Chapter 48: Children Are Hard to Raise.

Once they got in the car, Jiang Huaiyu sat in the backseat, chattering away with his younger sister. Jiang Huairou, feeling down, ignored her older brother.

“Rou, what’s wrong? Are you unhappy? You’ve been playing at home all day, and you’re still upset?”

At this, Jiang Huairou angrily turned her head away from him. Jiang Huaijin said slowly:

“She didn’t go to school and got scolded by Mommy, right?”

“Ah!” Jiang Huaiyu looked at his sister in surprise.

“I thought Mommy only scolded me; turns out she scolds you too! We really are in the same boat!”

Shen Yunhe laughed and scolded:

“Brat, what are you talking about? Mommy is doing this for your own good.”

Jiang Huaiyu leaned against the car seat, chattering away:

“Daddy, you don’t know, Mommy is so fierce. She is strict with us; we can’t do this or that. We must report everything we do to her. It’s so annoying; I don’t want Mommy to control me!”

Shen Yunhe suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for Jiang Banyue and, with a stern expression, said:

“Since you don’t want Mommy to control you, fine. From now on, don’t eat the food Mommy cooks, don’t wear the clothes Mommy buys, and don’t ask Mommy for money. If you can do that, Mommy will guarantee she won’t control you!”

“Ah! But I can’t do anything, and if I don’t eat, I’ll starve to death!”

Jiang Huaiyu pouted in grievance, not understanding why Daddy was being like this. Shen Yunhe, hearing his son’s ungrateful words, became even angrier and coldly questioned:

“So you want freedom but don’t want to be self-sufficient? Where is there such a good deal?”

Jiang Huairou angrily hit her brother, and Jiang Huaiyu frowned in displeasure.

“What are you hitting me for?”

“Mom works very hard, taking care of us every day. You don’t understand her, and you still blame her. I hate you! You don’t deserve to be Mom’s son!”

“How do I not deserve to be Mom’s son? I love Mom too!”

“You don’t deserve it! Just don’t deserve it!” Jiang Huairou’s face turned red with anger, and Jiang Huaiyu was not willing to back down. The two started arguing.

Seeing the children fighting, Shen Yunhe quickly pulled over to the side of the road to mediate. Jiang Huaijin calmly watched them argue. These two would fight over the smallest thing and then be fine again in no time. Kids are boring.

Shen Yunhe picked up his daughter from the car and patiently advised them:

“You are both good kids. Daddy and Mommy love you very much. Don’t argue anymore. If there’s anything, we can talk about it at home. Mommy is waiting for us to eat!”

“Mm.” Jiang Huairou nodded obediently and returned to the car. Neither of them spoke to the other, occasionally exchanging glances and turning their heads away with a huff.

Shen Yunhe looked at the two children with concern, and Jiang Huaijin comforted him:

“Dad, don’t worry. They often do this. They fight today and make up tomorrow. Just get used to it!”

“They often fight?”

Shen Yunhe couldn’t imagine how Jiang Banyue managed with three kids. After experiencing this fight, he felt exhausted. Jiang Banyue had endured it for seven years, almost always in a noisy environment with the kids. It’s hard to maintain a gentle temperament; it’s a miracle she hasn’t gone crazy.

He suddenly recalled something he had said before, urging her to be gentler with the kids. But sometimes, it’s impossible to be gentle with unruly children. He was so angry at his son’s words that he almost wanted to hit someone.

After arriving home, the three children went their separate ways without speaking. Shen Yunhe looked at them with a heavy heart and sighed deeply.

Ah! Raising children is tough!

At dinner, Jiang Huaiyu and Jiang Huairou sat far apart, turning their heads to the side to eat, not looking at each other. Jiang Banyue could tell they had argued again.

She wanted to ask what happened but was afraid that knowing would make her lose her temper and affect the kids’ meal. So she decided not to ask. She lowered her head and silently ate. The family had a quiet meal, and Shen Yunhe wanted to say something several times, but seeing the rare peaceful atmosphere at the table, he could only lower his head and eat.

After dinner, Shen Yunhe was in the kitchen cleaning the dishes. Jiang Huairou sat on the sofa watching TV, Jiang Huaiyu played with building blocks on the carpet, and Jiang Huaijin quietly sat nearby reading.

If it weren’t for the argument, Jiang Huairou and Jiang Huaiyu would have been playing together long ago. When Jiang Banyue sat on the sofa, her daughter noticed and happily moved next to her, pulling her arm around herself, smiling up at her.

“Mommy, baby loves you! I love you the most, give me a kiss, muah!”

Jiang Banyue obediently hugged her daughter, and her calm expression finally broke, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly, but she awkwardly turned her head away. Jiang Huaiyu threw aside his toys and ran to hug her from the other side.

“Mommy, I love you too, I love you the most!”

Jiang Banyue pretended to be angry and asked, “Is that so? But you often make Mommy angry, and sometimes you say Mommy is annoying!”

“No way!” Jiang Huaiyu looked around, grinning:

“Who is it? Which naughty child made Mommy angry? It’s definitely not me; I’m very good, Mommy’s good baby.”

Jiang Banyue looked up at her eldest son and smiled, extending her hand.

“Sweetheart, come here, Mommy wants to hug you!”

Jiang Huaijin put down his book and snuggled into his mother’s arms. The four of them hugged together, laughing happily.