"Okay, I'll leave this to Yaya. Grandma will take a look at the morning paper."
"Yes, you should go read the newspaper."
Zhuang Zhimeng began making millet porridge in a cheerful mood.
An Qingbai accompanied his grandfather as they ran around the courtyard a few times.
Zhuang Bingqian brought three dogs to the obstacle course.
An Qingbai asked curiously.
"Grandpa, can these things run too?"
Zhuang Xunqian smiled.
"Take a look."
Zhuang Bingqian pointed to the obstacle course and gave the order.
"go."
The three dogs charged straight ahead.
When they reach an obstacle, they know to jump or climb over it, and they complete an obstacle course very quickly.
"Xiao Bai, you saw that? They're all very powerful!"
I've even considered making them military dogs, but I'm afraid Yaya wouldn't be willing to part with them, so I haven't mentioned it yet.
An Qingbai nodded.
"All three dogs are amazing, Grandpa. If I become a military dog, will we not be able to see each other as often?"
"Yes, becoming a military dog means serving in the military."
Dogs have feelings, and constantly seeing their owners can cause them distress, which is detrimental to a military dog's ability to perform its missions.
"If we can't meet, I think Zhizhi will be very reluctant to part."
Zhuang Bingqian abandoned his idea of suggesting the three dogs become military dogs after thinking about how upset his beloved granddaughter looked.
"Alright then, Grandpa won't mention it again."
Zhuang Bingqian whistled.
Three dogs ran over.
"Xiao Bai, let's go back. Dinner should be ready by now."
"Okay, I understand."
Zhuang Bingqian ran ahead with three dogs, while An Qingbai followed behind them with a smile.
Zhuang Zhimeng had already prepared breakfast, and she and her grandmother were already eating. When she saw her grandfather come in, she greeted him.
"Grandpa, I've already served you some millet porridge for breakfast."
"Okay, Grandpa will go wash his hands and come right away."
An Qingbai washed his hands, sat down to eat, and looked at the bowl, asking his wife.
"Zhizhi, what is this?"
"This is miancha (a type of porridge), Abo, you should try it, it's quite delicious."
“Okay, I’ll try it. I’ve never seen this kind of noodle porridge before. I’ve never seen my second uncle drink it at home.”
"My second uncle probably likes to drink it in the afternoon, so he sometimes drinks this tea as afternoon tea."
I find it quite refreshing to drink in the morning.
Cao Wenxiu echoed her granddaughter.
"I also think that drinking millet porridge in the morning is more comfortable. It warms you up and keeps you warm all morning."
An Qingbai picked up the bowl and took a bite.
"It's delicious. I didn't expect the millet porridge to be salty."
Zhuang Zhimeng smiled.
"If you want to drink sweet millet porridge, you can make that too."
The savory version has sesame paste and salt added, while the sweet version omits sesame paste and uses sugar instead.
"Yes, I like salty millet porridge."
Cao Wenxiu handed An Qingbai a sesame seed cake.
"Xiao Bai, have some sesame seed cakes."
This sesame seed cake, paired with millet tea and some pickled vegetables, is especially delicious.
"Okay, thank you, Grandma. I'll try them all."
An Qingbai picked up a small piece of pickled vegetable with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.
The taste was familiar, so I asked my wife.
"Zhizhi, is this the pickled vegetable Mom made?"
"Haha, Abo, you recognized it? It's the pickled vegetables that Mom makes."
Zhuang Bingqian washed his hands and sat down.
"What are you talking about? What did Ya Ya's mother do?"
“Abo tasted the pickled vegetables and immediately recognized that they were made by my mom.”
Zhuang Bingqian glanced at the pickled vegetables.
"Yes, you can tell at a glance that Caiyun's pickled vegetables taste very good."
And the pickled vegetables are always cut to the same size every time—a habit clearly picked up from being a doctor.
Zhuang Zhimeng nodded repeatedly.
"Grandpa is right, my mom does have some of the habits and actions that doctors have."
When cutting things, always keep them consistent in size.
An Qingbai thought the noodle tea was really good; it felt very comfortable in his stomach.
The group finished their breakfast comfortably.
Zhuang Bingqian pulled An Qingbai back.
"Xiao Bai, do you know how to play chess? Come and play chess with Grandpa."
An Qingbai was sweating profusely inside, but he maintained a smile on his face.
"Grandpa, I can play chess. I'll play with you."
Zhuang Zhimeng secretly gave her lover a "good luck" smile.
Cao Wenxiu held her granddaughter's hand.
"Yaya, come on, help Grandma write some calligraphy. Grandma will see if you've regressed."
"Okay, Grandma, I still write big characters occasionally. I don't think I've regressed."
Zhuang Zhimeng followed her grandmother to the study.
Zhuang Zhimeng picked up a brush and wrote four large characters on the paper with flowing strokes: "Fortune, Longevity, Peace, and Health".
"Grandma, how is it? My handwriting hasn't gotten any worse, has it?"
Cao Wenxiu nodded in agreement.
"It's always a pleasure to see you write big characters."
This is really well written! I didn't expect Yaya to have improved even after two years without writing!
"Well, I only write occasionally in the countryside; I mainly don't have the opportunity to put pen to paper."
"How about this, Yaya?"
If it's convenient for you, you can write the couplets for our front door next Chinese New Year.
I need to let everyone see how well my granddaughter writes.
"If, and I mean if, you can't come back for the New Year, then write this down and send it back to Grandma."
“Sure, I can write any couplets I want. I can write them off the cuff.”
“I’ll show your handwriting to your grandfather and Xiao Bai so they can be proud of it too.”
Zhuang Zhimeng rinsed the brush and hung it back on the brush holder.
Cao Wenxiu had already taken her granddaughter's calligraphy outside.
In the living room, Zhuang Bingqian was holding down his grandson-in-law's hand.
"Xiao Bai, wait a minute, Grandpa misread it just now, let me take another step."
An Qingbai could no longer laugh.
"Grandpa, I remember you just took that step again, didn't you?"
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