After dinner, Shen ng leaned against the kang bed, watching Lu Mingfang doing her howork while lying on it and Ming Kai doodling in a notebook next to her, both mumbling as they counted numbers.
"Keep your hand steady, write each stroke carefully, don’t rush, take it slowly."
Ming Fang rubbed her eyes and looked outside, feeling a bit worried about her two brothers but she didn’t dare speak out, fearing it might upset her mother.
"It’s fine, your dad is there, Mingyang and Ming Liang are safe. Finish this, and mom will make you and Ming Kai so milk formula so you can go to bed early."
Ming Fang nodded, then turned to Shen ng and asked, "Mom, how are we going to sleep tonight? Is dad going to sleep here too?"
Shen ng was taken aback; she didn’t want Lu Zhenping to sleep in this room, that’s why she thought of keeping Ming Fang here, along with Lu Mingkai. By having the three of them occupy the kang bed, there should be no room left for Lu Zhenping, right?
"Don’t worry about your dad, he is old enough, he can sleep elsewhere. The kang is big enough in Mingyang and Ming Liang’s room. Besides, don’t you want to sleep with mom?"
"Yes, I want to," she replied.
"I love it too, I love sleeping with mom, baby loves mom," Lu Mingkai exclaid upon hearing Shen ng’s words. He put down his pen and paper and ran over, throwing himself onto Shen ng’s legs, flashing a toothy grin.
"Ming Kai, be gentle, mom’s not ready yet!"
Lu Ming Fang quickly crawled over to pull her brother back next to her. Ming Kai looked a bit upset for a mont, then gently patted Shen ng’s legs with his little hands.
"Baby rub rub, blow blow, hoo hoo~"
Shen ng felt a wave of tenderness, got up, and held Ming Kai in her arms.
"I am feeling much better now. Aren’t you sleepy? Let make you so milk formula to drink and then lie down. Mom will tell you a story, how about that?"
Lu Ming Fang and Ming Kai’s eyes lit up; they loved listening to their mom’s stories. Last ti, she told them about the Calabash Brothers battling the Red Boy, making them so excited they even dreamt they were Red Boy’s soldiers. Finally, they could hear the rest of the story.
While mom and the three lay in the quilt, she continued the story where she left off, the other side of the room burst into laughter and noise as the father and sons returned. Mingyang and Ming Liang, both grubby, ran into the room.
"Mom, have you gone to bed yet? Dad just took us jogging, said it helps us grow taller than drinking milk formula!"
"Mom, are you still angry with us? My brother and I have already apologized to Grandpa and Fourth Aunt, and dad has paid them. We promise not to misbehave again, please mom, don’t be mad at us anymore, okay?"
Shen ng was genuinely happy to see both children, and did not want to dampen their spirits; a sulky mother could beco a lifeti shadow for the children.
"Did you really understand what you did wrong?"
"We did," both children said in unison, their eyes gleaming brightly as they looked at her.
Shen ng propped her head with her hand and asked, "Tell , what was your mistake?"
Lu Mingyang: "...."
Lu Mingliang: "...."
Honestly, deep down they still felt that they weren’t wrong, but just now, while at their grandparents’ house in front of so many people, their dad had forced them to apologize to Grandpa and the Fourth Aunt and Uncle. After that, he used the belt, previously ant for them, to spank the Fourth Uncle.
When they went out for a run, I slowly reasoned with them. Only then did they understand why Mom was angry. It was because of her worries about their future. If this ti Dad and Mom didn’t react, would it make them think that what they did was right and might they make even bigger mistakes in the future?
Thinking back, Grandpa wasn’t very nice to them when they were young, but he wasn’t bad to them either. They had embarrassed Grandpa so much, yet he still protected them. Thinking about it, I don’t know why but I feel a little guilty.
"Mom, Grandpa is an elder. Even if he did sothing wrong, we shouldn’t cause him trouble. And Fourth Aunt, we shouldn’t have pulled her hair either."
"Mom, we will never do that again, please forgive us."
Shen ng sighed, thinking that Lu Zhenping must have taught them well. Otherwise, they would definitely be stubbornly insisting they were right, while actually believing they weren’t wrong.
"Alright, go and have your dinner now. It’s so late and you haven’t eaten yet; you must be starving. Let’s leave the matter at this for now. Don’t make the sa mistake again, otherwise, Mom won’t forgive you so easily next ti, got it?"
"Got it, got it, we know Mom is the best, you definitely won’t ignore us, hehehehe..."
"Mom is the best."
The two finally felt relieved. Suddenly, slling the fragrance, their stomachs indeed started growling. Outside, Lu Zhenping shouted, and Lu Mingyang gave Shen ng a smile before heading outside. Lu Mingliang suddenly raised his hand and hugged Shen ng’s neck, planting a loud kiss on her face.
Lu Mingyang: "...."
"Mom, I’m going to eat now. Don’t start telling stories to Ming Fang and Xiao Kai yet; I want to listen too. Wait for , Mom, I eat fast."
Lu Mingliang, after speaking, stuck his tongue out at his frowned siblings and then turned to leave the room.
Lu Mingyang just watched as his younger brother sweet-talked and acted cute to Mom. His face turned red with frustration, his fists clenched tightly, yet he couldn’t muster up the courage to rush to Mom and kiss her like Mingliang did. He simply pursed his lips and said, "Mom, I’m going to eat."
"Go ahead, son!"
Shen ng’s word "son" lightened his slightly suffocated heart. He then thought that after all, he was one year older than his brother, who was immature. He was different; he was the eldest son, already a man, and needed to be more composed. Otherwise, how could he support the family when Dad joined the army!
After the two left, an upset Ming Kai crawled into Shen ng’s embrace, his little butt pouting high, nearly hitting Ming Fang’s face. It took a slap from his sister to calm him down.
"Okay, okay, stop snuggling. You’re about to flip all the warmth out of the bed."
"Mom, Second Brother is naughty, kissing Mom. Big Brother too, just now he was like a big rooster, holding his head up high."
Ming Kai, while saying this, rubbed vigorously on Shen ng’s face, then leaned in to give her a kiss.
"Baby’s kiss is sweet."
Lu Mingfang pouted and said, "Only you are sweet, you’re the sweetest, okay!"
None of them are worry-free, she too wanted to snuggle into Mom’s arms, but sohow being a bit older, she felt embarrassed to compete with Ming Kai. But being the only girl in the family, hugging Mom was just a mont away for her.
Finally relieved, Mingyang and Mingliang quickly finished their al and urged Lu Zhenping to heat water for them to wash their faces and feet. Then they rushed into the room and lay on the edge of the bed to listen to Shen ng tell stories.
Lu Zhenping ca closer to listen for a while; the content was so exaggerated that it made his pupils tremble several tis.
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