"I just played with mud. Today I made a little rabbit, a little sheep, and..." Xiaxia counted them off on her fingers, her face full of pride.
Su Nianxue...
"Isn't that something boys play? What are you, a girl, doing getting involved?"
Look at the girls in the village, who goes off to play in the mud all the time?
Everyone else is dressed neatly and cleanly, unlike you, who looks like you're working in the fields every day. No, you're dirtier than working in the fields.
"That's what they said too, but I defeated them all."
“Yes, Aunt Nianxue, Xiaxia’s little animals are so pretty, even prettier than theirs,” Xiaoshitou quickly added.
"Oh my, whose mud monkey is this?" Gu Yanbai saw this scene as soon as he entered the door.
"Dad, you're back!" As soon as Xiaxia heard his voice, she ran towards him, having escaped a beating today.
"You better stand still and don't move. Look at you covered in mud, I don't want you to leave me with some black handprints." Gu Yanbai said, and even deliberately walked around her to keep his distance.
Su Nianxue crossed her arms and teased, "Why are you hiding?"
Your daughter loves you so much, why don't you let her hug you?
Didn't you hear her say that she made a lot of little animal figures for you today? Why don't you ask her to go and bring them back for you? We can cook them for you to have with your drinks later.
Gu Yanbai chuckled awkwardly, "Wife, don't take your anger out on me."
"It's her fault for being cheeky, not mine, right?"
"Didn't you say that?"
We can't be too strict with her. Playing is a child's nature, and we should preserve that nature.
She likes playing in the mud, right? In a while, it will be time to plant rice seedlings in the field.
But sometimes, we'd just throw her into the fields and let her play to her heart's content.
"I think this idea is good. We'll hand her over to my older brother and let her help out in the fields."
Su Nianxue rolled her eyes. "Why would they have time to look after your child? Do you think they're so free?"
The three children watched them expectantly, waiting to see how things would unfold.
Let's see if the East Wind prevails over the West Wind, or if the West Wind wins.
Seeing that they were still staring blankly, Gu Yanbai yelled at the children, "Hurry up and change your dirty clothes!"
Xiaxia said "Oh" and ran into the house.
Su Nianxue's brow twitched as she looked at him. "Wash your hands and face first, then go inside."
Xiaxia and Xiaoshitou washed their hands and faces before going inside to change their clothes.
Yu Chu subconsciously followed behind the two older children.
"Yu Chu, don't go, you don't need to change." Su Nianxue hurriedly stopped him.
Indeed, his little face was clean, and there wasn't a single mud stain on his clothes.
"Son, come here and tell Dad why you're not playing in the mud?" Gu Yanbai picked him up in one go. The boy had become quieter as he got older.
Although she can be naughty at times, she's nothing compared to Xiaxia.
"I don't like playing these games."
"What do you like? Tell me, and Dad will help you find it." Only then did he realize that most of the things in the house were things that Xiaxia liked.
People say that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and Xiaxia is a bit impulsive, so the two of them often scold her.
But unintentionally, more energy and attention were also focused on her.
This kid has always been well-behaved and doesn't cause them much trouble, so they've been somewhat neglected.
Gu Yanbai couldn't help but sigh. Sure enough, it's not so easy to treat everyone equally.
Gu Yuchu tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said, "Then... Dad, Mom, I like rabbits, can I keep two at home?"
“Okay, Dad will find it for you tomorrow.” Gu Yanbai did not refuse.
"Let's raise it." Su Nianxue shared Gu Yanbai's opinion; they had really neglected the child.
Sure enough, the next day, Gu Yanbai returned carrying an iron cage.
Xiaxia didn't go out to play today. Knowing that her dad was bringing a rabbit back, she waited at home.
As soon as the two children saw him, they ran up to him and shouted around the cage, "Oh, the little rabbit is back!"
Gu Yanbai put down the cage, letting the two children watch.
Then he said, "I've found the rabbit for you."
But we need to make this clear first: from now on, feeding the rabbits and cleaning up after them will be your responsibility. Your mother and I won't be involved.
If you don't take good care of them, I'll send them to your great-grandfather's house.
"Let your great-grandfather fatten you up, then slaughter you for our whole family to eat."
Upon hearing that the rabbit was to be sent to its great-grandfather's house, the two children were reluctant to part with it and repeatedly promised, "Dad, we will take good care of the little rabbit. Please don't send it to great-grandfather's house."
With two new baby rabbits in the house, the two children have become quite busy.
Every day, she either goes out to pull weeds and comes back to feed the rabbits, or she helps clean the rabbit cages spotless.
When they have free time, the siblings sit on either side of the cage, playing with the rabbits and talking to them.
With these chores to do, Xiaxia doesn't go out to play much anymore.
Gu Yanbai sighed, "If I had known that using rabbits could settle them down, I should have caught a few earlier."
"Who would have thought this!" Seeing the two children busy and having a great time, Su Nianxue felt much more at ease.
In the blink of an eye, Xiaxia is in third grade, and Yuchu is in first grade.
Both of them have grown taller and more sensible.
However, Gu Yanbai has been troubled lately.
Why?
It's all because of his daughter.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
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