A meal of dumplings made Wang Xing's parents feel warm both in their hearts and stomachs. However, they felt a bit disappointed that their son didn't show the slightest bit of reluctance when they were about to leave.
After seeing them off, Yang Yufen went back to tidy up things and found a hundred - yuan bill tucked inside.
"Grandma Yang, please take it. Every time my mom sends me to my grandma's place, she gives me more money than this, but I never get enough to eat, and my cousins always snatch things from me."
As soon as Wang Xing saw Yang Yufen looking at him, he quickly spoke up.
"Alright, kids shouldn't always worry about adults' affairs. You haven't finished your homework today."
Yang Yufen put the money away, and there came the wails of the children.
"Don't wake up Xiaobao. He just fell asleep. Whoever finishes their homework first can come and help make dumplings."
As soon as Yang Yufen said this, the children stopped wailing.
They had eaten their fill at noon, and they were all excited about making dumplings!
Yang Yufen watched as Hu Zhenghao led the three younger ones to do their homework. She didn't go anywhere else and started making dumplings in the main room. After filling a dustpan with dumplings, she took them out to freeze.
There was a vat in the yard. The frozen dumplings were then put into the vat, and they could be taken out to eat whenever they wanted.
She deliberately left some dough for the children to play with. Although they would turn into noodle soup if boiled, they could be steamed.
Yang Yufen didn't cook the piece of meat that Wang Xing's parents brought. She cut it into strips and marinated it with sauce. When stewing vegetables, she would take out a strip and put it in the pot. It smelled delicious.
It was not until evening that Zhou Ang came back.
"I didn't see the kids at home. I thought they should be here with you."
"You just got off work. You've been busy until now. Come on, sit down and have something to eat. It's all ready. Xiaobao just fell asleep again."
Yang Yufen looked at Zhou Ang with snow on her head. It was snowing outside again.
Zhou Ang ate the hot dumplings. There had been many surgeries recently, and the roads were slippery in the snow. There were always people accidentally getting injured.
"If you're really busy, you can leave the kids here with me for a few days."
It was the same whether she took care of one or two kids. Except that Xiaobao still needed to be breastfed at night, the other kids were actually very easy to take care of.
"Mom, I can take good care of Xiaobao!"
Hu Zhenghao stood up first.
When he got home, his grandma wasn't there, and he didn't know when his grandpa would come back or if he would come back at all. His mom might be called away in the middle of the night, and his dad... forget it.
Zhou Ang had lost weight recently. She was supposed to be on night shift but swapped with someone. But she couldn't always swap, and it was a crucial period for her promotion. Having Xiaobao had already postponed it before, but the child came unexpectedly, and their family met the conditions to keep the child, so naturally they were reluctant to give him up.
"It'll be okay when Professor Wen comes back from the meeting in a few days. It won't take long."
Yang Yufen saw Zhou Ang's hesitation and immediately spoke up.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Auntie. I really can't spare the time these days. There are too many patients, and the surgeries are fully scheduled."
"Wow, big brother will stay with us tonight too!"
Wang Xing exclaimed, and the older and younger twins also got excited. They had been reluctant to let their brother go, and now that he wasn't leaving, it just met the kids' wishes.
The four kids huddled together in the same bed. They talked from cartoons to spaceships and aliens and then fell asleep in a daze.
Yang Yufen got up to sweep the snow. Wang Shuo next door was also at home.
"God - mom, you're up so early!"
"Old people don't need much sleep. Moving around is good for the body. Are you on vacation?"
"I'm taking two days off, but I have to go to the south after the Chinese New Year. The temperature difference there is different from here. It'll take three or four months to go and come back. By then, please help me check on my mom more often and talk to her."
Wang Shuo quickly said.
"Don't worry. I say hello to her every day. I'm still waiting for your mom to grow vegetable seedlings for me. Where's Little Fang?"
"Little Fang is at home. She's been transferred to the primary school in our compound this year. From now on, my mom won't have to worry about picking up and dropping off the kids, and it'll be convenient for her to take care of Miaomiao."
"Okay, you have to be careful when you go out."
Yang Yufen gave an extra reminder.
Wang Shuo quickly swept his own yard and then came to help. By the time the kids woke up, the snow had been swept.
Yang Yufen made a ski slope with the piled - up snow. Later, she could give the kids a basin to sit in and play. The snow was quite thick. It could only be piled up in the yard. The snow on the main road outside was piled up on both sides, which didn't hinder people from walking.
Yang Yufen went back into the house. Hu Zhenghao was already awake and feeding Xiaobao.
"How about having dumplings again for breakfast today?"
"Good!"
The older twin and the others also got out of bed and dressed themselves.
The snow had stopped, and the outside was a natural playground for the kids.
"Have you all finished your homework?"
Yang Yufen put some sweet potatoes in the stove. Although she didn't sell roasted sweet potatoes anymore, she still ate them herself.
"Finished!"
Led by Hu Zhenghao, each of them responded loudly.
"Okay, go and play. Be careful."
With Yang Yufen's order, the kids got fully dressed and rushed out of the door at once.
"Sister Yaoyao! Sister Yaoyao! Come out and play! Let's go have a snowball fight!"
Hearing the voices calling her outside, Yaoyao turned to look out.
"Go ahead. I'll take Miaomiao to Grandma Yang's place to talk later. Remember to wear gloves."
Grandma Wang didn't restrict the child.
"Then, Grandma, I'll be back soon!"
Yaoyao also really wanted to go out and play. With her grandma's permission, she happily put on thick clothes, gloves, and a hat and went out.
"This child~"
Little Fang came out and saw Yaoyao's back.
"We can't always keep the child at home. Yaoyao is too obedient and sensible. Sometimes it's not necessarily a good thing."
Wang Shuo came out of the kitchen and casually said.
"But she can't skip meals either."
"I saw Mom stuffing milk candies and eggs for the child."
Wang Shuo whispered in Little Fang's ear.
"Mom spoils the child too much."
"Well, it's because Yaoyao is so lovable."
Aunt Wang carried her little granddaughter Miaomiao next door.
"Your place is really lively. A bunch of kids rushed out early in the morning."
"Liveliness is good. When you're old, you like to hear some noise. Come and sit down. Xiaobao is here too. Let the two kids play together."
Yang Yufen greeted Aunt Wang to sit down and then took out some dried sweet potatoes.
"Indeed. I'm used to the kids being lively. Suddenly it's quiet, and I really can't get used to it."
Xiaobao and Miaomiao were about the same age. The little kids were crawling on the bed, babbling.
"You're making shoe soles again. They're so well - made."
Aunt Wang looked at the multi - layered shoe soles in Yang Yufen's basket.
"You also make insoles. I just feel uncomfortable when I'm idle. I just find something to do."
Yang Yufen said with a smile and glanced at the basket in Aunt Wang's hand.
"It's winter, and there's Little Fang at home. I don't have to do many things. So I have nothing to do and make some insoles."
