CHAPTER 451: CHAPTER 451: TRICKING MOM

"Big sister, let me help you clean up!" Xu Xiuxiu, being a daughter-in-law herself, usually stayed away from home all year long, but now that she was back at her old house and saw Wei Dafang bustling about alone, she naturally didn’t feel good idling around, lest people talk, even though Mrs. Song wouldn’t mind, she couldn’t just do nothing.

In a family, many things required mutual cooperation, and Xu Xiuxiu would not let herself be put in such a passive position.

"No need, little sister-in-law, please sit and rest! It’s rare for you to come home, and I wouldn’t feel right making you work! Besides, aren’t you down with a cold? It’s just washing a few dishes; I can handle it alone." Wei Dafang quickly waved her hands to refuse Xu Xiuxiu’s offer, speaking very earnestly.

To be honest, it wasn’t that she was being courteous. Her sister-in-law only came home a few days in a year, and as someone who had been married twice, she felt inferior to others; how could she feel right to trouble her with these mundane household chores? It’s only washing pots and pans, after all. The rural women here are all very efficient. What’s more, at a glance, her sister-in-law looked like she was from the city, delicate and refined. If she were to help in the kitchen, it wasn’t that she doubted her, but she genuinely feared the little sister-in-law might just add to the chaos.

"Xiuxiu, just listen to your big sister and take a rest! Dafang is very capable; she manages everything inside and outside the house very orderly. You just got home, so relax! Let her handle the kitchen chores. You too, you’re not feeling well, and yet you still worry unnecessarily, go rest now! Mom is still quite sturdy! If there’s really something your big sister can’t handle alone, Mom can also lend a hand. Look, Little Moon is getting sleepy, you should take the kids back to the room." The pace of life back home was fast, accustomed to early sleep and early rise. Yesterday and today, due to driving back home, all three kids including Song Yuanhuan went to bed early and woke up early. Xu Xiuxiu, because of her cold, might have been dozing off all day without much notice, but the three children were genuinely tired, especially Little Moon, who at the moment was yawning with drooping eyelids!

"Then, alright! I’ll trouble you, big sister, I will take the kids back to the room to sleep now." Seeing that Little Moon was desperately sleepy, Xu Xiuxiu couldn’t bear it, so she nodded in agreement with Mrs. Song and also informed Wei Dafang.

"Go on, go on!" Mrs. Song said as she also stood up to help Xu Xiuxiu with the three children: "I put the quilts in your room out in the yard to air yesterday, they should be warm and comfortable."

"Thank you, Mom!" Xu Xiuxiu sincerely expressed her gratitude.

Having lived in the city outside for a few years, it was rare for her to come back to the old home for the New Year, and she had not stayed for many days, but after all, she still troubled Mrs. Song because the house next door where they used to live was now somewhat desolate due to no one living there for years. Each time they returned, their family would help clean Mrs. Song’s house, being very considerate and making sure everything was in order.

"That’s nothing, you just stay here, and if you need anything, just talk to Mom or your big sister. We can get it when we head to the county for New Year shopping," Mrs. Song spoke kindly.

"Um! Okay, I will tell you if we need anything." Xu Xiuxiu nodded then crouched down in front of Little Moon: "Little Moon, let’s go, shall we go back to the room and sleep?"

"Mm!" Little Moon squinted her eyes, looking at Xu Xiuxiu with a faint smile: "Mom, Chen Hao is sleepy, want a hug." Xu Xiuxiu had been recovering from a cold for several days, and during these days, she barely had close contact with her children, afraid of passing the cold to them. So now, seeing Xu Xiuxiu’s voice was especially gentle, the little one began to act coquettishly in a drowsy state.

"Alright, Mom will give you a hug." Xu Xiuxiu’s heart warmed as the little one sweetly called out, and thus, she agreed while reaching out to pick up the somewhat heavy Little Moon.

"Xi-ix!" After Xu Xiuxiu picked up Little Moon, the little one leaned against Xu Xiuxiu drowsily, exhibiting a triumphant little smile at the corners of her mouth.

Seeing this, Little Baby puffed out her cheeks, then saw Song Yuanhuan walk in.

By this time, Song Yuanhuan and the other men had drunk quite a bit, although none were drunk to the degree of incapacity. Seeing the three children yawning, Song Yuanhuan stepped in to help, "Little Baby, let’s go, follow your mom back to the room to sleep."

"Okay, Daddy!" Little Baby nodded obediently, "Daddy, you also carry Little Baby." Little Baby sometimes acted just like Xu Xiuxiu, using charm whenever and wherever, and Song Yuanhuan couldn’t resist Xu Xiuxiu and his daughter’s coaxing, naturally without a second word, he carried his daughter back to the room.

"Of course, little princess." Song Yuanhuan grinned, scooping up the little girl and following Xu Xiuxiu back to their room.

"Yay! Daddy is the best, you are the best daddy in the whole world, muah muah." Little Baby, suddenly quite a bit taller from the ground, was very happy, so she commenced praising and even bestowed two sweet kisses on Song Yuanhuan’s cheek.

"Really? Then who is better, mommy or daddy?" Xu Xiuxiu, holding the drowsy Little Moon and walking ahead, heard the enthusiastic dialogue behind her and couldn’t help but ask jealously.

"Of course, Mommy is also the best, best mommy in the whole world." Little Baby was so clever! Faced with her parents’ jealous questioning, she responded effortlessly.

"Ah, always sweet-talking Mommy." Xu Xiuxiu’s tone was still a bit sour, but as she walked ahead holding Little Moon, she couldn’t keep her lips from curving upward.

"Mommy, you’re the best, Little Moon loves you the most." Little Moon wrapped her tiny hands around Xu Xiuxiu’s neck, earnestly responding.

"Mm! Mommy knows, Little Moon loves Mommy the most, right?" Xu Xiuxiu smiled in reply.

"Yes!" Little Moon nodded, tightening her little hands around Xu Xiuxiu’s neck even more.

The interaction within the Xu Xiuxiu family was exceptionally harmonious, especially the hugs Song Yuanhuan gave to Little Baby. For Zhao Ziqi, this scene was something she longingly observed but could never have herself. Being very young, she didn’t understand why she felt such envy; she only knew she wanted to be a little princess cherished by her daddy just like Little Baby.

"Mommy, where did Xiaoqi’s real daddy go? When is he coming back?" A two or three-year-old child, she didn’t grasp the concept of life and death, and her impression of her father was vague. She obediently followed her mother and also moved to the Song Family home. While Wei Dafang always encouraged her to call Song Yuantao "Daddy," the young girl was not easily deceived and, given that Song Yuantao was not the type to let down his manly pride to coax children, Zhao Ziqi still regarded Song Yuantao as an uncle. Just now, seeing Little Baby being picked up by her father, tiny ripples stirred in the little girl’s heart, which led her to trot her little legs into the kitchen to ask Wei Dafang.