Chapter 21
A small, white flower bloomed, stubbornly pushing its way through a crack in the cold wall.
Delicate, it swayed gently in the breeze, yet stood firm again and again, displaying remarkable tenacity.
It… looked a lot like… Cheng Tingyan…
Wei Chengli couldn’t help but recall the moment he had encountered Cheng Tingyan. His intention had been for her to bring Cheng Rongrong along to find Maomao, hoping Maomao would quickly forget his absurd hypothetical scenario and get acquainted with Cheng Rongrong, establishing healthy social interactions. His thoughts and words had focused on Cheng Rongrong, not Cheng Tingyan.
So when Cheng Tingyan asked him if he still wanted her to go pick up Maomao even though she was alone, Wei Chengli should have politely declined.
After all, she wasn’t the target of his matchmaking. Moreover, Cheng Rongrong was only three and a half years old and would definitely need Cheng Tingyan to look after her when she woke up. Many children were vulnerable when they woke up, having their older sister there was better than only having the staff, wasn’t it?
But Cheng Tingyan looked at him with those clear eyes, a hint of understanding in them.
In that moment… he seemed to see a flicker of disappointment and a glimmer of anticipation beneath her casual inquiry.
Perhaps it was a lot of points, but that was all he could see.
She was just a six-year-old child, at an age where she should be able to ask for what she wanted loudly and walk away from what she didn’t want.
Just like this little flower, it should have been rooted in fertile soil, clustered together with many other flowers, swaying only slightly in the breeze, not like now, bending low with every gust of wind and struggling to stand upright again.
During the short time Cheng Tingyan waited quietly for his answer, Wei Chengli felt a slight pang in his heart, perhaps from his mistaken perception, perhaps from overthinking.
At that moment, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse. Even when nodding in agreement, he instinctively tried to appear more gentle and friendly.
It was all that little rascal Maomao’s fault. Earlier, when they were swapping houses, she had gone on about “girls also have to protect their own property”… Although Wei Chengli had tried to smooth things over for Cheng Feiying and suggested afterward that Wei Maomao should find an opportunity to apologize to him, it was all for the sake of group harmony… To be honest, Wei Chengli didn’t really approve of Cheng Feiying’s actions of using the good house his daughter had drawn to swap with another family. After all, Cheng Feiying also had two daughters with him. As a father himself, if it were him, although he would sympathize with the family that had drawn the bad house, he would never bear to let Maomao live in a house with a hole in the roof because of his “kindness.”
Therefore, everyone had their biases. Originally, Wei Chengli didn’t really want to think about whether it was the parents or Cheng Tingyan who had a problem in the Cheng family, but Wei Maomao’s repeated and resolute attempts to approach Cheng Tingyan eventually shifted his perspective.
This little flower, blooming all alone…
“Director Wei? Director Wei?”
The voice of the cameraman beside him interrupted Wei Chengli’s thoughts.
He turned his head and saw the director pointing towards the group of people gathering at the village entrance not far away, whispering to him, “We’re going to be late!”
Oh, right, he was rushing to do his task, why was he suddenly distracted by a small flower on the roadside.
But…
Wei Chengli couldn’t help but look back at the corner of the wall.
They really did look alike, except this flower stem seemed to be missing some small thorns.
Not the kind that were sharp and would cut your hand at the slightest touch, but the kind that were… tender, seemingly harmless at first glance, only the flower itself thought they were weapons, soft little bristles.
No… it should be said that the flower itself knew they were useless, but they were already the most powerful weapon it could muster.
If this was used as the setting for a movie’s female protagonist…
“Director Wei? Director Wei?” The director urged. She had also seen the little flower, but she couldn’t understand what was so special about this ordinary white flower that was worth looking at again and again, they were already late!
Wei Chengli snapped out of his thoughts and subconsciously touched his pocket. Oh, his phone had already been handed over to the program team for safekeeping before they got off the car…
“Help me take a picture of it.” Wei Chengli knew his occupational hazard was acting up, and he understood that this wasn’t the time to linger and continue brainstorming, so he beckoned to one of the cameramen, motioning for him to help capture the details of this little flower.
“Director Wei, is there anything special about this flower?” The director motioned for the cameraman to hurry up and take the picture, then took advantage of this gap to ask.
“It’s just, I suddenly feel…” Wei Chengli paused, looked at the director, and said, “Don’t you think it looks a bit like Yan Yan? I want to take a picture and show it to Maomao.”
The director took a closer look at the little white flower: “…”
Where did they look alike? So all directors, those who made art films and those who made variety shows, were different, weren’t they? Forget I asked…
Not only could the director not keep up with Wei Chengli’s train of thought, most of the audience in the live broadcast room couldn’t either, and even started arguing.
“That little flower is so white, where does it look like Cheng Tingyan? She’s not that innocent. When Rongrong led her into the house by the hand earlier, she pulled her hand away as soon as they entered, making little angel Rongrong stumble, it was terrible.”
“Right, this flower looks so well-behaved. Director Wei hasn’t been watching the live broadcast, he has too much of a filter for Cheng Tingyan, she’s not that well-behaved. Earlier, when Cheng Feiying worked so hard to make a whole table of dishes, she was picky about what she ate, I was so angry watching it.”
“Cheng Feiying does have some cooking talent, that stir-fried three delicacies and braised chicken leg, they made my mouth water.”
“So, children who eat well are more likable, Rongrong ate two bowls of rice with gravy, her little belly was bulging but she still wanted to eat, so cute!”
“Cute my foot! Have you guys not switched to Yan Yan and Maomao’s live broadcast room? Yan Yan said herself that she doesn’t like mushrooms or chicken legs, and Cheng Feiying put mushrooms in all three dishes and the soup. Fine, putting them in the stir-fried three delicacies and the braised chicken leg is understandable, but who puts mushrooms in scrambled eggs with loofah and seaweed egg drop soup?”
“Although it’s true that children shouldn’t be too picky eaters, everything should be done gradually. It’s really strange to put mushrooms in every dish. Who is he trying to force-feed? Yan Yan barely ate anything at noon.”
“How bad can mushrooms be, I think they’re quite delicious. Children need to adapt to new foods, otherwise, they won’t eat this or that, how can they grow up properly!”
“It’s just a dislike for mushrooms, it’s not a big deal, right? Don’t you have any foods you don’t like? Pig brain, chicken testicles, durian, ginger, blood sausage, sashimi, fried cicada pupa… Do you eat everything?”
“Right, mushrooms aren’t some irreplaceable nutrient, there’s no need to force-feed them, it will only make children rebellious.”
“Leaving aside the mushrooms, the only meat dish, chicken leg, is also something Yan Yan doesn’t like. Is it really necessary to start forcing her on the first meal of the show?”
“The one who cooks gets to decide, I hate it when adults work hard to cook, and the children are picky and refuse to eat.”
“Come on, tell me what you don’t like to eat, I’ll make a whole table for you, I can work hard, just don’t be picky!”
“Please be kind, guys, let me give you a heads-up! Wei Maomao next door is awake… Please don’t scold our Maomao for being picky just because Director Wei worked hard to cook, because none of you would want to eat the rice he made… o(╥﹏╥)o”
…
At 3:25 pm, Wei Maomao woke up, before the staff member went to call her.
After sleeping for several hours, Wei Maomao felt even more tired than before she slept.
It couldn’t be helped, anyone who had kneaded dough in their dreams for several hours would wake up feeling groggy.
The daily routine she had become accustomed to as an apprentice in her previous life, dreaming about it again in this life, actually felt quite tough.
Thankfully, she wouldn’t have to endure this hardship in this life.
Wei Maomao rubbed her sleepy eyes, comforting herself.
But life was always unpredictable…
Two minutes later, looking at the steaming bowl in front of her, Wei Maomao, who had been carried to the stone table in the courtyard, clenched her chubby fists…
Good job, Wei Chengli!
She had suffered enough as an apprentice for him in her previous life, and in this life, she still had to suffer from the food he made!
“Ming Ming…” Wei Maomao, already knowing that Wei Chengli had gone to do his task, looked pitifully at the staff member who was putting a spoon in the bowl, trying to use her cuteness to her advantage.
The stainless steel spoon trembled, but finally settled in the bowl of mush. Liu Ming didn’t dare to look up, pretending not to hear the little dumpling’s soft plea for mercy. She hardened her heart and said, “Maomao, before Director Wei left, he asked me to remind you, remember what we said about going home if you don’t eat or sleep well?”
Wei Maomao: “…” Great, that line again!
Honestly, Liu Ming also thought this bowl of stuff couldn’t possibly be tasty, but Director Wei insisted that it was a nutritious meal for the little one, something Maomao was used to, and she had to have a bowl after she woke up. Even the size of the bowl was specified by Director Wei before he left…
She was responsible for taking care of Maomao when Wei Chengli wasn’t available, and now her job was to supervise Maomao and make sure she ate her lunch.
So even though she secretly saw the little dumpling pouting, clearly unhappy, and calling her “sister” softly and pitifully, Liu Ming could only silently push the bowl closer to the little dumpling.
Heavens, she had deliberately stirred and loosened the mush before putting it in the bowl so that she could serve less. This was already the friendliest thing she could do within her authority.
Wei Maomao looked at the bowl in front of her, the variety of ingredients was visible to the naked eye, the “deliciousness” was imaginable.
This was too much!
This life was unbearable!
They had already arrived in the village at noon, why didn’t the program team provide lunch! For the sake of “getting used to it in advance” as Wei Chengli had said, she had already eaten this… mush for days. She was hoping to have a good meal today!
Why was life so hard!
From now on, Shi Dingshan was the worst uncle besides Cheng Feiying!
It was better to continue kneading dough in her dreams!
Maybe if she kneaded long enough, she would dream of bread being baked, and she could even eat a few!
Wei Maomao, who had worked hard in her sleep and had her hopes for a good meal dashed, was truly aggrieved, but she still didn’t dare to gamble on whether the rebooked ticket was real, she didn’t dare to gamble on whether Wei Chengli would really take her home if she refused to eat…
After all, she had already acted like a troublemaker today, if she didn’t eat properly…
Hopefully, today’s mush was only mildly bad…
The twenty-four-year-old soul finally rationally picked up the spoon, but the three-year-old body couldn’t help but shed tears of grievance.
“Maomao?”
Cheng Tingyan’s voice was hesitant and uncertain, soft and cautious.
The familiar voice made Wei Maomao, sitting at the stone table, abruptly raise her head. The spoon clattered back into the bowl, she twisted her chubby waist, and looked towards the courtyard gate on her left.
Standing outside the half-open gate was indeed Cheng Tingyan.
Wei Maomao sniffed, lowered her head, and quickly wiped her face with her chubby paws. When she raised her head again, there was no trace of grievance, only a big smile.
“Yan Yan!” The little chubby bunny sitting at the table waved her chubby paws, beaming with joy.
Cheng Tingyan couldn’t help but tighten her grip on the strap of her shoulder bag.
She didn’t quite understand…
Maomao was crying just now, she hated it when children cried. But why didn’t she leave quickly, why did she call out to Maomao?
She understood even less…
Why, now that Maomao had stopped crying and was smiling, did she feel that it was worse than if she had continued crying?
“Careful!” Cheng Tingyan couldn’t figure out what she was thinking, but seeing Wei Maomao wriggling, trying to climb down from the table, she finally stepped into the courtyard, ran to the table, and held the little chubby bunny’s waist.
“Yan Yan, why are you here?” Wei Maomao glanced at the people who followed Cheng Tingyan in. It was only the cameraman and the staff, not Cheng Rongrong or Cheng Feiying.
“Your dad asked me to take you to do your task.” Cheng Tingyan stood on tiptoe, pushing the little chubby bunny towards the center of the table, then took out a white handkerchief with green patterns from her shoulder bag and wiped Wei Maomao’s face. “Why were you crying?”
“…” Wei Maomao wriggled uncomfortably on the table.
Crying because the food was too bad, it was really hard to tell Cheng Tingyan.
Speaking of which!
“Yan Yan, have you had lunch?” Wei Maomao asked with burning eyes.
“Yes, I have.” Cheng Tingyan glanced at the only bowl of mush on the table and said uncertainly, “Your dad said you haven’t eaten yet, is this… lunch?”
Cheng Tingyan suddenly realized that she should have come later, when Maomao’s dad said it was almost time for their task. Or she should have come after Maomao’s dad said to wait another half hour for Maomao to sleep, plus the time for her to eat.
She had just wanted to familiarize herself with the route, how did she unconsciously end up at the courtyard gate, then accidentally see Maomao crying, and then inadvertently call out to her…
“Did I interrupt your lunch?” Cheng Tingyan asked before the hesitant little dumpling could speak. “Then I’ll go back first, and come back later…”
“Don’t go, Yan Yan! It’s really bad anyway, I’ll swallow it quickly.” Wei Maomao didn’t care about her lunch and changed the subject, “What did you have for lunch, Yan Yan?”
Cheng Tingyan extracted the main point of Wei Maomao’s words and quickly listed the four dishes and one soup she had. Her gaze turned to the still steaming bowl on the table. “Were you crying because it was too bad?”
“…” Wei Maomao blushed. Would she be able to regain her dignity in front of Cheng Tingyan after crying several times on their first meeting?
“Really?” Cheng Tingyan asked again, looking at Wei Maomao with concern.
Wei Maomao nodded reluctantly. To salvage her almost nonexistent image, she forced herself to add, “It’s really bad, I wouldn’t cry if it was just mildly bad.”
“Is this… made by Maomao’s dad?” Cheng Tingyan lowered her eyes and asked.
“Yes. And Daddy wants me to finish this whole bowl! If I don’t finish it, he’ll take me home, and I can’t play with everyone anymore!” Wei Maomao complained, then added, “If I didn’t have to finish it, I wouldn’t cry either, I’m brave.”
“Does your dad often make such bad food for you, and insist you finish it?” Cheng Tingyan asked again.
“Yes!” Wei Maomao, who had been tortured by Wei Chengli’s cooking for several days, didn’t catch the hidden meaning in Cheng Tingyan’s words, nodding frantically like a little chick pecking at rice. “Often!”
“So you also…” Cheng Tingyan’s voice and eyes lowered.
“Also what?” Wei Maomao didn’t react for a moment.
“Nothing.” Cheng Tingyan pursed her lips and denied. “I didn’t say anything.”
“You just said…” Wei Maomao began.
Cheng Tingyan raised her hand and covered Wei Maomao’s mouth with her handkerchief. “I didn’t say anything.”
Wei Maomao understood, Cheng Tingyan must have thought she was also being bullied by her father’s “cooking” just like her!
Although… but… Wei Chengli should be different from Cheng Feiying.
Forget it…
Wei Maomao knew that she wasn’t close enough to Cheng Tingyan yet, and she had just spoken carelessly. Even if she pressed her now, she wouldn’t be able to make her break free from the constraints of her family and tell her everything that was happening at home.
But…
Wei Maomao wriggled, freeing herself from the handkerchief. Before she could be silenced again, she spoke quickly, “Yan Yan, my dad’s cooking is really bad. Can you tell me what your dad used to make the dishes today? I want Daddy to learn…” As if.
To Cheng Tingyan, this was a much safer topic than before, so she lowered her hand and put away the handkerchief.
Cheng Tingyan listed the ingredients one by one.
Mushrooms, more mushrooms, and even more mushrooms…
The little dumpling at the stone table clenched the stainless steel spoon in her hand, really wanting to give Cheng Feiying a good beating.
“Yan Yan, you don’t like mushrooms.” Wei Maomao didn’t need to pretend, she was already worried. “Are you feeling uncomfortable, Yan Yan?”
“I’m not uncomfortable.” Cheng Tingyan said softly.
“You’re lying!” Wei Maomao released the spoon, changed from sitting to lying on the table, stretched out her chubby paw, hesitated, and finally didn’t dare to touch Cheng Tingyan’s head, only gently touched the strap of her shoulder bag. “I don’t like the food Daddy makes, it makes me feel so bad every time I eat it! I want to cry every time! Yan Yan must also feel uncomfortable…”
Cheng Tingyan stared blankly at the little chubby bunny in front of her.
She…
Was like the rabbit she had raised, so chubby, soft, warm, and comfortable to hug.
But also… different… not just like that…
“Maomao.” Cheng Tingyan didn’t continue talking about herself, she turned to look at the bowl on the table again. “Can I have a little bit of the food your dad made?”
“No, no, no!” Wei Maomao was horrified and almost jumped up on the table, waving her hands repeatedly. “It’s bad, very bad, extremely bad!”
Why bother, did she struggle so hard to get on this show just to make Cheng Tingyan suffer?
“I want to try it, can I?” Cheng Tingyan insisted.
Wei Maomao could never say no to Cheng Tingyan, whether it was the one across the internet in her previous life or the six-year-old one in this life.
Soon, Wei Maomao was defeated in the silent staring contest and moved aside, giving up the bowl and spoon.
“I see… there are mushrooms in it. The mushrooms you don’t like.” Wei Maomao made a last-ditch effort.
“Mmm.” Cheng Tingyan nodded, stepped on the stone stool, and took the spoon.
She understood that Maomao had been loud and fierce earlier to help her protect the house she had drawn.
Now, she could also protect Maomao. She could help Maomao eat this bowl of bad food!
Cheng Tingyan, full of ambition, scooped up a big spoonful and stuffed it into her mouth.
She chewed and chewed and chewed…
It felt like mud, she could swallow it directly, but mixed with the strange taste, she couldn’t bring herself to swallow it. The longer it stayed in her mouth, the more uncomfortable it became.
How could there be such disgusting food in the world!
The composure on Cheng Tingyan’s face vanished, replaced by shock, then fear. Finally, after forcing herself to swallow with a strained neck, she couldn’t help but gag.
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