| TBBOTOF | 267
Following Tang Xu’s greeting, Er Bao who was playing with his younger brother nearby, looked up.
He was quite sharp, glancing around cautiously.
Especially when someone approached Tang Xu, Er Bao would stand up straight, his posture inherited from Wei Dong.
Even at such a young age, he could scare off other toddlers, leaving them inexplicably chilled just by his stare.
Typically, at such moments, Er Bao would soften up with his younger brother, a warm, sweet little dumpling. But once his younger brother called him, the tense Er Bao would immediately turn his head to soothe his brother.
It only took half a day for the workers in the area to notice that Wei Dong's son was carved from the same mold as him, with a temper just as bad as his father's.
He was guarding them, ensuring they didn’t get too close to his dad!
Tang Mei, meeting Tang Xu’s two kids for the first time, hadn’t seen the chubby little one earlier.
She had only heard from her mother about how especially good-looking he was. Now that she saw them, she truly felt they were like fairy children descended from the heavens, stunningly beautiful.
Even the sturdy Er Bao drew repeated glances from her.
Let alone the adorable Xiao Bao, only two and a half years old, with his rosy cheeks, tender red lips, large, bright black eyes, and long curly lashes that made his gaze lively and expressive.
Tang Mei, who had three sons of her own, couldn’t help but adore this beautiful little ger, her gaze lingering on his face repeatedly.
“Come over and greet our guest,” Tang Xu said as he wiped his hands clean, beckoning to the two little ones.
Er Bao, pulling his younger brother along by the hand, walked over to Tang Xu, looking up at Tang Mei with a curious expression. Xiao Bao, a bit shyer, stayed partially hidden behind Tang Xu, peeking out sideways with a flushed face.
Tang Mei greeted them warmly and gently.
Tang Xu gave Er Bao a pat on the back of his head and said, “Greet your aunt.”
“Hello, Auntie!” Er Bao called out.
“Hello, Auntie~” Xiao Bao echoed, his voice soft and sweet.
After greeting her, Er Bao’s gaze was immediately drawn to the baby in Tang Mei’s arms, who had just woken up.
Tang Xu had previously mentioned to Wei Dong that the name Goudan for the baby was really unpleasant to say. Wei Dong had laughed it off, saying that in the village, kids often had nicknames like that. Goudan was actually one of the better ones—there were even kids named Fenqiu (“Dung Ball”).
Tang Xu was convinced his husband was just messing with him.
Noticing Er Bao staring intently at the baby, Tang Mei chuckled and said, “This is your little brother. His name is Goudan.”
Er Bao tilted his head in confusion and asked, “Is my little brother a dog?”
After asking, he realized something wasn’t quite right and quickly added, “But little brother is a person.”
Even though he was young, he had picked up a lot of knowledge from his talkative elder brother, who loved to chatter endlessly.
For example, he knew that they were different from the furry livestock in the backyard—they were humans, while the animals were livestock.
Hearing the name Goudan (“Dog Egg”) for the first time, he momentarily misunderstood, which was why he quickly corrected himself.
Tang Mei didn’t take offense at the innocent remark. After all, Goudan was a nickname given for humble simplicity, especially because the baby had been in poor health since birth. A rustic name was thought to protect and help a child thrive.
“His nickname is Goudan, but his formal name is Sun Ming,” Tang Mei explained patiently.
Er Bao nodded and then asked, “Why is he being carried?”
“Goudan can’t walk yet,” Tang Mei replied, showing infinite patience toward the curious child, answering every question he had.
Tang Xu, however, didn’t want his son to continue with his barrage of questions. Recently, Er Bao had been overly curious about everything.
Once he latched onto a topic, he could exhaust you with relentless inquiries—and he always approached it with the utmost enthusiasm.
Tang Xu considered himself a patient person, yet even he had been driven to frustration by his suddenly curious son, who had turned into a walking "Ten Thousand Whys." In this regard, he had to admit he was no match for Wei Dong.
Despite Wei Dong's usual cold and aloof demeanor, when it came to their three children, his patience was saintly.
Especially when his second son grabbed his hand and chattered non-stop, a scenario that often left Tang Xu annoyed just listening nearby. Wei Dong, however, always remained calm, attentively responding to each question in a steady tone, never losing his composure.
Now, seeing that Er Bao was about to start his endless questioning again, Tang Xu decisively reached out and covered his son’s mouth, effectively muting him.
Er Bao hummed and mumbled into his father’s hand, tilting his head to look up in confusion, unsure why his mouth was suddenly covered.
Tang Xu lowered his gaze and said flatly, “Take your brother over there and keep digging. Don’t cause trouble here.”
Er Bao blinked a few times, then turned to look at his younger brother.
Xiao Bao pointed at the baby in Tang Mei’s arms and asked in his sweet, childish voice, “Auntie~ Can my little brother play with us?”
Tang Mei’s expression softened into a gentle smile. Thanks to the tonics and soups she had been taking recently, she had regained some of the flesh on her cheeks, making her delicate features appear even warmer. “Your little brother is too young to play with you now. How about when you go home later, you can play with Xiao Yang instead?”
Er Bao nodded obediently, and Xiao Bao followed suit, nodding just as sweetly.
The two brothers then went back to the spot they had been digging earlier to continue playing in the dirt. It wasn’t just any dirt, though—it was sticky yellow clay meant to be used as mortar for bricks and stones.
Since the yellow clay needed to be mixed with water anyway, letting the two boys play there didn’t really count as causing trouble.
Tang Xu turned to Tang Mei and said, “Cousin, come sit under the shed for a while. I’ll finish stewing the dish, and then we’ll head back together.”
Tang Mei quickly nodded. “You go ahead and do your work. Don’t mind me.”
Meanwhile, Tang Zu glanced around and eventually wandered over to a group of men laying the brick foundation, joining their conversation.
The cabbage in the large pot was almost ready. Tang Xu added the pre-soaked potato noodles into the stew, then covered the pot to let it simmer a bit longer.
Earlier, when he had lifted the lid, the rich aroma of meat had spread through the air. Although it was just a simple dish of stewed cabbage, potato noodles, and meat, the flavor was remarkably enticing. Paired with coarse grain buns, it was a meal to savor.
For several days now, the workers had been enjoying lunches prepared by Tang Xu. Afterward, eating their regular meals at home felt bland and uninspiring in comparison. A few of them had even complained to their wives about it, only to be thoroughly scolded in return.
The food was ready in no time. Tang Xu turned and called out, “Lunch is served!”
The lively chatter among the men immediately ceased as they scattered to wash their hands. Each of them returned with their large bowls, forming a line to get their portions.
Tang Xu started by generously serving hearty portions of food to the workers, filling their bowls to the brim. After getting their food, they would head over to a large wooden tub to grab steamed buns. Once they finished their meals, they’d return to scoop up some soup, dilute it with hot water, and drink it contentedly.
Since he still had to prepare food at home, Tang Xu didn’t linger. After serving the workers, he called for the two little ones, gathering them to head home together.
On the way back, he asked Tang Mei about her arrival. When she mentioned she had only dropped off her bundle at the house before coming over, he said, “Cousin, why don’t you settle in first? I’ll go to the kitchen to cook.”
Tang Mei agreed readily. After entering the house, she set Goudan down on the kang and called Sun Yang over to watch him. She then headed to the kitchen herself.
In such a large household, it wouldn’t do to rely solely on Tang Xu to handle everything. She wasn’t there to enjoy an easy life, after all. Rolling up her sleeves, she washed her hands, ready to lend a hand.
“There’s really not much to do,” Tang Xu said, pouring a bowl of sliced meat that Liu Ge’er had prepped into a hot oil pan and stirring it with a spatula. “You saw how it is over there. I just make one lunch a day; I don’t worry about breakfast or dinner.”
Tang Mei, peeling the dry outer skin off a green onion, nodded in agreement. “Yes, it doesn’t seem too complicated. I’m used to cooking anyway, so I can manage.” Having agreed to help, she was determined to pull her weight and not overpromise.
“We’re family; no need for pretense,” Tang Xu said with a smile, glancing at her while tossing some potato slices into the pan to stir-fry with the meat. “You’ll earn three wen a day for helping with the cooking. It’s not much, but I’m providing food and lodging too. If you get too busy, just call Liu Ge’er or Ze’er to help with the prep work. Neither of them can cook that well, but they can at least chop ingredients.”
Tang Mei was so stunned by his words that her eyes widened in disbelief. It took her a while to finally stammer out, “You’re giving me three wen a day just to cook one meal while I’m eating and living here? Three wen a day?”
Tang Xu let out a casual “Yeah,” and nodded. “Why? What’s wrong?” He found her reaction a bit exaggerated, even seeing the back of her throat as she gaped at him.
Tang Mei took a deep breath to steady herself and, keeping her expression composed, asked seriously, “Xu Ge’er, do you even make a profit with business practices like this?”
Her question was so earnest that Tang Xu froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“Cousin, don’t be like that. If I hired someone else to cook, I’d have to pay at least four or five wen a day. It might just be one meal, but if they can’t cook well, it won’t do. These guys eat a lot—just steaming the buns takes plenty of effort.”
Tang Mei set the onion on the cutting board and grabbed a garlic bulb, speaking with calm determination, “The old Sun family has over a dozen mouths to feed, young and old combined. I’ve been cooking two to three meals a day for over a decade. I’m long used to it—this isn’t hard for me.”
Tang Xu smiled, his eyes crinkling. He knew she was perfect for the job. Someone unaccustomed to cooking or preparing food for large groups might struggle with portion sizes, leaving people either hungry or with wasteful leftovers. That would only cause him more trouble.
He finished plating the stir-fried potatoes and meat and stepped aside, motioning to her. “Cousin, you try. Let me have a taste of your cooking.”
Tang Mei agreed cheerfully, chopped the garlic and green onions she had peeled earlier, and let her gaze sweep over the kitchen counter. With a clear idea forming in her mind, she said, “I’ll make braised tofu. It’s one of my specialties.”
“Add some minced meat,” Tang Xu suggested, turning to grab a bowl of minced meat from the shelf and handing it to her. “In this household, almost every dish has to have some meat. The amount doesn’t matter much, but going completely without isn’t an option. Er Bao won’t touch vegetarian dishes.”
Although Er Bao wasn’t particularly picky and usually ate everything, if a dish lacked even a hint of meat, he wouldn’t so much as glance at it with his little spoon.
Tang Xu sighed helplessly and couldn’t help but grumble, “He’s not even three yet, and hasn’t grown all his teeth, but when it comes to gnawing on bones, he’s more enthusiastic than anyone. Even his elder brother can’t keep up with him.”
Tang Mei was taken aback. “Having a good appetite is a blessing. Er Bao is much sturdier than most kids his age. I only wish my Goudan could be like that.”
Her youngest son eats like a kitten, and she has to coax him to eat, which worries her.
“Better not,” Tang Xu quipped, passing her the diced tofu. “I’m worried Er Bao will turn into a little fatty. Thankfully, he runs and jumps around all day. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare let him eat as much as he does. You’ll see soon enough. That boy eats enough in one sitting to match two of my meals.”
Tang Mei looked astonished and clearly didn’t believe him.
During the meal, Tang Mei finally witnessed what it truly meant to "gobble food like a little pig."
Tang Xu, exasperated and called out to his son who was eating with his bowl in his hand without raising his head, "Wei Junzhu! Slow down when you eat!"
He couldn't help but wonder if the name he'd given the boy had doomed him to be like a pig.
Er Bao obediently slowed his pace but then shoved his now-empty bowl in front of his dad with bright, expectant eyes. "Dad, another bowl!"
Tang Xu's mouth twitched. That was the third bowl already!
"Can’t you eat a little slower? I’ve told you before—eating too fast will give you a stomachache.” He sighed as he took the bowl and served Er Bao his fourth helping of rice.
Meanwhile, Xiao Bao was still working on his first bowl. With just a couple of bites left, Tang Xu noticed and asked, “Want more?”
Xiao Bao quickly shook his head and protectively pulled his small bowl closer to him with both hands. “No, enough, I’m full.”
He eyed his dad nervously, clearly worried he might try to sneak another scoop in.
Tang Xu sighed and turned, only to be met with another empty bowl held up by his eldest son.
The chubby boy grinned sheepishly, “Dad, I want another bowl too!”
After placing the bowl in front of his eldest son, Tang Xu finally sat back in his seat. Turning to Tang Mei, he said, “You see that? If this appetite were in someone else’s household, they wouldn’t be able to afford to raise him.”
Tang Mei was thoroughly amused by his comment.
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