Chapter 116.1

Perhaps due to the proximity of Qingfeng Town to the south, this year was a warm winter. The Lunar New Year was much warmer than the previous year, with the bright sun hanging high. During midday, the little ones could wash things in the courtyard under the big sun.

The twins have their own exclusive seats. Before Li Yufeng departed, she crafted two small chairs for the children, resembling future baby walkers but tightly woven with shredded cloth. Each chair featured a small cushion in the middle, however, it had no wheels and required manual movement. The babies could straddle inside them, covered from all sides with a backrest, allowing their hands and feet to move freely. While the older brothers were washing things in the courtyard, the two little ones sat in their chairs, basking in the sun, listening to the small radio, and happily watching their brothers work diligently.

Yes, the radio at home is finally in use. Han Cheng had tuned it to the right channel and instructed them not to touch it anymore. Once plugged in and switched on, the kids could now work while listening to the radio. Even the chatterbox, Xiao Doubao, stayed quiet, listening peacefully to the radio.

It seems that any sound emitted from the radio, regardless of the content, is always enjoyable to listen to.

Despite the sunlight, the water was still chilly in the winter. The kitchen had to keep boiling water. For the first wash, they used warm water, followed by rinsing with well water. Once washed, the items were left in the yard to dry.

All movable items within the house are washed outdoors, while non-movable ones are covered with newspaper. Following Li Yufeng’s lead, Su Xiaoxiao adopted a method of attaching a broom head to the end of a long bamboo pole. Wearing a mask, she meticulously cleared spider webs and dust from the roof and walls.

This job is really exhausting. Su Xiaoxiao needs to take short breaks after sweeping a room; otherwise, her neck will be sore from looking up.

When Han Cheng arrived home, the grand cleaning was in full swing. The children wore waterproof bags on their feet and small raincoats while washing things. Their unique appearance, coupled with their serious cleaning, made Han Cheng want to laugh. Su Xiaoxiao really had unique ideas.

The hardworking cubs were very happy to see Han Cheng return home.

They loudly greeted him:

“Dad…”

“Daddy…”

“Uncle…”

Han Cheng rubbed their heads one by one and said, “You did a good job.”

He then went to tease the twins. Xiao Roubao was dissatisfied that his dad was blocking his view of his brother’s working. He slapped his father’s hand with his chubby little palm.

Han Cheng pinched his chubby little face and said, “You’re the most violent. Can you learn to be gentler like your sister?”

Xiao Roubao twisted back and forth to evade his father’s playful pinches, while Xiao Tangyuan tilted her small head and gazed with her big, black grape-like eyes, observing the interaction between her brother and father.

Han Cheng looked at his quiet and beautiful little daughter, feeling his heart melt a bit. He gently touched her face and said, “The little sister is the most well-behaved.”

Su Xiaoxiao was leaning in front of the door, pinching her neck, when she heard them talking and put down her hand.

Han Cheng casually put down his briefcase and reached out to rub Su Xiaoxiao’s neck. “You stay put. I’ll take care of it in a while. Let me help you massage your neck.”

Han Cheng took her hand, led her to a chair that had already dried in the sun, and gently began massaging her neck.

Under the warm sun, Su Xiaoxiao felt a bit drowsy. “Han Cheng, go prepare the meal. I’ll tidy up the living room and bathroom in the afternoon. We’ll do the kitchen together after you come back from work. I can’t handle those grease stains by myself.”

Han Cheng said, “It’s alright, leave it all for me to handle when I come back. Rest in the afternoon.”

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head and said, “My mother said, if you’re still cleaning on the second day of the lunar year, even if you clean till midnight, it’s already the third day. Go, get the meal ready. Let’s have a fulfilling lunch and just have some noodles for dinner to lighten the work.”

“Children, wash your hands thoroughly, remove your raincoats and shoe covers, and hang them on the chairs. Let’s have a satisfying meal and resume our work in the afternoon. Ensure to clean up the mess completely today. Now, go assist Comrade Han Cheng in cooking!”

The well-trained cubs answered in unison, “Yes, Mom/Mommy/Aunt, we received your orders!”

As the words fell, the cubs quickly took off their gloves and washed their hands before running to the kitchen.

Han Cheng smirked and said, “They’re really well-trained. Even Zhao’s soldiers aren’t this obedient.”

Su Xiaoxiao lazily closed her eyes to bask in the sun: “Of course, our kids are obedient. Go and bring out the pot of sour cabbage stewed with sausages. That’s the only dish for today.”

Han Cheng continued massaging Su Xiaoxiao’s neck and playfully patted her head. “If it’s too tough, we don’t have to cook ourselves.”

On the other side, Xiao Tangyuan made baby noises. Su Xiaoxiao calculated the time and figured the little one must be hungry. “Xiao Tangyuan, wait a moment. Dad will give you some rice porridge.”

Xiao Roubao probably understood the word “rice porridge” as his ears perked up, and his chubby little hands started banging on the railing while making excited sounds. “Waa! Waa! Waa!“

“Xiao Roubao, didn’t you just finish eating? Are you hungry again?” Su Xiaoxiao was a bit speechless about Xiao Roubao.

The younger one really has a big appetite, almost double that of Xiao Tangyuan. He finishes his meals quickly and even wants to eat more when he sees his sister, Xiao Tangyuan, eating. Sometimes, if Xiao Tangyuan can’t finish her portion, her brother, Roubao, eats it for her. That’s why he looks as chubby as a steamed white bun. Everyone who sees him assumes he’s at least eight or nine months old. Those unfamiliar with them find it hard to believe that he’s just a few minutes older than Xiao Tangyuan.

………………………………………………..
The Han family ate their lunch in their courtyard.

Han Cheng brought the dishes to the table and asked the children to serve rice. He brought some rice porridge and fed it to Xiao Tangyuan, who asked Su Xiaoxiao what was wrong.

Su Xiaoxiao asked him anxiously, “Han Cheng, is Xiao Roubao eating too much? I’m worried he’s growing too fast.”

Su Xiaoxiao’s words were quite indirect. She wasn’t sure if it was because there weren’t many chubby babies nowadays. Xiao Tangyuan was already a well-developed baby, and among all the babies she had seen here, Xiao Roubao was the plumpest. However, it wasn’t grotesque obesity; he was chubby like a big steamed bun, with each limb plump and chubby. It took quite some effort to clean the crevices of his flesh during baths. In short, he was all chubby flesh.

In her previous life, Su Xiaoxiao often saw chubby babies while watching short videos, but she couldn’t compare here. She wasn’t certain if Xiao Roubao was too fat.

Han Cheng remembered when Fantuan started eating a lot, and Su Xiaoxiao was worried too. While others worried about their children being too thin, she worried about her child being too fat. “Relax a little. Some children have faster metabolisms, they easily get hungry, and as long as they eat and excrete regularly without accumulating food, it’s fine. Xiao Roubao loves to move, so it’s normal for him to eat a little. He’s still young, a bit of chubbiness is okay. When he starts crawling and walking, with increased activity, he’ll naturally slim down.”

Su Xiaoxiao and Xiao Roubao exchanged glances. She pinched his chubby little cheeks. “Is that so? Xiao Roubao, tell Mommy, are you really hungry or just greedy?”

Xiao Roubao ignored his mother.

When he saw his father feeding his sister, he turned his head and opened his mouth to eat too.

Su Xiaoxiao was still very worried: “I always feel like it was because I started feeding him mutton soup too early. Now he wants to eat everything he sees.”

Han Cheng also gave Xiao Roubao a bite and said, “It’s okay. As long as the child can eat, sleep, and have regular bowel movements, then there’s no problem. You go eat first, and I’ll go eat later.”

Xiao Roubao took a bite of his sister’s egg yolk rice porridge, holding onto the spoon without letting go. He was so happy that his eyes narrowed.

Su Xiaoxiao pinched his face and said, “I’m worried about you, but you’re behaving like a little greedy cat. Let go of the spoon.”

Xiao Doubao came over with a piece of sausage and asked Su Xiaoxiao, “Mommy, can my little brother taste this?”

Su Xiaoxiao touched Xiao Doubao’s head and said, “Your little brother is still young and can’t eat it. Xiao Doubao can eat it for him.”

Xiao Doubao said, “This is soft and slippery, but can my little brother still not eat it?”

Su Xiaoxiao said, “You shouldn’t feed your younger brother these things until he has teeth. Babies can’t eat what we eat; it could make them choke. Remember?”

Xiao Roubao reached out to grab it, but Xiao Doubao quickly put the sausage into his mouth and said, “Xiao Roubao can’t eat this yet. I’ll eat it for you. You can have it when you grow up.”

Xiao Roubao thought his brother was teasing him, so he was so angry that he twisted around and hit the fence.

……….