As soon as Chaochao heard her brother say that dinner was ready, she scrambled up the long bench, chopsticks in hand, practically wearing a bib, her big eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Jiang Chi brought over a plate of mixed stew. "Hey, eat up."
Holding her chopsticks, Chaochao looked at the plate with a puzzled expression for a long time before asking, "Brother, aren't we eating dumplings?"
Jiang Chi: "Yes, it's dumplings."
He took the chopsticks from the little dumpling, fed her a bite of the dough first, then a bite of the filling, his casual, magnetic voice seemingly coaxing her: "See, isn't this just like eating dumplings?"
That seems to be correct.
After a second of thinking, Chaochao readily accepted her brother's explanation. The little dumpling, who had never tried eating dumplings this way before, found it quite novel.
She took a big bite, and just as Jiang Chi expected, exclaimed, "Delicious! Great job, brother!"
Before he could finish speaking, he opened his mouth wide and used his chopsticks to scoop a large piece of dough into his mouth.
Incidentally, he picked up Jiang Chi's shattered heart.
For a moment, he actually felt like he was raising a little pig.
Why don't you pick and choose anything?
Jiang Chi: As expected, she loves him too much.
Chaochao was unaware of her brother's thoughts. She only felt that she was still not full after eating a plate of "dumplings," and looked around the room hoping to find something to eat.
"Brother, we're never full!"
She rested her chin on the table, her chubby cheeks curled up in a pitiful way as she looked at Jiang Chi.
Jiang Chi: "..."
The young man turned his gaze to the side, his ear tinged with a pink hue reminiscent of peach blossom pastries.
He actually does.
He lifted his thin shirt jacket, revealing a small pocket sewn inside. Jiang Chi lowered his eyes and carefully took out six candies, his long, slender, fair hands holding the colorful glass candies, and handed them to Chaochao.
Chaochao's eyes widened in surprise.
Jiang Chi deliberately waved his hand in front of Chaochao: "Look, I don't lie to children."
He was hiding three pills a day.
Cameraman: "..."
Bro, are you really not going to try to avoid me?
I'm part of the production team.
Jiang Chi seemed to have heard his thoughts and glanced at him indifferently.
Chaochao, who had only eaten one candy since the beginning of the show, swallowed hard. The little girl wanted to take it but hesitated and withdrew: "But... Uncle Zou said we can't bring them..."
But she really, really wanted to eat it.
"Rules must indeed be followed."
Jiang Chi smiled wryly, "But do I look like that kind of person?"
The negative rumors circulating online about him being arrogant and irritable are not unfounded; Jiang Chi is not the type to be easily restrained.
Otherwise, he would have been a carefree rich kid long ago, why would he bother trying to break into the entertainment industry?
Besides, he had already promised Chaochao.
Jiang Chi said earnestly, "Chaochao, don't follow your brother's example."
The little dumpling's mind was completely occupied by the candy, and she blindly nodded "uh-huh".
Jiang Chi: "Do you still want this candy...?"
"Yes, yes, yes—" Chaochao, like a tyrant bewitched by Daji, snatched the candy away, leaving one in his palm, "Brother, you eat this one!"
Then, in the short time it took Jiang Chi to turn around and put down the bowl and chopsticks, the little girl disappeared without a trace. "..."
What, did you flee to avoid punishment?
Fifteen minutes later, Chaochao returned leisurely, full of vigor and beaming, carrying an iron basin in his arms.
Sweet potatoes, eggs, custard buns, corn...
Jiang Chi: "...Where did you come from?"
“Leo Lei Bao Xiao Qing Chang Chang… Oh right, and Grandpa Li gave me this too~” Chao Chao, who had just finished eating at a friend’s house, picked out a sweet potato and held it up to Jiang Chi.
She wasn't full, so her brother must have been even less full.
Jiang Chi took the sweet potato, half-confused. "Did you go out begging for food?"
After picking up trash, Chaochao has started begging. Will his uncle beat him up?
Chaochao is like a proud little rooster.
"I shared all the candy with my friends."
These treats were naturally given to children as gifts when they visited each other's homes, and the fathers all felt deep sympathy for Chaochao, who was struggling to survive under Jiang Chi's rule.
Oh, and there was another ear of corn that Grandpa Li gave me as I passed by, thinking the child had gone out to beg for alms.
Jiang Chi raised an eyebrow: "Aren't you afraid the director will be angry?"
"No, it won't happen." The little dumpling's face shone with wisdom. "Everyone ate, Uncle Zou won't punish us."
Jiang Chi: "..."
Goodness, how does this little dumpling manage to be both silly and smart?
Director Zou in front of the screen: "..."
I was actually outmaneuvered by a three-year-old.
...
In the afternoon, adults and children separated to carry out their tasks.
The father and brothers helped the elderly living alone in the village repair their roofs, while the children teamed up to search for ingredients in the villagers' homes.
"Lei Bao, Xiao Qing is in the same group."
"Leo, Chaochao, and Changchang form a group."
Director Zou, holding a small megaphone, said kindly, "The ingredient cards you need are in your bamboo baskets, everyone can set off now."
"By the way, Chaochao and Changchang, Leo hasn't woken up from his afternoon nap yet. You need to go and wake him up first."
Director Zou said with a smile to the two children.
Chaochao nodded earnestly, a sense of mission welling up within her. "Yes, I got it!"
Seeing this, Changchang also shyly whispered, "Received..."
This was the first time the children had been separated from the adults and had to complete tasks on their own.
In previous years, at this time of year, loud air raid sirens would blare for a long time above the village, and the children would be tearful and reluctant to leave.
This year, the children were all quite calm. Xiao Qing was free-spirited and lively; Peng Peng had long since seen through his daughter's tendency to be away from home. Lei Bao was already a big brother in elementary school and no longer needed Hao Guoli to look after him. Although Chang Chang was reluctant, Wu Shang gave him a push, and he still moved away, looking back every few steps.
Even the youngest, Chaochao, holding Changchang's hand and carrying a small bamboo basket, walked out happily, as affectionate as a pair of childhood sweethearts on a picnic. As they walked, she kept saying, "What if Leo doesn't wake up later?... Ah, I know, Changchang, you can kiss him awake, just like the prince kisses Sleeping Beauty!"
Changchang's face immediately turned as red as a monkey's bottom, and she stammered, "No, no, boys can't kiss boys..."
"But girls can't kiss boys either..."
The two children's voices became indistinct as the distance increased. Jiang Chi watched the little dumpling's back without any expression, neither sad nor happy.
He smiled coldly.
He was not disappointed at all.
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