Chapter 83

Shen Yiyi did not contribute money, but since a kitchen was being built, Li Chen, as a son and brother, still had to lend a hand.  

So the next day, Li Chen went over to help, and Da Bao and Er Bao assisted him in carrying bricks.  

After finishing breakfast, Shen Yiyi also brought Xiao Bao along.  

Apart from Father Li and Mother Li, the entire Old Li family was involved, including Li Tiezhu.  

However, the children played more than they worked.  

Xiao Bao disliked how dirty they were while playing. Moreover, there was a lot of dust from building the adobe house, and the ground was covered with mixed mud. Xiao Bao pulled at his mother, unwilling to go any closer.  

For the past month, Xiao Bao had been mostly taken care of by Shen Yiyi. Under her influence, he gradually became fond of cleanliness—he would ask to change clothes if they got even slightly dirty, wipe his mouth clean before continuing to eat, wash his hands as soon as he got home, and had even become a little clingy and delicate.  

Several times, Shen Yiyi noticed Li Chen hesitating as if he wanted to say something but held back. She did not need to guess—she knew he felt that she was spoiling Xiao Bao too much.  

But Shen Yiyi thought that Xiao Bao was just a two-year-old child, and there was nothing wrong with pampering him a little, as long as she did not stray too far in the wrong direction.  

Thus, she and Li Chen naturally fell into a dynamic where one played the strict role while the other played the lenient one.

When she was being lenient, Li Chen would not criticize her, and when Li Chen was being strict, she would try to avoid interfering.

Over time, their way of raising children became an unspoken agreement.  

Now that Xiao Bao refused to go closer, Shen Yiyi did not force him and instead stood with him a few meters away under the eaves.  

Xiao Bao still remembered his task for coming. He took out two pieces of White Rabbit Creamy Candy from his bag and called out to his two brothers: “Big Brother, Second Brother, have some candy!”  

Xiao Bao was a little foodie. Ever since his mother had given him White Rabbit Creamy Candy, he had been thinking about it all the time.  

One day, he had accidentally discovered several packs of White Rabbit Creamy Candy in his mother’s cabinet.

From then on, whenever he had free time, he would shyly run up to Shen Yiyi and ask for candy.

He already bore a strong resemblance to Li Chen, and over the past month, Shen Yiyi had fed him well, making him noticeably chubbier.

His little face was round and plump, making it irresistible for anyone who saw him to want to give it a pinch.  

Whenever he looked at Shen Yiyi with his big, wet eyes filled with anticipation, she simply could not bring herself to refuse him.  

Even if she did refuse, he would immediately switch to a pitiful expression, like a little puppy that had been denied food.

Who could resist that?  

Shen Yiyi, as his mother, certainly could not.  

So she negotiated with him, saying he could only have one piece per day. Xiao Bao, of course, was not happy about this. He puffed up his chubby cheeks and continued to act pitiful. But then his father sternly said: “If one piece isn’t enough, then you won’t get any at all.”  

Scolded by his father, Xiao Bao pouted in grievance, his big eyes welling up with unshed tears as he looked toward his mother, appearing utterly pitiful.  

Shen Yiyi, feeling sorry for him, wiped away his tears while agreeing with Li Chen’s words. “You see, if your father won’t give it to you, there’s nothing I can do either!”  

Although Xiao Bao was young, he already understood that his father was completely obedient to his mother. Clinging to her arm, he said: “Dad is mean, hit Dad…”  

“But Mom can’t beat Dad. Look how strong he is, and how small and delicate I am. How could I possibly win?” Shen Yiyi coaxed him. “Just like you and Second Brother—can you beat him?”  

Xiao Bao thought for a moment. That’s true.

So, he was successfully convinced and reluctantly agreed to the rule of having only one piece of candy per day.  

However, he did not forget about his big and second brothers. He negotiated on their behalf as well, ensuring that they each received one White Rabbit Creamy Candy per day too.  

When it came to collecting the candy each day, he was always the most enthusiastic. Not only would he claim his own, but he would also make sure his big brother and second brother got theirs.  

Of course, while he was greedy for candy, he would always hand it over to his brothers after getting it.  

If there was a day when he could not resist and ate his own piece first, he would stare longingly at his big and second brothers while they ate theirs.  

Da Bao, more often than not, would break his piece in half and share it with him.  

Er Bao, on the other hand, would scold him.

But sometimes, despite the scolding, he would still break his piece in half and share it with him.  

As for Xiao Bao, he was neither resentful nor one to hold grudges. He was an optimistic little baby. Even if Er Bao scolded him, he might get upset for a short while, but he would soon forget and go running after Er Bao, calling out eagerly: “Second Brother this, Second Brother that.”

Today, when Da Bao and Er Bao came to the old house, Xiao Bao took his candy and pestered his mother to bring him over so he could give his big and second brothers their share.  

Since Shen Yiyi was bored anyway, she decided to take him along to have a look.  

Da Bao and Er Bao were passing mud bricks to Li Chen when they heard Xiao Bao’s voice and immediately ran over.  

Xiao Bao handed them the candy, speaking loudly enough that everyone nearby could hear.  

The adults were not particularly tempted by sweets, so it was not a big deal.  

But the children were different—one by one, they turned to look at him with eager eyes.  

Shen Yiyi was not the type to let other children watch longingly while Xiao Bao handed candy only to his two brothers. So, she simply took a handful and put them in Xiao Bao’s pocket.  

Seeing the other children staring at them, she said to Xiao Bao: “Xiao Bao, what about the other brothers and sisters?”  

Xiao Bao obediently called out their names—Big Cousin Sister, Second Cousin Sister… all the way to Fifth Cousin Sister, and even Goudan Brother.  

However, he deliberately left out Li Tiezhu.  

Due to Er Bao’s influence, Xiao Bao strongly disliked Li Tiezhu and naturally had no intention of giving him any candy.  

The children who were called eagerly ran over and lined up to receive their share, while Li Tiezhu, not having been called, remained where he was.  

Jiang Ailing, standing beside him, nudged him slightly, signaling for him to go over and get some candy.  

But ever since the last time he was beaten, Li Tiezhu had grown up quite a bit in just a few days. However, he had also become much more stubborn. Even when his mother urged him, he refused to go.  

Frustrated by her persistence, he even shoved her and snapped: “If you want it, go get it yourself!”  

Everyone’s eyes turned toward them.  

Jiang Ailing felt both angry and heartbroken, but she forced a smile and said: “Xiao Bao, give your Brother Tiezhu a piece too. He wants some candy as well.”  

Xiao Bao had wanted to eat his candy at home earlier, but Shen Yiyi had convinced him to wait—she had promised that when he brought candy for his brothers, he could also give some to his cousins. If he ate all of his beforehand, he would only be able to watch the others eat later.  

So, he had held back.  

Xiao Bao held back his urge to eat more candy. Now that all his brothers and sisters were eating, he also had a piece in his mouth, his cheeks puffed up like a little squirrel. His voice, soft and childish yet firm, rang out: “I don’t want to give him any! I hate him!”  

Er Bao immediately followed up: “I hate him too! Xiao Bao doesn’t have to give him candy!”  

Jiang Ailing choked on her words and turned to look at Shen Yiyi.  

Shen Yiyi had given the candy to Xiao Bao not only because he wanted to distribute it himself but also precisely for this reason.  

She, as an adult, did not want to bicker with a child, but her Xiao Bao was only two years old—he spoke without a filter, and there was nothing she could do about it.  

She pretended not to hear what Jiang Ailing said and completely ignored the glances thrown her way. Instead, she calmly wiped the sweat off Da Bao and Er Bao and told them to continue helping Li Chen.  

Xiao Bao still had three pieces of candy in his pocket. One was originally meant for his father, but since his father refused to take it, he turned expectant eyes toward his mother.  

Shen Yiyi allowed him to eat an extra piece today.  

With two pieces left, he ran over to Father Li, who was weaving baskets under the eaves, and Mother Li, who was sewing shoe insoles. He handed each of them a piece.  

Mother Li beamed so widely that her eyes disappeared in her smile. She pulled Xiao Bao into her arms and smothered him with affectionate kisses.  

Shen Yiyi sat with Mother Li for a while, chatting casually, before taking Xiao Bao home.  

Meanwhile, Jiang Ailing was seething, gritting her teeth in frustration. She cast a glance at Li Chen but did not dare to voice her complaints directly.  

At noon, when she returned to the house, she immediately began venting to Li Sanhong.  

“Can you believe she calls herself an aunt? She couldn’t even spare a single piece of candy for our Tiezhu! How stingy!”  

“And look at her! While even the children were helping, she didn’t lift a finger! She just stood there all dressed up, acting all high and mighty—does she think she’s some rich man’s wife instead of a villager? Standing so far away, like she’s afraid getting close to us would lower her status! If someone didn’t know better, they’d think she was some capitalist’s lady—ugh! Li Sanhong, why did you kick me?”  

Li Sanhong, worried that someone might overhear, did not dare to scold her too loudly. Suppressing his anger, he hissed: “Can’t you keep your mouth shut? Do you think it’s wise to say things like that?”  

“What? I’m just telling the truth! And now I’m not even allowed to say it?” Jiang Ailing retorted, clearly dissatisfied.  

Li Sanhong was so frustrated he felt like coughing up blood.

Unable to reason with her, and unwilling to stay in the same space any longer, he turned and left.  

Jiang Ailing fumed even more, left alone with her resentment.