Splendid Twins

The next day, everyone got up early because Wang Dahu and Si Yu were leaving today.

In the kitchen, Liu Niang was making a pile of dumplings on the chopping board. She had gotten up before dawn to knead the dough, and made the fillings with fresh meat, celery, leeks and eggs. Lan Ying was boiling the pot, and the dumplings were already cooking when Si Yao came in.

"Yaoyao, I packed some things for Xiaoyu, check and see if you need anything else later."

Liu Niang only found out last night that the two men were leaving, saying they were going to do business somewhere far away. She couldn't stop them and could only pack some more food and clothes.

"Okay, I'll ask Xiao Huzi to call my dad to come over for dinner."

Liu Niang's body froze, then she reacted: "Yaoyao...you...I'll just take it to him."

"No matter what, he is still my father. It is better for our family to live a good life. Besides, without outsiders stirring up trouble, can you still control him?"

There was a gleam of mockery in Si Yao's eyes. Sometimes there was no need to compete. As long as you could eat and sleep well, you would be fine. Her father was quite heroic for beating up Boss Si. They were all mortals. It would be good for everyone if they could let others be themselves and let themselves be themselves.

"I'll take care of it. Okay, let's live a good life."

Liu Niang cried with joy, wiped her eyes and went back to work. Lan Ying glanced at Si Yao, then turned around to get the dishes and chopsticks, with his back to her and a slight smile on his face.

Soon, the aroma of delicious food wafted through the yard, and several people came in one after another. After a while, Xiao Huzi led Si Laoer into the house.

Almost everyone was looking at Si Yao, even Si Qing was a little nervous. Si Yao didn't seem to notice the strangeness of the crowd, and placed a bowl of dumplings in front of Si Lao Er:

"Dad, eat."

Si Lao Er was a little uneasy. Although he had turned over a new leaf and started to live a new life, he was still unsure about his own daughter:

"Yaoyao, I...I prepared twenty bamboo baskets for you, all wrapped in cotton cloth. See if they are enough. If not, I will make more..."

Si Yao handed over the chopsticks and said gently, "That's enough. Let's eat first and then we'll go up the mountain."

Si Lao Er seemed flattered. He took the bowl with both hands and said with a smile:

"I can do it myself."

"Come on, come on, sit down and eat. Xiaoyu and Dahuzi should eat more."

Liu Niang prepared a large bowl of dumplings for each of them, and every bite was filled with intoxicating aroma.

The deliciousness of pork and the fragrance of celery intertwine in the mouth, forming a unique taste.

"As the saying goes, you eat dumplings when you go out and come back home. When you come back, I will cook noodles for you."

Liu Niang's cooking skills were getting better and better. Wang Dahu wanted to say something, but several people wolfed down the food. If he stopped, he would have to eat less.

Si Yu was small, and after eating five or six, he was already half full. He swallowed the food in his mouth and said:

"Thank you, godmother. I will miss you."

Si Lao Er nodded and said:

"When you are out there, you'd better be timid and don't try to be tough. Remember, as long as you have the green mountains, you will never have to worry about having no firewood."

He didn't know what to say otherwise, he just summed it up in one sentence: be a little timid and live longer.

Seeing that everyone had almost finished eating, Si Yao slowly spoke:

"Are you sure it's just the two of you going?"

When it comes to business, Wang Dahu said solemnly:

"Well, I left some money for them. If they save it, it will last until they reach adulthood. But... I have to trouble you. They want to follow you..."

Si Yao looked at Xiao Huzi, Xiao Shitou, Hongying and Xiaoya with a blank expression:

"This is your last chance. Have you thought about it?"

Xiao Huzi nodded without hesitation:

"Sister, I've made up my mind. I want to follow you. The oil factory in the village is short of people. I plan to work there."

"I'll listen to Brother Xiaohu."

"I listen, too."

"I, Xiaoya, listen too."

The four of them expressed their opinions one after another. Si Yao looked at Wang Dahu and said seriously:

"In that case, no one can bully them under my nose. Of course, I won't let them grow crooked!"

Wang Dahu knew that this was Si Yao's promise, and his heart felt sore. The greatest luck in his life was that he robbed this lady at all costs!

Seeing that it was almost time to leave, everyone found an excuse to go out. Si Yao handed the prepared things to Si Yu:

"There are some medicines in here. I have marked their uses. Just use them if you need them. I prepared this peace blessing for you. I wish you a bright future and that you will still be young when you return!"

Si Yu's tears gathered instantly, and with moisture on his long eyelashes he spoke softly:

"Sister, will you miss me?"

"Yes."

"Then...will you recognize other children as your brothers in the future?"

"Probably not."

Si Yu then burst into laughter, and put his arms around Si Yao's waist and said coquettishly:

"Sister, I'm very happy. I'll write to you once I'm settled in Dongyi."

"Okay, there are not only medicinal powders in there for curing diseases, but also some things that can hurt people. I'm not teaching you to do evil, but I'm telling you to have means to protect yourself. You can't have the intention to harm others, but you must be on guard against others. It's always better to be careful."

Si Yao said everything she should and shouldn't have said, causing Si Yu's eyes to turn red. Wang Dahu didn't dare to say anything beside him, as he was afraid that he would lose face if he couldn't hold back...

"Okay, go ahead and have a safe journey."

"Okay, you too, take care."

Wang Dahu held Si Yu in one hand and carried several bags on his back with the other. Someone had been arranged to pick them up outside, and the whole family now sent the two of them out of the village.

"Brother, this is what Xiaoya saved for me. I'm giving it to you."

Before everyone could react, Xiaoya put a tael of silver into Siyu's palm, her voice soft, she was already a big child, she couldn't cry anymore...

Woo woo woo, but she couldn't help it, her brother was leaving...

"Wuwuwu...Brother, I'll give you all my money..."

The tears that Si Yu had managed to suppress came up again, and he sniffed and said:

"Good girl, brother will be back soon. Can you save the money and buy me candied haws?"

"Oh no... burp... woooo, I gave this to my brother, and my brother wants to spend it..."

Si Yao stepped forward, picked up Xiao Ya, and patted her on the back:

"Brother will be back soon after he finishes his work. How about we go up the mountain to pick some fruit and give it to him when he comes back?"

"it is good."

The little girl lay on Si Yao's shoulder listlessly, which made people feel sad. Si Yu wiped away his tears fiercely, stuffed the silver into the little girl's hand, then turned around and walked forward, his little body straight and his steps steady.

Wang Dahu bowed deeply to everyone, his eyes lingering on each face as if he wanted to remember their appearance firmly, and then left with reluctance and deep sadness.

Hongying stood behind Si Yao and cried silently. Since she could remember, they had never been separated. She saw Xiaohuzi and Xiaoshitou, they also looked extremely sad and reluctant. Xiaoya couldn't hold back and burst into tears.

Seeing this, Si Yao said:

"Come on, I'll take you up the mountain."