Chapter 41 p2
“Ma…” These past two days, Wei Chengli had become somewhat aware of who and what would trigger the little chubby dumpling’s outbursts. Seeing the little dumpling turn around, he instinctively reached out to stop her.
But some dumplings, although chubby, were agile.
“My daddy said, don’t be generous with other people’s things, don’t always think about using other people’s belongings.” Wei Maomao flipped her hand, the empty popcorn bucket rolling onto the ground.
Wei Maomao didn’t want to argue with a three-and-a-half-year-old, but the incident at the convenience store earlier made her realize that even children could be incredibly mean.
So… it was only fair to return the favor.
Wei Chengli: “… “
Cheng Rongrong: “… “ Damn it, she had a whole bucket of popcorn earlier! Was she a pig!
Cheng Tingyan looked at the empty bucket on the ground. She didn’t know why, but she suddenly had a feeling that the little chubby bunny pulling her along and stuffing her with popcorn on the way here was all for this moment? But… how could she have thought of that…
Why not? Wei Maomao looked at Cheng Rongrong’s stunned expression and smiled. See, if she categorized her as the kind of person who was inherently bad and didn’t need any adult guidance, combining it with the events from her previous life, it wasn’t difficult to predict where she would try to stir up trouble.
“Daddy.” Cheng Rongrong quickly masked her momentary surprise, pouting and throwing herself into Cheng Feiying’s arms, feigning grievance. “I thought older sister would save some for you…”
“My popcorn, one Baby Coin per kernel, you’re afraid your dad won’t be full, why didn’t you buy him more?” Wei Maomao swatted away Wei Chengli’s hand that was trying to cover her mouth again, tugged at her skirt which he was holding, and snorted at Cheng Rongrong. “You’re stingy with your Baby Coins!”
Cheng Tingyan was speechless on the show in her previous life, in this life, Wei Maomao would be her voice!
Cheng Rongrong was stunned. How dare Wei Maomao! How dare she say that about her!
Wei Chengli was speechless, truly speechless. Under Cheng Feiying’s darkening gaze, he quickly scooped up the little rascal into his arms, covering her little ears, and said helplessly, “Didn’t you say you were afraid of Rongrong’s dad last time? Why are you provoking them!”
“Daddy, you said people should be brave…” Wei Maomao began earnestly.
Wei Chengli shook his head vigorously. “No, I didn’t say that.”
“You did…” Wei Maomao insisted.
Wei Chengli pursed his lips and mumbled, “I’m mute, I didn’t say anything.”
Wei Maomao: “… “
“Ah, the tofu, isn’t the tofu almost ready? Let’s go check on the tofu, if we wait too long, there won’t be any soft tofu left.” Wen Qiming, satisfied after watching the drama unfold and finishing the last of his iced oolong tea, pretended to have just remembered the tofu, interrupting their conversation.
The tofu-making area was in the courtyard next to the mill, just a few meters away.
Taking Wen Qiming’s cue, both the actors and the audience stood up.
However, as they were walking towards the courtyard, Cheng Feiying took a couple of steps towards Wei Chengli.
Wei Chengli instinctively shifted the little chubby dumpling to his other side.
“Director Wei, you talk a lot at home, huh?” Cheng Feiying had been holding back his anger for quite some time. Because the other party was only three years old, he couldn’t directly confront her, but seeing his daughter being bullied made him truly angry. He could only vent his frustration at her father sarcastically.
Wei Chengli also felt that Wei Maomao had been a bit too harsh on Cheng Rongrong just now. He nodded good-naturedly. “Yes, I talk too much, I should talk less in the future.”
Cheng Feiying’s anger wouldn’t be extinguished by Wei Chengli’s friendly attitude. He narrowed his eyes, looking at Wei Maomao by Wei Chengli’s feet, and said, “You should teach Maomao properly, don’t let her say things she doesn’t understand. It’s fine here, but if it was outside…”
“I think she understands quite well what it means.” Wei Chengli, no longer as good-natured as before, frowned and interrupted Cheng Feiying’s words forcefully.
Cheng Feiying: ???
Wei Chengli didn’t look at Cheng Feiying’s current expression. He scooped up the little chubby dumpling and walked ahead quickly.
Was he kidding… He could talk about him, but why talk about Maomao! And ‘outside,’ what about outside, was he going to hit her?!
Wei Chengli was quite angry, but the little chubby dumpling in his arms was grinning at some point.
“What are you smiling about, they’re talking about you, and you’re still giggling.” Wei Chengli patted the little dumpling’s back half-heartedly.
“Daddy is awesome!” Wei Maomao secretly glanced at Cheng Feiying, who was now scowling, and generously praised Wei Chengli, patting his face. “About the egg yolk, Baby forgives you!”
“Hmph, as if I need your forgiveness.” Wei Chengli was both amused and exasperated, then couldn’t help but confirm, “Really forgiven?”
Wei Maomao nodded agreeably. It was quite fun to provoke Wei Chengli for once.
But despite finding it fun, Wei Maomao didn’t linger in Wei Chengli’s arms. She quickly wriggled down and, ignoring Cheng Feiying’s glare, pulled Cheng Tingyan away.
Wei Maomao had figured it out, what was there to be afraid of? Even if she was friendly, they wouldn’t be friendly to Cheng Tingyan anyway.
They entered the courtyard next to the mill and saw the earthen stove still burning, the aroma of soy milk filling the air.
“Come, come, come, line up if you want tofu pudding. If you don’t want tofu pudding, grab a bowl and have some soy milk.” Wen Qiming called out, holding a large ladle. He then turned to Wen Jiangyue next to him. “Yours is on the table over there, your favorite salty tofu pudding, it’s a bit hot, blow on it before you eat.”
“Go, have a bowl of soy milk first, then have some tofu pudding.” Shen Jianghe patted Shen Zilin’s head and smiled. “Let me teach you a trick, when you’re in debt, save where you can, don’t hesitate to stuff yourself when there’s free food.”
Shen Zilin glanced at the half-empty glass of sour plum juice in Shen Jianghe’s hand, thanks a lot.
“Tofu pudding or soy milk?” Wen Xiang had calmed down after being angry all night and morning. After grinding beans for three rounds and sweating profusely, he had come to his senses. Why argue with a child? It was just a few toys. It was his fault for not buying enough, he would buy two of everything when they went back, fill a whole room for him, with so many toys, he wouldn’t care about giving some away, wouldn’t he become generous then? It was his fault for not buying enough.
Wen Xiang was reflecting, but whether his reflection was in the right direction was another matter. Anyway, Wen Dongyu didn’t really care about it now.
“I’m not eating.” Wen Dongyu shook his head, hands behind his back.
“Why not? I didn’t save much for you at breakfast… Did you go buy snacks?” Wen Xiang frowned.
“I’m not that hungry yet, it’s not a necessary expense.” Wen Dongyu looked at the big pot in the distance and said seriously.
“What…” Wen Xiang was confused at first, then his face changed as he understood. “What, are you still going on about last night?”
Wen Dongyu looked at his seemingly angry dad, grabbed Wen Xixi, and ran away.
He didn’t know why, but he used to be unafraid of his dad getting angry, he would even have pillow fights with him. But today he felt a bit scared, he’d better run away.
Wen Dongyu ran a bit too fast and almost bumped into Wang Qingchuan.
Speaking of which, Wang Qingchuan, having received the drink from his son, couldn’t continue to ignore him like he did last night and this morning. He grabbed a bowl, handed it to Wang Zhizhi, and said stiffly, “This soy milk was ground by all of us dads. Look how hard we work every day, providing food and drinks for you. You see this soy milk, I’m not grinding it just for you, and I can’t take it back for your sister, right? I told you to bring something yesterday…”
Wang Zhizhi placed the bowl back onto the stack.
“Wang Zhizhi!” Wang Qingchuan frowned.
Wei Maomao, holding a bowl of soy milk, her eyes scanning the courtyard, forgot to blow on the spoonful of soy milk. If Cheng Tingyan hadn’t been watching and stopped her, she would have taken a scalding mouthful.
“I’ll blow on it for you.” Cheng Tingyan took the spoon from Wei Maomao and started stirring and blowing on the soy milk.
It was strange, the same phrase “don’t be generous with other people’s things,” the day before, when Cheng Tingyan heard it, she felt that Wei Maomao was a bit fierce, not the soft and gentle little chubby bunny she had imagined. But today, her first reaction was that the little chubby bunny was cute even when she was being fierce…
Actually, Cheng Rongrong used to do the same thing at home. If Cheng Feiying shared some food with them, Cheng Rongrong would first feed some of hers to Cheng Feiying, then say, “Older sister, why don’t you give Dad a bite…”
Initially, Cheng Tingyan would obediently comply, but either Cheng Feiying wouldn’t eat it, or he would praise Rongrong for being considerate after eating it. But she couldn’t bring herself to do such an intimate gesture before Cheng Rongrong every time. After a few times, she felt annoyed by it.
Later, besides eating her meals, she stopped accepting any other food Cheng Feiying offered.
Just now, both Cheng Feiying and Cheng Rongrong didn’t look very happy, but Cheng Tingyan instinctively felt that the little chubby bunny who had spoken up for her was right.
The little chubby bunny was really smart, she seemed to understand some things that she, even at her age, couldn’t grasp.
Oh, sometimes she wasn’t that smart either.
Cheng Tingyan gently blew on the soy milk in the bowl, a smile appearing on her lips. Sometimes she was also silly, not knowing to let it cool down before drinking.
The courtyard wasn’t that big. With a little observation, Wei Maomao knew what was going on with each family.
Honestly, she only cared about Cheng Tingyan.
But… those little ones really…
“Daddy!” Wei Maomao waved at Wei Chengli, who was sprinkling dried shrimp on the tofu pudding.
Wei Chengli quickly came over and smiled. “What’s wrong, didn’t you want soy milk? Want tofu pudding now?”
“Daddy, did you grind a lot of beans this morning?” Wei Maomao asked.
“A lot, didn’t I tell you, Daddy got first place.” Wei Chengli said proudly.
Wei Maomao nodded, then confirmed again, “Daddy, how much soy milk and tofu pudding can you make with the beans you grinded as the first-place winner?”
“That…” Wei Chengli was stunned. They had combined all the ground beans, her question stumped him.
“Enough for five bowls of soy milk and five bowls of tofu pudding?” Wei Maomao asked, counting on her fingers.
“Definitely enough.” Wei Chengli estimated conservatively and smiled. “I grinded a big bucket, some of it was used to make tofu, the rest should be enough for at least a dozen bowls of tofu pudding and soy milk.”
“Okay.” Wei Maomao patted Wei Chengli’s leg and praised, “Daddy is awesome!”
With that, the little chubby dumpling ran off.
Wei Chengli was stunned.
Whenever she praised him, nothing good ever followed.
Wei Chengli instinctively looked for Cheng Feiying and Cheng Rongrong.
At the table on the other side of the courtyard, the father and daughter were happily eating tofu pudding together…
Then…
Wei Chengli found the little dumpling who had run off. She was holding two empty bowls in her chubby paws, getting soy milk from the big pot.
“Don’t move! I’ll carry it!” Wei Chengli quickly ran over, trying to take the bowls from her.
“I can do it.” Wei Maomao dodged him.
“Didn’t you finish your bowl?” Wei Chengli glanced at her bowl, which only had a little soy milk left, still cautiously guarding her side.
As he followed her, he realized they weren’t heading back to Cheng Tingyan’s table.
“Ma…” Wei Chengli started to ask.
In the next second, the little dumpling reached her destination.
“Here, eat.” Wei Maomao, holding the bowls shakily, first handed one to Wang Zhizhi, then handed the other to Wen Dongyu, who was squatting and hugging the pig. “Eat the soy milk my dad ground, my dad got first place, he ground a lot. There’s also tofu pudding after you finish the soy milk.”
Wei Chengli, who had overheard the conversations of those two families: “… “
Alright, no wonder she had asked him to precisely calculate the amount he had ground even though everything was mixed in one pot.
Oh, and he had to thank her… She hadn’t forgotten to include him in those five bowls…
The little chubby dumpling, good at nothing but meddling in other people’s business, Wei Chengli poked her soft head, both amused and exasperated, and sighed at the other two. “Come and eat together, there’s plenty, I’ll get you more later, it’s too hot for you to carry yourselves.”
Wen Dongyu took the bowl, but didn’t drink. He looked at Wei Chengli cautiously. “Are you treating me? Do I have to pay?”
“Pay what?” Wei Chengli was stunned. “No need to pay. I’m giving you some soy milk and tofu pudding, and I’m going to charge you?”
“Dad… no, Uncle Wei, you’re so nice. Thank you.” Wen Dongyu breathed a sigh of relief, touched, but then asked hesitantly, “Then… can you also give Xixi a bowl?”
“Xixi? Who?” Wei Chengli couldn’t keep up with Wen Dongyu’s train of thought.
“The pig.” Wei Maomao pointed at the pink piglet on the ground.
“… “ Wei Chengli was speechless, it already had a name, and the name sounded a bit strange. “Eat, eat, everyone eat. There’s plenty, I’ll get a bowl and cool it down for it later.”
Wang Zhizhi held the bowl of soy milk, watching them for a while, silent and motionless. Then, he suddenly looked up at Wei Maomao and asked, “Is there any of that mush from last night left? I think I can eat it today, I can definitely finish it!”
Wei Maomao: “…”
Wei Chengli: ???
Leave a Reply