A ragged cub at the beginning

Tang Xu had just finished dinner and was lying on a newly made recliner eating peanuts. The four children surrounded her and peeled the peanuts. After peeling them, they rushed to put the peanuts into her open palms.

It was at this moment that Tang Ling pushed the door open in the sunset, with the sky full of evening glow.

Tang Xu sat up suddenly, ignoring the peanuts scattered all over his body, "Sister!"

The children were stunned for a moment, then turned around and rushed over screaming.

Tang Ling rarely did not dodge, she squatted down and opened her arms to hug them, the clear child's voice once again swept her ears.

Qiyue said: "Aunt, you have been ill for a long time~"

Du Jiarui said: "Aunt, I miss you so much~"

Zhao Yunniang asked, "Aunt, are you okay?"

Fang Zijun poked his cheek with a finger, frowned and thought: "Why did my aunt come back from outside?"

"Hey, aunt, when did you go out?" Du Jiarui said.

"I didn't even see it!" said Zhao Yunniang.

"Did it fly out in a flash?" Fang Zijun raised his hand and drew a line in the air.

"Brother Qing can fly too! Whoosh, he flew to the roof." July said firmly, and jumped a little by himself.

"He even stepped on the tile and broke it! With a crack!" said Du Jiarui.

"I heard it too!" said Fang Zijun.

"Didn't Brother Qing tell us not to speak?" Zhao Yunniang frowned.

"Just because they don't let us tell Aunt Xu doesn't mean they won't tell my aunt." Fang Zijun said, putting his hands on his hips.

"Yes." Zhao Yunniang nodded.

Tang Xu turned his head and stared at Tang Qing. Tang Ling also looked over. Tang Qing took a step back, but felt that he couldn't be afraid of them. He straightened his chest, full of vigor but lacking in energy, and said, "I, I have already changed a good tile!"

"Next time! No! Step on the roof!" Tang Xu poked his shoulder and said heavily.

"I know, I know." Tang Qing snorted and glared at a few ignorant 'slotters'. These little brats are unreliable!

Tang Xu waved his fist at him, walked up to Tang Ling, and suppressed his excitement and surprise, "Sister, have you been okay these days?"

"Very good." Tang Ling glanced at her and saw that she looked good and relaxed, so she thought she hadn't had any worries during this period. She looked at the children one by one and pinched their arms. The flesh was much firmer, and it seemed that they hadn't been lazy.

"Are you hungry? Are you tired? Do you want to take a shower?" Tang Xu asked again.

Yu Xiaotao took over the conversation, "There is hot water in the kitchen, you can wash anytime, there are vegetables too, I'll make whatever you want to eat."

Tang Ling looked around, and everyone's face was filled with surprise and worry that had not been seen for a long time. She said softly, "Take a shower first. Sister Xiao Tao, make me a bowl of noodles."

"Hey!" This was the first time Tang Ling called her! She responded and walked to the kitchen, "I'll go and knead the dough!"

Tang Xu helped to carry the hot water, and the children almost followed her on her heels, chattering behind her and asking all kinds of strange questions.

She didn't mind the nuisance or the noise, but instead felt a strange happiness rising in her heart. It turns out that it is such a happy thing to have someone care about you.

Yu Xiaotao and Qi Qing had been at Tang's house all day, and had noticed that Tang Ling was not at home. But Tang Xu said he was sick, so they just went along with it, and no one was curious to ask.

Tang Qing stood aside with his arms folded, feeling somewhat envious. Once upon a time, when his brother came back, he would follow him around like this, talking non-stop. But the person he was waiting for never came back, and no one would wait for him anymore.

Tang Ling glanced at him, thought for a while, and said nothing.

After taking a shower, she ate noodles at the table, while Tang Xu chattered about recent events. Tang Ling listened carefully, occasionally humming in response.

At the end of his speech, Tang Xu's face suddenly turned red, he hesitated for a few seconds, and stopped talking.

Tang Ling looked at her inexplicably, "Fever?"

Tang Xu rubbed his hands together and whispered softly, "Du Yun proposed to me."

Tang Ling said, "He is a person who is consistent in appearance and heart."

"You think he's good too, right?" Tang Xu was very happy that his family members agreed with his choice.

"Well, I checked him and he's OK." Tang Ling said calmly.

Tang Xu exclaimed in surprise, "When did you check on him?"

Tang Ling didn't understand why she was surprised, and said calmly: "The way he looks at you is not right."

Tang Xu blushed, biting her lips but unable to hold back her smile. She turned her eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's not right that you are the same as him now." Tang Ling glanced at her, not wanting to eat the noodles anymore, picked up the bowl and went straight back to his room.

After Tang Ling came back, she found a child. She didn't ask any questions, but looked the child over, pinched him, and looked a little disgusted. "Go play on the slide ten times first."

It was the first time that Hu Xinting met her and he was very nervous, but after hearing what she said, he obediently went to climb the slide.

Fang Zijun and the others didn't wait for her to say anything, they all stood in horse stance obediently.

When Tang Qing saw the gaze turned to herself, her scalp went numb and she started to stutter out of fear, "What, what happened? I haven't been lazy during this period of time!"

"Stand on one hand for one stick of incense." Tang Ling pointed to the corner.

Tang Qing opened his mouth and said, "I can't win, forget it." He walked dejectedly to the place where Tang Ling pointed, raised his hands and turned over neatly, touching his feet against the wall and then leaving. He slowly withdrew one hand, pressed it against the ground with one hand, tightened his waist and abdomen, and collapsed into a straight line.

"Wow~" July opened his mouth wide and exclaimed.

Hu Xinting looked at his little arms, pursed his lips, and continued climbing the ladder.

"Aunt! I want to play this too!" Fang Zijun opened his eyes wide with joy and looked at Tang Qing with envy.

Is this a good thing? What are they so happy about? Tang Qing puffed his lips, but he couldn't speak, nor could he shake his body or lose his breath, otherwise he would fall down.

"Train your legs first, and tie sandbags on them tomorrow." Tang Ling took out a stick of incense, lit it and stuck it into the ground.

When Mrs. Hu first saw the children doing horse stance steadily and with a relaxed look on their faces, she thought it was an easy job. But Tang Qing had not let Hu Xinting practice in the past few days, but only let him play with toys every day. She couldn't help but feel a little worried. Was it because she didn't give him money that he didn't work hard?

Hu Xinting's forehead was already sweating after he finished climbing ten times. Tang Ling beckoned him to come over and do horse stance, but Hu Xinting started to stagger as soon as he squatted down.

"Don't fall, squat down!" Tang Ling said coldly.

Hu Xinting was so frightened that he trembled, gritted his teeth and swayed tremblingly, not daring to fall down.

Mrs. Hu didn't expect this to be such a difficult task. She felt distressed and wanted to say something, but turned around and looked at Tang Ling's cold face and swallowed it back. She kept saying that only those who endured hardships could become superior people, and practicing martial arts was always hard. Didn't you see that the children were all strong? She comforted herself and turned back home, not daring to look at them again. She was afraid that she would annoy others by talking too much, so she stopped teaching.

Tang Xu had no guests who had made reservations today, so he sat lazily in his chair and yawned.

Qi Qing smiled and took out the ointment from the counter, "Miss Xu, let me rub your wrist for you."

"Okay, I don't know if it's because of the medicine or your good kneading, but it doesn't hurt so much recently." Tang Xu stretched out his hand and said with a grin, "I'm so lucky to have you, hahahaha."

"You are my benefactor." Qi Qing responded with a smile. He scooped out a piece of ointment and rubbed it in his palm to warm it up, then held Tang Xu's wrist and rubbed it for her.

"Excuse me, can I have my portrait painted here?" A woman was standing at the door holding a child who was less than two years old. She looked a little embarrassed, and the child looked at Tang Xu with his big eyes.

"Sure, please come in and sit down." Qi Qing stood up, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and led the person to the chair next to Tang Xu.

"I am the painter. Am I painting you and your daughter?" Tang Xu asked.

"Yes." Seeing that both of them were very kind, the woman couldn't help muttering, "My husband has been serving in the military for more than a year. During this time, he always wrote to me saying that he missed our daughter. I wonder how old she is now and whether she can call me dad. I heard that there is a shop here that paints portraits, so I thought of coming to take a look. I wonder how much a painting costs?" As she spoke, she rubbed her palms on her clothes and smiled embarrassedly.

Seeing her embarrassment, Tang Xu smiled and said, "The child is so cute, she won't charge any money."

Qi Qing was stunned, then he clearly quoted a price for one person.

The woman thanked him repeatedly in surprise, straightened her clothes for the child and herself, and sat upright on the stool, not daring to move. The child couldn't sit still, so she grabbed the child's hand and patted it twice, telling her not to move.

"It's okay, don't be so restrained." Tang Xu smiled at the little girl, and the little girl immediately hid her face in her mother's neck.

"Hey, kid, show your face. Otherwise, how can we draw a portrait? It's really..."

Tang Xu has been practicing these days and can paint faster and faster. It didn't take long for him to finish the painting.

The woman took the painting and was amazed. They all said it looked like him, but they didn't expect it to be so similar. She said embarrassedly, "Did I draw myself too good-looking?"

"No, if you didn't work so hard every day, you would be more beautiful than in the painting." Tang Xu looked at the woman. Her child was so young, so she must be no more than 20 years old. But her hands were like those of a person in her 40s or 50s, rough and full of cracks. Her face was haggard, and her eyes were dark, she looked like she was 30.

But Tang Xu was telling the truth. If she wasn't so tired, she would be more beautiful than in the painting.

The woman blushed and looked much younger. She was a little embarrassed when she paid. "It's so good, how can it be so cheap?"

"Yes, I like to give discounts when I see cute children and beautiful girls." Tang Xu said jokingly.

"You already have a child, why is it still a girl..." As the woman spoke, her nose felt sore and her throat choked, "Thank you."

"You're welcome. A person will be beautiful as long as he has sunshine in his heart. Your husband always thinks about you and your daughter, so he must be a good person. Just hold on and wait for him to come back." Tang Xu said.

The woman nodded and said, "He would send back his monthly salary immediately and would not keep a penny for himself, saying that there was no shortage of food and clothing in the barracks." When she said this, a smile appeared on her face again.

"That's great. How long will you serve?" Tang Xu saw that she seemed to want to talk to someone. Since there were not many people around, he asked Qi Qing to bring some snacks to the child while he chatted with her.

She squeezed her daughter's hand, not letting her eat. "It's said to be two years. If everything goes well, you can come back next fall."

"It will definitely go smoothly. With such a good wife and daughter, he will definitely come back. There is no news of any war going on right now. He is just on garrison duty. Maybe he will be back during the Chinese New Year." Tang Xu said, stuffing a piece of dessert into the little girl's hand, "Eat it."

"I don't dare to think about that." Although she said so, she looked obviously happier. "She didn't eat. She came out after eating."

"Are you the only one who takes care of the child on weekdays? Doesn't the child have grandparents?" Tang Xu poured her tea and took two sips himself. He really couldn't get used to this kind of tea. How about some scented tea?

"Grandpa and grandma live with my uncle, and the family has split up." Her smile paused, and her voice became a little low.

"It's hard to take care of a child by yourself without anyone to help you, but it's not without benefits." Seeing her looking at him, Tang Xu said, "Look at those who have mothers-in-law, how many of them get along well with them? The good ones just point fingers and nitpick, and the bad ones, let alone help you take care of the child, you still have to serve them."

"That's true. I think my eldest sister-in-law has someone to take care of her child, but she herself is busy." The woman thought of something when she talked about this. "Her child has a bad temper and always bullies our Nini. She has been spoiled by the old lady. Nini can eat by herself, but the child is five years old and still needs grandma to chase her and feed her."

"Yes, it's inevitable that old people will spoil children. Although it's tiring to take care of your own children, they are more obedient, right? Nini, you are the best, right?" She turned her last sentence to the little girl who had a mouth full of stuffy stuffiness like a hamster.

Nini was stunned for a moment and nodded.

"Oh, how come you eat so much? This snack is worth a painting." The woman was chatting and didn't pay attention. Now she feels very embarrassed.

"Eat it, I made it myself." Tang Xu handed a piece to the woman, "Try it."

Yu Xiaotao saw that the children loved this snack. She thought the ones bought in the store were too expensive, so she tried to make it herself. At first, it wasn't very delicious, and she felt a little guilty, thinking that she was wasting good things. Tang Xu saw that she wanted to learn, so he went through his memory and taught her some. Unexpectedly, Yu Xiaotao had some talent, and after the improvement, the snack she made was no worse than the one in the store. The children were lucky to have a good taste. Seeing that they liked it, Yu Xiaotao made some every day.

"It's delicious. I haven't had any snacks yet." The woman was a little embarrassed and couldn't bear to eat it after taking two bites.

"If you have enough money, treat yourself and your children better. Your husband sent all the money back because he wants you and your children to live well, right?" Tang Xu said, "If he finds his wife and daughter pale and thin after returning, he will be very sad."

Logically speaking, the army should have received a lot of money. This woman must have done farm work since her hands were so rough. She grew grain and vegetables, so she didn't have to spend much on food. Her husband also sent money back home, so she shouldn't have had such a hard life.

The woman didn't want to say anything at first, but maybe because the other person was kind, or maybe because the snacks were delicious, she couldn't help but express her suffering, "Every month when I send money back, the child's grandmother takes most of it."

"Take most of it? Why, don't they have enough to eat at the eldest son's house?" Tang Xu couldn't help but complain in his heart, can they just take it if they want to? You won't give it to them!

"Of course not, she...she said she was afraid that I would run away with the money." The woman's face showed embarrassment, but more of it was sadness.

"Could it be that she used the money to raise her eldest son's child?" Tang Xu glanced at the skinny and small Nini. Her clothes obviously didn't fit her well. He wondered if the family didn't want them.

The woman laughed dryly twice and said nothing more.

Tang Xu was furious at her lack of resistance and began to brainwash her, "If you don't do this for yourself, you have to do it for your child, right? Raising a child is like building a house. If they don't eat well when they are young, it's like the foundation of the house is not well laid. How can they grow up healthy?"

"My uncle has a son," she said.

"What's wrong with your son? You want to rely on him for your retirement? Are you stupid? Are you using your husband's money to raise someone else's child?" Tang Xu was so angry that she spoke without thinking.

The woman was stunned for a moment, and whispered, "I have no other choice. If I don't give it to her, she will make a fuss."

"I'll teach you!" Tang Xu slammed the table.