Chapter 77 - The Best General
Chapter 77: The Best General
Lu Jiao beamed ear to ear and took over the empty bowl, “Don’t worry. I will take good care of them.”
She meant in the next two to three months.
After the next two to three months, the four little ones will no longer be hers. Lu Jiao was depressed about that thought but also knew there wasn’t much she could do about it.
In this day and age, the mother never got to keep the children. Plus, Xie Yunjin really cared for the four little ones.
So she wasn’t going to even suggest to him to give her the children.
Xie Yunjin’s gaze darkened even more. He wondered silently. Did she mean, she wasn’t going to leave anymore? That wouldn’t be the worst thing.
He’s been closely observing these few days and has to admit that this woman truly did care about the quadruplets.
If she could care for the children, then he would focus on his exams. As long as she helps him take good care of the four little ones, then he will treat her well once he achieves success.
Lu Jiao had no idea that her mindless statement would trigger so many thoughts in the future First Assistant’s head.
She left with her bowl and saw Xie Erzhu coming over, “Second brother, you’re here.”
Xie Erzhu returned the greeting with a complex expression. He personally witnessed this sister-in-law make a scene at his parent’s. Somehow, he didn’t find her so scary anymore.
On the contrary, he felt satisfied. His parents, elder brother, and sister-in-law needed to be taught a lesson by someone like his third sister-in-law.
“Hello.”
Lu Jiao caught sight of the four little ones showing off their new clothes to Soot and Marble. Lu Jiao couldn’t help but shake her head. Just how happy were they? They were showing off to their puppies?
“You four, come back and sleep. Why are you showing off to dogs? Hurry up.”
The four little ones ran back. The Fourth Born hugged Lu Jiao’s leg.
“Mommy, let’s sleep together. You tell me a story.”
The other three ran over as well and gawked at her with their eyes wide. It was obvious that they wanted a story too.
Lu Jiao didn’t fight it. She went to the living room, put down the bowl, and led the four little ones into the west bedroom for a story.
By the time Lu Jiao was done telling the story, Xie Erzhu was done helping Xie Yunjin.
“You three, go back to your dad’s to sleep.”
The Second Born looked at the First Born and whispered, “First Born, I want to sleep with mommy.”
Before the First Born could speak, Lu Jiao spoke up first, “It’s not good to sleep here. You go and sleep with your dad.”
The Second Born felt wronged and pointed at the Fourth Born, “How come he gets to sleep here then?”
The Fourth Born hugged Lu Jiao’s arm as if terrified that she would shoo him into the other bedroom as well.
Lu Jiao’s head hurt. She patted the Second Born’s head, “Grandma’s here. The bed’s too small for all of us. Once grandma goes back home, you can sleep with whoever you want.”
The Second Born was okay with this and nodded heavily. The First Born took the Second and Third Born back to the east bedroom. However, the Third Born wouldn’t sleep. He sat on top of the bed and refused to lie down no matter what others said.
Inside the west bedroom, Lu Jiao and Lady Tian were ready to sleep with the Fourth Born but when they heard the commotion in the other room, they got up to check it out.
“What’s happening?”
The Second Born tattle-taled, “Mommy, look at the Third Born. He’s not sleeping and he’s just sitting there. Daddy asked him why he’s not sleeping and he refused to answer.”
Lu Jiao walked over to the Third Born and asked him in a gentle voice, “Third Born, why are you not sleeping? You can tell mom what you are thinking of.”
The Third Born looked at Lu Jiao, then looked at his new clothes. Lu Jiao guessed what was in his little mind right away.
“You’re worried about wrinkling your new clothes?”
The Third Born nodded violently, “Sleeping would press onto the clothes too hard and cause wrinkles. I’m not sleeping.”
Lu Jiao’s heart was bitter. This was all because these children never had much to wear growing up. Plus, by now, she’s discovered that the Third Born was very into appearances and loved dressing up.
Lu Jiao patted the Third Born’s head, “Go to sleep for tonight. Tomorrow, I will make you a set of pajamas.”
The Third Born’s never heard of that word, “What is ‘pajamas’?”
“It’s clothes you wear to go to sleep. That way, you won’t have to worry about wrinkling the clothes you’re wearing now.”
The Third Born immediately smiled, “Okay, mommy, then you make me one tomorrow.”
“For sure.”
The Second Born sat up straight and shouted, “Mommy, I want one too! I want one too!”
Lu Jiao made him sit down, “Okay, I will make each one of you a set. Go to sleep.”
Lu Jiao settled the children down and left. Behind her, Xie Yunjin stared.
Pajamas? That was a wild new word. Just where did she come from?
The next morning, when the Sun had just risen and before Lu Jiao had gotten up, she hazily felt like someone was standing beside her. Scared, she jolted awake and found a little guy standing at the head of the bed.
It was the Second Born.
Lu Jiao rubbed her eyes and sat up. In a whisper, she asked, “Second Born, why aren’t you sleeping?”
The Second Born lowered his voice and whispered back, “Mommy, you said you’d teach us how to defend ourselves.”
Since Lu Jiao brought it up, of course, she was going to teach them. However, wasn’t this just a little too early?
The Second Born seemed to have realized he was pushing it. Mommy didn’t seem too pleased. Was she going to refuse to teach them now because she was angry?
The little guy carefully observed Lu Jiao and grasped his hands together, “I don’t want others to take advantage of us anymore. They also take advantage of daddy. If I can learn how to defend myself, I can protect daddy.”
Lu Jiao’s heart softened and she hugged him, “Okay, I got it. I’m not mad.”
She then gently and carefully got out of bed and took the Second Born outside.
It was so early in the morning that it was still somewhat dark. The entire yard was silent without any traces of noise.
“I’ll take you up the mountains first to collect some hay. We’ll make a scarecrow out of the hay. Then, I can teach you how to defend against bad people.”
The Second Born’s eyes were as clear as water, “Okay, okay.”
Lu Jiao went to retrieve her basket from the kitchen. She placed the Second Born into the basket and put it on her back.
Scared that he would fall, she warned him, “Hold onto my neck, don’t fall out.”
“Okay!”
The Second Born laughed and quickly wrapped his arms around Lu Jiao’s neck. The mother and son duo went up the mountain quietly. This time, they didn’t collect firewood because there was no space. They managed to get a stack of hay and Lu Jiao cut up some bamboo. She was going to teach her mom how to make tofu today. The bamboo could be used as a simple container for tofu making.
Though the Second Born was very little, he did his best to help Lu Jiao with the hay. As he pulled them up, he asked curiously, “Can we really make a scarecrow out of this?”
“Yes, we can. We’ll put it together once we get back.”
The Second Born blinked stars at Lu Jiao and said stickily, “Mommy, you’re so capable. You can do anything.”
He felt so proud. This was his mother! He straightened his chest and decided to be as capable as his mother in the future.
His mother got a hold of Shen Daniu’s dad and beat him up enough that he cried. Plus, his mother attacked in a way that left no wounds. The more the Second Born thought about it, the more capable she appeared to him.
Lu Jiao smiled at him, “In the future, you are going to be far more capable than me.”
The Second Born nodded. In the future, he will ride giant horses and be the best general there is.