Chapter 162 Education
Leilei and Yaoyao had just entered the house after school when they heard Lu Mingyue's soft scolding coming from inside.
Peeking out, I saw Lele standing in the middle of the living room with her head drooping, her little shoulders twitching, and her nose red, clearly she had just been scolded.
The two exchanged a glance and instantly understood that Lele must have gotten into trouble again.
Just as Leilei was about to step forward and pull Lele behind him to protect her, Yaoyao also quietly moved her feet, wanting to offer her a piece of candy to coax her. But then she saw Lele glance up at them, and she could no longer hold back her grievances. Her lips trembled, and tears began to well up in her eyes. She looked like she was about to cry.
Lu Mingyue sat on the sofa with her teacup in hand, slowly taking a sip, her eyes already catching the little actions of the three siblings out of the corner of her eye.
She cleared her throat and coughed softly, but with an undeniable air of authority.
Lei Lei's hand froze in mid-air, and Yao Yao quickly withdrew her outstretched hand as well. The two stood obediently in place, not daring to make any further moves.
Lele's tears welled up in her eyes. She glanced at her mother's face, then at her older siblings who dared not step forward, but ultimately didn't dare to let them fall. She just muttered softly, "I really did it to protect Niu Niu."
Lu Mingyue put down her teacup, her tone softening slightly: "It's right to protect your sister, but it's wrong of you to hit her. Leilei and Yaoyao, you two shouldn't try to protect her either. Let her reflect on her actions first and understand where she went wrong before we talk about anything else."
Leilei and Yaoyao nodded and secretly gave Lele a wink, signaling her to apologize properly.
Lele pouted and slowly walked up to Lu Mingyue, whispering, "Mom, I was wrong. I won't hit people anymore. I'll reason with Xiaohu."
Seeing her little girl bowing her head in apology, and then looking at her children beside her with concern, Lu Mingyue's anger had already subsided considerably.
However, in order to teach her a lesson, Lu Mingyue still made her stand as punishment for half an hour.
As Lu Mingyue went inside to pack her things, Leilei immediately gave Yaoyao a wink.
Yao Yao secretly rummaged through the drawer and took out the beef jerky that she had specially saved during the day. It was something Lu Mingyue had given her to supplement her nutrition, but she hadn't been willing to eat it and had kept it hidden away.
She tiptoed closer to Lele and saw that the little one was still staring at the wall with her eyes open. She then put the beef jerky to her mouth and said, "Here, I secretly gave this to you. Eat it quickly, don't let Mommy find out."
Lele's eyes lit up, and she quickly stuffed the beef jerky into her mouth. The aroma of the meat spread on her tongue, and her frustration subsided considerably, but she still muttered, "Mom won't let me eat meat, it's so upsetting."
Lele loves meat the most. If she doesn't eat meat for a meal, she feels like she's wasted her time. So, to teach her a lesson, the second lesson is that everyone will eat vegetarian tonight.
Yao Yao gently patted her head: "Mom is doing this for your own good. Think about it, when Xiao Hu cried because you hit him, his mother would feel sorry for him too, right? It's not wrong to protect Niu Niu, but hitting people will hurt others and you will lose a good friend. It's not worth it."
Lele chewed on the beef jerky and slowly lowered her head: "I know I was wrong, but when I saw Xiaohu snatching Niu Niu's candy, I couldn't help myself."
"Next time something like this happens, ask your older brother or sister for help. We can reason with him or tell an adult, okay?" Yao Yao patiently advised.
Lele nodded, the unhappiness on her little face gradually fading away, and said earnestly, "Sister, I won't hit people anymore."
Yao Yao smiled and ruffled her hair: "That's right. If you behave well tomorrow, Mom will definitely make you braised pork."
The dinner table was laden with dishes: stir-fried vegetables, cucumber salad, and tofu soup, all smelling delicious, but Lele's favorite braised pork was missing.
Lu Mingyue set out the bowls and chopsticks, watching Lele shovel rice into her mouth with her little face scrunched up. She couldn't help but remind her, "Time to eat. The food is delicious today. Eat more vegetables to grow strong."
Lele pouted, picked up a piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks, and chewed it slowly, looking listless.
Normally, she can easily eat two big bowls of rice as long as there is meat, but today, without the aroma of meat, she looked listless and even her eyes seemed dull. She ate very little rice after trying to eat for a long time.
Lei Lei felt sorry for her and wanted to give her the egg from his own bowl, but Lu Mingyue stopped him with a look as soon as he reached out with his chopsticks.
Yao Yao also whispered, "Lele, vegetables are delicious too, you should eat more."
Lele shook her head, still not feeling enthusiastic, and muttered, "It's not tasty without meat."
Huo Zheng put down his chopsticks, his tone gentle yet firm: "This is a lesson for you. Hitting people is wrong, and you need to remember it. Once you truly understand what you did wrong and stop hitting people so easily in the future, Mom will make you braised pork again."
Seeing that her brother was unhappy, Yao Yao handed him the cherry tomatoes from her bowl: "Eat tomatoes, they're sweet."
Lele took the tomato but didn't eat it; she just held it in her hand, her little head still drooping.
Lele didn't eat much during the meal. After putting down her chopsticks, she sat on the sofa with her back to everyone, still looking sullen.
Lu Mingyue saw this, but she didn't back down. Punishment wasn't the goal; she wanted her to remember that protecting her sister was fine, but solving problems with fists was not acceptable.
The family was having dinner when they heard a knock on the courtyard gate.
Qin Lie and Zhu Xiaofang walked in carrying two lunchboxes, followed by their children, and called out with smiles, "Mingyue, Huo Zheng, we've come to visit."
"Come in and sit down." Lu Mingyue quickly stood up to greet them, then glanced at the lunchbox in Zhu Xiaofang's hand. "You even brought something. You're too kind."
Zhu Xiaofang smiled and handed over the lunchbox: "I guessed that Lele didn't get to eat meat, so I specially made her favorite cherry meat to satisfy her craving."
Based on the familiarity between the two families, and considering that Lele had helped her daughter beat someone up, they guessed that Lele probably wouldn't get any meat for dinner. That's why they came over; after all, it was for their daughter's sake, and they felt they had to show their appreciation.
As soon as the lunchbox was opened, the rich, sweet and sour aroma of meat wafted out. The cherry meat was bright red and coated with a thick sauce, making it look incredibly appetizing.
Lele, with her keen sense of smell, had already come over, her eyes fixed on the lunchbox, her little mouth pursed, and her previous listlessness vanished instantly.
Zhu Xiaofang picked up a piece from the small plate and put it in her hand: "Try what Auntie made and see if you like it."
Lele took a small bite carefully. The meat was soft and tender, with a sweet and sour flavor. Her eyes lit up immediately, and she ate it in big bites, saying indistinctly, "Delicious, thank you, Auntie."
Seeing this, Huo Zheng smiled and thanked him, "You are so thoughtful to remember such a small thing about the child."
Qin Lie waved his hand: "Why be so polite between neighbors? It's normal for kids to have little conflicts. Lele protecting her sister shows she's taking responsibility."
The room suddenly became lively, with adults sitting and chatting, while children gathered around Lele.
Watching her eat cherry meat, Niu Niu leaned over to try a bite, and Lele generously picked up a small piece and fed it to her.
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