Chapter 104 Apology
Seeing that the Cui brothers refused to admit their mistake, Leilei became even more protective of his sister.
He pulled Yao Yao back a little further, then took half a step forward, his little fists clenched so tightly they cracked: "You're not leaving until you apologize!"
Niu Niu and Xiao Man, who were standing nearby, immediately came over and stood next to Lei Lei.
Niu Niu, sticking his neck out, chimed in: "What kind of skill is it to bully your aunt? Quickly apologize to Yao Yao!"
Xiaoman nodded in agreement, pointing at the yellow mud in Cui Erjun's hand: "It was clearly you who threw it, and you still dare to deny it!"
The three little ones formed a small semicircle, blocking the Cui brothers inside, their eyes full of defiance.
Yao Yao hid behind Lei Lei, and her sobs subsided a little.
Cui Erjun gripped the yellow mud tightly and then loosened his grip, his mind flashing back to the pain his mother had felt when she whipped his palm with a bamboo stick after the last fight.
He glared at his younger brother, then looked at the tense posture of Leilei and the other two, and finally didn't dare to be tough anymore.
If a fight really breaks out, I'll definitely get a bamboo-woven stir-fry when I get home.
He kicked a pebble at his feet and said to Yao Yao in a muffled voice, "Sorry, I got your dress dirty."
Cui Xiaojun quickly nodded in agreement, his voice barely audible: "We won't throw it away next time."
Seeing them bow their heads and apologize, Lei Lei slowly loosened his clenched fists and took Yao Yao's hand.
“Then you’re not allowed to bully people anymore.” Xiaoman and Niuniu echoed.
After the Cui brothers finished apologizing, as if afraid that Leilei would pursue the matter further, they picked up the remaining yellow mud and slipped away towards their own home without looking back.
Lei Lei turned around, squatted down in front of Yao Yao, and carefully rubbed off the dried mud spots on her skirt.
"Don't be sad. I'll wash your dress when we get home. I'm sure I can get it clean."
As he spoke, he tucked the stray hairs that had fallen across his sister's forehead behind her ear, picked up the hair clip that Yao Yao had dropped, and took her hand as they walked home.
Yao Yao clutched her brother's clothes, her sobs gradually subsiding. Tears still clung to her little face, but she obediently followed Lei Lei.
After a week, they lost interest in playing. Xiaoman and Niuniu parted ways, and everyone went home.
As soon as the brother and sister stepped into the courtyard, Lu Mingyue noticed Yao Yao's red eyes and mud-stained skirt, and quickly put down the basin in her hand to greet her.
"What's wrong? Why is Yao Yao crying?" She reached out and hugged the little girl, gently patting her back.
Leilei stood aside and quietly recounted what had happened on the beach.
After listening, Lu Mingyue pinched Yao Yao's cheek, turned around, took out a piece of fruit candy wrapped in candy wrapper from the cupboard, and stuffed it into her hand.
“Our Yaoyao is the best girl, she doesn’t argue with bad kids. Don’t worry if your dress gets dirty, Mommy will scrub it with soap tonight and make sure it’s clean and looks brand new.”
With a sweet candy in her mouth, Yao Yao's aggrieved mood gradually dissipated. She tugged at Lu Mingyue's clothes and shook them, saying, "Mommy, I want to help you eat your vegetables."
Lu Mingyue smiled and nodded, then patted Leilei's head: "Then Leilei, come and help too, let's taste it together, shall we?"
Hearing their words, Huo Zheng patted the dirt off his hands and said, "You guys carry on with your work, I have something to discuss with the military camp."
Lu Mingyue assumed it was work-related and didn't think much of it, telling him to finish his work early and come back for dinner.
After preparing dinner, Huo Zheng still hadn't returned. Remembering that his younger sister's dirty dress was still soaking in the basin, Lei Lei stood up and said, "Mom, I'll help my sister wash her dress!"
As she spoke, she picked up Yao Yao's floral dress, which was stained with mud, and ran towards the laundry tub in the corner of the yard.
Yao Yao quickly followed, her short legs moving swiftly: "Brother, I'll help you too!"
She imitated Leilei, squatting by the washbasin, clutching a small piece of soap in her little hand, and rubbing it laboriously on her skirt.
Leilei, worried that she would get her sleeves wet, rolled up her cuffs and then taught her to rub the mud stains along the fabric: "Rub them gently, or the skirt will tear."
The two of them stood head to head, water from the basin splashing onto their faces. Yao Yao giggled, and Lei Lei's eyes crinkled with laughter.
Lu Mingyue stood under the eaves watching, her needlework slowing down, a gentle smile playing on her lips.
Huo Zheng returned just in time to see this scene. He gently put his arm around her shoulder from behind, and the two of them looked at the two small figures in the corner of the yard, their eyes filled with warmth.
The brother and sister spent a lot of effort and finally managed to clean the skirt.
Huo Zheng walked over, smiled, took the wet dress from their hands, found a bamboo pole, set it up in the middle of the yard, and carefully hung the dress to dry.
After dinner, Huo Zheng played with Lei Lei in the corner of the yard with his newly made slingshot. Lu Mingyue finished cleaning up the dishes and sat down on a small stool, sewing Yao Yao's little socks while listening to the sounds of the father and son.
While playing, Leilei suddenly stopped, gripped his slingshot, walked up to Huo Zheng, and whispered, "Dad, Xiaoman said that Mom and Dad sleep together, so why do you always sleep in the east room?"
Huo Zheng was stunned for a moment, then smiled and patted his son's head.
Lu Mingyue paused, putting down what she was doing, and strained her ears to hear Huo Zheng's answer.
“Silly child,” Huo Zheng said gently, “Dad sleeps in the east room because he has to get up early every day to go to the camp for training. He is afraid that the noise of getting dressed and washing up will wake you and your sister, and he is also afraid that turning over will disturb your mother’s rest.”
Leilei frowned, clearly not entirely convinced, the doubts still lingering in his little head: "But last time I slept in the east room with Dad, you got up at night to get dressed without making a sound, it was so quiet."
Huo Zheng was speechless at this question, and subconsciously looked at Lu Mingyue with a helpless plea for help in his eyes.
Lu Mingyue suppressed a laugh and turned her face away, pretending to continue sewing socks.
Huo Zheng cleared his throat, reached out and flicked Lei Lei's little nose, deliberately changing the subject: "That's because you sleep so soundly, like a little pig. Besides, the east room is close to the gate, so Dad can check on the chicken coop in the yard when he gets up early, to prevent the weasels from causing trouble."
Lei Lei blinked, stared at the direction of the chicken coop for a long time, and seemed to think that there was some truth to what was said, but he hadn't completely put his doubts aside.
After hearing his father's words, he frowned again, and shook Huo Zheng's arm while holding the slingshot: "But Xiaoman said that only when Dad and Mom sleep together can we be a family."
Seeing that Huo Zheng and Lu Mingyue were just smiling, he simply put down the slingshot, grabbed their hands and pulled them into the house, saying, "You two will sleep in the west room tonight, and my sister and I will sleep in the east room!"
No matter how the two tried to coax or persuade him, Leilei stubbornly shook his head. During dinner, he even kept a close eye on Huo Zheng as he packed up the bedding in the east room.
After Lu Mingyue finished coaxing Yao Yao to take a bath, she turned around and saw Lei Lei standing at the door of the west room, holding his little pillow. His little face was full of seriousness: "Dad, I've put the pillow away for you. You're not allowed to go to the east room tonight."
Huo Zheng looked at Lu Mingyue helplessly, but there was a smile hidden in his eyes.
Lu Mingyue suppressed a laugh and helped Leilei arrange the pillows: "Okay, we'll listen to our Leilei."
Lei Lei was relieved, tiptoed to help them close the curtains, and skipped off to tell Yao Yao a story.
Inside the room, Huo Zheng reached out to tidy Lu Mingyue's sideburns. Under the warm yellow light, the two looked at each other and smiled, their eyes filled with tenderness.
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