Pig Trotter Soup

As the year was coming to an end, Professor Ji finally finished his work at school and the whole family was able to go home together.

Han Rong was busy going in and out: "Let's check if there is anything we have forgotten, so that we don't get anxious on the way."

Song Shixia quickly stopped her mother-in-law: "Mom, we have brought all the things. As long as the big items are fine, the small items can be sent after the New Year."

Han Rong gently pushed her daughter-in-law away and said, "This is my first time at your house, so I have to be careful. Go sit over there and eat some oranges."

Song Shixia turned around and looked into Ji Weiqing's eyes while he was sitting on the sofa, then sat down beside him helplessly.

"Mom made it too grand. I'm a little worried for her."

Ji Weiqing handed her the peeled oranges.

"Mom wants to bring you some more New Year gifts to support you, so that you can be envied by your fellow villagers and neighbors."

Song Shixia took a slice of orange and put it in her mouth.

"That doesn't sound like something Professor Ji would say."

"It's all because of what I have seen and heard."

The two little guys sat next to their parents, each holding a book in his hands.

Song Shixia discovered one of the four great masterpieces in Ji Yuan's hand.

"Where did this Water Margin come from?"

"Grandpa found it for me. My brother got the one from the Three Kingdoms drama."

Ji Yang spread the book flat on his lap: "It's Romance of the Three Kingdoms."

Song Shixia asked them jokingly: "Can you understand it?"

Ji Yuan answered honestly: "There were many words I didn't know, so Grandpa got us a dictionary."

Song Shixia deliberately exaggerated: "It's amazing. Can you tell me about it after you finish watching it? I haven't seen it yet."

The two brothers nodded in unison: "Then let's finish watching it quickly."

Song Shixia smiled and touched everyone's head: "Don't worry, you have to read it carefully."

If children are interested in books, cultivate their love for reading from an early age. They can always learn something from reading more books.

Han Rong took the time to peek out from the kitchen and asked, "Will reading idle books harm the child?"

"Mom, this is one of the Four Great Classics. There must be something worth learning from it. And they both developed the habit of brushing their teeth every morning and evening and washing their hands before and after meals by reading cartoons. They also followed the instructions in the science book to do an experiment at home to soak bean sprouts. We should encourage children to be interested in reading."

Han Rong thought thoughtfully: "No wonder the third child carried a book with him wherever he went since he was young, and read all kinds of books. Yanran didn't read many books when she was young."

Song Shixia calculated the time and found that many books could not be read at that time, but Yanran must have had a carefree childhood full of play.

"Hobbies and interests depend on the individual. Yanran loved sports when she was young, so she is taller than her peers now."

Han Rong became worried when she thought about this.

"It's hard for Yanran to find a partner at her height. I've been to her school and I've seen many boys who are as tall as her. I just pray that Yanran doesn't find a boy who's shorter than her, because it would look so weird if we were together."

Song Shixia smiled secretly with her lips pursed.

"Liking someone is the main reason. Height and weight are secondary factors. We still have to respect Yanran's personal choice."

"Well, that being said, I always feel uncomfortable when the woman is taller than the man."

Ji Yanran worked as a part-time clerk in her sister-in-law's company until the end of the year. After all, she couldn't go out on dates often when she returned home.

After saying goodbye to her boyfriend, Ji Yanran hummed a song and skipped home happily.

The next time they meet is when school starts. I wonder if Zhou Yue can stay in the capital to work. If he is sent to another place, how will she tell her family that she has found a date? Her mother will definitely not agree to her marrying someone from another place. Ji Yanran is a little distressed.

Her relationship with Zhou Yue had just become closer. When she got off the car just now, she quickly kissed him on the face.

Thinking of Zhou Yue's dazed look, Ji Yanran couldn't help but laugh out loud.

At the dinner table, Ji Yanran bit the air on her chopsticks and laughed foolishly, and Song Shixia couldn't stand it.

"It looks like the final exam results were pretty good."

Ji Yan reacted belatedly.

"Ah, what grades?"

Song Shixia signaled to the adults at the table with her eyes, and Ji Yanran quickly responded.

She grinned, "Not bad. I think the scholarship for next year is secure."

She is ranked first in the class, unless she does very poorly in the exam or misses the exam next year.

Han Rong made a bowl of soup for her daughter.

"I was wondering why you were so silly today. Go drink some pig's trotter soup to nourish your brain."

Ji Yanran got through her parents' hurdle without any trouble, and she knew that she couldn't hide it from her sister-in-law. However, her sister-in-law never came to talk to her, and she unconsciously put her mind at ease.

Ji Weiqing sat on the bed, holding a physics book in his hand.

"You and Yanran have a secret."

Song Shixia had just come out of the bathroom with a dry towel wrapped around her head. She took advantage of the floor heating at home to wash herself clean, as she would not have this opportunity at home.

"No, I stay at home every day, how can I have any secrets?"

She sat on the edge of the bed, and the man on the bed put down the book and picked up a towel to wipe her hair.

"Dad has a strong ability to observe. It depends on whether he takes it seriously or not. It's only a matter of time before he finds out."

Song Shixia confessed honestly: "I just suspect that Yanran is in love. Her silly smile while eating clearly shows that something is wrong. But we shouldn't intervene without evidence. It seems that she is enjoying it."

I thought he would be furious, but he just gave me some vague comments.

"Yanran has grown up, and it is indeed time for her to fall in love."

Song Shixia tilted her head and looked at him: "Aren't you angry?"

"Yanran is an adult now. She must learn to take responsibility for her own decisions no matter what the final outcome is. As a family member, we are only responsible for providing for her and have no right to interfere in her life."

Song Shixia was a little envious of Yanran. A girl from a wealthy family was not afraid of trial and error, and her family was her confidence.

She turned around and buried her head in Ji Weiqing's arms. Her wet hair lost his pajamas.

"I wish I were your daughter."

Ji Weiqing didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and didn't know where to put his raised hands.

"Your parents love you very much, and you also love your family and brother."

Song Shixia grabbed the buttons of his pajamas and said, "I don't care. I want to be your daughter. You have to pamper me like you pamper Yanran."

The next morning, Song Qiu Sheng brought Song Dong Dong over. Song Dong Dong had been living with her brother and would only come back to her sister's place for a meal on Saturdays and Sundays occasionally.

Song Qiusheng bought a cheap house, with a store on the first floor and people living on the second floor. Behind the house was Song Shixia's "wine factory". He was used to renting this house before, so he just bought it.

Although they bought the courtyard house as their wedding house, it was a betrothal gift to Yao Xue, and he could not stay there before they got married. Yao Xue supervised the decoration of the courtyard house throughout the whole process, and he was responsible for paying for it.

The family was moving things out when they saw Song Qiu Sheng's car.

Song Dongdong jumped out of the car first and helped move things.

Han Rong looked at the young man in front of her.

"Dongdong seems to have grown taller again?"

Song Dongdong grinned and said, "Yes, the score in the physical examination at the beginning of the school was 172, and now it's 176."

Song Shixia used to be able to walk arm in arm with her brother, but now she needs to look up.

"You've grown so fast, do you need to buy new clothes?"

Song Dongdong smiled even more happily: "Sister Yao Xue bought me several new sets of clothes, so you don't have to spend any money."

His sister-in-law is indeed a city girl. The clothes she buys for him are all fashionable and trendy, and his classmates are very jealous of him.

Song Shixia couldn't bear to see her stupid brother.

"Look at you, you're so silly. How come you're still tanned after going to school?"

"I need to keep fit, so our PE teacher took special care of me. He said if I played football for a few years I would be able to join the provincial football team, and if I was lucky I could join the national team. He also said if I grew a few centimeters taller I could play basketball. He said I was suitable for physical training, and he trained me individually in every PE class."

Song Shixia smiled and teased her brother: "Isn't this great? Isn't your dream to join the national football team and play football?"

Song Dongdong stood at attention: "No, football is just a hobby in front of defending the country. I want to be a soldier."

Ji Xueya just came out of the courtyard and applauded Song Dongdong when he heard his bold words.

"Young man, you have ideals. Where there is a will, there is a way. You will definitely become an outstanding soldier."

He then asked, "How are your grades? Can you be admitted to the military academy?"

Song Dongdong touched his head and said, "The teacher said that as long as I keep my current grades, there will be no problem. Since the teacher knew that I was my sister's biological brother, he took special care of me, fearing that I would not be able to learn. Unfortunately, I still embarrassed my sister."

Song Shixia tiptoed slightly and patted his brother's shoulder to encourage him.

"It's okay. You're already a source of pride for our family as you were able to get into the military academy."

Ji Yuan turned to his brother and asked, "Brother, can we go to military school?"

Ji Yang warned his brother with a stern face,

"I can go to military school, but you can't."

Ji Yuan's face was filled with grievance: "Why? I want to be with my brother."

Ji Yang said seriously: "Being a soldier is very hard. I can protect you by being a soldier. You can hide behind me and do what you like."

Ji Yuan grabbed the corner of his clothes and said, "I don't like anything. I don't want to leave my parents and brother."

Ji Yang said, "You like to eat delicious food, you can be a chef, and when your brother is tired of being a soldier, you can make delicious food for me."

Ji Yuan wanted to refute his brother. He didn't want to be separated from his brother. He just wanted the whole family to live happily together.

Ji Yang held his brother's hand and said, "We are still children. We still have a long time to grow up. Maybe you will find something you like in the future."

Ji Yuan asked quietly, "Can't my brother become a soldier? I don't dare to go to school alone."

No one dares to bully him when his brother is around.

Ji Yang solemnly assured his brother: "Brother will not let you be bullied. Mom said that we are twins, and I can sense if someone bullies you."

Ji Yuan foolishly believed it, and even until he grew up, he believed in the telepathy between the twins.

The brothers whispered to each other, Song Shixia turned around and reached out to them.

"Come here quickly, we need to get on the bus and go to the train station to catch the train."

The two brothers ran to their mother, each holding one hand.

Ji Yuan stopped and shouted to the front,

"I still want to hold my dad."

Ji Weiqing stopped and waited for them, and Ji Yuan finally got his father and mother's hands.

Song Qiu Sheng and driver Xiao Li sent the people to the train station. He drove the truck to take the New Year gifts home. Song Dongdong didn't want to take the train and went back with his brother.