Chapter 370 Where is Mao Mao hiding?
The hide-and-seek game was played throughout the entire courtyard and the first floor of the Marshal's Mansion.
With maids watching over them, the children didn't run up the stairs. But the mansion was vast, and there was more than enough space to hide a group of children.
The small living room where they usually stay, the hall where dance parties are held, and other places, except for the locked rooms, are all filled with children hiding. There are also Mao Mao's mothers and brothers.
Lou Dashuai was very generous. Before counting, he said to everyone, "Whoever can hide until the very end and I catch the last one will get a reward."
These words ignited not only the children but also the wives' fighting spirit.
“I have a necklace I like, the gemstones on it are so big.” The third concubine made a big circle with her thumb and forefinger, touched it to her cheek, and her delicate eyebrows arched: “It’s so expensive, I can’t bear to buy it. I want the Marshal to buy it for me.”
First wife: "I've got my eye on one too!"
The first wife laughed and said, "Then you'd better hide well, because I might be the last one to be caught."
Lou Hongjian was beaming: "It's rare for Dad to be so generous, I'm going to rip him off big time! Ah Sui, do you want to cooperate with me?"
Lou Yansui ignored him and asked Mao Mao, "Mao Mao, do you want your brother to help you hide it?"
"No." Mao Mao shook her head: "Mao Mao can hide it herself."
"Alright," Lou Yansui said, "If I win, I'll give you the reward."
Lou Hongjian opened his eyes wide: "Hey, Asui, you're too cunning."
The remaining two elder brothers also looked confident: "Ah Sui, the winner may not necessarily be you."
"Big brother, second brother, are you guys taking this so seriously too?"
"Can't we get the reward?"
Lou Hongjian: "..."
Lou Hongjian was dejected for a while, but he quickly cheered up again.
This is hide-and-seek, not some other competition; it's just a contest of who can hide the best. He might not necessarily lose.
As the last count was finished, everyone had found a hiding corner, and the three adults began to catch them.
After leaving the spacious courtyard to Nie Zhengyun and Shen Zhaolin, Commander Lou headed straight for his home.
He had a clear goal: to catch Mao Mao first. So he went to the small living room that Mao Mao usually liked to stay in.
Playing hide-and-seek with the kids was a piece of cake. As soon as Lou Dashuai entered the small living room, he immediately saw several carefree children with their hands and feet sticking out. He chased them around and even pulled out a woman from behind the curtains.
The second concubine sighed, "Alas."
Commander Lou asked her, "Where's Mao Mao?"
Second concubine: "I didn't see it either, anyway, it wasn't hiding here."
Lou Dashuai immediately turned around and went out the door.
Outside the French windows, several children were being held back by adults. The second aunt called to the children who had been pulled out of the small living room: "Everyone, don't run around. Those who haven't been caught, keep hiding. Those who have been caught, come with us. We're going to gather outside."
Okay~
Lou Dashuai went to the small study again.
Lou Yansui usually does his homework or writes stories here, and Mao Mao often keeps her brother company here. Similarly, he only finds a few children here.
"Where's Mao Mao?" Commander Lou asked.
The children obediently shook their heads and answered him in unison, "We don't know."
Have you seen where Mao Mao is hiding?
"I didn't see it~"
Okay.
Lou Dashuai pulled out his third son from the tightly closed cabinet and ordered him to take care of the group of children.
Although the game was confined to the first floor, the Marshal's mansion was vast, with numerous rooms on the first floor, providing ample hiding places. Marshal Lou raided several rooms in succession, capturing most of the people, but still couldn't find Mao Mao.
That's really strange.
He decided to have the servants cheat: "Have you seen where Mao Mao is hiding?"
A servant pointed in a certain direction: "It looks like they went that way."
Lou Dashuai immediately gave chase.
Following that, he successively found Lou Heming, the First Madam, Lou Yansui... and finally, he even pulled out the Third Concubine from behind a decorative ornament taller than a person.
The third concubine pouted and said, "Sigh."
"That's strange, where's Mao Mao?" Lou Dashuai wondered. "I've been searching all this time, and I still haven't seen her. Could she be hiding outside?"
In the courtyard, those who had been caught had already gathered at the party venue. The courtyard was full of flowers, plants, and trees, so there weren't many places to hide. From a distance, Nie Chen and his companion had already returned after catching the children, but Mao Mao was not among those caught.
"I didn't expect Mao Mao to hide so well." Lou Heming adjusted his glasses. "Could she be hiding with my older brother?"
Third Concubine: "I just saw that Mao Mao and the eldest young master went in different directions and were not together."
Everyone's curiosity was piqued.
No one knows better than those who live in the Marshal's Mansion every day, where people can hide in this house. Marshal Lou has already searched the area where everyone usually goes, and even the wives have all been found.
Every servant in the entire Marshal's mansion obeyed Marshal Lou's orders; they were his eyes and ears in this game of hide-and-seek. Yet even they were unaware of it.
Where can Mao Mao hide?
Xia Xiaoxiang had a sudden inspiration: "Could she have gone to the kitchen to steal some food?"
Upon hearing this, everyone thought it was highly likely!
Lou Dashuai immediately went to the kitchen.
Today we're having a party and have invited dozens of guests. With so many mouths to feed, the kitchen is bustling with activity as they prepare lunch.
When Lou Dashuai appeared in the kitchen, everyone stopped what they were doing.
Commander Lou asked sternly, "Has Mao Mao been here before?"
The kitchen servants exchanged glances and shook their heads.
Xia Xiaoxiang peeked behind the stove. Usually, Mao Mao would come over to help the cook tend the fire, a little bundle of fur squatting behind, easily overlooked by adults.
But now, as she walked around the stove, there was no one behind her.
The others also opened the lids of the water vat and the rice vat, and found nothing but rice and flour.
Strange, there isn't even a kitchen.
Where can Mao Mao hide?
A group of people came and went in a flurry.
Once everyone had walked away, the chef looked away, took the baskets full of vegetables and fruits piled up in the corner, revealing a round, chubby figure with two little tufts of hair still trembling on his head.
"Miss, they've left."
The little bundle of flesh squatting inside turned its head, revealing a fair and adorable face.
So that's where Mao Mao was hiding!
Fresh ingredients were placed in the corner, and baskets were stacked up. By stacking them up from various angles, a space big enough to hide someone was created in the corner.
Just now, when Lou Dashuai and the others came looking for someone, Mao Mao was hiding inside, her bright black eyes peering through the gaps in the vegetables, observing everyone. Many people walked past the vegetable baskets, but no one noticed that someone was hiding there.
She smiled sweetly and said, "Uncle, thank you for helping me play hide-and-seek."
Chef: "You're welcome."
"Uncle, I'll share the prize with you when I win."
The chef lifted the lid of the pot, revealing a cloud of white steam; the new desserts were ready.
He asked, "Would you like to try one, miss?"
Mao Mao licked her lips, her eyes sparkling: "Thank you, Uncle."
The chef gave Mao Mao a snack and then helped her put the covering back on. Mao Mao sat inside, happily eating the fragrant, piping hot snack.
After a while, another pair of chopsticks reached through the gap, holding a freshly fried meatball.
"Miss, please try it."
Mao Mao immediately opened her mouth and eagerly offered to help.
She didn't know how much time had passed, but after tasting the snacks and finishing her lunch, her belly was round and full, and she was tired of being inside.
The chef came to inform her, "Miss, we're just waiting for you!"
Everyone else has been found, except for Mao Mao.
Before her father could come back to the kitchen to catch her, Mao Mao crawled out of the corner on her own. She waved goodbye to the uncles and aunts in the kitchen, let out a burp, and ran out.
"dad!"
Lou Dashuai, who was frantically searching for someone, finally heard a familiar little voice.
Turning around, I saw my little girl, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, raising her hands and running towards me.
"Maomao!"
The other children also got excited: "Mao Mao, you've finally appeared!"
"Mao Mao, where have you been hiding?"
Commander Lou caught the man in a warm embrace.
He nuzzled his youngest daughter's soft cheek with his rough beard: "Where did you hide? Daddy has searched so many places, but I can't find you anywhere."
Mao Mao giggled incessantly and asked, "Daddy, am I the last one?"
"Yes, you're the last one." Lou Dashuai picked him up. "Dad keeps his word. What reward do you want?"
Mao Mao thought for a moment: "I need to discuss this with my uncle first."
"Okay, then tell Dad when you've thought it through."
Lou Dashuai lifted his daughter in his arms, his mouth almost reaching his ears in a grin: "Maomao, Daddy caught the most people today, will Daddy give you a reward?"
"Huh?" Mao Mao asked in confusion, "Dad, what kind of reward do you want?"
"Give your dad a kiss."
That simple?
Mao Mao immediately pouted.
Mwah~ Mwah~
One kiss on the left, one on the right. Under the watchful eyes of others, she passionately left wet kisses on both of her father's cheeks.
Lou Dashuai grinned so wide his eyes disappeared, completely obscuring Nie Chen and the other man's expressions. His joy was almost palpable: "Hey! Daddy's precious daughter! Come here, let Daddy give you a kiss too."
As he spoke, he leaned over and took a big sip.
It really is sucking.
Mao Mao's chubby cheeks were all kissed out of shape. Lou Dashuai's beard was so prickly that it made her little face turn bright red.
Not to mention the two uncles and their friends over there, even the Lou family couldn't stand it anymore.
Lou Fengju picked up his younger sister and, as he passed by, casually took a handkerchief from his third brother's pocket and wiped the drool off Mao Mao's face: "Dad, don't do that."
Lou Dashuai glared: "What's wrong with me? I can't even kiss my daughter?"
Old Madam Lou glared at him: "Kissing each other in front of so many people, what kind of behavior is that!"
Commander Lou: "..."
But Mao Mao didn't mind at all.
She happily climbed down from her brother's arms and was immediately surrounded by other children.
"Mao Mao, you're amazing."
"Mao Mao, you're number one!"
"Mao Mao, you smell nice, what's that scent?"
Mao Mao excitedly shared with the other children, "It tastes like rice!"
"We'll have delicious meatballs for lunch."
"And shrimp."
"The chef even grilled lamb chops for us!"
"There's also chicken soup, a whole chicken, golden soup, it smells so good."
Children: "Wow!"
Everyone: "..."
The case is solved.
Xia Xiaoxiang sighed: "I knew she'd go to the kitchen..."
The servants of the Lou family are all Lou Dashuai's spies, but the people working in the kitchen have long since become Mao Mao's good friends and will help her cheat.
...
Amidst colorful balloons, a sumptuous lunch, and the children's joyful laughter, Mao Mao's party came to an end.
As dusk fell, the guests were picked up by their families one by one.
They left reluctantly, waving goodbye to Mao Mao through the car window: "Mao Mao, come to my house to play next time!"
"Mao Mao, your party was so much fun! I'll come find you again next time!"
"Goodbye, Mao Mao!"
Mao Mao waved her little hand and said goodbye to the other children.
After seeing all the children off, the two adults lingered.
“Happy times are always short-lived.” Nie Zhengyun sighed, “Miss Mao’s party was really fun, but it’s a pity it’s over just like that.”
Shen Zhaolin echoed his words: "If I didn't have to go to class tomorrow, I really wanted to stay at the party you hosted, Mao Mao, and dance with you until dawn."
Lou Dashuai stood behind Mao Mao, his tall figure casting a large shadow, like an insurmountable mountain.
Mao Mao said enthusiastically, "Uncle, come and play again next time I throw a party!"
Nie Zhengyun: "Oh, that's great."
Shen Zhaolin: "Really? Mao Mao, I'll be waiting for your invitation."
Commander Lou's face darkened further: "Are you done talking? Why aren't you leaving?"
"Why is there a rush, General? I just want to say goodbye to Miss Mao Mao."
“Mao Mao, Zhuo Ying often talks about you at home. You are welcome to visit my home next time.”
Mao Mao: "Okay~"
Nie Zhengyun glanced at Shen Zhaolin, then turned back and said, "My family is also preparing a banquet soon."
"Oh?" Shen Zhaolin asked curiously, "If I remember correctly, Mr. Nie's birthday was already a while ago?"
Nie Zhengyun's expression remained unchanged, and his tone was neither warm nor cold: "Mr. Shen remembers very clearly."
"Haha, it's alright."
"Banquets aren't just for birthdays."
"That is..."
Mao Mao tilted her little head up and looked at the two men from left to right. Suddenly, she waved her little hand at them and said, "Uncle."
The two adults didn't understand what she meant, but they bent down as she said it.
Mao Mao took a step forward and stood on tiptoe.
Lean in and give him a kiss on the left, "Smack~"
Lean in and give him a quick kiss on the right, "Smack~"
Mao Mao took a step back, a sweet smile spreading across her face: "Uncle, thank you for playing with me today."
Nie Zhengyun and Shen Zhaolin covered their cheeks, frozen in place, the wet, soft touch still lingering, like being gently bumped by a cotton candy.
It leaves a lasting impression.
Lou Dashuai: ...? ? ?
Commander Lou: !!!
Amidst the background noise of Lou Dashuai's anger, Mao Mao, perched on her brother's shoulder, cheerfully waved goodbye to her two uncles who were getting further and further away.
"Uncle, see you next time~"
Commander Lou: "See you my ass!!!"
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