Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

“Cousin Brother! We came to play with you today!”

Before they even entered the door, YingEr ran over with an excited look on her face.

“Ah YingEr, your cousin is busy right now. You’ll have to wait a moment.”

Upon seeing the three arrive, Di Cheng’s eyes lit up, “Third Aunt! Your timing is perfect! Cheng’er was just about to deliver goods to the Liu Family in the west. You can guard the shop.”

“Oh? So many items sold to the Liu family today?”

Liu Sisi was also delighted since they sold so many goods early in the morning. There was quite a bit of profit made today. “Have you had breakfast? Hurry up and eat before you go.”

“Don’t worry, Third Aunt. Cheng’er already ate at Grandma’s stall. I’ll leave to make the delivery now.”

As he spoke, he wiped his face with a towel and hung it around his neck before pushing the handcart away.

“Hurry back, Cousin! YingEr is waiting for you to play!”

YingEr called after Di Cheng.

Despite being in the middle of winter, he managed to break a sweat from working diligently. Liu Sisi admired his hard work as she entered the shop.

Di Cheng had kept the shop in good order, with the goods neatly arranged.

Liu Sisi picked up the account book to check records and began tallying today’s accounts. Meanwhile, Di Xuan and Di Ying entered the inner room to start writing and drawing.

Liu Sisi gradually increased Di Xuan’s workload, not only practicing writing and reading daily but also teaching him painting. Di Xuan was very interested in the ink splashed painting that Liu Sisi accidentally obtained last time, and couldn’t take his eyes off of it once it was framed.

Originally, Liu Sisi planned to hang it in her room, but after some thought, she hung it in front of Di Xuan’s desk.

Now, Di Xuan was copying the painting as he worked on his own.

Before long, Gan Miaoruo arrived.

Seeing Liu Sisi there as well, she immediately beamed with joy, “Teacher! So you’re here today as well? Ruo Ruo was worried she’d have made a wasted trip and would have to go to your house.”

Today, Gan Miaoruo wore a snow-white fox fur cloak and pinkish headdress, making her face even more charming.

“Today, I was worried you’d have to travel far again. Since I also had to check the accounts, I came here directly. Sit down, Ruo Ruo, I’ll be done in a moment.”

Liu Sisi quickly added a few more lines to the account book.

Gan Miaoruo tiptoed to look at the items on the counter, being curious though not tall enough to glance over it.

When she realized Liu Sisi was looking over an account book, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes, “Teacher! How can you be like my grandmother? Always looking at account books all day long, aren’t you tired of it?”

“What’s there to be tired of? Without your grandmother managing the accounts every day, how could you enjoy your current life? You should learn to be grateful instead of complaining.”

It seems today’s lesson should be about gratitude! Yes, that’s a good idea! Liu Sisi decided to herself.

“Sister Ruo Ruo is here! Sister Ruo Ruo, come and see! Look at the painting my brother did, it’s so beautiful!”

From inside, Di Ying heard Gan Miaoruo’s voice and hurriedly ran out. She grabbed Gan Miaoruo and pulled her inside.

“Come on! Come on! Sister Ruo Ruo, look!”

“Huh? Indeed, it’s beautiful!”

Gan Miaoruo’s surprised voice came from the inner room, “Little Xuan’er, who would have thought you could paint too!”

Immediately afterward, Di Xuan’s embarrassed voice came through, “No… I just drew this randomly…”

“You can draw this well just by doodling? Little Xuan Xuan, can you draw one for me too? I promise I will keep it safe and never damage it, okay?”

“But… it’s not appropriate for men and women to be too close to each other, for me to give you a painting… Is it fine?” Xuan’er’s hesitant voice came in.

“How is it not fine? What’s wrong with it? I see you’re just trying to be evasive and avoid doing it, huh! You must draw a painting for me! Naughty Xuan Xuan!”

Gan Miaoruo’s willful and stubborn voice came from inside.

Liu Sisi, who was facing the account book, couldn’t help but shake her head. However, she wasn’t worried. Every time Gan Miaoruo and Xuan’er had a confrontation, it was Ruo Ruo who ended up losing. It was unclear why, but the usually easy-going Ruo Ruo was very caring towards Xuan’er and YingEr.

“Yo! It’s still so lively here? Sisi, I came to see you! How about it? Aren’t you happy to see your brother? Look, I even brought your favorite steamed cake. Come and have a taste!”

An annoying voice came from outside the shop door, making Liu Sisi frown.

Why did Zhang Shixin come?

She still remembered the last time he appeared in this shop, and thought he had already given up. She never expected him to show up again today!

“What are you doing here? What do you want?”

Liu Sisi had never had a good impression of this person!

As soon as she saw him at the moment, she started to drive him away!

Zhang Shixin’s peach blossom eyes carried a mischievous smile, and the corners of his mouth were lifted high. He didn’t care that he was unwelcome and strode into the shop.

“Sisi, you’ve changed, changed a lot. We used to say we’d be loving for a lifetime. I just went to the capital city, and you changed your mind. Sisi, my dear Sisi…”

Before he could finish, Liu Sisi stood up, picked up the broom next to her, and hit Zhang Shixin over the head without a word.

“Get out!—Get out of here, who’s your good Sisi? Bah! Get out!—If you show up in front of me again, don’t blame me for being rude!”

She still remembered the last encounter with him vividly!

He dared to take advantage of her while she was taking out the trash and tried to force himself on her. Now, hitting him with a broom was letting him off too easy!

“Sisi, Sisi, listen to me! Listen to me…”

Zhang Shixin desperately blocked his handsome face with both arms, fearing that if Liu Sisi’s attack was not careful, it would ruin his face.

“Don’t say anything! Zhang Shixin, I’m telling you, if you show up in front of me again, I’ll ruin this face of yours!”

Liu Sisi saw him guarding his face, and it wasn’t hard to understand what he cared about the most.

“Fine! Liu Sisi, have you really stopped caring about our relationship?”

Zhang Shixin was furious, and a trace of viciousness flashed in his eyes.

Since that day, he had intended to go to the Upper Village to find Sisi but ran into Zuo Xingyu on the way. In the past, he and Zuo Xingyu were always at odds when he pursued Sisi. Naturally, seeing his love rival now only made him more jealous.

After learning the real reason for Zuo Xingyu entering the capital, he immediately went back to confront the shrew, but he was held hostage by the family business and only recently gained his freedom again.

It made him even more discontented!

During these days, whenever he thought of Liu Sisi’s small melon seed-like face, and those big, watery eyes that seemed innocent like a deer…

His heart would burn with heat.