Chapter 115 - 115: 113: A Greedy Little Cat
Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family
The meeting process was not as strict as Liu Sisi had imagined, with the Old Madam accompanying the spoiled young girl right outside the living room door.
The spoiled young girl clung to the elder womanâs side from beginning to end, with a cunning look on her face.
After the host and guest were seated, the elder womanâs eyes fell on the two children, and she asked with a light laugh, âSir, where is your home? You seem to be youngâ¦â
âMy respects to the Old Madam.â
Liu Sisi stood up to return the courtesy, and gently touched YingErâs hair, âSisi lives in Upper Village. Due to poverty at home, my husband went to the mountain to hunt, and there was no one to look after these two children at home. That is why Sisi had brought them with me to take care of. It is my fault for disturbing the Old Madam.â
âA gentleman who is never far from his two children is undoubtedly kind-hearted. How can there be any fault?â
The elder woman said with a smile, her eyes narrowing into a slit and gliding over the two children.
Di Xuan and Di Ying, the brother and sister, sat quietly on a chair nearby, sitting upright and not crying or snatching the pastries and snacks on the small table.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Seeing the book Di Xuan was holding tightly in his hand, the elder womanâs eyes dimmed for a moment.
âThe Old Madam praises too much.â
Liu Sisi politely replied again before sitting down.
The subsequent conversation was diverse and not as difficult as Liu Sisi had imagined. Maids brought pastries, which Liu Sisi could not refuse, so she took some.
Seeing the Old Madam sipping her tea, Liu Sisi stood up and took the two children to say goodbye.
The Old Madam personally escorted Liu Sisi to the main entrance: âSir, when will you be available? How about starting tomorrow to teach my ignorant grandson?â
Liu Sisi was taken aback. Had she passed the test?
Her heart surged with joy as her gaze fell upon the cunning young girl who had been quiet from the beginning to the end. She immediately understood!
The real test had not even begun yet!
She pondered for a moment: âFrom tomorrow on, lessons will be held for two hours every day from 9 a.m to 11 a.m, and we will rest on Market Day. What does the Old Madam think?â
Naturally, she said this because she would be working at the bookstore on Gathering Day, which would not conflict with each other.
The Old Madam seemingly didnât expect Liu Sisi to have such a request, and agreed right away: âAs you say, sir.â
After bidding farewell and leaving, Yingâer reluctantly looked back, blinking her big watery eyes: âMom, the pastry just now was so delicious.â
What Yingâer was referring to was the honey jujube osmanthus cake that was brought last, which indeed tasted extraordinarily sweet and delicious.
âDo you want to eat more, Yingâer?â
âYes! Mom, that cake was really tasty!â Yingâerâs big eyes were twinkling.
âYingâer, donât talk nonsense. That cake is very valuable. The silver used to buy one is more expensive than our food for a month,â Di Xuan interjected to scold her.
âOnce or twice in a while wouldnât hurt.â
After giving it some thought, Liu Sisi decided to reward herself and the two children this time, as she was in a good mood after passing the first test: âLetâs go! Weâll go buy some. Although I canât afford expensive pastries, itâs still possible to buy them once in a while.â
Yingâerâs eyes lit up instantly!
âMom, youâre so nice! Hurry up, mom. Yingâer knows thereâs a pastry shop nearby. Letâs go.â As she spoke, she forcefully dragged Liu Sisiâs hand forward.
âAlright, alright. Letâs go buy some first.â
What a little glutton!
Liu Sisi lovingly tapped her little nose, leading her to walk quickly towards the pastry shop.
There werenât many types of pastries in the shop, most of them having a longer shelf life. Liu Sisi felt that it made sense, considering this was a small town, and any perishable pastries would likely spoil before being sold.
A palm-sized honey date osmanthus cake was priced at 300 copper coins, which shocked Liu Sisi. This was much more expensive than meat!
Thinking about the huge debt owed made her cringe for quite a while.
She gritted her teeth and bought a piece, then divided it into two parts for Yingâer and Xuanâer.
âThank you, mom, you eat as well.â
Yingâer smiled brightly as she offered her piece of cake to Liu Sisiâs mouth.
âSilly child, mom doesnât like eating pastries; theyâre too sweet and not to my taste. Yingâer, you go ahead and eat. Remember not to eat before bedtime.â Liu Sisi gently advised.
âNo, mom, you eat too!â Yingâer insisted, shaking Liu Sisiâs arm.
What a sweet and loving daughter!
Liu Sisi broke into a wide smile, bent down to tear off a small corner of the cake, and then chewed it. Afterward, she embraced Yingâer, lovingly kissing her little face before turning back to go home.
Yingâer giggled happily, then kissed Liu Sisiâs cheek before happily eating her cake.
âAlright, thank you, mom!â
Di Xuan, standing nearby, couldnât help but watch enviously as the two interacted. He carefully wrapped up his cake in oil paper and put it into his bag.
Liu Sisi caught this scene and couldnât help but stroke Xuanâerâs head. She took Di Xuanâs hand with a sigh, thinking he was a truly thoughtful and well-behaved boy.
âXuanâer, letâs go home.â
âOK, mom.â
Di Xuan couldnât help but smile, secretly holding Liu Sisiâs hand tighter.
Her hand felt just as warm, delicate, and comforting as his birth motherâs had.
Yingâer also munched on her cake with a smile, looking curiously at Di Xuan. âBrother, why arenât you eating the cake? Itâs delicious! Brother, you should eat.â
âYingâer, brother isnât hungry yet, I ate too much inside just now.â Di Xuan reassured her.
âI see.â
Yingâer hesitated for a moment before packing up her cake and handing it to Di Xuan: âBrother, help me save this for later when Iâm hungry. Yingâerâs stomach is also full now.â
âOh my! Our Yingâer is becoming so sensible! Such a good girl!â
Liu Sisi couldnât help but nuzzle her face again before leading the two children back home at a brisk pace.
Halfway home, they encountered someone selling poultry. Liu Sisi gritted her teeth and spent 600 coins to buy 25 baby chicks. Seeing the remaining five chicks in half-dead condition, the seller half-sold and half-gave them to Liu Sisi.
Since the baby chicks couldnât be covered, Liu Sisi took the cages, promising to return them tomorrow, and then hurriedly walked home.
As soon as they arrived home, two little dogs greeted them from afar, happily jumping and wagging their tails with extraordinary cheerfulness.
Liu Sisi opened the yard door and first let out the baby chicks in a cool and shady place.
The baby chicks clucked merrily. Having raised chickens during her childhood, Liu Sisi was quite familiar with their habits.
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