Chapter 304: Don’t Be Deranged

Sure enough, as soon as Mrs. Fu heard the candy was a gift from someone else, she stopped asking where it came from.

"This is good candy. The little stick makes it perfect for kids. What are you waiting for? Give Hao Hao one too."

"That’s not happening. This is a reward for learning to read. They have to recognize the character before they get one," Fu Mingxue said, unwrapping one for herself.

Mrs. Fu: ...?

"Mom, don’t worry about it. Mingxue knows what she’s doing," Qin Wenhao said, defending his wife.

Fu Mingxue gave him an appreciative look.

’Her husband was sensible enough to take her side.’

Then she nodded at Mrs. Fu. "That’s right. They’re not little anymore, so they need to learn to read. And soon, they’ll have to start writing, too."

Mrs. Fu: ...?

’She must have misheard.’

’How old were they, anyway? They had to practice writing already?’

"Stop being so cruel and tormenting the children. Back in the day, I never made you practice writing—"

"But I could write when I was two!"

Fu Mingxue’s words left Mrs. Fu speechless—for a moment, she really couldn’t argue with that.

’After all, her daughter really had been able to write at two years old.’

She had grabbed a stick on her own and started tracing characters on the bare ground in the yard.

To this day, Mrs. Fu had no idea how she’d learned.

Fu Mingxue’s words made Qin Wenhao turn his head, looking at her with newfound admiration.

’She really knew how to write at two years old?’

’When he was two... he was probably just running wild around the military compound.’

’And by the time he’d learned to write, he was already seven.’

’Was this the difference between people?’

"Mama, Mama, Mama—"

Three calls of "Mama" broke the momentary silence.

"That’s amazing! You remembered! This is the character for ’Mama’!"

Fu Mingxue didn’t play favorites.

She gave the little guy a kiss, too, then handed him an unwrapped lollipop.

Hao Hao was clearly delighted.

Fu Mingxue was also very happy. ’After all, in just a few moments, she’d already earned two yuan.’

"Sweethearts, remember this word, and tomorrow Mama will teach you another one. From now on, you’ll get a reward for every new word you recognize."

She turned to her mother and Qin Wenhao. "How about it? You two want to come over and identify the word? I can give you each a lollipop, too."

’The children earned their candy through their own efforts. If she just gave them out randomly, what would the kids think?’

’They might be small, but little kids have thoughts of their own.’

Qin Wenhao: ...?

Mrs. Fu: ...? ’Was she really that desperate for a lollipop?’

’Or did she look like a fool?’

She shot her mischievous daughter a glare before turning and heading back to the kitchen.

Qin Wenhao also gathered the clean dishes and took them to the kitchen.

When he came back out, the sight of the mother and her two sons together was a warm and beautiful scene.

He couldn’t bear to disturb them, so he simply stood and watched quietly for a full minute.

He stood there until Fu Mingxue seemed to sense his gaze and looked up.

Qin Wenhao cleared his throat. "Want to go for a walk?"

Fu Mingxue: ...?

’In such a good mood?’

"With the boys?"

"—Mhm."

’Truthfully, Qin Wenhao would have preferred not to.’

’He wanted to take a walk around the base with her, just the two of them.’

’Or maybe a stroll by the little river on the hill behind the family quarters.’

"Alright, let’s go!" Fu Mingxue said, picking up one of the boys.

Qin Wenhao stepped forward and scooped up the other.

He looked steadily at Fu Mingxue. "Here, let me carry both of them."

"It’s fine. Let’s go!" Before they left, Fu Mingxue called out toward the small kitchen, "Mom, we’re going out for a bit! You can make dinner later, it’s fine."

The moment Mrs. Fu heard this, she came out of the kitchen.

Looking at the family of four, she nodded happily. "Alright, you kids go on!"

’She really hoped the young couple would take the chance to deepen their bond.’