Chapter 132 Departure

On the way back from the skating rink, there was a crowd gathered around the candied hawthorn stall at the ticket booth.

Bright red hawthorns, coated in a glistening sugar shell, gleamed in the setting sun as they were placed on a straw rack.

Yao Yao and Lei Lei immediately tugged at Lu Mingyue's clothes: "Mommy, we want to eat candied hawthorns."

Huo Zheng walked over with a smile, picked out two of the plumpest skewers, and handed them to the children: "Eat slowly, don't get them on your clothes."

Yao Yao took it, carefully bit into one, and the sugar shell melted crisply in her mouth, releasing the sweet and sour hawthorn juice.

She smiled, her eyes narrowed: "It's so sweet, even better than the candies at home."

Lei Lei ate with gusto, his lips stained with sugar crumbs that looked like a white beard, prompting Lu Mingyue to reach out and wipe them off for him.

Upon reaching the entrance of the state-run restaurant, Huo Zheng suggested, "Let's not go home to cook; let's go try some mutton stew."

Lu Mingyue nodded in agreement and led the children inside.

The shop was steaming hot, with large bowls of paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup) on every table, filling the room with its aroma.

Winter is the perfect time to eat mutton stew with bread; the hot mutton warms you right up.

After finding a table to sit down, Huo Zheng ordered three bowls of paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup) and four bottles of orange soda.

Soon, a large bowl was served, with chewy pieces of bread soaking in the milky white soup, topped with a few slices of lean and fatty mutton, and sprinkled with bright green scallions and cilantro, making it look very appetizing.

The portion of mutton stew was very generous; the two children ate one bowl.

"Be careful, it's hot." Lu Mingyue scooped the hot water into Yao Yao's small bowl.

Yao Yao scooped up a spoonful of soup and drank it with a big smile, "Mommy, this soup is so delicious."

Leilei kept his head down, eating the steamed bun in big mouthfuls, occasionally taking a sip of soda, the bubbles bursting in his mouth as he giggled.

Huo Zheng smiled as he looked at the children, and put a piece of mutton in Lu Mingyue's bowl: "You should eat more too, you must be tired from skating all day."

Lu Mingyue took a bite. The mutton was stewed until tender, and the soup was fresh but not greasy. It slid warmly down her throat, making her feel warm all over.

After finishing my meal and stepping outside, the evening breeze was a bit chilly, but my heart was warm.

Yao Yao held Lu Mingyue's hand, muttering about candied hawthorns, while Lei Lei followed Huo Zheng, saying he wanted to come back for paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup) again next time.

"Okay, let's come back to eat here again next time."

Qin Lie's family was also in Beijing. Thinking that the children hadn't seen each other for a long time, they invited Huo Zheng's family to go to the cinema.

The movie theater was converted from the former auditorium. On the appointed day, Qin Lie, along with his wife and son, waited at the movie theater entrance early.

Mingming, holding two marbles in her hand, immediately ran over with a smile when she saw Leilei and Yaoyao: "Leilei, Yaoyao, you're here!"

"Mingming." Leilei excitedly went up to him, and the two boys immediately huddled together, chatting about how to play marbles.

Mingming even gave one of her marbles to Leilei, saying, "I've been saving this for a long time, you can play with it."

Yao Yao doesn't like playing marbles, so Mingming bought her a small windmill. After thanking him, Yao Yao's little face was full of joy.

Lu Mingyue and Zhu Xiaofang chatted idly to the side, while Huo Zheng and Qin Lie went to buy tickets and snacks.

He returned shortly afterward carrying two large buckets of popcorn and several bottles of soda. "Kids, come inside."

Huo Zheng greeted them with a smile, and the four adults, along with the three children, walked into the movie theater in a grand procession.

As soon as they entered, the children were like birds that had been set free. After finding their seats, Leilei and Mingming sat side by side, while Yaoyao sat in the middle, holding the popcorn that Lu Mingyue had handed her, her eyes curiously looking around.

The three children were also busy before the movie started.

Yao Yao shared the popcorn with Mingming and Leilei, while Mingming took out a handful of fruit candies from his pocket and gave them to his two friends, saying, "These candies are so sweet, my mom bought them."

There were quite a few people watching the movie, mostly with their children. The surrounding environment was a bit noisy, but it didn't affect the viewing experience.

The popcorn was quickly gone, and most of the soda was drunk, but the children didn't feel tired at all.

Leilei was showing off to Mingming that he could ice skate, and Mingming was very envious and wanted to try it too.

"Dad, let's go ice skating too." He lay on Qin Lie's lap, staring longingly at him.

"Okay, let's go tomorrow."

Qin Lie stroked his son's hair, feeling very happy about his son's affection.

After the child was found, his initial resistance turned into unconscious affection, and every little change made him feel gratified.

As the two families walked out of the movie theater, a crowd gathered at a nearby food stall.

The sugar painting master's spoon glided gently across the stone slab, and the golden sugar threads gradually outlined the image of Sun Wukong, eliciting gasps of amazement from the children.

"Master, I want a Sun Wukong."

Leilei was the first to rush over, standing on tiptoe and pointing at the sugar painting easel, his eyes full of anticipation.

Mingming also shouted, "I want Sun Wukong too, bigger than his!"

Lu Mingyue smiled and nodded, then said to the sugar painting master, "Could you please make a little rabbit for the little girl?"

Yao Yao's eyes sparkled; her mother knew she liked little rabbits, and she happily twisted her fingers together.

The chef smiled and responded, turning the spoon in his hand so that the sugar strands could slowly spread out on the stone slab.

Soon, a little rabbit with long, upright ears took shape.

The chef used a bamboo skewer to pick up the bunny and handed it to Yao Yao: "Little girl, your little bunny is ready."

Yao Yao carefully took it, reluctant to eat it, but brought it to her nose to smell it. The sweet fragrance made her smile.

Three children, each holding their own sugar painting, squatted by the roadside, chattering excitedly about whose was prettier.

Mingming took a bite of Sun Wukong's golden cudgel, the sugar threads melting in his mouth, making him squint his eyes with sweetness: "It's so sweet, you guys should try some too."

Lu Mingyue and Zhu Xiaofang stood aside, looking at the children with tenderness in their eyes.

The festive atmosphere of the New Year hadn't faded yet, but the day when Lu Mingyue and Huo Zheng would take the children back to the island was already just around the corner.

The night before she left, Zhong Yulan packed two large bags full of Beijing snacks and local specialties and stuffed them into Huo Zheng's hands.

"Remember to send a message home when you get to the island. I made two more sets of clothes for the children so they can wear them when it gets cold."

She held Lu Mingyue's hand, her eyes filled with reluctance: "Mingyue, take good care of yourself and the baby. If Huo Zheng bullies you, write to Mom."

Lu Mingyue nodded, her eyes a little red: "Mom, don't worry, we'll be fine, and we'll come back to see you whenever we have time."

An'an is very reluctant to part with her brother and sister, and wants to sleep with them at night.

The next morning, just as dawn broke, Huo Feng drove around to help them move their luggage.

Yao Yao nestled in Zhong Yulan's arms and sobbed softly, "Grandma, I don't want to go."

Zhong Yulan stroked her head, her voice choked with emotion: "Sweetie, Grandma will come to the island to see you when she has time, and make you your favorite cabbage and pork dumplings."

Lei Lei also kept his head down, clutching the pocket money Zhong Yulan had given him. He didn't say anything, but he held tightly to Zhong Yulan's clothes.