??Chapter 412: 412. Genetics and Datian_1
Chapter 412: 412. Genetics and Datian_1
And just at that mont, a video call from Auntie ca through.
Wu Lan hesitated only for a split second before promptly shoving the phone into Song Tan’s hands, mouthing silently: You talk, you talk!
Song Tan: …
She glanced at Wu Lei, who also looked solemn, “Brother Wu Lei, you have to hold on for a few days at least, otherwise Auntie will definitely have other tricks up her sleeve.”
“Do you want to say a few words to Auntie?”
“No!” Wu Lei shook his head vehently, then promised:
“Don’t worry!”
Wu Lei, cheeks still flushed with broken capillaries, looked serious at that mont—in his heart, the credibility of his cousin Song Tan had obviously shot up.
As for mom and dad…
He turned his head and went straight back upstairs, thump, thump, thump, up the stairs.
It wasn’t until then that Song Tan accepted the call.
Auntie’s eyes were still a bit red and swollen. Seeing that it was Song Tan, she hesitated before asking, “Tantan, has your Brother Wu Lei not caused you any trouble?”
“No!” Song Tan’s voice was loud and clear, so that Wu Lei on the rooftop didn’t even have to strain his ears to hear.
“Auntie, I should be thanking you! You always say my Brother Wu Lei is this bad and that bad, but in fact, he is great! He helped with cutting rice as soon as he arrived today, saving us a lot of ti and effort.”
“And he never complained of hardship or weariness—I think he must be tired, though. For lunch Seventh Uncle made bamboo shoots braised with ribs, and there was also stewed cured at, served with so green vegetables and cucumber, he ate such a big bowl! He did the sa for dinner!”
“He never had such an appetite at ho before.”
Song Tan rattled off in succession, then feigned a sigh, “It’s all my fault. How could I let Brother Wu Lei do such heavy work?”
If you talk about feeling distressed, there was indeed a bit of distress, but while Auntie felt distressed, she couldn’t help but lift up the corners of her eyes and brows.
It was a typical motherly attitude—no matter how troubleso, the son is still her pride and joy.
It’s okay for her to criticize her child, but if soone else praises them, she’s still joyous at heart.
Although she knew she had to appear stern, she tried to hold back a smile, yet couldn’t help but reveal a hint of amusent.
“You really care for your Brother Wu Lei, and he listens to you young people… Look at you, just slapping gold on his face; he’s not that diligent…”
Her tone grew lighter as she spoke.
“No worries, just keep up this attitude. If he’s got such a big appetite and won’t listen, just don’t let him eat his fill.”
“Oh no, my Brother Wu Lei is really good at work…”
The two of them chatted rrily, while on the side, Wu Lan watched her daughter with an especially quizzical look.
Just… Isn’t that why they say, kids need to go out into society to get so tempering after graduation?
Look at those glib lips, all that editing and photo retouching over the past couple of years… might as well be in sales, right?
She used to think her child had inherited her dad’s withdrawn nature, but now it seems she has indeed gotten a piece of her own pie!
So Wu Lan felt proud as well.
Only Song Sancheng frowned and pondered: All that delicious food today, and Wu Lei just ate one big bowl? His appetite is too small!
On the rooftop, Wu Lei, hearing Song Tan singing his praises, couldn’t help but beam.
Hearing his own mother belittle him, he frowned, thinking one day they’ll all look up to … Humph!
And Lili, he had done so much work today, he must tell Lili about it. Let Lili know that he is not one of those irresponsible n, but soone striving for the future!
He indeed felt tired, but thankfully the rice cutting was done for today, now he just had to keep his head down and work on whatever cos next.
Just like Tantan said, he’d put on a good show for a few days first. He decided, delighted, to go back to his room and video call Lili.
anwhile, downstairs.
After hanging up the call, Song Tan pondered and asked quietly, “Mom, after doing such heavy farm work for a week, one’s strength should improve, right?”
…
Just then, Qiaoqiao ca downstairs holding sothing in both hands.
The courtyard lights shone upon it, making the object in the palm of his hand glisten like gold.
Wu Lan was startled, “Haven’t seen it for a few days, how did you manage to fatten up this field mouse so much?”
It was indeed fat! It felt like grasping it would squeeze the flesh out between the fingers, plump and chubby.
That fur color, even if Wu Lan was reluctant to admit it, she couldn’t help but praise, “It’s really beautiful.”
Indeed, its fur was as resplendent as golden silk—shiny and smooth! To the unaware, one might think it had eaten the “Immortal Pill.”
…
Today, with the new kitchen in use and so things needing to be put away, Seventh Uncle didn’t leave.
He was chatting and smoking with Song Youde when he heard the commotion and looked over too.
Seventh Uncle couldn’t resist praising, “What a chubby field mouse that is—if it were braised in soy sauce—”
Qiaoqiao: …
He knew it! Seventh Uncle thought everything could be eaten!
At that mont, he quickly turned around with Datian in his arms.
“Let
tell you, Song Qiaoqiao!”
Wu Lan stood with her hands on her hips: “You can raise it, but put it in a cage. If I find out it’s burrowing holes or stealing our food—”
“It doesn’t steal!”
Qiaoqiao hurriedly waved his hands: “Teacher Xin showed
an encyclopedia. Field mice don’t steal food; they only pick up what no one wants from the fields.”
Of course, if there were peanuts pulled from the ground or rice cut from the fields that no one collected, then the mouse would presu they were unwanted as well.
“Can I put Datian in the field? Let him check the straw to see if there’s any rice grain…”
“Don’t even think about it.”
Wu Lan disagreed: “Even if there are so grains of rice, your Grandpa Li said he’s going to pick so up tomorrow to eat. Later on, mixed with a hundred or so pounds of rice we send him, it will be fragrant and delicious!”
“Besides, you’ve been raising it. Where would it hoard its food if it goes picking? Digging holes in our house or in the fields? That’s like releasing a tiger back to the mountain.”
Qiaoqiao: …
He puffed up his cheeks, feeling dejected.
However, Song Youde chuckled, clearly doting on his grandson: “Let him raise it. Our Qiaoqiao has a kind heart, which is good.”
“Besides, back when there were famines, didn’t everyone in the village dig around for a few field mice to get through the winter? These creatures also saved our lives. Keeping one wouldn’t hurt; let’s keep it.”
The nature of field mice is to collect food everywhere and stash their treasures at several locations in their burrows.
Decades ago, when resources were scarce and people had nothing to eat, they would dig holes in the fields. Finding a field mouse hole could an a family barely making it through the winter…
“Really?”
Qiaoqiao turned around, holding Datian joyfully while touching its golden and soft fur. Then, he picked it up to have a face-to-face encounter: “Datian, I never imagined your ancestors once saved my grandpa’s life!”
“Squeak!”
Song Youde: …
That’s not exactly how it goes.
But it seems there are no issues… yet sothing still feels a bit off….
He was conflicted.
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