Chapter 661 - 342: Snobbish Servant

Chapter 661: Chapter 342: Snobbish Servant

Juhua laughed from the side. "You’re getting better and better at this. You really look the part."

Yun Ying shot her a smug glance. "Weren’t you the one who said I should spend more time with babies? I’m finally starting to understand them."

As it turned out, Juhua and Liu Yunlan had been swamped one day, so they had shoved little Hulu into Yun Ying’s arms to hold. Juhua had casually spun a tale, saying that more contact with babies would help Yun Ying understand their habits. This experience, combined with her medical knowledge, would supposedly benefit her when delivering babies or treating sick children.

Yun Ying had thought about it and concluded it made sense. And so, little Hulu became her test subject. She would hold him at every opportunity, observing his daily routines of sleeping and feeding. It got to the point where even Juhua began to wonder, ’Could it actually be true? Did I accidentally hit on something by just making it up?’

Liu Yunlan hurried over, took her son from Yun Ying’s arms, and smiled apologetically. "Doctor Yun, I’m so embarrassed to have you helping Hulu with his potty time. Juhua, why didn’t you call me?"

Juhua laughed. "It was Yun Ying who wanted to observe all of a baby’s daily functions. She’s a real pro now."

Shi Tou’s mother was also cleaning up her son. Afterward, she held him to nurse, but the little guy cried the entire time.

Hearing Juhua, Zhao Qing rushed over to Yun Ying, her face filled with admiration. "Sister Yun Ying, my little brother cries all the time. Sister Juhua says I’ve spoiled him and given him a bad temper. Could you take a look? I can tell you anything you need to know about him."

Yun Ying was quite fond of Zhao Qing as well. Smiling, she took the girl’s hand and walked over to look at Zhao Feng as he nursed. The baby was sweating from crying, his face beet-red as he suckled with all his might. Yun Ying checked his pulse and found everything to be normal. She pursed her lips into a smile. "He was just hungry. This little one does have quite a temper, though. He always wants attention. You can’t indulge him too much, or the habit will be difficult to break later on."

Shi Tou’s mother said resentfully, "Don’t you worry. Once he’s a little bigger, if he keeps crying, I’ll give him a taste of my hand. He’s just too small to spank right now."

Juhua and the others all laughed.

As if sensing his mother’s anger, Zhao Feng let go and started to cry again, his mouth puckered. Infuriated, Shi Tou’s mother shoved her nipple back into his mouth and scolded, "Even nursing can’t shut you up! Cry again, and I won’t feed you. We’ve raised two other children, and neither was this naughty! This boy is just asking for a beating. Piss me off, and I’ll give you one, I don’t care how small you are!"

Juhua saw that while the little baby had stopped crying, he was now sniffling pitifully. ’Can a baby this young really sense his mother’s emotions?’ she wondered in amazement.

Yun Ying watched as Liu Yunlan fed little Hulu, put him in his baby walker, then rushed off like a whirlwind to the outhouse to rinse the chamber pot. After that, she moved firewood, went to the garden to pick vegetables, washed them, and finally dove into the kitchen to get busy. Yun Ying turned to Juhua and said, "I’m going to steam some soup dumplings for you. For a change of pace."

Juhua was overjoyed. "I was just craving some of your cooking!" she said with a laugh. "But I was too embarrassed to ask. Just tell me which vegetables you want for the filling, and I’ll help you prepare them. Third Aunt can help with the dough. Let’s make a big batch so everyone can try some. I’m not one to hoard delicious food for myself."

Yun Ying pursed her lips. "You? Too embarrassed to ask? Weren’t you the one telling me just last night that you were craving snacks? I don’t buy that you’d be embarrassed for a second. Besides, I’m making them to thank Uncle Zheng, Aunt Zheng, Uncle Zhang, and Aunt Zhang. They’ve been so kind to me; I should make things for them often to show my gratitude. As for you... why don’t you make me some pickled vegetables with large intestine tomorrow? I’m craving it, and pork stomach too."

It was this very dish—pork offal with pickled vegetables—that had first sparked her jealousy. As a result, she had a love-hate relationship with any dish made from offal. She resolutely refused to wash it or cook with it, but she absolutely loved to eat it. So, she always had Juhua make it for her, never lifting a finger herself.

Juhua agreed at once. "That’s easy! Of course I’ll make it for you. But it’s better to eat lighter food this time of year. Pickled vegetables with pork stomach is much better in the winter."

And so, Zhao Qing watched the two little ones in the courtyard while the others bustled about in the kitchen. Juhua made liangfen, Yun Ying made soup dumplings, Liu Yunlan prepared dinner, and Shi Tou’s mother lent a hand. Together, they conducted a symphony of pots and pans: the spatula went CLANG CLANG in the wok, the cleaver went THUMP THUMP on the cutting board, and bowls and chopsticks went CLINK CLINK, all interspersed with laughter and cheerful chatter. The kitchen was alive with activity.

Shi Tou’s mother was full of praise for Liu Yunlan’s speed and efficiency. She then asked about Liu Yunlan’s family, and when she learned that Liu Yunlan had an unmarried younger brother, she immediately offered with enthusiasm, "I have a niece on my father’s side of the family. She’s got a personality just like mine—very straightforward and capable. She’s fourteen this year. How about we arrange for the two families to meet?"