“Distance? This A-Ping and Tian-Shu are not the same kind of people. It’s only a matter of time before they have conflicts and become estranged. What do I have to be afraid of? No, actually I am afraid of something. I’m only afraid that he will hurt the children’s feelings and make them sad.” Hong Xiaoduo sighed after she finished speaking.

Even so, this is unavoidable. No matter how much I want to protect these children, they will eventually have to go through some things so that they will be more resilient in the future.

In life, we will always encounter some unpleasant things and bad people.

After listening to Hong Xiaoduo's words, Fei Yan thought about it. As for A Ping, compared to Tian Shu and the others, he was a latecomer. Even if everyone treated him the same and was equally good to him, he might overthink things if anything didn't go his way.

Yao Guang is so young, yet so sensible. A Ping is even a year older than Tian Shu, so he should know right from wrong even more. If he really harbors resentment towards Tian Shu and the others because of this incident, it won't be prevented by others' guidance.

Therefore, Fei Yan didn't say anything to defend A Ping, because she also understood the nature of the children in Tian Shu.

Seeing that Hong Xiaoduo had already settled down in a short while, Feiyan walked out and gently closed the door.

Feiyan was initially worried about how to handle the conflict between the seven children, but after listening to Xiaoduo's words, she felt that it was nothing serious.

What happens next depends entirely on A-Ping himself!

If he comes to his senses, the six children won't hold a grudge about him wanting to take Kaiyang's name. However, if he gets stuck on this and has further disagreements with the six children, given Xiaoduo's personality, she won't be so forgiving as to continue taking him in!

Hong Xiaoduo did not suffer from insomnia because she knew about the six children and A Ping, nor was she sad because she was not with her parents during the New Year. Even though she had just finished eating, she still fell asleep quickly.

She slept soundly through the night without any dreams, and by the time she woke up naturally, it was almost noon.

She was the first to go to bed on New Year's Eve, but she was still the last to wake up on New Year's Day.

When she finished washing up and went outside, she found that the debris from the fireworks and firecrackers that had been set off in the yard the night before had already been cleaned up.

"Mom, Happy New Year! Wishing you prosperity!" The seven children stepped forward and greeted her in unison.

Then, six pairs of little hands reached out to her in unison.

Standing at the very edge, Aping hesitated, then reached out his hand, feeling a little embarrassed, and quickly put it down.

"Oh my, how come you've all become such little money-grubbers over the New Year?" Hong Xiaoduo teased them with a smile.

The children laughed and, instead of retracting their outstretched hands because of her teasing, clapped a few times and opened them out again, as if they wouldn't stop until they received a red envelope.

Hong Xiaoduo liked them doing this: "Wait here." After saying that, she turned around and went back into the house, then came out carrying a bamboo basket full of brocade bags, and handed out New Year's red envelopes to everyone.

Aping looked at the red brocade bag handed to him, pursed his lips, and reached out to take it. It was still heavy in his hand, no lighter than the New Year's money he had been given the night before.

"Keep these safe and don't use them carelessly. Save them all for when you get married in the future," Fei Yan joked with the children as she walked over.

Tianquan casually replied, "Isn't it the mother who decides when her son gets married?"

"What? You're going to rely on me to get married? What if you get married and have kids? Will I have to take care of the kids for you?" Hong Xiaoduo asked, her eyes wide.

Tianquan didn't think there was anything wrong with what he had just said, and without thinking, he continued, "Yes, isn't it always the grandmothers who take care of their grandchildren?"

Although it was a joke, Hong Xiaoduo couldn't help but imagine herself taking care of these six children's children after hearing it. There was no warm feeling of a large family, just a headache.

"You're dreaming! What, you think I'm not getting married? Let me tell you, get ready, once I get married, my kids will be raised by you older brothers and sisters." Hong Xiaoduo jokingly threatened them.

After hearing this, the children looked at each other and immediately said in unison, "Yes, yes!"

"Mother, you should have more children, otherwise we won't have enough to go around," Yao Guang said in a serious tone.

Pfft, this made Feiyan laugh.

Looking at Hong Xiaoduo again, her mouth was agape, and she didn't know how to respond to the little girl.

If there aren't enough to go around, does that mean she'll have to have at least six children?

Hong Xiaoduo quickly shook her head. No way! If that happened, wouldn't she be pregnant again and again? That's too scary!

"Oh dear, just kidding. What's for breakfast? I'm starving." With that, she walked straight towards the kitchen.

Normally, she would win when joking with the children, but today was different. She was forced to run away because of the children's response.

She was joking, but the children took it so seriously.

Hearing that she was hungry, Tianxuan immediately followed her: "It's lunchtime now. The dishes are all prepared. Can we just stir-fry them quickly? Or should we get a bowl of sweet fermented rice balls first?"

"I'm not too hungry, you can take your time cooking." Hong Xiaoduo had already entered the kitchen, reached into the snack plate on the table and took a fried dough stick, eating it while looking at the ingredients laid out beside her.

Tianxuan put away the New Year's red envelopes, rolled up her sleeves, and tied her apron. The other children also rushed into the kitchen, some to start the fire, some to carry firewood, and some to prepare bowls and chopsticks.

Hong Xiaoduo ate her fried dough sticks, seemingly casually observing Aping and the other children. They seemed no different from usual, but she wondered if everything was really alright.

Just then, Quan Jinghuai walked in and saw Hong Xiaoduo eating fried dough sticks in a very relaxed manner, so he couldn't help but ask, "Are you awake?"

"Yeah, for me, the happiest thing is being able to sleep until I naturally wake up." After saying that, Hong Xiaoduo thought about how she had slept soundly on the first day of the new year, which was a good omen!

"Do you know how many groups of people came to inquire outside the courtyard gate this morning?" Quan Jinghuai asked helplessly.

Huh? "Inquire?" Hong Xiaoduo really didn't know.

"Could it be because of the fireworks we set off last night?" Hong Xiaoduo thought for a moment, and then there was only one possibility.

"Yes, some people asked who we were, and others asked where we bought the fireworks."

"Some people even asked us if we had any left, and if we could sell one to them."

"Someone asked if we're still setting off fireworks tonight? And at what time?" The children chattered on.

Hong Xiaoduo knew that setting off those fireworks and firecrackers would attract the curiosity and attention of others, but she didn't expect it to be this exaggerated. She thought there might still be some left, and she would go and look for them later.

But after thinking about it, he still said, "No, we've already released them all last night. If we come across them again, we'll buy a few more to release."

Hearing her words, the children didn't react with disappointment. They were very content. Others might never have the chance to see such a thing in their entire lives, but they had personally set off so many last night, feasting their eyes and having a great time.

While everyone was distracted, Aping slipped out...