Back at home, after taking a bath, the three siblings first completed their study tasks.

After finishing, Yibao took out the money pouch. “This is all our money. Let’s divide it now and each keep our own pocket money from now on.”

“If Yibao and Sanbao skip a grade, they won’t be in the same class as Erbao. And if Erbao gets into the sports school, they won’t be in the same school. So, it’s necessary to divide the pocket money.”

“Brother, how much will we each get?” Erbao looked eagerly at Yibao’s money pouch.

Suddenly, he remembered, “You said we only had fifty cents left on the train last time.”

Yibao glanced at him, “Don’t show off your wealth.”

He emptied the money from the pouch onto the desk and then took out the ledger. “The total amount is 64.24 yuan. We will divide it equally among the three of us, which is 21.41 yuan each. The extra 1 cent will go to me, as it’s the reward for keeping the accounts. No objections, right?”

As the eldest, Yibao took the extra cent for himself without hesitation.

Who has only 1 cent as the reward for bookkeeping?

Only the three siblings would.

Sanbao said, “I have no objections. But… Erbao, don’t forget the bet we made on the train last time.”

Erbao’s eyes widened, “I definitely won’t forget. I’ll give you the money and then do the housework for you.” Erbao was a man of his word.

After dividing the money and playing around for a bit, the three siblings went to bed.

The Next Day

After breakfast, Ning Shu told the three siblings, “Yibao, go next door and see if Yu Chengci is there. If he is, ask him if he knows where the sports school is.”

Yibao understood her intention.

Erbao’s eyes sparkled with excitement, “Mom, are we really going to the sports school? Is it really happening?”

Ning Shu sighed, “Of course it’s happening. Is there any doubt?”

Erbao grinned stupidly, “Hehe…”

Yibao went next door and found the gate open.

He entered the yard but stayed outside the house, calling, “Yu Chengci, Yu Chengci, are you there?”

The Yu family was still having breakfast. Hearing Yibao’s voice, they paused briefly.

“It’s Lin Haizhi.” Yu Chengci jumped down from his stool and ran outside, seeing Yibao in the yard. “Lin Haizhi, what’s up?”

“We’re going to the sports school today. I wanted to ask if you know where it is,” Yibao asked, curious about how Yu Chengci recognized him as different from Erbao right away.

Yu Chengci said, “I know. Wait for me; I’ll finish my breakfast and come with you.”

Yibao replied, “Okay, I’ll wait for you at home.”

“Sure.” Yu Chengci hurried back inside to finish his meal.

The conversation between the children was overheard by the others at the table.

Li Yue asked curiously, “What are they going to the sports school for?”

Yu Chengci explained, “When we went fishing yesterday…” He recounted the events, “It seems Lin Hairui wants to check out the sports school.”

Sister Yu commented, “Is it really that easy to become an athlete? They’re dreaming too much.”

Li Yue was speechless at her not-so-bright sister-in-law. “Whether it’s easy or not, trying won’t hurt. Besides, it’s worth encouraging a child who has the heart to try.”

“Exactly. If Lin Hairui becomes an athlete, I can tell people I have an athlete friend. And if he grows up and wins a gold medal in a competition, that would be even better,” Yu Chengci began to daydream.

Having an athlete friend… a friend who’s won a gold medal… it all sounded so impressive.

Li Yue: “…” Her son certainly knew how to dream big.

As Yibao left the Yu family’s yard, he noticed a girl sneaking around at the entrance of his own courtyard.

Yibao calmly walked over and asked, “What are you doing?”

The girl was dressed neatly, but her clothes were a bit worn and patched, though not excessively so.

She was peering inside repeatedly.

Hearing Yibao’s question, the girl turned around and, seeing him, smiled. “I’m looking for the people who live here, but I don’t know them.”

After thinking for a moment, the girl continued, “Are you from this house? I know almost everyone in this compound, but I haven’t seen you before.”

“Yes, this is my house,” Yibao replied. “So what brings you here?”

“Well…” The girl hesitated. “It’s an adult matter. Could I speak with one of your parents?”

Yibao didn’t refuse. “Sure, my mom is inside. Come in and talk to her.”

Ning Shu was inside with Erbao and Sanbao, eating fruit after dinner.

When she saw Yibao come in with a girl, she paused her eating. “Yibao, who is this?”

The girl glanced at the grapes and pears on the table, swallowed hard, and quickly looked away.

Yibao said, “Mom, she says she has something to discuss with you—something for adults.”

The girl spoke up at the same time, “Hello, Auntie. My name is Han Hongling. I live here too. My dad is Han Xinguo, the deputy regimental commander.”

Han Hongling?

Hearing the girl’s introduction, the whole family was taken aback.

They had heard of this name; she was quite famous.

From all the gossip the three brothers had heard, they knew that after Han Hongling’s biological mother passed away, their family’s nanny became the new wife.

But the problem was that they didn’t know Han Hongling and had no dealings with her.

So, why had she come here?

“Hello, young lady. Is there something you need from us?” Ning Shu asked directly, still puzzled.

Han Hongling looked troubled and began, “Auntie, I… I originally shouldn’t be saying this, but my mom… Well, even though she’s my stepmother, she’s still part of the Han family, so I felt I should let you know. I just ask that you don’t blame our family.”

Ning Shu listened, guessing this was related to her stepmother, but kept her expression unchanged, maintaining a friendly smile. “Go ahead and tell me. I’ll decide how to feel after hearing it.”

After all, she needed to know what was going on before passing judgment.

Han Hongling explained, “Last night, my mom went to many houses in the compound and said… she said the kids in the courtyard were doing chores for your family, washing vegetables, and that you were taking advantage of them. I don’t know how the other parents will react, so… I thought about it all night and decided to tell you. Please forgive my mom.”

Yesterday, she had the children doing chores?

Ning Shu immediately thought of the kids washing vegetables.

But that was the children washing vegetables for their own meal—what was wrong with that?

The nanny, seeing this, didn’t make a fuss about it.

After all, anyone walking past her house would see it, but going door to door to spread it around—that would be… completely unreasonable.

“Nanny?” She thought for a moment, then grabbed a few grapes from the bowl and handed them to her. “Thank you for coming to tell me. You should hurry back; it wouldn’t be good if your mother saw you.”

“No, Auntie, I… I don’t need such precious things.” Han Hongling pushed the grapes back.

“This is a token of appreciation. Take them; if you keep pushing them away, they might fall on the ground,” Ning Shu said, pushing the grapes back and letting go.

Han Hongling had no choice but to accept the grapes. “Thank you, Auntie.”

She thanked her and ran out of the Lin family’s house.

Once Han Hongling had disappeared from view, Erbao asked in confusion, “Mom, was she here to speak badly about her stepmother?”

Ning Shu couldn’t help but laugh, “Why do you always speak so directly?”

Pfft… Sanbao burst into laughter.

Yibao bit his lip, trying not to laugh.

Erbao didn’t catch his mother’s teasing but felt the cheerful atmosphere and awkwardly asked, “Mom, wasn’t that the case? If she’s a stepmother, and Yu Chengci said her stepmother treats her poorly, she must be here to speak badly about her. If it were my mother, if you spoke badly about someone behind their back, I wouldn’t report it. I’d agree with you. If you don’t like someone, I wouldn’t like them either.”

Ning Shu: “… Well, thank you for being such a filial child.”

“Hehe…” Erbao felt a bit shy, “I am a filial child.” No one was more filial than him.

Ning Shu: “…”

Suddenly felt that teasing Erbao was a bit misguided.

She looked at Yibao, “Yibao, what do you think?”

Yibao said, “We shouldn’t play with her in the future.”

Ning Shu asked, “Why?”

This was naturally directed at Erbao.

Erbao was puzzled, “She spoke badly about her stepmother, and it was true, so she’s just complaining, not speaking badly. If it were me, I wouldn’t care about their family as long as they treat us and our family well. Ah, I should have told her to come back and tell us if her stepmother says anything bad about us next time.”

Ning Shu: “…”

Actually, Erbao’s idea wasn’t entirely wrong.

As long as it doesn’t affect them, it’s not their concern. “Anyway, just avoid interacting with that girl in the future.”

She felt that the girl had a lot of scheming thoughts and didn’t want her own Erbao being used.

“Got it.”

The three siblings answered in unison.

They didn’t discuss it for long because Yu Chengci arrived after finishing his meal. “Auntie, Lin Haizhi, Lin Hairui, Lin Haiyang, I’m here.”