As Nan Yuanman enthusiastically told Feng Congqian about his plan to rescue his brother from the robbers, Feng Langqing, who was hiding behind the door holding a firework tube, couldn't stand still.
He crept closer to the door, peeked out, and muttered, "What are you dawdling about? Why aren't you coming in?"
Feng Langqing seemed to have thought of something and suddenly asked Feng Yuli, who was dressed in a mascot costume, "Big brother, did Dad tell Yuanman about our secret birthday party?"
From beneath the bulky mascot costume came Feng Jingcheng's irritating voice: "You think your uncle is you? You can't keep your mouth shut."
Recalling the outrageous actions Feng Congqian had taken to compete with them for Nanmanyuan these past few days, Feng Langqing questioned the word "wouldn't".
"They're here! They're here!" Feng Xingchi saw the adult and child walking slowly towards them hand in hand and shouted in a low voice, "Quick! Hide!"
Those who had been crowding around the door to observe Nan Yuanman's movements because she hadn't come in yet dispersed and found places to hide.
Feng Langqing, with unusual cunning, hid behind the door, nervously clutching the firework tube, planning to appear before Nan Yuanman first after she entered the house and give her a big surprise.
As Nan Yuanman got closer to the door, her little body became more and more tense, her chubby little fists clenched tightly, and she was ready to pounce.
Feng Congqian followed behind calmly and leisurely, without ever thinking of reminding the young men inside.
Closer...closer...almost there!
Feng Langqing was so nervous his heart was practically in his throat. As soon as he saw Nan Yuanman enter, he jumped out and set off a firework: "Surprise!! Yuanman is born—whoosh!!"
Before he could even say "Happy Birthday," Feng Langqing felt a sharp pain in his abdomen and suddenly felt as if he were flying.
Feng Langqing: "?"
Already on edge, he was startled by the fireworks and instinctively punched Nan Yuanman, who had suddenly appeared in the shadows: "!!"
The little boy froze for a moment, then turned to Feng Congqian and said blankly, "Dad, I think I just heard my third brother scream."
With a "click," the light that had been turned off was turned on by Feng Zining. The light made Nan Yuanman close her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, she saw Feng Langqing lying on the sofa with a bewildered look on his face.
There's also Feng Jingcheng, who's frantically taking off the mascot costume's head, and Feng Yuli, Feng Yanxiu, and Feng Zining, each dressed in a suit and holding a gift box.
Feng Jingcheng looked at Feng Langqing, who was lying sprawled out, then at Nan Yuanman, and shrank his neck before saying, "Yuanman, if you hit him, you can't hit me, okay?"
Nan Yuanman was stunned, looking blankly at her brothers who hadn't been kidnapped by the bandits: "Huh? Brothers, you...you weren't kidnapped? Then...then just now I..."
Feng Jingcheng was dumbfounded: "Who said we were kidnapped by kidnappers?"
Nan Yuanman scratched his head: "But when I came back, the lights were off, the door was open, and you weren't there, so I assumed..."
She muttered to herself, "That's how it's always portrayed on TV..."
From the little dumpling's words, her brothers quickly deduced why she suddenly attacked Feng Langqing. Feng Xingchi couldn't help but burst out laughing.
A slight smile appeared on Feng Zining's lips.
Feng Yuli sighed and looked at Meng Qingwan, who was laughing so hard she was doubled over: "Mom, try to take Yuanman to watch less of those messy TV shows in the future."
Feng Langqing sat up from the sofa, rubbing his aching stomach, both amused and exasperated. "Little Yuanman, I've worked hard all day and wanted to give you a birthday surprise, but I didn't expect you to give me such a big surprise first."
Nan Yuanman's face immediately turned red with embarrassment. She ran over to him and helped him up, saying, "I'm sorry, Third Brother, please take this medicine talisman quickly."
She hit him pretty hard at first...
As Feng Langqing swallowed the medicinal talisman, Feng Yanxiu silently walked up to her and solemnly handed her the gift: "Yuanman, happy birthday. This is a birthday gift from your fifth brother. I hope you like it."
Feng Langqing: "Ugh!!"
mean!
They actually sent him a gift while he was taking the medicine talisman!
Feng Zining also stepped forward: "And there's a gift for Fourth Brother."
Feng Jingcheng retorted, "And mine too! I picked them out myself at the mall! You'll definitely like them!"
This was the first time the little dumpling had received so many gifts on her birthday. She was momentarily stunned and blankly accepted the gifts from her brothers. Her little face turned red with embarrassment, and her usually quick-witted mouth was unable to utter a single word at that moment.
Feng Xingchi wasn't in a hurry. He waited until they finished delivering the gifts before handing her a notebook: "This is the villa that your brother bought in Beijing with his first pot of gold after he started working. If you get tired of living in the manor, you can move into the villa."
Feng Langqing shoved him aside: "You have the nerve to give me a mere villa? Perfect! Third brother bought you a small island. If you want to go see the sea someday, third brother will go with you!"
Feng Yuli slowly stepped forward, said nothing, but pinned a star-shaped badge to her chest and said with a smile, "A small asteroid, for our little princess."
Holding a handful of gifts in her arms, Nan Yuanman felt a warm, heavy feeling in her heart. For some reason, she felt a slight stinging sensation on the tip of her nose.
The little dumpling had arched her eyebrows, intending to smile, but tears suddenly streamed down her face.
Feng Yuli's smile froze, and his older brothers panicked instantly.
Feng Congqian frowned slightly, stepped forward, took the gift from her arms and placed it on the coffee table, then hugged her: "Why are you crying?"
"I...I'm crying tears of joy!" Nan Yuanman's eyes and nose were red, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile. "I'm so happy! Thank you, thank you for the gifts, brothers!"
She touched the gift box on the coffee table with great care and said very solemnly, "I will cherish them."
Nan Yuanman now longs to return to Batang Village and tell those friends who used to mock her that she too is loved! She has a brother, a father, and a mother! She is not an unwanted child!
Feng Congqian felt a slight sense of relief and reached out to gently wipe away her tears. At that moment, Meng Qingwan brought out a bowl of longevity noodles: "Come, come! Now that the gifts are given, it's time to eat longevity noodles!"
"I made these longevity noodles myself, Yuanman, have a taste! Is it delicious?"
Feng Congqian placed Nan Yuanman on the stool. The little dumpling picked up her special chopsticks, took a bite of noodles, and gave a thumbs-up in a very polite manner: "Delicious!"
The little dumpling spent her first birthday back in the Feng family perfectly, surrounded by her brother, father, and Meng Qingwan.
There was no one else, no lavish banquet, only simple, everyday happiness that she could see.
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