Chapter 22: “Daddy is So Dumb! He’s Not as Smart as Comrade Xi Youyou!”

She scooped a bowl of chicken soup for Xiao Bao, blew on it to cool it down, and then fed it to her.

Xiao Bao looked like she was enjoying it immensely, squinting her eyes with a cheerful smile. The others didn’t say a word, but Jiang Cimo’s sense of confusion was rapidly escalating.

Everyone in the family ate quickly. After the meal, Xi Youyou took the initiative to stand up and collect the dishes. She grabbed a basin and placed all the used bowls and chopsticks into it before taking them outside to wash.

Xu Xiu stayed in the kitchen to tidy up the leftover food.

Everyone seemed to have something to do.

Only Jiang Cimo sat in his chair, his brows furrowed tighter and tighter, as if they could crush a fly.

He pulled Da Bao over. “Da Bao, tell Daddy the truth. Has Comrade Xi been like this recently?”

Jiang Cimo truly couldn’t get used to it.

In the past, he would occasionally come home, and every time he did, Xi Youyou would throw tantrums and make a scene. She would either play the victim or completely lose her temper.

She would always stir up chaos at home, sending the whole household into turmoil. The two children would be so frightened they’d hide behind their grandparents.

Over time, even though the children longed for their mother’s affection, they didn’t dare approach her anymore. They even started to feel a bit of rejection toward her.

They no longer called her “Mom.” only addressed her as “Comrade Xi Youyou.”

The relationship between the kids and Xi Youyou had always been lukewarm. They rarely spoke intimately with her. But from what he’d seen this afternoon since returning, things didn’t seem the same anymore.

“Yes, she’s been like this recently all the time.” Da Bao replied right away.

Just as he finished, Xiao Bao walked in from outside after washing her hands. “Daddy, what are you whispering about?”

Xiao Bao was clever and mischievous. Jiang Cimo looked at her and asked: “Why weren’t you eating properly earlier? What did Comrade Xi say to you?”

“Nothing.”

“That’s a secret between me and Comrade Xi Youyou.”

Xiao Bao’s mouth was tight-lipped. Looking at the little girl like this, Jiang Cimo felt she had become more spirited.

She wasn’t like how she used to be.

“Then when did Comrade Xi start acting like this?”

Since Xiao Bao didn’t want to say more, Jiang Cimo didn’t press further. If he asked too much, it might backfire.

“It was before the last time you came back.” Da Bao said, giving the exact time. Xiao Bao nodded. “Yes, before you came back. She started cooking for us, giving us baths.”

“Later, she even bought an electric fan and put it in our room.”

Xiao Bao repeated the things she’d mentioned earlier in the day. Jiang Cimo stood up and looked out at Xi Youyou, who was currently bent over, washing dishes outside. His feelings grew even more tangled.

Before coming home, he had hoped that she would be like she was the last time.

Now that he saw she really was acting like she had been last time, Jiang Cimo suddenly felt uneasy and wanted to figure out why she was behaving this way.

“Comrade Xi Youyou said she knows she did wrong before and that she’ll make it up to us.” Xiao Bao suddenly recalled what Xi Youyou had said and blurted it out.

Did wrong?

Jiang Cimo opened his mouth but didn’t manage to say a single word.

Would Xi Youyou really admit her mistakes?

So many years had passed. Wasn’t it a little late for her to acknowledge them now?

But…

Jiang Cimo shook his head and pushed the messy thoughts to the back of his mind. As long as Xi Youyou kept behaving like this, it wouldn’t be too bad.

At least the household would be peaceful.

After finishing the dishes, Xi Youyou saw that it wasn’t dark yet. Not wanting to face Jiang Cimo, she greeted Xu Xiu: “Mom, I’m going back to the room to read.”

“When you’re done, could you please help me boil some water? I’ll bathe the kids later.”

“Sure!” Xu Xiu was much more relaxed these days. Boiling water was no big deal. “Go on and read, I’ll tell the kids to keep their voices down so they don’t disturb you!”

Xi Youyou nodded and went inside the house, never once sparing a glance at Jiang Cimo from beginning to end.

Once again, Jiang Cimo’s perception of Xi Youyou was completely overturned.

Not only had Xi Youyou changed, even his mother’s tone when speaking to her had undergone a drastic transformation.

In the past, it was full of disappointment and scolding, like she hated iron for not becoming steel. Now, she carried herself like the model of a kind and caring mother-in-law.

It seemed like he had missed quite a lot during the time he hadn’t been home.

Inside the room, Xi Youyou read her book and didn’t once look at anyone outside. Jiang Cimo looked at her through the window—her head lowered, expression focused and serious.

He truly felt like he was seeing a ghost.

How could she seem like a completely different person?

Jiang Cimo played with the children for a while, then helped Jiang Fenglin fix a few broken things around the house. As time passed, the sky gradually turned dark.

When it got dark, it was time for Xi Youyou to bathe the two kids.

She prepared the water and fetched their clothes, then called out to them, getting ready to bathe them.

“Mommy, Daddy said he wants to bathe us with you!”

“He said it earlier today. You’ll bathe me, and Daddy will bathe Gege, okay?”

Xiao Bao ran over from the courtyard, holding Xi Youyou’s hand. Jiang Cimo was sitting farther away. He vaguely remembered saying something like that during the day.

“Alright.”

Xi Youyou agreed. “Then come in and take off your clothes first. Daddy will be in soon.”

The two children followed her into the room. Jiang Cimo thought for a moment, then washed his hands and went inside as well.

Two washbasins were placed in the center. Nearby were dry towels, their clean clothes, and all the bathing supplies.

Xi Youyou helped Xiao Bao remove the last piece of clothing, then patiently began washing her hair. Some water accidentally dripped into her eyes, and Xiao Bao sniffled.

Xi Youyou kissed her on the cheek and gently coaxed her: “Alright, alright. Once we finish bathing, I’ll dry your hair, and it’ll be all better.”

After getting kissed, Xiao Bao excitedly shook her head and splashed water in the basin. Xi Youyou cupped some water in her hands and poured it down from Xiao Bao’s neck.

She poked the little girl’s belly with her finger.

Xiao Bao immediately burst into giggles.

On this side, everything was peaceful and harmonious. But things weren’t going so smoothly for Jiang Cimo.

He had almost never bathed the children before. Clumsy and awkward, he didn’t even know where to start with pouring the water. He ended up getting water in Da Bao’s eyes and ears.

Da Bao cried out in frustration. Jiang Cimo was at a loss for what to do. Xi Youyou took a towel from the side and helped Da Bao dry the water from his ears. “Does it feel better now?”

Only then did Da Bao nod.

Xi Youyou returned to bathing Xiao Bao. Meanwhile, Da Bao, who had just been soaked with water, now had a slight mental shadow. He pouted his lips.

Watching Xi Youyou kiss and coax Xiao Bao, Da Bao let out a quiet sigh in his heart.

Why wasn’t it Daddy bathing Xiao Bao instead?

“Daddy, can you learn from Comrade Xi Youyou?”

Jiang Cimo’s face flushed with embarrassment. He was a capable soldier in the army—leading troops, managing his duties—he handled everything just fine. But when it came to taking care of children, he was truly clueless.

By contrast, Xi Youyou was smooth and skilled.

She seemed to be able to do everything with ease.

While Jiang Cimo was still spacing out, Xi Youyou picked Xiao Bao up and placed her on the bed. She patiently dried her hair, helped her into her clothes, and even rubbed scented cream on her.

Jiang Cimo was completely dumbfounded.

“Daddy.”

Da Bao sounded utterly helpless. “The water’s getting cold!”

Daddy was so dumb! He wasn’t nearly as smart as Comrade Xi Youyou!