Chapter 390 Extra Chapter: Several Years Later 2
When Mao Mao was three years old, she would help the family's cook uncle tend the fire. She got along very well with everyone in the kitchen. She was fed well every day and her requests for food were always granted. Even during the most turbulent times, she never went hungry.
With so many people in the family who can cook, it's obviously not her turn to do it.
Mao Mao truly learned to cook after she went to university far away from home.
Without the chef uncle or the maid to take care of her life, she studied away from home and managed herself very well. During her holidays, she even followed the chef uncle around to learn from him, making the chef wish he could teach her all his skills.
Besides learning to be independent, Mao Mao also learned how to use and assemble guns from her eldest brother, first aid from her second brother, and how to braid beautiful braids from her third wife. During her time on the ship, she dressed herself up beautifully every day and braided her hair in different styles.
Today I came to see my fourth brother, whom I haven't seen in a long time. She even braided her hair into a complicated and beautiful style.
"...But Mao Mao is here to go to school. Third Brother, what are you doing here?" Lou Yansui asked.
"Of course I'm here to accompany you while you study," Lou Hongjian said matter-of-factly.
Lou Yansui: "..."
“Ah Sui, don’t look at me like that. My family has agreed to let me come to accompany her to school.” Lou Hongjian said emphatically, “Mao Mao is still so young. How can we be at ease letting her come to such a far place by herself? She’s a girl, and you’re so busy with work. There are bound to be things you can’t take care of. Even Mao Mao agreed to let me come to accompany her to school.”
Lou Yansui then looked at her younger sister, who was focused on cooking.
Although Mao Mao has graduated from university and is a grown woman, in the hearts of her parents and brothers, she is still not much different from the little baby they first met. As she grows up, she still needs to be cherished and loved.
But Lou Yansui knew that her younger sister had grown up a long time ago.
This turbulent era urges people to grow up in an extremely urgent manner. Seven or eight-year-old children may have to take charge of things, and even Mao Mao, who is cherished by them, is no exception.
When the war broke out in full force, several cities fell, and Mao Mao followed her family to many different places, witnessing countless people leaving their homes and families torn apart.
"Mao Mao, you also agree to let Third Brother come and keep you company?" Lou Yansui asked, puzzled. "What use is he? He might end up making you take care of him instead."
Lou Hongjian said with dissatisfaction: "Hey, Ah Sui!"
Mao Mao raised her head and put down her knife and fork: "Yes, I agree that Third Brother can come along, and Mother and the others should come too."
“That’s right, I was just a vanguard.” Lou Hongjian shrugged and snatched the sliced beef from his brother’s plate. “Ah Sui, it’s all your fault.”
"Blame me?"
"Who told you to leave home so early and achieve so much?" Lou Hongjian said helplessly, "Mao Mao looks forward to your letters every day, and you always mention your studies and research in your letters. She reads your letters over and over again, and so she idolizes you. Now, she has followed in your footsteps and come here."
Lou Yansui touched his nose. He had nothing to write about while he was abroad except for studying and working.
Lou Hongjian sighed deeply: "Once you went abroad, you haven't been home for so many years. If Mao Mao wants to follow your example, she might stay here to do research in the future. Wouldn't that mean we'll never see her again?"
Lou Yansui smiled slightly after being reprimanded: "Third Brother, no, transportation is much more convenient now."
He had been unable to return home before because of the war, but a few years ago, thanks to the united resistance of his people, the invaders surrendered. He believed the war wouldn't last long and that people would finally see the peace they longed for.
Lou Hongjian shook his head: "Even if the transportation is convenient, we'll only see each other a few times a year. I'm thinking, why don't we move with Mao Mao? That way, we can stay with her for as long as she wants to study. When you two want to go back, we'll go home together."
"Are Mom and the others coming too?"
"Not only Mom, but even Grandma said she wants to come!"
Lou Yansui was greatly surprised.
Mao Mao bit the straw and sipped all the orange juice in the cup in one go.
She lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling, and said shyly, "Brother, I want Mother to come with me. Mother said she has never been abroad."
"Of course, I didn't say no," Lou Yansui said. "It's just that I originally thought you'd be alone, so I only prepared a guest room for you. If Mom and the others come..."
Before he could finish speaking, he saw his third brother pull a corner of a check out of his pocket.
The money for buying a house is ready.
Lou Yansui murmured, "...Looks like I need to prepare to move."
The three siblings enjoyed a sumptuous lunch together, and then Lou Yansui drove them back to her home with their luggage and two other people.
He had already taken half a day off from school to entertain his sister, and now that he had an older brother, he had even more to say.
While helping the two unpack their luggage, she inquired in detail about the recent situation of their families.
Lou Yansui had been away from home for too long, and communication relied solely on letters, but the amount of content that could be written on paper was limited.
Especially after the full-scale outbreak of the war, he was overseas and could only learn about his family's situation and safety from letters he received. Perhaps to avoid worrying him, they would only recount these things to him after a long time, once everything had settled down.
For example, my father and eldest brother commanded and participated in many battles and won many victories. They were also wounded during these battles, but they had already recovered when they wrote the letter.
For example, when his second brother became a frontline doctor, the enemy was bombing outside the cave while he was performing surgery. When Lou Yansui received the letter, half a year had passed since that battle.
For example, Mao Mao herself once covered the escape of a group of wounded soldiers right under the enemy's nose. When she later wrote a letter, she glossed over the terrifying process and instead wrote a full half-page about how she got a perfect score again.
Lou Yansui finally found an opportunity to ask about the things that weren't clearly explained in the letter.
"...Dad is in good health too. I still can't beat him in an arm wrestling match." Lou Hongjian said, "Grandma caught a cold this spring, but it was nothing serious. My second brother said she's very healthy. She could even beat me last month."
Lou Yansui: "..."
He sighed, "Third brother, what have you done now?"
"I'm innocent!" Lou Hongjian cried out, "Grandma insisted that I go on a blind date. I said that it's enough for my eldest brother and second brother to get married. It doesn't matter if I'm one more or one less. At worst, I'll live with Mao Mao in the future. Grandma... Ah Sui, why are you looking at me like that?"
Lou Yansui said sincerely, "If it weren't for the fact that I haven't seen you in a long time, I would also like to hit you."
"..."
Mao Mao pulled a photo frame out of her luggage and ran over excitedly: "Brother, where should we put this?"
Lou Yansui helped her find a place to put it.
The photo frame contains a family portrait that was taken just last New Year.
Mao Mao placed it in the most conspicuous spot in the living room, looked around, and felt something was missing. She then found a solo photo of Lou Yansui and placed it next to it. Only then was she satisfied.
"Brother," she said, pointing to the family photo and turning back, "I'll take a picture with you next time."
Lou Yansui smiled and said, "Okay."
This era was turbulent, countless people were forced to disperse, and countless others lived in fear and unease.
Fortunately, no matter how many storms they have weathered, the whole family has survived and lived peacefully to this day, always remaining together.
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