Chapter 329

Shu Ying used one hand to tidy up her messy hair and then clipped the hair clip to her bangs, making her previously messy hair much neater.

Shu Ying held her chubby little hand. The little one had grown taller these past two days. Her appetite had indeed changed since last month. Sometimes she would eat a lot when she encountered something she liked, and she was basically not picky about food anymore.

She squatted down, her eyes smiling, and her voice gentle.

"Of course not. Dad and Mom aren't very fat, so Yueyue and your brother probably won't be too fat either. But you and your brother are still young, so don't worry too much about appearances. The most important thing right now is for you and your brother to eat more and grow tall. As long as you're healthy and strong, you're beautiful. No one defines what beauty looks like. In the end, we should follow our hearts."

Yueyue listened, completely confused, but finally nodded, still somewhat bewildered.

Although the principles my mother spoke of were somewhat profound, she said that being healthy and strong is what makes one beautiful.

She tilted her head and thought carefully, "Like Brother Stone? He's the tallest of all the kids, and none of the other kids at school dare to bully him. Whenever someone tries to bully my brother and me, Brother Stone always stands up for us. I want to be like that when I grow up, so I can protect my mom, dad, and brother."

Yangyang immediately patted his little chest with one hand, "I'm a boy, and boys are supposed to protect girls. I'll protect Mom and my sister from now on, and I'll eat lots of food too."

Children's words are always innocent and naive. Shu Ying was amused by the two children and pinched their little cheeks. "Okay, let's go back and see what delicious food Auntie has made. We'll eat our fill tonight, okay?"

The two little ones looked on expectantly, but when they got home, Xie Zhiyan still hadn't returned.

Xie Mingzhu brought the last dish from the kitchen to the table. Yueyue and Yangyang helped get the bowls and chopsticks. Shuying stood at the door for a while, then looked at her wristwatch before turning around and going back to the courtyard.

"Zhiyan usually goes home by now. He's probably busy at work today. We won't wait for him since the food is ready. We'll leave some in the pot to keep warm, and we'll eat the rest first."

Xie Mingzhu made sweet and sour fish, which is the children's favorite dish. The sweet and sour flavor was especially popular. In addition, there were two vegetable dishes.

"Children are growing rapidly, and a monotonous diet is not good. This is a dish I just learned to make. I heard that people in Shanghai like to eat like this. Try it and see if it tastes like home. If there are any areas that need improvement, please let me know."

Shu Ying didn't have a good appetite, and Xie Mingzhu thought it might be because of the hot weather, so she tried to make some dishes that suited her taste.

Shu Ying picked up a piece of bok choy with her chopsticks. It was a very simple blanched vegetable, but the flavor was very rich and layered. There weren't many complicated tastes, just fresh and delicious.

She nodded in satisfaction. "Yes, that's the taste. I even dreamed about this dish last night. Sister, you're amazing! You mastered the essence of it after just watching someone make it once. With your abilities, you could easily open your own restaurant."

Xie Mingzhu was a little embarrassed by the praise, so she added another piece of food to Shu Ying's plate.

"I'm glad you like it. Then eat more. Tomorrow I'll cook some of your hometown dishes for you. Just tell me what you want to eat. If I don't know how, I'll learn. Although I'm a rough person, I can cook very delicately."

Shu Ying looked at her gratefully, her words carrying a hint of unconscious coquetry.

"I'm so lucky, how could I have such a wonderful older sister?"

Xie Mingzhu was overjoyed by her flattery. "Now I know why these two little ones have such sweet words. They learned it from you, their mother. With just a few words, you can practically coax people to death."

Shu Ying picked at the food in her bowl, her face full of gentle smiles. "I'm telling the truth."

After dinner, Shu Ying took the initiative to wash the dishes. The household chores were always clearly divided. Xie Mingzhu used to do almost everything by herself, but later Shu Ying felt that she was working hard, so she would help her with some things as much as she could.

Xie Mingzhu's education level is not very high. She always likes to watch the children do their homework. Over time, she can also learn some things from them. In just one week, she has already learned more than a hundred characters.

Shu Ying came out of the kitchen, dried her hands, and saw the warm light in the living room shining on Xie Mingzhu and the two children. The children were doing their homework attentively, and Xie Mingzhu was sitting on the sofa, gently fanning the two children. A warm feeling suddenly rose in her heart.

Xie Mingzhu's love for the children was genuine. She could tell that her sister enjoyed this companionship. Perhaps it was because she had lost a child and wanted to make up for the regret in her heart. Thinking of the child who disappeared before even having a chance to open his eyes to see the world, Shu Ying looked at Xie Mingzhu with even more heartache.

No mother could accept such a cruel reality: that child had truly shared a heart with her, and in the later stages, the mother could feel the child's every move inside.

Whether the child is excited or quiet, over the course of ten months, every little change in that little one brings joy to the mother.

However, growing up requires overcoming many obstacles. In the end, that little guy had no chance to leave this world. He left gracefully, but his mother missed him for a lifetime.

Yueyue and Yangyang finish their homework very quickly. The lessons taught by the teachers at school are generally not difficult, so the learning pace is actually quite slow. At this age, the teachers at school also focus on cultivating children's independence, so the pace of learning is somewhat relaxed.

Fortunately, the two children often study at home, and compared to their peers, Yueyue and Yangyang have one of the best vocabulary and reading volumes.

"Auntie, could you please take down that English picture book on top for me? I've finished my homework and read all the picture books below. Mom said that English picture book has phonetic symbols, so my brother and I can understand it."

Yueyue put her homework into her schoolbag and looked at Xie Mingzhu with anticipation.

Xie Mingzhu's smile deepened, her eyes almost squinting into slits. A child's eagerness to learn makes things much easier for parents.

She reached out and took the picture book from the top of the bookshelf. "Auntie will put the picture books at the bottom for you, and the ones you and your brother don't read often will be on top. This way it will be easier for you to read them, okay?"