Chapter 54.2

Zhou Yuhua brought a cantaloupe and some pomelo over, saying that it was sent by Grandpa’s comrade from the border, and secretly ate Su Xiaoxiao’s freshly cooked snail in the kitchen by the way.
“Xiaoxiao, how did you learn to make this? I never thought that a river snail can be this delicious.”

Su Xiaoxiao replied: “I figured it out myself, but it’s not hard to make. If you like it, I can write the recipe for you, and you can make it anytime.”

Zhou Yuhua shook her head and admitted, “I’m not skilled in cooking. I really admire you. It hasn’t been long since you became Han Cheng’s wife, but you’ve done such a great job raising the children.”

Su Xiaoxiao: “You can’t talk nonsense about this. Lately, someone went as far as reporting our family for living an extravagant lifestyle and engaging in corrupt behavior.”

Zhou Yuhua was left speechless and responded, “Is that person sick in the head? By the way, when are you going to start teaching?”

Han Cheng and Zhao Xianfeng exercised with their children every day, so it can be said that they were well-informed about the happenings and news between the two families.

Su Xiaoxiao said. “I will go there on Monday, and then I won’t have so much time to make these meals. You should eat more tonight.” 

Zhou Yuhua ate a lot of stir-fried river snails before saying:  “Zhao Xianfeng, that eccentric, insisted that I teach Xiao Yu how to study. I had planned to enroll him in preschool after the New Year, but he insisted on joining Fantuan in the first grade. He claimed that his son couldn’t be outdone by Han Cheng’s son. The problem is, when Xiao Yu heard about it, he started clamoring to go to school with Fantuan and Zhuzi every day. Xiao Yu can barely recognize numbers and radicals, let alone pinyin. It’s giving me such a headache.”

Su Xiaoxiao responded, “Even though elementary school just started, some children can learn quickly and keep up with the pace. Our Fantuan has completed almost a full semester’s worth of courses in such a short time. I’m considering having him skip the first-grade next year in September. However, if Xiao Yu wants to match Fantuan’s progress, there’s a high chance he won’t be able to keep up.”

In reality, besides the first-grade curriculum, Su Xiaoxiao doesn’t teach other subjects systematically. Sometimes, she even imparts knowledge beyond the first-grade level. Regardless, Fantuan has the ability to grasp it all, not to mention other supplementary knowledge.

Su Xiaoxiao made the statement with a sense of humility.  Let alone Xiao Yuer, it is estimated that the whole school will not find another student like Fantuan.  

Despite this, Zhou Yuhua was still surprised and replied, “Fantuan will be skipping a grade next year? Well, I guess I’ll have to talk to Zhao Xianfeng and convince him to drop that idea. Right now, I’ll just focus on guiding Xiao Yu and making sure he goes to preschool before we make any other plans.

Each child’s situation is different. In fact, both Xiao Zhuzi and Xiao Bao attended elementary school after attending preschool.  However, Fantuan was able to skip preschool due to Su Xiaoxiao’s guidance, effectively bypassing one level.  If Xiao Yu follows the standard progression, he will likely enter middle school by the time Fantuan reaches high school or even college.

It’s really difficult to keep up with Fantuan’s footsteps.

Su Xiaoxiao asked Han Cheng and Zhao Xianfeng to move the big round table outside and carefully arranged two plates of fried snails on top. They placed the mooncakes, persimmons, roasted chestnuts, and melon seeds in a specific order. They also included the previously brought fried snacks from Zhou Yuhua and the chestnuts brought by Li Yufeng. Additionally, they cut the cantaloupe and pomelo, ensuring that they were properly washed. They placed a pot of tea and several bowls on the table as well.

It is a sumptuous feast for the moon-viewing banquet. Even when compared to the number of dishes during the 21st century’s moon-viewing, this table is quite rich.

The cubs stopped kicking the shuttlecock, climbed onto the chairs, and kept saying “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” They couldn’t even take their eyes off it.

Not to mention the cubs, even adults, including Li Yufeng, who has lived for half a century, have never seen such a grand moon-viewing feast before.

Zhao Xianfeng gave Su Xiaoxiao a thumbs up and said, “Like mother, like daughter. Auntie, you are too good at teaching your daughter. Xiaoxiao, I am impressed. Your skills run in the family! Han Cheng is so lucky.”

After Yang Mei left, no one knew better than him what Han Cheng’s life had been like, let alone the children. How long did it take for him to marry Su Xiaoxiao again? Han Cheng and the children had already been living a good life that even he envied.

Women are afraid of marrying the wrong man, and men are afraid of entering into a relationship with the wrong woman. Marrying a good wife is more important than anything else.

In the beginning, when Zhao Xianfeng was not familiar with her, he continued to refer to her as “sister-in-law.” As they became more familiar, he gradually started calling her “Xiaoxiao.”

Li Yufeng laughed heartily until her teeth and eyes were no longer visible, saying, “I didn’t do much, but it’s true. Xiaoxiao has been obedient since childhood.”

Li Yufeng loves her daughter the most. When someone praises her, how can a mother be unhappy?

Zhou Yuhua playfully grabbed a handful of flesh from Zhao Xianfeng’s waist and gave it a forceful twist. “What’s wrong? Did I treat you two unfairly?” 

“No, no, let go, it hurts…” Zhao Xianfeng exclaimed, feeling the pain. While he portrayed himself as a powerful leader to the outside world, those who truly knew him understood that he was afraid of his wife. He often joked about his wife being a tiger, but in reality, he wouldn’t even dare to fart in front of Zhou Yuhua.

Han Cheng and these two have been classmates since high school and college, and they have been familiar with each other for a long time.

Su Xiaoxiao understood that this was their way of getting along with each other.

Li Yufeng was surprised and thought to herself that Zhou Yuhua, a female comrade, was so fierce that she even dared to challenge the regimental leader.

Before everyone started, Su Xiaoxiao asked the cubs to make a wish to the moon: “Cubs, you can say anything you wish to the moon, maybe it will come true.”

Fantuan’s eyes lit up. He was the first one to come up: “Is it true, Mom? Then I hope we can have so many delicious foods every day, okay?”

The adults burst into laughter.

Han Cheng rubbed his son’s head and said, “You think too beautifully.” No matter how smart he is, he is only a five-year-old child with only food in his eyes.

Xiao Bao clasped his hands together and murmured: “I hope Mother Moon will bless me and grant my wish to live with my aunt, uncle, Fantuan, Zhuzi, and Xiao Doubao in the future. I don’t want to go back to Sujia Village!”

Li Yufeng and Su Xiaoxiao exchanged a glance and saw the sadness in each other’s eyes.

Li Yufeng had previously mentioned that once the vegetable garden is fully planted within the next two days and Su Xiaoxiao starts her teaching job at the school, she would take Xiaobao back with her.

Xiao Bao enjoys this place and likes the people here a lot. Even someone with a discerning eye can see that. However, he has parents and grandparents waiting for him. He needs to grow up with his parents and elders and cannot stay here forever.
Even Xiao Fantuan understands that Xiaobao is different from Zhuzi. Xiaobao has his own parents and won’t stay at their house all the time. No matter how much Fantuan likes Xiaobao, he wouldn’t dare to express a desire for Xiaobao to stay there permanently. It’s similar to how he enjoys playing with Xiao Yu but knows that Xiao Yu has to go home when it’s time.

Everyone didn’t continue on the topic of Xiaobao. Instead, they focused on enjoying the pleasant time of the full moon and the night of the reunion. They agreed to discuss the matter further after tonight’s festivities.