Zhou Dashan looked at Zhou Yan beside him and said, "You heard what your grandma said. You'd better stay home quietly for the rest of the time. If I see you go out, I'll break your legs!"
That night, the Zhou family was in complete chaos, and the Xu family was not quiet either.
Ning Huan, however, slept soundly.
The next morning, while she was teaching her four little ones to exercise in the yard, Yang, the woman next door, peeked over the wall and asked, "Sister, did you hear what the villagers were saying this morning?"
Seeing Yang's mysterious demeanor, Ning Huan asked curiously, "What did you say?"
Yang said in a low voice, "What happened last night has spread throughout the village, and even the neighboring villages know about it!"
Ning Huan was not surprised to hear this.
In this village, many aunties sit at the village entrance or by the roadside chatting, their eyes fixed on everyone who passes by, like hooks.
No matter whose business it is, they will definitely hear the slightest thing.
They would then amplify these stories they had heard, and pass them on from one person to ten, from ten to a hundred, and from a hundred to a thousand.
Madam Yang continued, "Zhou Yan is really something. Such a beautiful young woman, and she's made such a scene. I heard that Niu Dadan was taken to the ancestral hall last night and given a good beating. His wails lasted all night and didn't stop until dawn. He deserved it!"
Ning Huan wasn't really interested in these people's affairs. After all, they wouldn't affect her future plans in any way.
With things relatively calm these past two days, Ning Huan plans to tidy up the house today and go home to check on Pang Shi tomorrow.
Counting the days, she should be able to return in time for the first batch of wine from Pang's brewery to be sold, and she can also inquire about business matters.
So she asked Yang to look after her four little ones the next day: "You don't need to help me, sister-in-law. Jing'an's eldest sister will be coming tomorrow. I'm just worried that someone might come and cause trouble..."
Madam Yang nodded: "You don't need to say anything, your sister-in-law understands. You can go tomorrow without worry, little sister, I'll take care of things at home for you!"
At noon, Ning Huan picked some more peaches from her consciousness space, giving a few to Xiao Sibao and Zhou Jing'an. She gave the rest to Yang Shi.
Yang refused to accept Ning Huan's fruit, saying, "Sister, you don't need to be so polite. I said I would help you, and I definitely will."
Ning Huan smiled faintly: "Sister-in-law, I also think you don't need to be so polite. Xiao Shu gets along well with the four little ones. I like him quite a bit too. Consider this a treat for the children, please accept it!"
When Ning Huan mentioned Yang Xiaoshu, Madam Yang hesitated. These peaches looked fragrant and very tempting. She knew they would be extremely expensive if she bought them.
Their family could never afford to buy peaches like these in their entire lives. Just as Yang was hesitating, Ning Huan shoved the peaches in her arms.
Although Ning Huan said the peaches were for Yang Xiaoshu, the quantity clearly indicated they were meant for their whole family.
Watching Ning Huan's retreating figure, Madam Yang gave a faint smile.
That evening, when the four little ones heard that Ning Huan was going to her maternal grandmother's house the next day, they asked again, unwillingly, "Mommy, can't you really take us with you?"
"Mommy, I miss Grandma. I want to go see her with you."
"Mom, I'll be a good girl and listen to you. Please take me with you."
"Mother, I want to go too."
Watching the four adorable little dumplings fawning over her, Ning Huan felt like a cruel stepmother.
"No, I already said that last time. I went and came back on the same day. I'll take you there another time."
Looking at the four little ones looking dejected, Ning Huan thought to herself: In a sense, wasn't she just a stepmother?
However, she couldn't bear to see the four little ones sad, so she gently patted their heads and said, "Mother promises you, the day to take you with me will come soon."
That night, the four little ones lay in the bunk bed, and the second child was the first to ask, "Mom, if you go back tomorrow, will she come back?"
Xiao Sibao said confidently, "Of course, didn't Mother say that she went and came back on the same day?"
Xiao Sanbao said, "What if she's lying?"
Little Four: "Mom would never lie to anyone, why would she lie to us!"
But as soon as Xiao Sibao finished speaking, she also began to hesitate.
Because Ning Huan has changed so much recently, her mother has become not only gentler towards them, but also takes meticulous care of them. The house is now filled with more laughter and joy.
They became clean and smelled nice, and even had new clothes to wear.
If Mother runs away, then these wonderful and happy days will vanish in an instant.
Da Bao frowned deeply, seemingly also thinking about what the three little ones had just said, wondering if Ning Huan would actually run away.
Just as the four little ones were all silent, there was a sudden knock on the door: "Are you asleep?"
It was her mother's voice! The little ones quickly called out, "Mom, we're not asleep yet!"
Hearing the sound, Ning Huan gently pushed the door open. In her hand were several pieces of clothing whose style was unclear.
Holding the clothes, she smiled and said, "I went to town a few days ago and bought some fabric to make clothes for you. After your grandma made you a few new outfits, she had some fabric left over. So I used it to make four sets of pajamas for you. Would you like to try them on?"
"pajamas?"
The little boy asked curiously, "Mommy, what are pajamas?"
Ning Huan said with a smile, "These are clothes you wear to bed. You can try them on first."
Soon the four little ones were dressed in the pajamas Ning Huan had made for them. Unlike their usual clothes, these pajamas were softer and seemed to fit them better.
The little one spoke first: "Mom, I like this pajama!"
Little Erbao chimed in, "Mommy, these pajamas feel so comfortable to wear!"
Little Sanbao: "Mom, I want to wear this pajama to bed from now on."
However, Da Bao, who had been silent all along, puzzled Ning Huan: "Da Bao, do you not like wearing these pajamas?"
Da Bao paused for a moment, then shook his head: "No, I... like it."
It seems that in my memory, Da Bao has always been very shy and embarrassed to express his feelings.
Ning Huan walked over gently, stood on tiptoe, and touched Da Bao's little face: "I'm glad you like it."
Then she said to the four little ones, "I'm glad you like it. If you do, Mommy will make it for you again in the future."
The four little ones were very happy because Ning Huan had given them the pajamas.
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