Chapter 319 Idiot! Idiot!
At the Nie residence, Mao Mao not only ate Shen Ji's pastries but also ice cream. For lunch, she even ate a large carp that she had just caught, leaving her belly round and full.
After the meal, she sang a new nursery rhyme that she had learned in kindergarten to her uncle.
Nie Zhengyun listened without changing his expression, then clapped his hands and praised, "It's beautiful."
"I rarely listen to this kind of song, but after listening to Miss Mao Mao sing it, it was really interesting and refreshing for me."
They almost praised Mao Mao to the skies.
If it weren't for the fact that she still had to deliver mooncakes to one family, she would have loved to stay at the Nie residence until dark.
On his way to the Zhou family home, Lou Hongjian felt sorrowful.
He drove through Paris at night, his gaze lingering for a moment on the colorful signs, wondering if he should go away for a while and return home after the Mid-Autumn Festival.
"elder brother."
Mao Mao pressed her face against the car window, her eyes sparkling as she watched the street flash by. As the car drove past, she tilted her head back, her cheeks pressed against the glass, squeezing into a flat shape.
"Brother, Mao Mao saw a little bird."
What kind of bird?
"Beautiful bird."
Lou Hongjian glanced in the rearview mirror and saw a pet stall by the roadside selling all kinds of pets, including many colorful parrots perched on the racks.
Lou Hongjian didn't stop the car, but slowed down so that Mao Mao could see it more clearly.
The big white cat that Old Madam Lou kept didn't catch fish, but it did hunt birds. The sparrows that she had kept before had caught the eye of the big white cat, which tried to sneak up and attack them with its claws several times, but luckily it managed to defend itself.
Ever since the four sparrows he kept flew away, the big white cat lost its target and started chasing birds and butterflies in the yard. Once, it actually caught one and got a good scolding from Old Madam Lou, so badly that it couldn't even lift its tail.
Lou Hongjian glanced at the rearview mirror again, and suddenly had a flash of inspiration, so he stopped the car.
He hurriedly unbuckled his seatbelt: "Mao Mao, wait here, your brother will be right back."
"hold head high?"
Mao Mao sat obediently in the car, watching her brother run to the pet stall. A little while later, he came back carrying a cage.
Inside the cage was a brightly colored parrot, its round eyes wide open, cleverly observing its surroundings.
Mao Mao's eyes widened suddenly, and she held her breath as she carefully observed the beautiful little bird in front of her. She tentatively reached out her little hand and slipped it through the gap in the cage to touch the parrot's beautiful feathers.
The parrot obediently let her touch it, without resisting at all.
"Brother, is this for Mao Mao?"
Lou Hongjian shook his head: "Give it to you? If I bring a bird home, our house will be in chaos, with birds flying everywhere and cats jumping around. It'll cause all sorts of trouble."
He patted the birdcage: "This is for Mr. Zhou."
"For Grandpa?"
Lou Hongjian nodded solemnly and said, "Dad respects Mr. Zhou the most now and listens to him. I'll give him a bird to keep him company and ask him to put in a good word for me. Maybe then Dad won't be so angry."
Mao Mao listened, completely bewildered.
The car was restarted and drove towards Mr. Zhou's home.
They stopped at the familiar intersection, and Mao Mao, carrying the mooncake box, led her brother inside.
Lou Hongjian had never been here before, but Mao Mao had been once, and this time she went to the Zhou family's house as if she knew the way well.
"Grandma! Grandpa!"
Mao Mao knocked loudly on the door: "It's me, Mao Mao! Open the door!"
A short while later, someone came to open the door.
It's Mrs. Zhou.
Mao Mao looked up with a sweet smile and greeted her warmly, "Hello, Grandma."
"Oh, Mao Mao, it's you." Mrs. Zhou was kind and gentle, and her smile deepened when she saw her: "What brings you here?"
"Grandma, I've brought you mooncakes." Mao Mao held up the mooncake box, revealing her soft little face from behind, her round, dark grape-like eyes sparkling: "I made them myself!"
Mrs. Zhou exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, that's amazing!"
"Teacher Ye taught us, and Mao Mao even made some for Grandma and Grandpa." Mao Mao said happily, "Grandma, I also made some for you and Grandpa. It's filled with red bean paste, and it's so delicious."
"Okay, okay."
Lou Hongjian presented the gift he had brought at the opportune moment: "Mrs. Zhou, this is a gift to mark our meeting."
Mrs. Zhou looked at the birdcage in his hand and paused for a moment: "A parrot?"
“I heard that you and Mr. Zhou don’t have any children around you. Mr. Zhou goes to work during the day, and you are all alone at home. This parrot will keep you company and help you relieve your boredom.” Lou Hongjian teased the parrot in the cage. “I specially picked one with the best plumage, so you will find it pleasing to the eye.”
The parrot dodged his finger and hopped onto the nearby bar: "Caw!"
Mrs. Zhou smiled and accepted it: "You must be the Third Young Master? Thank you for your kindness."
Mrs. Zhou opened the door and invited the two of them in.
As she closed the door, she habitually looked to her left and right, and only felt relieved when she didn't see anyone suspicious.
Over the past week, the Zhou family home has long since recovered from the mess it was in when they last visited.
The scene of the fight with the thieves has been cleaned up, the bloodstains on the ground have been washed away, and all the furniture and facilities damaged in the fight have been replaced with new ones. Mrs. Zhou has also placed a few potted plants for decoration. After tidying up, this temporary place has regained the warmth of home.
Grandpa Zhou is at home today.
He sat in the main room, wearing reading glasses, engrossed in a book. Seeing a guest enter, he glanced up from behind his glasses, then coldly lowered his gaze and continued reading.
Zhou Shaoyan greeted them casually, "You're here, have a seat."
He came running over, beaming, and greeted us warmly: "Grandpa!"
Zhou Shaoyan: "Mm."
Mao Mao: "Grandpa, I made you some delicious mooncakes."
Zhou Shaoyan: "Okay, put it there."
Mao Mao: "Grandpa, have you read Mao Mao's story?"
Zhou Shaoyan: "..."
A week later, Mao Mao hadn't forgotten the homework she had assigned.
Grandpa Zhou gave a vague reply, pretending to look at the book in his hand seriously, intending to get away with it. But as he turned a page, he glanced at the little girl out of the corner of his eye and saw that she was still standing next to him, staring at him with her big, dark eyes.
Grandpa Zhou had no choice but to say, "I've seen it."
Mao Mao was immediately delighted: "Really? Grandpa, tell me about it."
Old Master Zhou: "..."
Old Master Zhou thought with a stern face and no expression: These big and small people all like to cause trouble for others.
He had just started working at the Military and Political Department and hadn't even gotten to know the other people's personalities when Commander Lou dumped a bunch of things on him, showing no regard for his old bones, calling it "the capable should do more work," as if he wanted to squeeze water out of a stone.
The older one is shameless, and the younger one is even more so, both are very persistent.
Mrs. Zhou hung the parrot cage under the eaves, brought over tea and snacks, and gave her husband a reproachful look: "Mao Mao is here as a guest, why are you still holding that lousy book? You've been reading all day, take a break."
Grandpa Zhou had no choice but to close the book in his hand and take off his reading glasses.
Mrs. Zhou placed another pastry in Mao Mao's hand: "Here, Mao Mao, eat this. I made this myself; it's a pastry from my hometown, you can't buy it in Haicheng."
"Thank you, Grandma."
Mao Mao took it, broke it in half and gave half to her brother, so they each got half.
As she ate, she asked with concern, "Grandma, have you encountered any danger this week? Have any bad people come to your house?"
Mrs. Zhou smiled and said, "No, the young marshal sent people to protect us, and we haven't encountered any more danger."
Mao Mao immediately felt relieved.
Her little feet, dangling in mid-air, swung happily: "Grandma, don't be afraid, my brother is very strong! He can chase away any bad guys, bang bang~"
"Yes, that day, it was thanks to the young marshal and you that we escaped unharmed."
Mao Mao shook her head: "Mao Mao didn't do anything."
Mrs. Zhou smiled kindly and did not argue with her.
Whether they have it or not, they know best in their hearts.
Later, she heard from Grandpa Zhou that it was thanks to Mao Mao holding back her husband that the young marshal became alert and made his discovery.
Their lives were saved half by the young marshal and half by Mao Mao.
Afterwards, she was frightened, and it was Mao Mao who comforted her. That's why she brought mooncakes to visit her today. Mao Mao is so young, yet she's already acting as her granddaughter. Being cared for by such a little child melts Mrs. Zhou's heart.
Mrs. Zhou was even more enthusiastic, "Mao Mao, would you like to stay for dinner at Grandma's tonight? Grandma will cook you some hometown dishes, they're delicious."
Old Master Zhou said, "I've called Zhaolin over tonight."
"Oh, I see." Mrs. Zhou said regretfully, "Then next time, Mao Mao, come to Grandma's house for dinner again next time, and Grandma will show you her cooking skills."
Mao Mao nodded and said, "Okay!"
"What do you like to eat? Grandma will prepare it early."
"MaoMao likes everything~"
Mrs. Zhou beamed, "Okay, then I'll make them all for Mao Mao."
Now that it was agreed, Mrs. Zhou went to look at the calendar.
Normally, Mao Mao has to go to kindergarten, and she only has free time on weekends.
It's quite a coincidence that the next holiday will be the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Mrs. Zhou immediately said with regret, "Mid-Autumn Festival... that's not very convenient." They could only postpone it again.
Mao Mao blinked and said obediently, "Mao Mao made a date with Uncle for the Mid-Autumn Festival."
"Which uncle? Zhaolin?" Zhou Shaoyan suddenly spoke up, frowning. "How can he be so insensible?"
Last time, Shen Zhaolin told him that he wanted to be Mao Mao's godfather and asked him to put in a good word for her with Commander Lou.
He didn't think it sounded reliable.
Other people's kids are cute, but they have dads, so why would they need another one? Of course, those nice things weren't said.
He knew Shen Zhaolin was oblivious to social cues, but this time he had gone too far. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunion, why wasn't Shen Zhaolin spending it with his own family? What was he doing abducting someone else's child?
They'll have to scold me later.
Mao Mao shook her head: "No, it's another uncle."
"Another uncle?"
"Yes, she's Mao Mao's good friend."
Mrs. Zhou laughed and said, "Friends? You and Zhaolin are friends too. Mao Mao, are all your friends so old?"
Zhou Shaoyan stroked his beard and suddenly said, "He wouldn't want to be your godfather too, would he?"
"Huh?" Mao Mao looked at him in surprise, sat up straight, her eyes wide open, and said incredulously, "Grandpa, how did you know?"
Zhou Shaoyan: "..."
“However, my dad said that one dad is enough for Mao Mao, so Mao Mao and Uncle became good friends.” Mao Mao said truthfully, “Uncle is so pitiful. He has no family and is all alone at home. He has to spend holidays alone, so Mao Mao went out to play with Uncle.”
Zhou Shaoyan: "..."
When Old Master Zhou heard this, he felt that something was amiss.
Although I've never met that person, it sounds like they all want to be my godfather. He's more shrewd than Shen Zhaolin.
Zhou Shaoyan stroked his beard, his brows furrowing slightly.
...
In the evening, Shen Zhaolin arrived as a guest, bringing gifts.
As soon as he entered, his attention was drawn to the parrot under the eaves.
"Teacher, when did you start keeping birds at home?"
"It's a bird that Young Master Lou gave me," Mrs. Zhou said. "Today, Mao Mao and Young Master Lou came to deliver mooncakes and this parrot as well. They said they were worried I'd be bored, so they'd give it to me to keep me entertained."
Shen Zhaolin smiled and said, "Third Young Master is so considerate."
Shen Zhaolin put down the gift and teased the bird through the cage. The parrot squawked and flapped its wings, saying, "Idiot! Idiot!"
Shen Zhao was stunned: "How can it swear?"
Mrs. Zhou was also helpless.
In the afternoon, after Mao Mao left, Grandpa Zhou stood in front of the birdcage for a while, and the parrot learned a new word.
"That sounds familiar," Shen Zhaolin thought to himself. "Our teachers used to scold us like that all the time."
Mrs. Zhou shook her head and said, "Ignore that bird, come in and sit down. I made your favorite food."
Shen Zhaolin washed his hands and sat down at the dining table.
Old Master Zhou had already sat down, his face stern, watching him find fault with everything.
When he was Zhou Laoyezi's student, Shen Zhaolin was very familiar with his attitude. Usually, it was when he made a mistake or was careless in some way that he was to be reprimanded.
He immediately reflected on everything he had done during this period... No, he's no longer a student, what could he have done wrong?
Grandpa Zhou asked, "Do you have anything planned for the Mid-Autumn Festival?"
"Mid-Autumn Festival?" Shen Zhaolin thought for a moment: "School is on holiday, so there's nothing much to do, except for a family dinner tonight."
Old Master Zhou found him an eyesore: "Nothing wrong? Can't you find something to do?"
Shen Zhaolin was completely bewildered by the scolding.
"Today, that little girl Mao Mao came to my place to deliver mooncakes."
"Oh, Mao Mao also gave me one." Shen Zhaolin said with a smile, "She said she made it herself. I even tried it. It's a red bean paste mooncake, and it's delicious."
Old Master Zhou's face darkened even more: "You just accepted the mooncakes and didn't say anything?"
"I have already thanked her."
He had intended to say more, but he had to leave unexpectedly today, and Shen Zhuoying helped him pack up, so they didn't get a chance to talk. Zhuoying even stole one of his mooncakes.
Old Master Zhou frowned: "That's it?"
Shen Zhaolin: "Oh, I also prepared some holiday gifts to send over."
Grandpa Zhou glared at him, annoyed.
"Idiot!" Old Master Zhou cursed, "You didn't even realize someone beat you to it!"
Shen Zhaolin was so scolded that he couldn't lift his head: "Yes, yes, yes..."
"I heard that Mao Mao and another friend who wants to be her godfather have made plans to go out together for the Mid-Autumn Festival."
Shen Zhaolin was taken aback: "Friend?"
Godfather?
Nie Zhengyun?
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Mao Mao adapted a short drama! Applause! Hooray!
Those who are interested can take a look~ You should be able to find it by searching the title or Mao Mao's name; there are several versions.
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