| TBBOTOF | 315
Xiao Bao upon seeing the small bowl placed in front of him, grabbed the small spoon, held the bowl close, and buried his head to shovel rice into his mouth. The speed and determination made it look like his dad was about to snatch it away.
Tang Xu added some food to his bowl and said, "Eat slowly, chew it thoroughly before swallowing."
Xiao Bao nodded vigorously and managed to finish all the greens that had been added to his bowl this time—it was something quite unexpected.
As the aroma filled the air, another started wolfing down rice with a similar zeal. Normally a fast eater, this time the bites were barely chewed before being swallowed. Tang Xu quickly intervened, worried he might choke.
The chubby boy, like a miniature adult, let out a sigh. Watching his two younger brothers eat like that, he turned to Sun Yang, who was sitting beside him, and said, "Brother Yang, we mustn't learn from them. Dad said you have to chew your food properly, or you'll get a tummy ache!"
Sun Yang tilted his head and asked, "Do you mean chew thoroughly and swallow slowly? Grandfather Sun said that last time too. Didn't you remember?"
The chubby boy’s round face stiffened. He quickly shook his head and said, "No, I remembered! I just didn’t say it right!"
Sun Yang squinted at him suspiciously, and the chubby boy quickly picked up his bowl and resumed eating.
Yue Ge’er didn’t expect to be eating meat today, and for a moment, he was stunned.
What’s more, he hadn’t done much today. After eating his fill in the morning, Master Xiao Bao had called him out to play. Up until now, he didn’t even do chores like sweeping the floor.
And yet, here he was, eating meat and white rice. He could hardly believe it.
He didn’t even dare to dream of a life like this, so he sat there holding his bowl in a daze.
Tang Xu glanced at him but said nothing, knowing that he needed time to gradually adjust.
The meal was a smooth one. Xiao Bao finished half a bowl of rice along with half a bowl of vegetables, and even drank half a bowl of soup.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t allowed to eat more, but after finishing this much, he could still have snacks in the afternoon. If he ate too much now, he’d end up overeating and getting indigestion, which would leave him unable to eat dinner later.
Xiao Bao placed his small bowl, now spotless, in front of Tang Xu as if seeking praise. “Dad, I finished everything!”
Tang Xu nodded lightly. “Not bad. If you keep eating like this, Dad won’t let you go hungry.”
Xiao Bao puffed out his small chest and promised eagerly, “I’ll always eat properly!”
With that assurance, everyone at home breathed a sigh of relief. The incident from the morning had been hard to watch—it made people feel deeply sympathetic.
But they also knew they couldn’t spoil him. That’s why Tang Erhu and Wang Cuicui had stayed away, afraid they might cave if Xiao Bao started crying.
That’s why being a father requires a firm heart. If it were up to the grandparents, they’d never correct such habits.
After the meal, Yue Ge’er eagerly volunteered to help clean the table. But seeing his thin wrists and frail frame, Xu Ze couldn’t help but intervene. “Don’t carry too much at once; it’s too heavy for you.” He didn’t outright forbid him from helping but instead showed him how to do it properly.
Yue Ge’er shuffled his feet awkwardly and looked up at Xu Ze.
Because of his thinness, his face lacked flesh, which made his eyes look especially large. When he stared at someone directly, it gave a strangely unsettling feeling.
Xu Ze didn’t say much more and gestured for Yue Ge’er to mimic his movements.
Seeing the two of them busy, Liu Ge’er spoke up, “Then I’ll go fetch some hot water. Brother Xu said we shouldn’t use cold water to wash dishes when it’s cold.”
Using cold water in the winter not only failed to clean the dishes properly but also risked harming one’s hands. With the family’s meals usually being quite greasy, cold water alone wouldn’t do the job.
The white porcelain bowls, slick with grease, were slippery and hard to grip, making them prone to slipping and breaking. Yue Ge’er held onto the bowls very carefully, his fingers turning slightly pale from gripping too tightly.
Xu Ze gently reminded him, “You don’t need to be so cautious. Even if you drop one, it’s not a big deal. Brother Xu won’t blame you.”
Yue shook his head, meticulously scrubbing the rim of a porcelain bowl with the old loofah sponge in his hand. “Master is kind. I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”
His voice wasn’t quiet, so Xu Ze and Liu Ge’er heard him loud and clear. They were momentarily stunned by the remark, not knowing how to respond.
Master is kind...
"Hahahahahaha!!!!" The burst of laughter didn’t come from the two of them but from outside the door, where Tang Yang had just entered.
Tang Yang had come in intending to bring some fruit preserves for the children. As soon as he stepped inside, he overheard the phrase "master is kind" and couldn’t hold back his laughter.
His laughter quickly spread, and Xu Ze and Liu Ge’er couldn’t help but join in.
For a moment, the kitchen was filled only with their laughter.
Yue Ge’er was completely puzzled, looking back and forth at them in confusion.
"I... did I say something wrong?" Yue Ge’er asked, genuinely puzzled.
Tang Yang waved his hand, still trying to catch his breath from laughing. "My big brother is only around ten years older than me. He’s not even old enough to be called 'master' yet! If he’s a 'master,' then my dad would have to be called 'old master!' Don’t call him that—he won’t like it."
"Ah?" Yue Ge’er blinked, still confused. "Then what should I call him?"
Liu Ge’er recalled how he had asked the same question before, and spoke up. "When I first came here with Zhao Ming and Brother Dong, we also called him 'master.' But Tang Xu stopped us right away."
"Tang Xu told us to call him brother because we are younger," Liu Ge’er continued, turning to Tang Yang for confirmation. "Is that okay?"
Tang Yang shrugged. "I think it's fine. With my big brother and his temperament, this family is probably going to bring in a lot of people. For now, just call him that. The way you address him might change in the future.”
In large households, people usually refer to the head of the family as 'master' or 'madam.' But he doubted that his brother and brother-in-law would like that.
Just as they were talking, Tang Xu came in from outside and noticed the group gathered in the kitchen.
He looked puzzled. "Why is everyone gathered here? Use hot water to wash the dishes, don't freeze your hands." He spotted Yue Ge’er washing dishes and called out, "Yue’er, be careful not to burn yourself."
"Brother Xu, Xu, I... I know, I’m being very careful. I won’t break the bowl," Yue Ge’er said nervously, swallowing hard.
Tang Xu smiled and ruffled Yue’s head. "I’m telling you to watch out for the hot water, not to worry about breaking the bowl. If the bowl breaks, it’s no big deal. And you’re still young. Being able to help wash dishes is already great."
Though Yue Ge’er said he is six, his small, thin frame made him look about the same height as Xiao Bao. He was even skinnier than Xiao Bao, likely due to poor nutrition.
Yue Ge’er’s eyes reddened, and he nodded quietly.
Seeing the child on the verge of tears, Tang Xu sighed softly. After thinking for a moment, he said, "For now, you can stay with Xiao Bao and help me take care of things. You can still go with him to learn characters as well."
Yue Ge’er widened his eyes in disbelief, hardly able to believe that he could actually learn characters.
Tang Xu didn’t say much more, simply adding, “It’s all about learning the principles of life and doing things properly. Just listen carefully; it’ll be good for you.”
Then he turned to Xu Ze and Liu Ge’er. “You two, the same goes for you. If there’s nothing else to do, go and listen. Old Sun’s lessons are still quite engaging.”
The two quickly nodded in agreement, responding affirmatively.
Tang Xu was feeling tired, so he waved his hand and went back to the main house.
Wei Dong was sitting on the kang , busy making hemp rope.
"What are you doing?" Tang Xu asked.
The thick hemp rope, about two or three fingers wide, wasn’t something you’d typically buy, and it wasn’t usually needed unless they were tying up large prey.
Wei Dong continued working with his hands, glancing at Tang Xu as he spoke. "I’m planning to go up the mountain before the snow falls."
Ever since he started traveling for business, he hadn’t gone hunting properly, and he was itching to get out.
With more people at home now and more hands to help, he thought he could take a trip up the mountain. Maybe he could add some wild prey to the upcoming feast.
Tang Xu furrowed his brow and asked, “You’re going by yourself?” Although he trusted the men in the family, he still couldn’t help but worry.
Wei Dong stopped his work, letting the hemp rope slip from his hands as he pulled Tang Xu into his arms.
"I’ll be up there for just a day at most. Bringing people along would only cause trouble for me."
Tang Xu sighed, "Okay, be careful."
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