Chapter 170: Teasing Xu Yang

Xu An went to the youth compound to sleep.

Xu Ning smiled at the two and said, “Brother, sister-in-law, I’m going to lock the door now. You both should rest early!”

Just as she was about to lock the door, Aunt Lu came over again.

Mother Xu chuckled and said, “Elder sister, didn’t you say you wouldn’t come today? What brings you here now?”

“When Xiao Mo went back, I noticed it was still early. I thought that if I stayed for the night, it would give Xiao Ning a chance to relax, so I decided to come over,” Aunt Lu replied.

Li Na was surprised to see another person enter, especially since Xu Ning referred to her as “Mom.”

Xu Ning smiled and introduced the two of them. After chatting for a while, everyone returned to their respective rooms to rest.

The two returned to the room, and Li Na took a look around the small but tidy space. The bed was made with new sheets, and a thin quilt lay on top, looking brand new as well.

Xu Yang said with a smile, “We’ve been tired from traveling these past couple of days, so let’s rest early!”

As they lay on the bed, Li Na quietly asked, “Why is Xiao Ning’s mother-in-law here as well?”

Xu Yang sighed and replied, “Xiao Ning’s in-laws arrived here two years earlier than my parents. If that weren’t the case, with Brother Lu Xiaotang’s capabilities, he wouldn’t still just be a battalion commander.”

Li Na was surprised and said, “A battalion commander is quite impressive! Given Xiao Ning’s mother-in-law’s age, he can’t be that old, right?”

“He is two years older than me and very capable. His name is well-known not only in the Nanshi Military District but also in many others.

You should go back and ask Dad; he must know him too. The Jinshi Military District has issued several transfer orders for him from the Nanshi Military District, but they’ve refused to let him go.”

 “You’re saying he’s only twenty-five?” Li Na responded, astonished. “That’s really young!”

“Yeah, he’s still quite young.”

Li Na asked again, “So, has he completely severed ties with his parents?”

Xu Yang replied, “Yes, he has. If he hadn’t, how could he enlist in the army? Although Uncle Lu and Aunt Lu publicly severed their relationship with them in the newspaper when they got into trouble, it still had some impact on him.

After that, a silence settled between them.

Li Na thought to herself, It hasn’t just affected him; it has impacted you too.

To lighten the mood, Li Na laughed and said, “Xiao Mo is so funny! How can he be so articulate?”

Xu Yang chuckled and replied, “That kid has been like this since he was little. He has a sweet tongue and a clever mind. Every time he writes to me, he goes on and on, complaining that I don’t know how to talk and worrying that I’ll get into trouble in the army. If someone didn’t know better, they might think he’s my older brother!”

Li Na chuckled and said, “He really is clever, but he’s also quite adorable.”

The next day, after breakfast, Xu Yang announced that he was going to work. Both Xu Ning and Xu An urged him to take a couple of days off, but he wouldn’t listen.

With no other option, Xu An took him to find the village chief to arrange some work for him.

Meanwhile, Li Na helped Xu Ning take care of the toddlers at home.

Xu Ning picked some cucumbers and tomatoes and smiled at Li Na, who was entertaining the Niu Pi Tang. “Sister-in-law, have some cucumbers. Just let those three play on the little bed; there’s no need to worry about them.”

Li Na took a cucumber, and seeing the two of them eating, the little ones reached out and shouted, “Eat, eat, eat…”

Xu Ning handed each of them a biscuit to nibble on.

“Xiao Ning, those three are really well-behaved. Since I arrived, I haven’t seen them cry at all.”

Xu Ning laughed and said, “Sister-in-law, as long as these three have something to eat, they won’t cry or make a fuss. They’re relatively easy to manage, but we can’t let them get hungry. When they’re hungry, they wail loudly.

Their voices carry far; you can hear them from quite a distance. If someone didn’t know better, they’d think I was mistreating them at home!”

Li Na replied, “Little kids can’t stand being hungry. Are all three of them still nursing?”

“Only Tang Tang is still nursing. The milk supply isn’t enough, and the other two stopped nursing after a year. Tang Tang was a bit weak when she was born, so I plan to let her nurse until she’s two before we wean her.”

“So, Niu Niu and Pi Pi are just eating porridge and eggs now?”

“These two are quite robust and eat everything. During the day, they have porridge, eggs, and steamed buns.

At night, I give them a bottle of milk powder. Next month, I plan to stop the nighttime feedings and just give them one last feeding before bed.”

The two chatted and took care of the children at home, enjoying their time together.

When Xu Yang returned, the meal was already prepared: cucumber salad with pig ears, stir-fried green beans, and pancakes made from mixed flour.

He took a bite of the pig ears and praised, “Sister, your cooking skills are getting better and better! During this time, you should teach your sister-in-law your culinary skills, so when we go back, we can enjoy this flavor too.”

Xu Ning shot him a glare and said, “You want my sister-in-law to learn from me? Why don’t you learn yourself? Xiao An and Xiao Mo both cook well; you only know how to eat and are so picky about it. Just look at how capable you think you are!”

Xu Yang was taken aback…

What did I do? I just wanted you to teach your sister-in-law how to cook! How did I end up being teased like this?

Li Na couldn’t help but chuckle at how Xu Yang was left speechless by his sister’s teasing.