Chapter 267 The Typhoon is Coming
After dinner, the strong winds arrived as expected.
The wind was howling, and through the glass window, you could see that the trees in the courtyard were all bent to one side. Several rescued birds, perhaps sensing the wind and rain outside, huddled anxiously in their nests, chirping incessantly.
Grandma Lou's big white cat also hid, hiding in some unknown corner. Mao Mao called out "cat" while searching the house, but couldn't find the white shadow running out.
She hadn't been searching at home for long when Xia Xiaoxiang caught her and took her back.
There were no nighttime activities tonight. After giving her a bath, Xia Xiaoxiang tucked her into bed and then lay down herself.
Xia Xiaoxiang wrapped her in the blanket and patted her little head soothingly: "Okay, okay, go to sleep."
Mao Mao obediently closed her eyes.
But as soon as I close my eyes, my ears become even more sensitive.
Even with the windows tightly closed, she could still hear the howling wind. The rain had started falling at some point, and the wind whipped up the rain, making a splashing sound as it hit the glass, flowing down in a curtain of water. Occasionally, she would hear some rustling noises, and Mao Mao couldn't help but prick up her ears to listen carefully.
She listened for a while, then secretly opened her eyes.
"Mother."
Xia Xiaoxiang: "Hmm?"
"I can't sleep."
"..."
Xia Xiaoxiang ruffled her hair: "Why aren't you sleeping? What do you want to do? Go to sleep before the wind gets too strong. By the time you open your eyes again, the typhoon will be over."
Mao Mao's little feet dangled playfully under the covers: "It's too early."
"Try again. If you can't sleep, count." Xia Xiaoxiang said, "You'll be scared if it thunders and rains later."
Mao Mao had no choice but to obediently close her eyes and try again.
But it was far from her usual bedtime, and the rustling noises outside were still drawing her attention. She lay there with her eyes closed for a while, listening to her mother's breathing and the steady thumping of her heart. Mao Mao counted the forty numbers she knew—she could count from 20 to 40—from beginning to end and from end to beginning several times.
After a while, Mao Mao kicked her little feet again and opened her eyes: "Mother, it's hot."
Xia Xiaoxiang had no choice but to get up and look for a palm-leaf fan.
Although a strong wind was blowing outside, the doors and windows were tightly closed, and not a breath of wind could get into the house. Summer is already hot and humid, and with the windows closed, there was no ventilation. After lying down for a short while, both of them were drenched in sweat.
Xia Xiaoxiang fanned her and hummed a little tune to lull her to sleep.
Just as Mao Mao was drifting off to sleep and about to lose consciousness, a loud "BOOM!" resounded outside, accompanied by a massive bolt of lightning that shook the entire house.
Her sleepiness vanished instantly, and she opened her wide, frightened eyes in the darkness, her toes curling up under the covers.
Xia Xiaoxiang quickly dropped the fan, hugged her tightly, covered her little ears with her hands, and gently coaxed her, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid."
Mao Mao huddled in her mother's arms, terrified.
Mao Mao fears neither heaven nor earth, except for two things: ghosts and thunder.
Thunder rumbled outside, and the swaying shadows of the trees were cast menacingly on the snow-white curtains. Her heart pounded.
Xia Xiaoxiang sighed.
"I told you to go to bed earlier..."
Mao Mao snuggled deeper into her mother's arms, looking aggrieved: "...Mao Mao is scared."
Xia Xiaoxiang patted her back and reached for the light switch on the bedside table.
There were a few clapping sounds, but the room remained dark.
The power is out.
The entire villa was shrouded in darkness, standing silently in the midst of the raging storm. Raindrops pounded against the windows like pebbles, casting distorted shadows into the house. Occasionally, a flash of lightning would illuminate the empty room.
Under the threat of a hurricane, the house appeared excessively large and eerily terrifying in the darkness.
Mao Mao curled up into a ball, trembling, and snuggled into her mother's arms.
"Splash—"
It sounded like something had broken; the sound carried from afar.
Soon, someone gently knocked on the door.
"Maomao?"
"Xia Xiaoxiang?"
The third concubine's voice rang out from outside: "Are you all asleep?"
Xia Xiaoxiang called out loudly, "No."
The third concubine then turned the doorknob, took a flashlight, and pushed the door open to come in.
She immediately saw Mao Mao huddled in her mother's arms, looking pitiful with tears welling up in her eyes. Her soft little face turned pale with fright.
The third concubine immediately exclaimed, "Look how frightened our darling is! So pitiful..."
Just like that night when she was frightened by a ghost, the third concubine also squeezed into the bed, flanking Mao Mao with her mother on either side.
The two covered Mao Mao's ears, saying, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. The typhoon will pass once you fall asleep."
Mao Mao clutched the hems of her two mothers' clothes and obediently closed her eyes.
"What was that noise just now?" Xia Xiaoxiang asked in a low voice.
The third concubine also answered in a low voice, "It seems like a window in one of the rooms is broken."
"It's broken? Is everything alright?"
"It's nothing, just an unimportant room. It was probably smashed by a stone that blew too hard." Third Concubine: "When I went out to check, the First Madam and the others were still awake."
Faced with such a rare hurricane, everyone was restless and unable to sleep. They were also worried about General Lou and Lou Fengju, who were not at home.
Concern is one part, and passion is another.
With the windows tightly shut, the house felt like a sauna, stuffy and hot, making it hard to breathe. To make matters worse, the power was out, so even the fan couldn't reach it.
"Mother."
Mao Mao opened her eyes again: "Mao Mao wants to hear a story."
Xia Xiaoxiang immediately lowered her head: "What are you listening to? Mother will tell you."
"Mao Mao wants to hear Mao Mao's story."
"..."
I can't explain this.
There was another knock on the door. The maid said from outside, "Fifth Madam, Miss? First Madam said that if you're awake, why don't we all come downstairs for a get-together?"
Since they couldn't sleep anyway, the three of them got up.
The third concubine was leading the way with a flashlight, while Mao Mao held her mother's hand and slowly walked downstairs.
Everyone was gathered in the small living room.
Besides the big white cat hiding in some corner, even Lou Hongjian's newly adopted bird came, chirping incessantly in its nest.
Candles were lit everywhere, making the room bright.
"Maomao!"
Upon seeing their younger sister, the three older brothers immediately reached out their hands. Lou Heming, who was closest, was the first to hug his sister. He patted her back soothingly with his warm palm and said in a gentle voice, "Maomao, is it scary because it's your first time facing a typhoon? Don't be afraid, your brother will protect you."
“That’s right.” Lou Hongjian also hugged his bird’s nest: “Mao Mao, don’t be afraid, Third Brother is here. If you’re scared, just come here and hide. I’ll protect you and the bird very well.”
Lou Yansui picked up the thermos next to her and poured out a cup of hot milk.
Holding a warm cup of milk, leaning against her brother's broad shoulders, and with so many family members by her side, Mao Mao's wildly beating heart gradually calmed down.
Although there was still a raging storm outside, she felt extremely safe and secure inside the protective circle set up by her family.
Taking a sip of hot milk, Mao Mao leaned against her second brother and whispered, "Mao Mao wants to hear a story."
Lou Heming immediately said, "Which one do you want to hear? Your second brother will tell you."
"Mao Mao wants to hear Mao Mao's story."
Mao Mao's favorite story is Mao Mao's.
Lou Heming was about to go and look through yesterday's newspaper.
Mao Mao took another sip of hot milk, and the milk foam left a small white mustache on the corner of his lips.
With sparkling eyes, she said, "Mao Mao wants to hear something new."
this……
This is something my second brother can't do.
Everyone went to see Lou Yansui.
Lou Yansui hesitated.
After summer vacation started, he would tell Mao Mao a short story every day. Mao Mao was his most loyal little reader, and she had already heard today's story as soon as it was released.
However, this did not stump Lou Yansui. His mind raced, and after a moment's thought, a new story took shape in his mind.
“Then I’ll tell Mao Mao a new story,” he said. “Mao Mao and his kitten are going on vacation.”
Wow!
Mao Mao's eyes shone even brighter.
Mao Mao is going on vacation soon!
Lou Yansui organized her thoughts and quickly began to speak: "Maomao's kitten has run away again..."
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