Chapter 21 - 8: Coaxing

Chapter 21: Chapter 8: Coaxing

Er Zai complained, "Mom thinks we’re gross."

’It wasn’t that she was disgusted, it just gave her goosebumps all over.’

Lin Zhao changed the subject. "Let’s eat the dumplings. They’ll get cold if we wait any longer."

’I’ve already made up my mind,’ she thought. ’The next time the barber comes, I’m shaving both boys’ heads.’

Da Zai and Er Zai suddenly felt a chill, but in their haste to eat the dumplings, they failed to notice that their mother had successfully diverted their attention.

"Dumpling time!" Er Zai sat down cheerfully.

The twins were hungry, too. Upon seeing the food, they immediately tried to grab it. Tie Chui wrapped his arms around the little brother and sister, but the two toddlers strained toward the dumplings, letting out little grunts of effort. "Hnnngh..."

"Tie Chui, you don’t have to hold Third Child and Fourth Child. Let them eat by themselves." Lin Zhao mashed the dumplings in two small wooden bowls with her chopsticks and then beckoned to the twins.

Tie Chui immediately let go.

The twins toddled unsteadily toward Lin Zhao. Their freshly washed hands reached into the small wooden bowls, grabbing food and stuffing it into their mouths.

In that short time, Er Zai had already devoured half a dumpling, his eyes shining like the sun.

"This is delicious! There’s so much meat! Mom, Big Brother, Tie Chui, you guys eat too!"

Seeing how fast he was eating, Lin Zhao reminded him with concern, "Don’t rush. Eat slowly and be careful not to choke. If you like them, I’ll make them again for you in a few days."

Er Zai hadn’t even swallowed the dumpling in his mouth yet. He mumbled, "Okay! Mom, I love dumplings!"

Lin Zhao glanced at the twins, who already had food smeared all over their faces. ’I really need to make some bibs for these two,’ she thought. ’Otherwise, I’m going to go crazy from all the laundry.’

"Comrade Er Zai, I’d like to ask you a question: is there anything you *don’t* like to eat?"

Kids love to play grown-up. Hearing this formal address, Er Zai beamed and said excitedly, "Nope! I like everything!"

Da Zai chimed in, "Mom, I’m not a picky eater either."

As soon as their two older brothers spoke, Third Child and Fourth Child couldn’t contain themselves. They started waving the hands holding their little wooden spoons, and words tumbled out of their small, rosy mouths, "Me... PFFT..."

They were trying to say they weren’t picky eaters either, but in their haste, they spat out their food, instantly becoming little mess-monsters.

Lin Zhao paid them no mind. ’All kids are like this,’ she thought.

In this day and age, it was hard enough to get a full meal, so there were no children who needed to be coaxed to eat. Plus, with Lin Zhao’s excellent cooking, the children ate with great gusto and finished their meal in no time.

"Are you all full? There’s more if you’re not," Lin Zhao said.

Da Zai, his face wreathed in a smile, helped his mom clear the bowls.

"We’re full, Mom. We’ll wash the dishes, you go rest."

Clutching their bulging bellies, Tie Chui and Er Zai also helped clear the bowls.

"Be careful," Lin Zhao said. She didn’t refuse their help, only offered a word of caution.

Er Zai said with a grin, "Don’t worry, Mom! My brother and I know how to wash the dishes."

’Ever since we turned five, we’ve been the ones to wash the dishes at home. Mom is so lazy.’

’But...’

’If Mom cooks, I’m willing to wash the dishes every single day. I’d even do all the chores in the house.’

Er Zai watched his mother cleaning up his little brother and sister, and the corners of his mouth curled up into an ever-widening smile.

"Er Zai, what are you smiling about?" Tie Chui asked curiously.

Er Zai gave a blissful smile and put on a mysterious air. "You wouldn’t get it."

Tie Chui scratched his head. ’Of course I don’t get it if he won’t say anything.’

After Lin Zhao washed the twins’ hands and faces and applied a bit of moisturizing snowflake cream, she saw a light flash in the quest log to the right of the big prize wheel.

A notification indicated the quest was complete.

[The children have eaten delicious dumplings, achieving both physical and mental satisfaction. Congratulations on successfully completing the quest. You have received 5 points.]

’Five points?’

’Wasn’t it a quest for four points?’

A quick glance at the quest description revealed Tie Chui’s name had been added in the parentheses.

’So it’s calculated per person! If it had said so earlier, I would’ve invited a few more kids over.’

Lin Zhao was filled with regret.

Just as she finished applying the snowflake cream on the twins, Er Zai poked his little tanned face in front of hers.

"Mooommm~" Gu Erzai drew out the word in a wheedling, sing-song voice.

"What is it?"

"I’ve never gotten to use snowflake cream before," Er Zai said, not asking directly but choosing to play the pity card.

Da Zai also looked at Lin Zhao. He said nothing, but his bright, clear eyes were filled with expectation.

Feeling a mix of exasperation and heartache, Lin Zhao said, "Go wash up, then."

The words had barely left her mouth when she saw the quest log to the right of the prize wheel update again.

[Summer is harsh, and skin gets so dry. Quick, put some moisturizer on the little ones! Complete the quest to receive 5 points.]

’Looks like it automatically included Tie Chui in the quest.’

"You too, Tie Chui," Lin Zhao said.

Tie Chui was pleasantly surprised. He mumbled a thank you before Er Zai dragged him off to wash his hands and face.

After quickly washing their hands and faces, the children lined up in front of Lin Zhao.

"Mom, we’re ready! Do me first," Er Zai said with a grin, his eyes glued to the jar of snowflake cream on the table.