Zhang Jiaming chuckled and took a sip of hot tea.
No matter how well-behaved kids are, thereâs a limit to it.
At the very least, for little Xiaobaoâs eating, drinking, and other needs, you have to pay attention to it all the time.
Not to mention, Mo Jingchun is still in school.
To be able to manage school and take care of the little one so well is quite an achievement.
Judging from the changes in Mo Jingchunâs skin, you can tell the little one has been a handful for him.
"Is the winter in Jing City colder than here?"
Mo Jingchun nodded in agreement while holding his sister, "Definitely, itâs especially cold outside, and really dry too."
"Itâs much better indoors, with heating, itâs nice and warm."
"When itâs particularly cold, I hardly take my sister outside except for classes."
Zhang Jiamingâs eyes showed a longing for life in the big city, especially the Capital.
"Big cities are better, more convenient to live in. If you have the capability in the future, stay in Jing City with your sister, try to buy another house, and marry a pretty city girl."
"Uncle, Iâm still young, only 18, thereâs no rush."
"Iâll think about it after I graduate from university."
Zhang Jiaming glanced at the little one cheerfully playing with the rattle in Mo Jingchunâs arms, silently agreeing with Mo Jingchunâs words.
Indeed, thereâs no hurry, with a young kid like that with Mo Jingchun, finding a good wife will be tough!
"Alright, Iâm off, after this trip, I have to go up the mountain several more times."
A seemingly weightless withered tree, carried effortlessly by Zhang Jiaming on his shoulders, he slowly walked away along the cement path in front of the door, eventually disappearing at the bend by the river.
After Zhang Jiaming left, Mo Jingchun played with his sister Candy for a while, then put her in the stroller.
Mo Jingchun realized the stroller seemed a bit small.
When thereâs time, they need to get a better, more comfortable one, itâs not like they canât afford it.
Mo Jingchun poured the hot water boiled with firewood in the large iron pot into the wooden bathtub, adding cold water to make it warm.
Pieces of the little oneâs clothes soaked in the water, Mo Jingchun grabbed a small wooden stool, sat by the tub, and patiently scrubbed the dirty clothes Candy had taken off.
After one washing, rinse off the leftover soap with cold water.
At home, they hadnât bought a clothesline, only a simple bamboo rod perched between two tree branches as a makeshift line.
Unlike at school, back home, Mo Jingchun always found never-ending tasks to do, not a momentâs rest.
Finally getting all the little oneâs clothes hung out, the sun had already set, and it was getting darker.
Finishing dinner early, Mo Jingchun was in the room holding his sister writing code, Candy nestled in his lap, bored and biting her fingers.
On the computer, Mo Jingchun typed lines of code quickly, occasionally making typos due to the speed.
Fortunately, the development tools offered intelligent alerts for warnings or errors, allowing timely corrections.
Just as Mo Jingchun was engrossed in coding, he faintly heard someone calling him from far away.
Mo Jingchun paused his typing, listened carefully, and indeed, someone was calling him.
He got up and opened the window, the voice instantly became clear.
"Xiaochun."
"Xiaochun."
"Yeah~" Mo Jingchun responded promptly, recognizing who was calling.
Aunt Wang, who lived by the roadside.
The Mo Family neighborhoodâs top intelligence expert Aunt Wang.
Within the five-mile radius, there wasnât news she didnât know.
"Come down with your sister to the fire, a lot of people here, quite lively."
Mo Jingchun glanced at the notebook computer still on the development tool page, hesitated a bit, and said to the unseen Aunt Wang, "Coming, coming."
If he didnât go, Mo Jingchun seriously suspected heâd be the topic of Aunt Wangâs conversation tonight.
In fact, Mo Jingchun didnât know that the group started talking about him taking his sister to school, prompting Aunt Wang to remember he was back and call him down to the fire.
"Called him, called him, Xiaochun will be here soon."
"I told you, and you didnât believe me, Xiaochun is better at taking care of kids than us, that little baby is so adorable."
"Xiaochun is a student at Jing University, very accomplished, heard he earned tens of thousands while studying with his sister."
"Too bad for Zhou Wan, they didnât get to enjoy the fortune. But they have a daughter, full of blessings, with Xiaochun as a brother, theyâll never lack for anything."
"Donât forget, when Xiaochun comes, we canât speak too much about this."
Watching everyone excitedly chatting, Wang Suzhen quickly reminded.
"No worries, in front of others, we wonât say anything."
"Oh, if my son were a tenth as excellent as Xiaochun, thatâd be great. He never calls, and when he does, itâs usually because heâs out of money."
Everyone nodding, snacking on seeds, responded: "Same here."
"My sonâs monthly allowance is 2000, and sometimes thatâs not enough."
In the room, Mo Jingchun turned off the air conditioner, turned on the porch light, locked the main door, and headed out with his sisterâs eyes peeking out.
"Xiaochunâs here, come and sit."
Mo Jingchun pushed open the door and saw a circle of people already gathered around the stove, even Grandpa Mo Changyou was there.
He greeted each senior before sitting down.
"Oh dear, long time no see, let me see Xiaobao."
Candy was taken by the second sister-in-law, looking at the adorable Xiaobao, she clicked her tongue in amazement.
Candy, seeing such a scene for the first time, was bewildered, slightly scared of the enthusiastic sisters and aunts.
Soon, she pouted and started to cry, kicking her legs.
"Wah-woo!"
"A little shy, huh."
"Perhaps a bit," Mo Jingchun didnât refute, just tenderly held his sister Candy, patting her back to comfort her.
Soon, back in a familiar scent, the little one stopped crying, clinging tightly to Mo Jingchunâs clothes, looking at the laughing crowd with a bit of fear in her eyes.
"Xiaochun sure knows how to handle kids, just a little coaxing and Xiaobao stopped crying."
Mo Jingchun looked at the little cutie in his arms, unable to hide the love for her in his eyes.
Mo Jingchun smiled at the second sister-in-law and said, "Sheâs quite well-behaved."
At that moment, Mo Changyou used the tongs to pass a roasted sweet potato to Mo Jingchun.
"Eat this, itâs still warm."
Mo Jingchun couldnât resist the delicious aroma of the roasted sweet potato.
As he peeled it, the little one gulped and reached out, wanting to grab it from Mo Jingchun, who quickly pulled her small hand back, not daring to let Candy eat the sweet potato.
"Oh look, the little one wants to eat the sweet potato."
Poor Candy could only watch longingly as her brother took a big bite of the sweet potato.
PS: Thanks to the most nostalgic ancient style, and Fanxing for the rewards.