After Shen Lu finished making breakfast, she called the two little ones to come eat.
This morning, she made pumpkin pancakes and egg soup. Shen Lu added a sweet red bean paste filling to the pumpkin pancakes. Each one was only half the size of an adult's palm, small and delicious.
By the time the two little ones sat down at the table, the food was at the perfect temperature.
They had good manners and didn't need coaxing to eat. They obediently held their spoons and drank their soup, spoonful by spoonful.
Just as they were halfway through their meal, there was a knock at the door.
Shen Lu opened the door and saw two children, Shi Tou and Er Niu.
"Aunt Shen, we're here to ask Xiao Ze and Xiao Yu to come out and play."
Er Niu hid behind Shi Tou and shyly looked up at Shen Lu.
Shen Lu knew that Er Niu's Father had taken her words to heart yesterday. So, she let her own son take the lead in bringing the little fellows out to play.
Yesterday, Shen Lu had inquired with Li Mei and learned that there were quite a few children in this family courtyard. However, due to his strong build and bold personality, Er Niu was the leader of the pack.
With him leading the two little ones, Xiao Ze and Xiao Yu would quickly integrate with the other children.
Coincidentally, Xiao Ze and Xiao Yu were almost done with their meal. Hearing that their little friends were here to play, they were eager to go.
Shen Lu had also specially prepared some pumpkin pancakes for the children and instructed Xiao Ze and Xiao Yu.
"When you go, tell everyone you're waiting until after you've eaten. Mom will make more for you next time." The two little ones nodded.
Seeing that the weather was a bit gloomy, Shen Lu told them to come back quickly if it started raining and not to get caught in the rain and catch a cold.
Watching their figures disappear at the end of the road, hopping and skipping.
Shen Lu then returned home.
She hadn't forgotten the courtyard and went to observe it. In just one night, many small green sprouts had emerged from the ground, growing vigorously.
Shen Lu fertilized all the crops in the backyard before returning to the study room to translate.
As Shen Lu had predicted, not long after the two little ones went out, a heavy rain began to fall.
Shen Lu worried that the two little ones might get caught in the rain, but she didn't know where they had gone to play. She could only wait at home for the time being.
Half an hour later, just as Shen Lu was getting restless and about to go look for the two little ones, they returned home.
They were leaning on the door frame of the courtyard fence, not daring to come in, just looking at Shen Lu cautiously, hiding their hands behind their backs.
Shen Lu knew that the two little ones were afraid she would be angry.
She was worried, but seeing the two little ones soaked like drowned rats, she couldn't bring herself to say anything.
"Hurry and come in to change your clothes. Be careful not to catch a cold."
After speaking, Shen Lu turned and went into the room to find dry clothes for the two little ones.
Only then did the two little ones relax. They held a broken bowl they had found from somewhere and placed it on the table after entering the house.
While the two little ones were changing, Shen Lu peeked into the broken bowl.
She didn't need to look, but when she did, she was startled.
Inside the broken bowl, many earthworms were wriggling.
Shen Lu was afraid of two types of animals her entire life: those with no legs, and those with too many legs.
Earthworms clearly fell into those categories.
When the two little ones, who had finished changing their clothes, saw her startled expression, they looked guilty.
Xiao Yu explained, "Er Niu and the others said that earthworms are best for loosening the soil when farming."
They wanted to farm well with their Mom, so they dug up these earthworms. They didn't mean to scare their Mom.
Seeing the two children's fearful expressions, Shen Lu knew they had good intentions, so she didn't scold them.
Shen Lu didn't dare to look any further and urged the two to throw the earthworms into the soil in the backyard.
When they returned, she supervised them washing their hands thoroughly with soap before letting it go.
Shen Lu was still worried that the two little ones would get sick. She wanted to use ginger to dispel the cold for them, but she thought the children definitely wouldn't be able to drink the spicy ginger soup.
So, she decided to make Ginger Milk Curd for the two children while they were changing.
She grated the ginger into fine pieces, squeezed out the ginger juice, and then steeped Malted Milk Food with boiling water. Shen Lu also added a little white sugar to make it palatable for the children.
Thinking that the two little ones had never seen Ginger Milk Curd before, she called them over.
"Watch carefully, Xiao Ze and Xiao Yu. Mom will show you a magic trick."
Shen Lu poured the freshly steeped Malted Milk Food into the ginger juice and covered it with a lid.
The two little ones' attention was completely focused on the bowl.
After five minutes, Shen Lu gave each of them a spoon. When she lifted the lid, the liquid in the bowl had turned solid.
The twins poked it with their spoons. When they found it was indeed different, their eyes widened.
"Hurry and try it."
The two little ones scooped a spoonful and put it in their mouths.
The rich and smooth texture, combined with the strong milky flavor that exploded on their tongues, warmed their bellies as they swallowed.
The two little ones were completely mesmerized by the taste.
They kept eating spoonful after spoonful.
Shen Lu sat opposite the two children, resting her chin on her hand. They were clearly less guarded around her now.
Shen Lu asked Xiao Ze and Xiao Yu.
"How was playing with the other children today? Did you have any disagreements?"
Xiao Ze still didn't speak, but Xiao Yu, recalling the day's events, excitedly began to speak.
"They had never eaten such delicious pancakes before. They all said there was no way you made them, that they must have been bought from outside.
It wasn't until Brother Shi Tou and Brother Er Niu spoke up and said they saw you take them out of the house with their own eyes that they believed it."
As Xiao Yu spoke, he puffed out his chest, looking incredibly proud.
Shen Lu was amused by him.
"It's good that they liked it. Next time I make more delicious food, I can share it with other children."
Xiao Ze shook his head. He didn't want anyone else to eat the delicious food his Mom made. That was exclusively for him and his younger brother.
They had just gained such a gentle Mom, and he didn't want to share her with anyone, not even his little friends.
Seeing the little fellow shake his head, Shen Lu smiled and didn't say much.
She wasn't like other parents who demanded their children be generous and learn to share.
Instead, she respected the children's choices. Shen Lu believed that Xiao Ze must have his reasons for acting this way.
In the afternoon, the rain grew heavier.
Large raindrops hit the ground, creating mist, and the entire family courtyard was shrouded in a misty rain.
This kind of weather was perfect for sleeping, and with the two little ones by her side, Shen Lu slept very soundly during her nap.
In the afternoon, since the two children couldn't go out to play, they happily played at home.
Shen Lu translated meticulously and quickly.
Including yesterday's and today's progress, she had already completed one-third of the translation. With five or six days left in the week, the translation work was not urgent.
Seeing that the two children were bored, Shen Lu took out paper and a pen, intending to teach them to recognize characters.
She started with the most basic strokes.
Unexpectedly, the two little brains worked very quickly and remembered everything very well.
Shen Lu repeatedly confirmed if the two had received any prior education, otherwise, it would be impossible for them to learn so quickly at the age of five.
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