head and said, “I asked someone else to go on my behalf. The children are so young, I won’t feel at ease.”

Su Xiaoxiao agrees after a moment’s thought.

Han Cheng needs to go to the hospital, and the couple no longer linger together.

As soon as Han Cheng left, Su Xiaoxiao heard someone shouting from outside the courtyard, “Auntie, Auntie, Fantuan, and Xiao Doubao…”

There was more than one voice, and Su Xiaoxiao was overjoyed. Fantuan and Xiao Doubao exchanged a glance, and Fantuan said, “Mom, it’s the voice of Da Bao and Xiao Bao!”

Xiao Doubao is also excited, squinting, “Mommy, is it my brother Da Bao and Brother Xiao Bao?”

As Xiao Doubao finishes speaking, he is pulled by Xiao Fantuan, and both run out like released arrows.

Su Xiaoxiao stayed inside, watching the twins, with Xiao Roubao making efforts to flip over while nursing and Xiao Tangyuan vigorously shaking the bells on her hands.