Chapter 163 The Grand Finale
The next morning, Lele wandered around the yard with a little something on her mind. She saw Xiaohu playing with building blocks in the distance. The blocks were accidentally scattered all over the ground. She hesitated for a moment, then quickly ran over to help pick them up.
"I'll help you pick them up." Lele squatted down, stacked the scattered building blocks one by one, handed them to Xiaohu, and whispered, "I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. I won't hit you anymore. Let's play together."
Xiao Hu paused for a moment, then shrank back. The feeling of being suppressed still seemed to be there. He swallowed and said, "It's okay. I shouldn't have taken Niu Niu's candy."
Lele nodded in satisfaction, "That's right. My mom said that kids who bully other kids are not good kids."
After that beating, Xiao Hu no longer dared to bully others and quickly nodded in agreement.
This scene was witnessed by Lu Mingyue, who was out hanging out the laundry. She couldn't help but smile. This child had finally taken reason to heart.
In the evening, Lu Mingyue specially tied on an apron and went into the kitchen to stew Lele's favorite braised pork.
The aroma of meat slowly filled the room. Lele lay by the kitchen door, her eyes fixed on the pot, her little nose twitching. Her previous frustration had long been forgotten.
When the meal was served, a large plate of bright red and fragrant braised pork was brought to the table, and Lele's eyes lit up instantly.
Lu Mingyue picked up the biggest piece and put it in his bowl: "Lele behaved well today. You apologized to Xiaohu and even helped him pick up his toys. This is a reward for you."
Lele picked up her chopsticks, quickly stuffed the meat into her mouth, and said indistinctly, "Thank you, Mom. I will definitely reason with people from now on and won't hit anyone."
Lei Lei and Yao Yao also laughed and picked up the braised pork. Seeing her older brother and sister eating so deliciously, Niu Niu also stretched out her little spoon, scooped up some meat broth and mixed it into her rice, eating with great relish.
Looking at the cheerful atmosphere around the table, Huo Zheng picked up a piece of meat for Lu Mingyue: "You really know how to make things. This braised pork is really delicious."
After washing up and lying in bed, Lele hugged Lu Mingyue's arm and rubbed against her, her little voice soft and sweet: "Mommy, I want to sleep with you, and I want you to tell me a story."
As soon as she finished speaking, Yao Yao ran over, grabbed the headboard, and blinked, "Mommy, I want to too. It's been so long since I slept with you."
Lu Mingyue's heart softened when she saw the expectant looks in the two children's eyes.
Since Leilei and Yaoyao grew up and started sleeping in separate rooms, Lele also got her own little bed. It's been a long time since the whole family has squeezed into one bed like this.
She waved her hand and said, "Okay, tonight all of us moms and kids will sleep together, and Mom will tell you bedtime stories."
Leilei cheered and crawled into bed, while Yaoyao quickly lay down as well, making sure to leave a spot for her younger sister.
After Lu Mingyue lay down, Lele snuggled close to her, while Leilei and Yaoyao flanked her on either side, their small bodies pressed tightly together, full of dependence.
As night deepened outside the window, only a soft lamp remained lit inside.
Lu Mingyue cleared her throat and slowly began to tell her stories from the past, about when she first met Huo Zheng, about the funny things that happened when Lei Lei first went swimming, and about how Yao Yao cried when she first started kindergarten.
The children listened intently, with Lele occasionally interjecting, "Dad was so amazing back then!" while Yaoyao covered her face and laughed shyly.
Lele nestled in her mother's arms, listening to her gentle voice, her little eyelids gradually drooping.
After telling the story, Lu Mingyue looked down and saw that Lele was already fast asleep, her little mouth still slightly open.
Leilei and Yaoyao also yawned, their eyes narrowed into slits, but they were still clutching the hem of her clothes.
Lu Mingyue gently tucked the blanket around her, looking at the three sleeping children beside her, her heart filled with tenderness.
Listening to their even breathing, it felt like I was back in my childhood.
The Huo family mansion was bustling with activity on the weekend.
It was Huo Zhenping's birthday, and Huo Zheng brought Lu Mingyue and the three children back early.
The whole family gathered in the old house, filling the courtyard to the brim.
In the past two years, Huo Zheng has been promoted and transferred back to Beijing. It's the time for him to rise to the top, so he rarely gets to return to his old house. This time, on his grandfather's birthday, the whole family was finally able to reunite.
Huo Zhenping retired last year and is now enjoying a life of leisure with his wife and grandchildren.
Today, wearing a newly made blue cloth shirt, I sat in the rattan chair in the middle of the yard, watching the children running and playing around me, and the wrinkles on my face smiled like flowers.
Lele and Yaoyao chased after each other, while Leilei and An'an followed behind to watch over them, afraid that the little ones would fall.
In the courtyard, the sounds of children laughing and playing, adults chatting, and pots and pans clattering from the kitchen mingled together, creating a chaotic yet incredibly warm atmosphere.
Lu Mingyue and Wen Yuexian were busy in the kitchen, and the aroma filled the entire courtyard.
Huo Zheng chatted with Huo Zhenping, talking about his work and the children's funny stories. The old man listened attentively, nodding frequently and offering a few words of advice from time to time.
When it was time to eat, the whole family sat around the table. Huo Zhenping picked up his teacup, smiled and said, "I'm happy that everyone is here today."
Everyone raised their glasses to wish the old man a long and healthy life, and the children joined in the commotion, calling out "Happy Birthday, Grandpa!" in their childish voices, which made everyone at the table burst into laughter.
Looking at the scene of family reunion before him, with children laughing and playing and elders in good health, Huo Zheng felt a sense of peace in his heart.
The weather was fine and sunny.
Huo Zhenping pulled out a kite from the storage room. It was the one Leilei had played with when he was a child. The wings were a little faded, but it was still sturdy.
He held the spool of kite string, smiling and waving to the children: "Come on, Grandpa will take you to fly kites."
The children immediately cheered and surrounded him, and Leilei took the kite and helped straighten the string.
Huo Zheng and Lu Mingyue moved two bamboo chairs and sat on the porch, looking at the lively scene in the courtyard and smiling at each other.
"I still remember the first time Leilei flew a kite. He ran around for ages but it wouldn't fly, and he cried in frustration," Lu Mingyue recalled softly, her eyes full of tenderness.
Huo Zheng nodded, his fingertips tracing the grain of the bamboo chair: "Back then, we had just started our family. I never imagined that so many years would pass in the blink of an eye, that our children would grow up so much, and that we would be living in Beijing."
In the courtyard, Huo Zhenping taught Lele how to run and let out the kite line. The kite swayed and rose into the sky, flying higher and higher with the children's cheers.
Lele looked up at the kite in the sky and clapped her hands, saying, "Grandpa is so amazing! The kite is flying in the sky!"
Lu Mingyue leaned on his shoulder and whispered, "Come back more often in the future. Your parents like lively gatherings, and the children like coming back too."
Huo Zheng gripped her hand and nodded in agreement.
The kites in the sky soared higher and higher, while the laughter on the ground carried farther and farther.
In the courtyard, the warmth of the old days and the joy of the new life intertwine, creating the most touching scene.
Huo Zheng looked at Lu Mingyue, and the two smiled at each other. From three little ones crying for food to now growing up, they had accompanied each other through thick and thin. All the hard work and sacrifices had turned into this perfect moment.
(End of article)
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