Chapter 2
Five years later.
In an old apartment on the third floor, there was a cartoon-patterned foam mat on the floor. On the mat, a slightly chubby little girl was sleeping soundly. Her bulging belly was rising and falling. Her pinkish-white face was sound asleep, and her pretty mouth was sucking on her small fists.
“Meat!” Li Baobao shouted excitedly in her babyish voice, dreaming and nibbling happily.
Beside her, two pretty boys about the same age as her were looking worried.
“Big Brother, do you think Sister is a bit slow or something?”
Li Jùnjùn’s tiny face was filled with concern. This question had troubled him since he was young. Just as he finished speaking, the little boy next to him with a tense face and stern expression gave him a punch.
“She’s cute, not slow! Don’t speak nonsense!” Li Junjun lectured his brother with a straight face. He was born three minutes before his younger siblings, so he was the eldest brother and had to be responsible for taking care of them.
It was unthinkable to say that their sister was stupid.
Li Jùnjùn hurriedly retracted his words after being hit. “Oh, right, it’s cute. Sister is so cute. I’ll give her my share of the meat today!”
“Yes, you’re a good boy too.”
Li Junjun patted his brother’s head. On his beautiful face, there was a hint of maturity far beyond his age.
Li Baobao woke up. “Boohoo, it’s not meat!” She had bitten her hand until it hurt, and began to cry.
Li Junjun hurriedly took out a biscuit from the biscuit tin next to him, and fed it to her.
Li Baobao’s tears hung on her eyelashes, but she stopped crying and obediently ate the biscuit.
“Brother, where’s Mommy? I’m hungry.”
Li Jùnjùn picked up his sister and coaxed, “Mommy is at work, but she’ll be back soon! If you’re hungry, eat some biscuits first, okay?”
“Okay. Mommy is having a hard time. Baobao won’t cry.” Li Baobao obediently nestled in her brother’s arms.
At noon, the door opened. It was Li An’an, who had rushed home, drenched in sweat. Seeing that her three babies at home were well-behaved, she smiled in relief.
“Da Bao, Er Bao, San Bao, Mommy is back.”
The three children immediately got up from the ground. One hugged her left leg, one hugged her right leg, and one reached out for a hug.
Li An’an pulled the three children into her arms, and the day’s fatigue was swept away.
“Baobao, Mommy earned 500 yuan today. Let’s get something delicious. Tell Mommy what you want to eat! Mmm, shall we have barbecue? Mommy bought meat!”
“Yay!” The three children clapped their hands.
“Okay, then you can start doing some chores for Mommy.”
Li An’an placed the ingredients in the kitchen, and the three children began helping where they could.
Li Baobao put the biscuit tin back into the cupboard. Li Jùnjùn and Li Junjun stacked up the foam puzzle pieces on the floor and placed them under the curtains. As the room was very small, this was how their Mommy always stored them.
Soon, the living room was tidied up, and Li An’an changed out of her costume. She had prepared the rice before she left, so they would be able to eat as quickly as possible when she came back.
First, she cut the pork belly that she had bought into thin slices and placed them on a plate. Then, she poured in some special condiments and marinated them for half an hour. When the time was up, she took out an electric grill and brushed it with oil. When the grill became hot, she placed the pork slices on it piece by piece. As they sizzled, the slices turned crispy and golden brown. She kept flipping them and brushing on the condiments. The small room immediately filled with a fragrance that made everyone drool!
The three little kids were already waiting impatiently with their cartoon bowls!
Even the well-behaved Li Junjun swallowed his drool. Mommy’s cooking was really fragrant!
Li An’an smiled and placed the pork belly on a plate. She wrapped a piece of grilled meat in a leaf of lettuce and placed it into each of the three children’s bowls. This way, they would have a balanced meal!
The three little fellows could barely wait and immediately devoured the meat!
Li An’an smiled as she watched them eat, her own bowl filled only with vegetables.