The eldest child muttered, "I didn't know it before, but now I know it."

Ning Tang thought for a moment and said, "How about this? If you help me wash the dishes today, I'll give you one red date. If you help me wash the dishes again tomorrow, I'll give you two. How about that?"

Erniu looked at Da Wa and listened to his opinion. Da Wa was a little hesitant and couldn't make up his mind.

Seeing this, Ning Tang added more strength, "Think about it, there are three of you. I have to give you three red dates today, and six tomorrow. In the end, I am still at a loss, right?"

Thinking about the six red dates he would have tomorrow, Da Wa agreed. "Okay."

Ning Tang curled his lips and said, "Then you guys go and clear the table."

The eldest boy pouted and pulled the second girl to start cleaning the dishes on the table.

Ningtang and three children don't need many bowls and chopsticks. The bowls in the Shen family are all enamel ones. If they fall to the ground, they will not break into eight pieces. At most, a piece of paint will fall off. Now it is summer, so there is no need to worry about the two children freezing when washing the dishes with cool water.

Washing dishes is a simple job. With Ningtang’s instructions, Da Wa and Er Niu quickly got the hang of it.

The third child was not idle either. He ran around handing dishcloths to his two older brothers and sisters.

The three children worked together and washed the dishes in less than half an hour.

Ning Tang kept his word and took the red dates down from the top of the cabinet and gave one to each child.

As soon as Big Boy got the dates, he put them in his mouth. The familiar sweet fragrance made him squint his eyes happily.

Erniu held the red dates in her little hands and was reluctant to eat them. She bit the date flesh in small bites and would not swallow it until it became soft.

Sanwa grabbed the red dates and stuffed them into his mouth, and his saliva flowed all over his bib.

After all, the dates were earned through hard work, and the three children all felt that the dates they ate this time were sweeter than the first ones Ningtang gave them. They were all reluctant to eat them. Even the eldest child was reluctant to eat the dates right after putting them in his mouth.

Ning Tang stretched lazily and went to sleep on the rocking chair as usual.

I don’t know if someone helped with the housework today, which saved me a lot of trouble, but Ningtang slept particularly soundly during his nap today.

After the family of five finished their meal in the evening, Shen Lie was about to wash the dishes as usual when he saw the eldest child and the second girl pulling the third child over hesitantly.

Shen Lie stopped and asked, "What's the matter?"

The eldest child glanced at the dishes in Shen Lie's hands, then widened his eyes and looked at Shen Lie expectantly, "Dad, can I help you wash the dishes?"

Erniu raised her hand and said, "I want to help Dad wash the dishes, too."

Sanwa hugged Shen Lie's calf, "Sanwa wants one too."

Shen Lie: ...

No, the sun rose from the west today?

Shen Lie suddenly became interested, "Tell me why you want to help me wash the dishes."

The eldest child looked at the dates on the living room cabinet with sparkling eyes and said, "We will help you wash the dishes, and you have to give us dates to eat."

The three children couldn't wait until tomorrow. The sweet and fragrant taste of red dates kept lingering in their mouths, making them very greedy. So after dinner, the three children came over immediately.

Shen Lie followed Da Wa's gaze and looked at the red dates on the cabinet. He remembered that these red dates were forced on Ning Tang by her mother-in-law Sun Aiju before she left. "You can help me wash the dishes, but the red dates belong to your stepmother. If you want to eat them, you have to tell her yourself."

"Ah..." Upon hearing this, Big Boy lowered his head in disappointment.

"Go help your dad wash the dishes, and I'll give each of you a red date." Ning Tang continued.

"Really?" Erniu asked excitedly.

"Really." Ning Tang said, "When have I ever lied to you three? Did I give you the red dates for lunch today?"

The three children thought about it and quickly snatched the dishes from Shen Lie's hand, saying in unison, "Dad, I'll help you wash them. Stepmother, don't forget to give us red dates."

Before Shen Lie could react, his hands were empty.

He asked Ning Tang, "Did you ask them to wash the dishes at noon today?"

Ning Tang didn't intend to hide it from him. "Yes, I discussed with them. If they help me wash the dishes once, I will give them a red date each." She rolled her eyes. "You won't blame me, will you?"

Shen Lie was amused. "Why should I blame you?"

Ning Tang said, "Blame me for enslaving child laborers."

Shen Lie sneered, "It's just washing dishes. It's not like they have to do any heavy work. Children of poor families have to take care of themselves early. When I was the same age as Da Wa, I could move a small stool to cook on the stove." He paused, "Besides, you saved me the trouble of washing dishes. I have to thank you for that."

Ning Tang was also happy and patted Shen Lie on the shoulder, "I admire your realization."

Shen Lie still couldn't figure it out. "I used to let them help me make a living, but none of them were happy about it. They are so enthusiastic now. What kind of magic potion did you feed them?"

After Shen Lie's wife passed away, he was too busy taking care of three children by himself. The eldest and second daughter had grown up and were old enough to help run errands at home. Sometimes Shen Lie would ask them to help run errands and do housework, but the two children would refuse and avoid it whenever possible.

Ning Tang asked him, "How did you get them to help you?"

Shen Lie recalled, "It's very simple. Just reward people for doing good things. For example, give Da Wa a dollar and ask him to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some soy sauce. The remaining change can be used to buy candy." He asked Ning Tang, "Is there anything wrong with that?"

"There's nothing wrong with that." Ning Tang said, "If the eldest boy doesn't buy soy sauce for you, will you give him money to buy candy?"

"Give it to me." Shen Lie said, "We won't mistreat the child in this regard."

"That makes sense," Ning Tang said, "They know that even if they don't help you, you'll still give them money to buy candy, but I'm different. Their cute and nagging tricks don't work on me. I'll only reward them if they really help me get something done."

Shen Lie looked at Ning Tang seriously and said, "It seems that only you can cure them."

Ning Tang waved his hands and let it go in one ear and out the other.

Shen Lie let out a long sigh of relief, "Now I can feel at ease when I go out to sea."

"Wait." Ning Tang was stunned, "What do you mean by going out to sea?"

Shen Lie was also stunned, "Didn't I tell you?"

Ning Tang didn't say anything, just looked at him, speechless.

Shen Lie thought about it and it seemed that he had never told Ning Tang about this. He touched his nose guiltily and said, "Well, I'm telling you now that I'm going to go to sea with the troops soon."

Troops stationed on the coast usually go out to sea for training once every six months, but according to the current situation, it is not yet time for training.

But the situation in the South China Sea has been unstable recently, and the higher-ups have given instructions, so we have this sea training trip.

"How long will it take?" Ning Tang said.

Shen Lie: "About a month, depending on the situation, two months at most."

"So I have to cook lunch and dinner for the next one or two months? I also have to do the housework?" Ning Tang thought about it and almost fainted.