Chapter 22 – Pleasing the Children

Ning Wanwan nodded lightly. Xu Cuihua’s condition was completely within her expectations.

“Sister-in-law, let’s start decocting the medicine in a bit. I’ll give you another acupuncture session later.”

Upon hearing that, Xu Cuihua’s eyes turned red. She stepped forward and tightly grasped Ning Wanwan’s hand.

“Wanwan, thank you. I don’t even know what to say. If it weren’t for you, I’m afraid this illness would’ve tormented me to death.”

“Sister-in-law, don’t be so polite. You’ve been coming every day to help take care of me. Treating your illness is the least I can do.”

Ning Wanwan smiled sweetly, her eyes curving and two little white tiger teeth showing.

Xu Cuihua chuckled too. “I’m just giving you a little help every day. It’s not like I’m doing any real work. I know you’re just trying to help me, Wanwan.”

After finishing the acupuncture, Ning Wanwan and Xu Cuihua didn’t have anything else to do, so they brought the silk threads and fabrics they bought from the market earlier that morning and headed to Zhang Yun’s house.

Before leaving, Ning Wanwan also took out two boxes of pastries from the cabinet.

These were for Tao Mei’er and the other children. Since the original host used to bully them, Ning Wanwan wanted to make up for it a little.

Zhang Yun’s house was lively. Three kids were laughing and playing in the yard. As soon as they spotted Ning Wanwan, Tao Mei’er and Hu Wazi widened their eyes in alertness and quickly hid behind Zhang Yun.

Tiedan mimicked them and cheerfully ran into Li Ping’s arms.

“Hey, little sister, you’re here,” Zhang Yun greeted, pulling the kids out from behind her while smiling.

Ning Wanwan gave a faint response and handed over the pastries.

“Sister-in-law, I brought two boxes of treats for the kids.”

The three children’s round eyes immediately locked on the pastries in Ning Wanwan’s hands.

Zhang Yun chuckled as she took them. “You’re spoiling them. Their little mouths are going to get so picky. I’ll just send them all to you and Commander He later.”

Li Ping laughed and chimed in, “That’s right. These greedy little ones are the pickiest eaters. Be careful—they might eat up Commander He’s entire salary.”

Ning Wanwan’s beautiful eyes sparkled as she grinned, “Then I’ll just come to your house for meals instead. Will you take me in, sisters-in-law?”

The comment instantly made all the women present burst into laughter.

“You cheeky girl! Didn’t expect you to be such a freeloader.”

Zhang Yun opened the boxes, and the three kids immediately gathered around.

“Mom! It’s white steamed cakes! And glutinous rice sticks! They smell so good!” Hu Wazi jumped with excitement, shouting joyfully.

Tiedan was drooling as he stretched his dirty little hand toward the white cake, only to be caught by Li Ping.

“You little rascal, go wash your hands first. Who would dare let you eat with those filthy paws?”

Among the kids, Tao Mei’er was the oldest. Though she wanted to eat too, she managed to hold herself back. Her big eyes filled with doubt as she stared at Ning Wanwan.

Ning Wanwan smiled. “Tao Mei’er, be good, go ahead and eat. Auntie specially brought these for you. Help Auntie taste if they’re sweet, okay?”

Zhang Yun also nodded, handed a piece of the white cake to Tao Mei’er, and stuffed two glutinous rice sticks into Hu Wazi’s hands.

Just then, Li Ping came back with Tiedan, now with clean hands. Tiedan excitedly rushed to the table and stuffed a cake into his mouth.

“You little embarrassment,” Li Ping muttered, hand on her forehead.

Children are simple at heart. Because of the pastries, they had long forgotten the original host’s past bullying.

While munching on snacks, they crowded around Ning Wanwan, calling her “Auntie this” and “Auntie that,” until the women in the room were annoyed out of their minds.

Zhang Yun finally shooed them outside.

“Finally some peace. My head was about to explode from those little monkeys yelling.”

Li Ping and Zhang Yun both complained, exhausted.

Then Zhang Yun suddenly asked with a gossipy smile, “Wanwan, how come you and Commander He haven’t had a child yet? You’ve been married over a year and still no news?”

Xu Cuihua quickly echoed, “Yeah, Wanwan, I think you two should have a baby soon. Commander He’s got such a high position and he’s handsome too. It’s dangerous out there—you should tie him down with a baby while you can.”

Ning Wanwan smiled awkwardly, never expecting the topic of having kids would turn toward her.

“I… well… we’re still young. We just want to enjoy some couple time for another couple of years.”

Li Ping nodded, “That’s true. You and Commander He are still young. Having kids too early is exhausting.”

With that, the baby talk ended. Zhang Yun got up to make tea. The women chatted and worked on embroidery, and time flew by.

Ning Wanwan glanced at her watch—it was already 4:30 p.m.

She turned to Xu Cuihua. “Sister-in-law, you should head home. It’s getting late.”

Xu Cuihua looked at the sky outside, said goodbye, and rushed home.

Ning Wanwan also packed her things, ready to head back—she still had to cook dinner for He Yunshen.

“Sis, come earlier tomorrow. I love chatting with you—we haven’t even talked enough yet.”

Ning Wanwan smiled and mentioned that she was going to the market tomorrow for a free clinic.

Zhang Yun slapped her thigh in excitement and sized Ning Wanwan up with admiration.

“Wow! That’s amazing. I’m free tomorrow too. Let me come help. We’re serving the people—it’s a great thing!”

Li Ping nodded in agreement. “Me too. Otherwise, I’d just be at home doing embroidery. This is more meaningful.”

Ning Wanwan didn’t refuse. After all, it was the first day of the clinic and she could definitely use some extra help.

After setting a time with Zhang Yun and Li Ping, she headed home.

In the kitchen, she checked her storage space and found the hen that Xu Cuihua had slaughtered still untouched—perfect for making a medicinal chicken soup.

She pulled out two relatively young ginseng roots from the herb garden, thinking they’d be just right for the soup.

After gathering the ingredients, she got to work. The aroma of medicinal chicken soup soon filled the air.

She didn’t plan to make a large dinner, so she added a dish of stir-fried cured meat with chili and a plate of sautéed seasonal greens, then stopped.

She hadn’t had much of an appetite after a disagreement with He Yunshen at lunch. She had assumed there’d be a lot of leftovers.

But when she looked at the empty cabinet with her head tilted, her eyes were full of confusion.

Where’s the leftover lunch? Did He Yunshen eat it all? Or did he throw it away?

Given what she knew about his habits, the chances of him wasting food were practically zero.

Which meant… that food vacuum He Yunshen ate everything!!!!

Ning Wanwan’s big round eyes widened in shock as she quietly speculated whether He Yunshen was the reincarnation of Tianpeng.

After pondering for a while, she sighed and shook her head, resigned to her fate. Then she picked up the rice pot and started cooking again—this time sneakily making a little more than at noon.