Qingqing took the candies from Xu Tang and quickly ran off. Xu Tang shook her head. Children really were easy to please. With just a single candy, they could completely forget all the bad things from before.
Xu Wanjia took the bowl and went to wash it clean, then called Xu Wanlin and Xu Wen over to join Qingqing.
Qingqing said, “I counted them just now. There are twelve in total. We’ll have three each.”
When Xu Wanlin and Xu Wen saw the candies in Qingqing’s hand, they looked horrified.
“Sis, where did you get those candies? You didn’t sneak in and steal Little Aunt’s snacks while she was sick, did you? Put them back quickly! If Little Aunt finds out, she’ll beat you!”
Xu Wanjia laughed. “Don’t worry. Little Aunt gave these to us. We didn’t steal them.”
With that, he took three candies and put them into Xu Wen’s hand, then gave three to Xu Wanlin and took three for himself.
When Xu Wen heard that they hadn’t stolen them, he eagerly popped one into his mouth as soon as he got them.
“So delicious! I want to give the other two to Mom and Dad.”
The others also ate one candy each. The same thought filled all their hearts:
So sweet. I wish we could eat these every day.
After hearing Xu Wen’s words, they all decided to save some for their parents too. Their parents probably had never eaten candy before either.
They tucked the remaining candies into their pockets, planning to give them to their parents that evening. They just had to make sure Grandma didn’t find out.
When Xu Guoli and Xu Changxing returned from work, Zhao Guifang also came home. She went to Xu Tang’s room and chatted with her for a while, telling her to get plenty of rest.
After dinner, Zhao Guifang came to Xu Tang’s room.
“Tangtang, are you hungry? I’ll go make you some noodles. You should eat a little more.”
“Mom, I haven’t moved around all day. I’m not hungry at all…” Xu Tang said coquettishly.
Seeing her daughter acting spoiled, Zhao Guifang’s heart softened.
Zhao Guifang’s own parents had favored sons over daughters. So after having a daughter herself, she had never wanted Xu Tang to experience the kind of life she had endured. On top of that, Xu Tang had been beautiful since she was little, so she had been especially cherished.
She and Xu Guoli practically wished they could give their daughter every good thing they had.
The more Zhao Guifang looked at her daughter, the more she adored her. Such a beautiful girl was the daughter she had given birth to.
At that moment, Xu Guoli also walked in and said to Xu Tang, “How did you manage to fall today? Were you being greedy again?”
It had to be said that Xu Guoli really did understand his daughter.
Xu Tang gave an embarrassed smile. “I saw some wild chicken eggs today and ran too fast. I didn’t notice there was a hole in front of me, so I fell.”
Zhao Guifang pointed at her head helplessly.
“You really are something. I’ve never seen another girl as greedy as you.”
Xu Tang gave a sheepish grin.
This is the original owner’s mess. I guess I have to take the blame for her now.
Zhao Guifang and Xu Guoli lectured her a little, then told her to go to sleep early before returning to their own room.
Xu Tang was sleepy too. With nothing else to do, she soon fell asleep.
Meanwhile, in Xu Changxing and Liu Ermei’s room, Xu Wanlin and Xu Wanjia gave them the remaining milk candies.
Xu Changxing immediately scolded them in a hushed voice, “Did you two steal your little aunt’s snacks?”
If Xu Tang had heard that, she probably would have said one thing:
Talk about a case of being ungrateful after receiving kindness…
Xu Wanjia hurriedly explained, “Dad, Mom, we didn’t steal them. Little Aunt gave them to us. Qingqing and Wen got some too.”
Then he added, “I think Little Aunt has changed. She wasn’t fierce at all today. She spoke to us so gently.”
Liu Ermei nodded in agreement. She also felt that her sister-in-law had been unusually good-tempered today. Her younger brother’s wife had said the same thing.
It seemed that after falling and hitting her head, the little sister-in-law had somehow become much nicer.
That was a good thing.
She said to the two boys, “Your little aunt gave these to you, so keep them and eat them. Your dad and I are adults. We don’t really like candy.”
Xu Wanjia insisted on giving some to his parents. He knew very well that they were lying.
Looking at how filial Xu Wanjia and Xu Wanlin were, Xu Changxing felt gratified.
“Dad and Mom will each take one. You two can split the remaining two.”
They unwrapped the candies together and put them into their mouths.
Liu Ermei happily said, “It’s so sweet. This is the first time I’ve ever had candy.”
The whole family gathered happily together, chatting and laughing.
The same scene was playing out in Xu Changshun’s family as well.
The next day, everyone got up early and went to work.
At this time, no one had enough extra grain to make breakfast, so everyone only ate two meals a day. Even so, Zhao Guifang had still steamed some egg custard and left it warming in the kitchen for Xu Tang.
It wasn’t until nearly noon that Xu Tang finally woke up.
She put on her shoes, opened the door, and walked outside, breathing in the fresh air.