"Hehe, isn't this all because you spoiled him?"

Su Chengguo smiled slyly and retorted.

They didn't care about these things at the dinner table; the Su family has always believed in eating whatever they like.

Apart from the fixed amount of food each person is to eat from the beginning, everyone else can eat whatever they want.

Whoever is slow to start will get less food.

There are very few leftovers at home; they all have big appetites, so they always finish their food by the end.

Faced with his youngest son's tantrums, Su Dahai chose to ignore them.

Su Chenggong didn't interrupt either; he was used to it.

After finishing their meal, Su Dahai, Su Chenggong, and Su Chengguo went to clean up the fishing nets.

Liu Xiaohua washed the dishes, while Li Xue and Zhou Chunmei went to check which parts of the fishing net needed repair.

The new fishing nets are ready, but the old ones should be patched up and reused.

After getting ready and washing up, go to sleep.

The wind started blowing in the middle of the night, and by dawn, the weather was gloomy and the wind was quite strong.

The weather is not suitable for going out to sea today.

I've been very tired these past two days, so I'm going to rest at home.

After eating noodles for breakfast, Su Dahai went to check on the fields.

Su Chenggong and Su Chengguo helped tidy up the house. A strong wind blew at night, and some tiles were blown out of place, leaving gaps that needed to be repaired.

The chicken and duck coops at home need to be cleaned.

When we're not at sea, we're always busy with household chores.

Fearing heavy rain today, the children weren't allowed to go out and stayed home to play.

Around 10 a.m., Su Chengguo was killing a soft-shelled turtle, and several children gathered around to watch.

"Second Uncle, how do you kill this turtle?"

Su Xuemin was extremely curious.

"Dad, how do we kill it? Its head keeps retracting."

Su Xueguang also asked his father curiously.

"Watch closely, first turn it over, then while its head is sticking out, use a cloth to pinch its head very precisely and pull it down, then you can cut it."

Seeing the children's curiosity, Su Chengguo explained it to them.

Since they were all boys, Su Chengguo didn't need to shy away from the topic. In his view, a man should be responsible, and he should get used to seeing these bloody things from a young age, and even learn to slaughter when he was a teenager.

We should study, but we shouldn't become people who only know how to read but are lazy.

After the turtle's neck was cut off and its blood flowed out, Su Chengguo took a bowl to catch the blood.

"Wow, so that's how you kill someone."

The children were amazed. They weren't afraid, just curious, and watched intently.

Su Chengguo started scalding the turtle, and he asked Su Xuemin and Su Xueguang to help peel off the old skin.

Su Xuebo and Su Xuekuo both wanted to help, so Su Chengguo gave them one to play with as well.

They said they were helping, but it was really just letting them play. After Su Chengguo finished cleaning one, they would take it back to check it and then continue cleaning.

Liu Xiaohua brought over a chicken and asked Su Chengguo to help her prepare it.

The children then joined in plucking chicken feathers.

Looking at the rooster's tail feathers, Su Chengguo said with a smile, "Keep the tail feathers, I'll make you a shuttlecock later, so you can play kick it at home when it rains."

The children are really too naughty and aren't afraid of the wind outside, but it's not safe in windy weather, so we ask them to stay at home.

Jump rope, play marbles.

Making a shuttlecock and kicking it around would be nice too.

"Thank you, Dad."

"Thank you, Second Uncle."

All four children cheered.

Su Chengguo smiled, her eyes full of doting affection.

After preparing the chicken and turtle, Su Chengguo took them to the kitchen to hand in her report.

There are four pots on the kitchen stove, one of which is used year-round to boil water.

The other three pots are used for cooking: one for rice and two for stir-frying vegetables.

Li Xue and Zhou Chunmei were both helping.

"Mom, sister-in-law, Chunmei, thank you for your hard work. I've finished my work here, now it's up to you."

Su Chengguo said with a smile.

Li Xue smiled and waved her hand.

Liu Xiaohua smiled and waved Su Chengguo out, saying, "Go, go, go help your older brother with the work."

Zhou Chunmei covered her mouth and chuckled, then winked playfully at Su Chengguo.

Liu Xiaohua started stir-frying chicken, Li Xue stir-fried turtle, and Zhou Chunmei tended the fire.

The three of them, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, worked together efficiently and effectively.

At noon, Su Dahai returned and picked a few ears of corn from the field.

"Is everything ready to eat?"

Liu Xiaohua asked with a smile, explaining that she had noticed the boy was still small a few days ago.

Su Dahai nodded: "That's about right. It's at its tenderest now. Let's roast it over a fire and enjoy it fresh."

Liu Xiaohua nodded and handed the corn cob to Zhou Chunmei.

Su Dahai went outside to check on his two sons as they worked and to wash his hands.

"Grandpa, look, my dad is making shuttlecocks for us."

Su Xueguang said to Su Dahai with a smile.

"This is so much fun."

Su Dahai smiled. These kids were all clever and mischievous, and just looking at them made him happy.

After washing up, I went into the main house to see my daughter and granddaughter.

"How was it? The kids were good, weren't they? Did those naughty kids disturb your rest?"

Su Dahai asked with concern.

Su Luo replied with a smile, "Tian Tian is very well-behaved and doesn't make a fuss. She really enjoys listening to them talk. If it weren't so windy outside, I would have taken her outside to sit for a while."

Su Tiantian adored her older brothers, especially the sounds of them talking and playing, but it was windy outside today, so Su Luo didn't carry her out.

Su Dahai looked at Su Tiantian, and Su Tiantian smiled at him.

Su Dahai felt a sweet warmth in his heart. He teased the child and said, "A Luo, your good fortune is yet to come."

Yi Guohai was unlucky; he squandered this immense fortune.

But they have it; their daughter is very lucky. With her in the family, there are many good days ahead.

"Thank you, Dad."

Su Luo smiled; for her, the most difficult days were over.

She'll be out of confinement soon, and by then she'll be able to weave nets and go beachcombing, so she'll be able to support her daughter no matter what.

"It's time to eat. Let's get ready and eat."

Su Dahai didn't say anything more. The three of them, father and sons, decided to keep the fact that Su Tiantian was a dragon a secret, and they didn't even tell their spouses.

Su Luo nodded.

"Dinner's ready."

Just then, Liu Xiaohua called out that dinner was ready.

Su Luo put down her needlework, and Su Dahai picked up Su Tiantian and they went to the kitchen table to eat.

"The new corn at home is ripe and tender. Let A-Luo try eating half of it."

Liu Xiaohua took an ear of corn, broke it in two, ate half of it, and gave the other half to Su Luo.

Su Dahai didn't break off too much; just enough for each member of the family to eat half a piece.

Wow, does that mean our corn on the cob will be ready to eat the earliest this year?

As soon as Su Chengguo finished speaking, she gave one to each of her two sons, and then eagerly shared one with Zhou Chunmei. She even took a bite without worrying about getting burned.

"Mmm, it smells so good."

Su Chengguo repeatedly expressed her admiration.

Su Chenggong was also dividing a piece of rice for his son, and Li Xue also took a piece and handed half of it to Su Chenggong.

Su Dahai took a piece of the stalk and put half of it in front of Su Luo, saying, "Tian Tian is too young to eat this, so you can eat it for her."

Su Luo nodded: "Thank you, Dad."

Today's dishes are pan-fried mackerel, mackerel meatball soup, and braised soft-shelled turtle—a very generous spread.