Chapter 127.1

This year, the rain in Sujia Village has become more frequent, and the urgent harvest of rice is looming.

Summer vacation is the busiest time of the year for rural farmers. Especially the adults who were engaged in the annual double-barreled work. Even the students on vacation had to go to the fields to help, including the eight- or nine-year-old Da Bao and Xiao Bao. They were no exception, either working in the fields or helping to dry the harvested rice in the drying yard.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao would also bring with them a small basket, and when they saw snails, mud loaches, pond lice, and fish, they would put everything inside their baskets. When they are lucky, the basket will be filled to the brim.

During the harvest days, even the youngest, Yao Bao, had to be taken to the fields. A cool mat was laid under the shade of the trees for him to play on, while Da Bao and Xiao Bao took turns keeping an eye on him. They would return home only after the adults finished their work.

Most of the time, Li Yufeng took care of Yao Bao, so he clung to his grandmother the most.

Li Yufeng walked ahead, carrying Yao Bao, while Da Bao and Xiao Bao hopped along behind, picking up rice ears. Occasionally, a breeze would blow through the mountains, bringing a slight coolness to this hot summer day—a moment that the farmers found most comfortable.

Xiaobao picked up a heavy rice ear and said regretfully, “If only Aunt and the others could come back. We can take Fantuan and the others to pick up rice ears and snails together. Fantuan has always wanted to go to the field to pick up snails.”

Da Bao said, “Didn’t Fantuan and the others say in their letter that they’re busy with producing promotional brochures? Uncle and aunt are both busy, so it’s good enough if they can come back for the New Year.”

In the blink of an eye, the Dragon and Phoenix twins were almost a year old. Li Yufeng hadn’t seen them in nearly a year and missed them dearly. “Your aunt has married so far away. Seeing them once a year is already good enough. Don’t worry; they’ll come back when they have time.”

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August arrived in the blink of an eye, and the cubs had a fulfilling month. In the morning, most of them went to the publicity department, and in the afternoon, they practiced writing and drawing at home while taking care of their younger siblings. In the evening, they went swimming with either Han Cheng, Zhang Hongtu, or Zhao Xianfeng.

Since Xiao Tangyuan had also stopped breastfeeding, Su Xiaoxiao felt much more relaxed. Han Cheng made many little things for the twins, who were easy to take care of. 

The twins could play by themselves without getting bored. Despite Xiao Roubao being fierce with his brothers, he was very gentle with his sister. He hardly ever competed for anything with her, except for food, he would give her everything else she wanted. However, Xiao Tangyuan is the least greedy and shares everything she eats with her older brother, making Xiao Roubao love her even more.

As the two little ones played on the mat, Su Xiaoxiao sat on the side reading a book, glancing at them from time to time.

If it weren’t for Xiao Roubao being too naughty and grabbing Zhou, Fen, Mian, Fan, and Huahua when Su Xiaoxiao is not looking at them for a second, she could have attended to other matters.

Xiao Tangyuan wasn’t particularly fond of Zhou, Fen, Mian, Fan, and HuhHua. In fact, she was a bit afraid of them. However, she had a special liking for Huihui. Xiao Zhuzi left Huihui here, and Su Xiaoxiao washed Huihui very clean, padded it with clean newspapers, put it in a small cage, and placed it on the side to accompany Xiao Tangyuan to play. Xiao Tangyuan occasionally reaches out to touch its fur and pull its ears, and her smile reaches her eyes as she sees Huihui’s response.
     
Xiao Roubao never competed with his sister for Huihui. Given the numerous toys his brothers gave him and his being a king of destruction, toys prone to breaking were either torn apart or dismantled by him, making them not last long.

That morning, the three cubs were picked up by Minister Jiang again. Minister Jiang usually kept them until after lunch. Since Han Cheng couldn’t come home for lunch, Su Xiaoxiao made a simple egg noodle stew and ate it with the two little ones.

Xiao Roubao and Xiao Tangyuan shared a bowl, while Su Xiaoxiao had her own. She took two spoons, took a bite herself, and then fed the little ones. Xiao Roubao ate quickly; it took feeding him three times before Xiao Tangyuan finished one bite.

Xiao Roubao has gradually grown eight teeth, and now he can eat something harder, such as egg noodles, fish, shrimp, crab, steamed meat cakes, and even softer vegetables and fruits. Su Xiaoxiao had never seen him dislike any food. He was indeed an easy child to care for.

Xiao Tangyuan has only grown four teeth and still eats very gracefully, slowly chewing and holding the food in her mouth for a while before swallowing. When Xiao Tangyuan was teething, she had a fever twice. Combined with her milk aversion phase, her appetite wasn’t great, and her already delicate face and chin were pointed. and her two grape-like big eyes looked rounder and more watery. The difference in size with Xiao Roubao is even greater. Now, it completely looks like Xiao Roubao is a big brother and Xiao Tangyuan is the youngest.

Su Xiaoxiao wiped the baby’s mouth with a small handkerchief and said, “Xiao Roubao, please eat slowly. Your little sister won’t compete with you. There’s still something in the pot; I guarantee you’ll be full.”

Xiao Roubao, with his cheeks bulging from the spoon his mother handed him, looked at his mother with big, round eyes, blinking vigorously. Su Xiaoxiao pinched the little one’s chubby face, saying, “Little troublemaker, let go.”

Xiao Roubao let go of the spoon in his mouth, diligently biting and chewing. Satisfied, he swallowed a mouthful of slippery noodles, tilting his head to one side and cutely saying, “Ma~ma~.”

Human cubs are really healing. The cubs at home are getting cuter and cuter. Sometimes, Xiao Roubao can be mischievous, and if it weren’t for his irresistible cuteness, Su Xiaoxiao would have lost count of how many times she spanked him. But looking at this adorable child, how could she bring herself to do it?

Xiao Tangyuan also imitated his brother’s appearance; she tilted her head and gazed at her mother with her beautiful big eyes, saying, “Ma~ma~.”

Su Xiaoxiao leaned over and kissed her daughter’s face, saying, “You have to eat well.”

Xiao Tangyuan nibbled on her finger, tilting her little head, making “giggling” sounds as she looked at her mother with a smile.

Xiao Roubao perked up at the mention of eating. “Mommy, mommy!”

Su Xiaoxiao pinched his face again and said, “You~~”

Watching this healing pair of twins, Su Xiaoxiao felt sweeter than honey the whole day.

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Tomorrow is the Qixi Festival, and the kids are about to start school. Coincidentally, the twins would turn one year old by that time. Han Cheng also took a rare day off. 

Su Xiaoxiao said she wanted to have a traditional Chinese ritual called “Zhuazhou” for the twins. ^[1]“Zhuazhou” (抓周) is a traditional Chinese celebration held on a child’s first birthday. The event involves placing various objects in front of the child, and the item the child … Continue reading

The kids didn’t understand what Zhuazhou was. Su Xiaoxiao explained, “Zhuazhou is a ceremony for babies when they turn one. We put meaningful or interesting items in front of them and see which one they choose to grab. Each item represents a different wish or meaning. The quantity is preferably a multiple of six. For example, grabbing stationery symbolizes a love for learning and becoming knowledgeable. If they grab toys or food, we can’t say they’re lazy; we can only wish them a life of enjoyment and good taste. It’s about giving them a beautiful wish.”

The smart Xiao Fantuan understood at once and immediately realized, “Then why don’t we just put all the stationery? We have pencils, brushes, erasers, pencil cases, ink, and even Dad’s abacus and small blackboard. If it’s not enough, there are my books and notebooks.”

Doubao also nodded. “Mommy, my chicken backpack can be included too!”

Su Xiaoxiao chuckled and touched the heads of the two cubs. “That wouldn’t be meaningful. We need to include stationery, food, toys, and other things to make it interesting.”

Xiao Fantuan looked at his lively little brother, shaking his head. “It’s over. Xiao Roubao will definitely grab the food, and their little sister will definitely grab the flowers. It won’t be meaningful like this.”

Su Xiaoxiao said, “It’s okay, it’s just a lively gathering. You can invite your Aunt Zhou, Aunt Yali, and Dundun’s Grandma to come and participate, and let them bring a few things from home as they please. We can also choose a few ourselves and see which one Xiao Roubao and Xiao Tangyuan choose. That would be very interesting, wouldn’t it?”

Xiao Fantuan understood and had just finished dinner. While everyone was at home at the time, he and Xiao Doubao quickly went out to invite someone.

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