Chapter 9

Ning Shu’s tone became quite proud. “Mother, I trust you. I know my own temperament—I don’t like to work and I don’t know how to take care of children. You’ve been helping all these years, and you never complain. I’m grateful for that. I’ve also thought that when you and father get old, we’ll put more effort into taking care of you in your old age. But you’re you, and others are others. I didn’t say this casually. Today, Yi Bao and Di bao told me that if I don’t give them an extra piece of meat to eat, they’ll ask their father to find them a new mother. When I heard this, I was nearly dumbfounded. They’re only five years old, they couldn’t have come up with this themselves. And if this were to spread, it might tarnish their reputation. Mother, why don’t you ask them who taught them to say this?”

Seeing Ning Shu’s less than pleasant tone and hearing her words, Mrs. Lin felt that she must clarify this matter. Otherwise, if Ning Shu harbored resentment, she wouldn’t feel good either.

So she asked the two Child, “Eldest son, Second son, tell Grandma, who told you to ask your father to find you a new mother?” Damn it, who was this heartless person who couldn’t stand to see their family doing well and had to sow discord? If she found out, she’d give them a good slap.

“It was Auntie Er.” Er Bao blurted out.

Yi bao nodded in agreement.

Although the two child were young, they wouldn’t answer just anyone’s questions. When Ning Shu asked, they answered honestly because Ning Shu was their mother.

Even if their mother was stingy, she had never hit them or caused them any harm, so they naturally relied on her in their hearts.

And when Mrs. Lin asked, they answered honestly because Mrs. Lin had raised them.

Hearing that it was Zhang Qinfang, Mrs. Lin thought of the character of her second daughter-in-law. It might actually be possible.

After all, the grandchildren were so young, they couldn’t have said such things without being taught.

Mrs. Lin’s thoughts darkened a bit, and she spoke to Ning Shu with a hint of apology, “Third daughter-in-law, don’t worry. When I go back, I’ll discipline your sister-in-law. I promise she won’t say such things again.”

At the entrance, Zhang Qinfang and Qian Aifen followed behind Mrs. Lin. They heard what Ning Shu said at the door, so they didn’t rush in.

Later, they heard the conversation below. Zhang Qinfang felt a bit flustered and left with a red face.

Qian Aifen shook her head, wondering what her second sister-in-law was thinking. She actually taught children to say such things.

If she were the third sister-in-law, she couldn’t bear it either.

Qian Aifen quietly left as well. It wouldn’t be appropriate for her to go in under the current circumstances.

She decided to come back after they finished eating.

In the kitchen, Ning Shu heard Mrs. Lin’s words and pretended to be angry as she nodded. “That’s the best. If Second Sister-in-law does this again next time, don’t blame me for not giving Second Brother face.”

“Don’t worry. Second Daughter-in-law was really out of line this time.” Mrs. Lin was angry when she heard it, especially since it was the mother who should set a good example. So she didn’t blame Ning Shu for being rude.

“Then I thank Mother for understanding.” Ning Shu then politely added.

Hearing Ning Shu’s words of gratitude, Mrs. Lin felt a bit uncomfortable again. “Then I’ll leave first. You guys eat first. I won’t take the apples and zongzi. Leave them for the three children to eat.” With that, she intended to put the apples and zongzi on the table.

“We have something for them to eat at home.” Ning Shu pushed them back. “I’m always fair and don’t take advantage of you, Mother. It’s hard for you to take care of the children. Take these to avoid Second Sister-in-law saying anything unpleasant in the future.”

Mrs. Lin: … Was she sure? Was she fair? She had taken care of the third daughter-in-law’s children for five years, whether it was Eldest son, Second son, or Third son, they had all been raised by her.

She had even looked after her during her confinement twice, but she had never received anything from her.

Was it fair to say she was fair? If Mrs. Lin hadn’t thought that this was also for her son to take care of the children, she wouldn’t have come.

However, these were just thoughts in her mind. She still went along with Ning Shu’s words, “Yes, yes, you have always been fair. In that case, I’ll accept it.” Mrs. Lin felt that the third daughter-in-law might have been scared by the second daughter-in-law’s words and was afraid that the children would complain to her when Guodong came back, so she was being polite like this.

However, although Second Daughter-in-law’s words were harsh, if it could change Third Daughter-in-law’s attitude and make her treat the three children better in the future, then it was worth it.

Of course, such words shouldn’t be uttered again by Second Daughter-in-law. “You guys enjoy your meal. I’ll head back now.”

Ning Shu said, “Then I won’t see you off.”

Mrs. Lin waved her hand, “No need.”

As Mrs. Lin left, Ning Shu continued eating dumplings. However, she was almost finished eating by now, and the dumplings were no longer piping hot. She finished them in three or four mouthfuls, leaving no soup behind.

After finishing the soup, she noticed Yi Bao and Di Bao looking at her. “What’s wrong?”

Yi Bao licked his lips and hesitated before speaking, “Mother, can we still drink the soup in the pot?”

Ning Shu replied, “Sure, go ahead.” Ten dumplings per person might not be enough for the two child, but she had no choice. There were only 40 dumplings in total.

When Lin Yibao and Lin Erbao heard Ning Shu’s consent, they immediately went to get some dumpling soup.

The two Brothers were short and couldn’t reach the stove. Er Bao quickly brought a small stool, and Yi Bao stood on it.

However, instead of immediately serving himself, he turned to Ning Shu and asked, “Mother, do you still want some? I’ll serve you.”

Ning Shu said, “No, I’m good. You guys go ahead.”

She thought to herself, these twin siblings had completely different personalities. Yi Bao was smart and stable, while Er Bao was clever but lacked some understanding.

Since Mother said she didn’t want any, Yi Bao first served Er Bao a bowl of dumpling soup. Then he asked San Bao, “San Bao, are you still hungry?”

San Bao shook his head. “No, not hungry.” His words were a bit unclear, but he could express himself clearly.

Seeing this, Ning Shu realized that she hadn’t taken care of San Bao properly, just like a mother wouldn’t carefully attend to a five-year-old child.

She had only thought about finishing the dumplings, but hadn’t asked if Third Treasure was full. With this in mind, Ning Shu improvised, “Yi Bao, Er Bao, are you guys still hungry?”

Yi Bao and Er Bao had been playing all morning and hadn’t eaten much for breakfast, so they were indeed still hungry after only eating ten dumplings at lunch.

Of course, they also wanted to drink more of the delicious dumpling soup.

Er Bao said, “I’m not full yet. I can eat two more bowls, or even three.”

Ning Shu chuckled. “If you eat three bowls, your belly will turn into a round ball.”

Er Bao lifted his shirt. “Look, my belly is still flat. It won’t turn into a ball.”

“I can eat another bowl too,” Yi Bao also said he wasn’t full.

Since neither of the brothers had eaten enough, Ning Shu couldn’t ignore it after finding out.

So she said, “I’ll give each of you an apple, but there’s a condition: you have to help me with chores this afternoon, okay?”

“What kind of fruit is an apple? Is it delicious? Is it the same fruit you gave Grandma just now?” Yi Bao asked.

He had seen Mother give Grandma two fruits and small zongzi just now. He knew about zongzi, but the zongzi he knew were big ones. The ones Mother gave Grandma were very small.

Even though they were different in size, they looked the same, and he heard Grandma and Mother mention zongzi. So the apples Mother and Grandma mentioned must be the red fruits.

Yi Bao and Er Bao naturally wanted to eat apples and zongzi, but they were used to Mother not giving them anything to eat, so they were used to not asking Mother for anything.

Therefore, even if they saw them, they wouldn’t ask Mother for them.

In fact, the original host had also bought apples every year and kept them hidden in her room to eat secretly.

So the three children had never eaten apples. And since the three children slept in their own room, they naturally didn’t know that the original host had apples hidden in her room.

“Yi Bao is really smart. Yes, the red fruit given to Grandma is called an apple.” Ning Shu praised. She wasn’t deliberately praising the children, but in the brief two hours they spent together, Yi Bao left a particularly good impression on her.

Even though he was only a five-year-old child, he behaved like a little adult, very adorable.

Yi Bao was stunned. He had never received praise from his Mother before, so he was dumbfounded by the sudden compliment.

On the other hand, Er Bao, upon hearing Mother’s praise for his brother, pouted and said, “I’m smart too. I’m just as smart as my brother.” As the leader of the two, Er Bao believed it was impossible for him to be smarter than his brother. Being as smart as his brother was good enough for him.

Yi Bao snapped out of his daze at his brother’s words. His dark and shining eyes looked at Ning Shu, with a tiny sparkle flickering within, as if a seed had been planted in his young heart.

Although they were used to Mother not caring for them or giving them treats, being praised by Mother suddenly made him feel a bit happy.

“Yes, yes, Er Bao is also very smart, just as smart as his brother. Then Er Bao also has to agree to one of my requests, and I’ll give a red, sweet apple too, okay?” Ning Shu said, unwilling to admit defeat to the stubborn children.

Er Bao looked at Yi Bao.

Yi Bao pursed his lips, as if pondering, but in reality, he had been won over by Ning Shu’s praise.

His heart was bursting with joy. “Okay,” he finally blurted out in his still-green voice, completely forgetting to ask about the request.

Playing with children was something Ning Shu had never experienced in her 27 years of life, but at this moment, she found it quite enjoyable.

If the days ahead involved eating, earning money, and playing with the three children like this, then it seemed pretty good.

She then took out two crystal sugar heart apples from the sack. She had bought a box of ten kilograms from an app, totaling 30 apples.

She gave two to Mrs. Lin, leaving her with 28 apples, which was enough. “Here you go. My request is that after you finish your meal, you help me dig out all the baby bok choy in the backyard vegetable garden, okay?”

“Okay!” Er Bao put down the dumpling soup and quickly took the two apples from Ning Shu’s hand. Then he handed them both to Yi Bao. “Brother, which one do you want?”

Yi Bao glanced at one apple, then at the other, and said, “Let’s save them for later. We’ll share one when Third Brother gets hungry.”

“Okay,” Di Bao thought his brother was really smart. They only had two apples, and San Bao didn’t have one, so they should eat together.

Why hadn’t he thought of that? Then he dashed out like the wind. After a while, he returned empty-handed, obviously having hidden the apples in their room.

Ning Shu felt that these two brothers had complementary personalities. At the same time, Youngest Child, whose personality hadn’t yet formed, was also very fortunate because despite their mother’s negligence, he had two brothers who always looked out for him.