Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 115 - 115: 113: A Greedy Little Cat

After the host and guest were seated, the elder woman’s eyes fell on the two children, and she asked with a light laugh, “Sir, where is your home? You seem to be young…”

“My respects to the Old Madam.”

Liu Sisi stood up to return the courtesy, and gently touched YingEr’s hair, “Sisi 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.”

“A gentleman who is never far from his two children is undoubtedly kind-hearted. How can there be any fault?”

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.

Seeing the book Di Xuan was holding tightly in his hand, the elder woman’s eyes dimmed for a moment.

“The Old Madam praises too much.”

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: “Sir, when will you be available? How about starting tomorrow to teach my ignorant grandson?”

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: “From 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?”

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 didn’t expect Liu Sisi to have such a request, and agreed right away: “As you say, sir.”

After bidding farewell and leaving, Ying’er reluctantly looked back, blinking her big watery eyes: “Mom, the pastry just now was so delicious.”

What Ying’er was referring to was the honey jujube osmanthus cake that was brought last, which indeed tasted extraordinarily sweet and delicious.

“Do you want to eat more, Ying’er?”

“Yes! Mom, that cake was really tasty!” Ying’er’s big eyes were twinkling.

“Ying’er, don’t talk nonsense. That cake is very valuable. The silver used to buy one is more expensive than our food for a month,” Di Xuan interjected to scold her.

“Once or twice in a while wouldn’t hurt.”

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: “Let’s go! We’ll go buy some. Although I can’t afford expensive pastries, it’s still possible to buy them once in a while.”

Ying’er’s eyes lit up instantly!

“Mom, you’re so nice! Hurry up, mom. Ying’er knows there’s a pastry shop nearby. Let’s go.” As she spoke, she forcefully dragged Liu Sisi’s hand forward.

“Alright, alright. Let’s go buy some first.”

What a little glutton!

Liu Sisi lovingly tapped her little nose, leading her to walk quickly towards the pastry shop.

There weren’t 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 Ying’er and Xuan’er.

“Thank you, mom, you eat as well.”

Ying’er smiled brightly as she offered her piece of cake to Liu Sisi’s mouth.

“Silly child, mom doesn’t like eating pastries; they’re too sweet and not to my taste. Ying’er, you go ahead and eat. Remember not to eat before bedtime.” Liu Sisi gently advised.

“No, mom, you eat too!” Ying’er insisted, shaking Liu Sisi’s 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 Ying’er, lovingly kissing her little face before turning back to go home.

Ying’er giggled happily, then kissed Liu Sisi’s cheek before happily eating her cake.

“Alright, thank you, mom!”

Di Xuan, standing nearby, couldn’t 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 couldn’t help but stroke Xuan’er’s head. She took Di Xuan’s hand with a sigh, thinking he was a truly thoughtful and well-behaved boy.

“Xuan’er, let’s go home.”

“OK, mom.”

Di Xuan couldn’t help but smile, secretly holding Liu Sisi’s hand tighter.

Her hand felt just as warm, delicate, and comforting as his birth mother’s had.

Ying’er also munched on her cake with a smile, looking curiously at Di Xuan. “Brother, why aren’t you eating the cake? It’s delicious! Brother, you should eat.”

“Ying’er, brother isn’t hungry yet, I ate too much inside just now.” Di Xuan reassured her.

“I see.”

Ying’er hesitated for a moment before packing up her cake and handing it to Di Xuan: “Brother, help me save this for later when I’m hungry. Ying’er’s stomach is also full now.”

“Oh my! Our Ying’er is becoming so sensible! Such a good girl!”

Liu Sisi couldn’t 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 couldn’t 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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Apologies for the late update from Craft Paper, and thank you for your continued support. The next chapter will be delivered on time at 8 p.m.