Chapter 337
Fang Hui lost all desire to stay. Forgetting her original purpose, she gave a couple of awkward laughs and went back home.
That evening.
Eldest Child took a red pen and drew three little red flowers on the wooden board with his name that Si Nian had set up.
Looking at his younger brother's single red flower, he was in a great mood.
Second Child stomped his feet in anger. His older brother had taken first place in math, Chinese, and English tests, earning three little red flowers at once.
He only had one. He had originally wanted to go out and play with Jiang Jiu, but now he wasn't in the mood. He immediately took out his copybook and started practicing his handwriting.
Mom said that once he finished practicing a whole book, she would give him a flower.
If he couldn't compete in quality, he would win with quantity.
Yaoyao was playing with the radio on the side, and foreign nursery rhymes started playing.
His thoughts were disturbed again, and he couldn't help but hum along.
He didn't know where Mom had bought so many cassette tapes. His younger sister had been playing them constantly these past few days, and he had learned how to hum them.
After Yaoyao finished singing one song, she stood on her tiptoes to change to another.
After listening for a while, she got bored and took out the colored pens Si Nian had bought her to draw and write.
In no time, she had drawn some cute cartoon characters.
Previously, her drawings were based on family members.
But after reading more books, she started imitating the cartoon characters in them.
After drawing, she would even write captions, like a conversation between several children.
If Si Nian saw this now, she would realize this was basically a comic book.
However, at this moment, Si Nian was still in the study working on her exam papers.
The family was happily busy with their own things.
Meanwhile, next door at the Fang house, the atmosphere was extremely tense.
Fang Bowen was currently being made to stand as punishment, holding an English book.
Fang Hui held a bamboo cane in her hand, her face dark and ugly.
"If you don't finish memorizing these one hundred words tonight, don't even think about eating!"
"Since you were little, I've spent so much money hiring teachers and tutors for you, letting you enjoy the best education, yet you can't even compare to someone from the countryside!"
"The son of Si Nian next door scored a hundred on his English test! Aren't you ashamed!"
Fang Bowen's eyes were red, but he didn't dare to cry out loud.
The window was open, and a breeze blew in from outside.
He could hear the sounds of Zhou Zehan and Jiang Jiu playing hide-and-seek in the yard next door.
He zoned out for a moment, only snapping back to reality when a sharp pain hit his face from a slap.
Fang Hui was staring at him with a dark expression.
Zhou Yueshen had been busy expanding the breeding farm recently.
Si Nian was also busy every day, especially with the Dragon Boat Festival approaching.
Her family had written to her, asking if she was doing well and if she wanted them to send her some zongzi.
Si Nian had just replied saying there was no need, as she planned to make them herself. But two days later, her older brother brought over a bag of glutinous rice and bamboo leaves from home.
It was obvious they had picked the leaves themselves; they were very tender and had a fresh fragrance.
However, before Si Nian had time to make the zongzi, the school gave them zongzi gift boxes.
It had to be said, a wealthy school really was different.
The gift boxes were very high-end.
Si Nian placed them in the front basket of her bicycle and brought them home.
Not only did the adults get them, but the children also received small gift boxes.
The school did a particularly good job in this regard.
Second Child and Jiang Jiu held their zongzi, looking extremely happy.
"Mom, Mom, such big zongzi! I've never eaten zongzi before!"
Second Child loved chewy, sticky foods, but they didn't make zongzi at home, and his dad wasn't one to celebrate holidays. In previous years, their holidays were just like any other day.
He had only ever seen his classmates bring zongzi to school to eat.
Si Nian saw how excited he was. Second Child was from the countryside, and although the school teachers were nice, they certainly didn't have the means to give out such things.
Receiving a gift from the school for the first time, he was naturally overjoyed.
Si Nian said, "I was planning to make zongzi myself, and I even bought the leaves. I didn't expect the school to give out so many."
Second Child's eyes immediately lit up. "Mom, you know how to make zongzi?"
Si Nian nodded. "Of course I do. But the zongzi Mom makes don't have anything inside, just plain white glutinous rice."
Si Nian liked to eat simple zongzi without various fillings, otherwise they were too rich.
Especially the savory ones.
Although the gift boxes from the school were nice, they weren't the kind she liked to eat.
She planned to pick out a few to have her older brother take back for her family to taste.
Hearing this, Second Child immediately shoved his zongzi into Jiang Jiu's hands, ran to Si Nian's side, and looked up at her, saying, "Mom, Mom, I want to make them too! Let's make zongzi, okay?"
He loved cooking with his mom. Before, on New Year's Day, Mom had taken him to make dumplings and even cooked tangyuan for him!
Holidays were Second Child's favorite days.
Because in the past, he could only watch other children sit in their yards making zongzi with their parents, and now it was finally his turn.
He wanted to make big, round zongzi!
Hearing this, Jiang Jiu didn't want his either, but he couldn't throw it away. He also leaned over and said, "Second brother's mom, I want to make them too!"
Seeing how happy the children were, Si Nian immediately made a decision. She would soak the bamboo leaves today and then make zongzi.
The two children happily linked arms and ran home. "We're going to make zongzi!"
As soon as they reached the door, they saw Fang Hui from next door.
She was holding Fang Bowen's hand and carrying a birthday cake in her other hand.
Second Child's gaze was immediately drawn to it.
What was that? It looked so delicious.
Seemingly noticing his gaze, Fang Hui stopped and greeted Si Nian. "Teacher Si, what a coincidence. Do you also have time off for the Dragon Boat Festival?"
Si Nian gave a slight nod. "Yes."
Fang Hui lifted the cake in her hand. "Today is my Bowen's birthday. Do you want to come to our house and have some cake together? I see your son seems to really want some."
She looked at Second Child with a teasing smile.
Second Child immediately withdrew his gaze from the cake, feeling a bit guilty.
But in his heart, he couldn't help thinking: So this is a cake. People really have cakes on their birthdays. He had never celebrated a birthday before.
Fang Bowen was so lucky.
Fang Bowen slightly raised his chin and said, "This is the cake my mom ordered for me. One piece costs twenty yuan, and it has chocolate on top."
Second Child immediately opened his mouth wide.
His nine little white rabbits had only sold for eighteen yuan.
This cake was more expensive than his little rabbits.
Fang Hui waited for her son to finish speaking before smiling and saying, "Yes, a child can't finish it all by himself. Why don't you guys come over too?"
She seemed afraid that Si Nian would refuse, so she looked at Zhou Zehan and said, "Little boy, do you really want to eat it too? Do you want to come to Auntie's house?"
Second Child hesitated for a moment, then took two steps back and said, "I'm not going. I'm going to make zongzi with my mom tonight."
Although the cake looked delicious, Second Child was a person who kept his distance.
He would only go to the homes of people he was very familiar with, like Little Jiang's house.
Last time, this auntie had even called him a garbage picker. He didn't like her.
Si Nian also said, "No thank you, Comrade Fang. I have many children, so it wouldn't be polite to intrude. You guys go ahead and eat. We still have to make zongzi tonight."
After saying that, she nodded slightly and stepped forward to open the door.
The two children skipped inside.
"We're making zongzi!"
"Little Jiang, let me tell you, not only can I make zongzi, but I can also make dumplings! My mom taught me everything!"
"Second brother is so amazing! Second brother, teach me!"
"Okay, but you have to wash your hands first..."
The voices of the two children gradually faded into the distance.
Fang Hui hadn't actually wanted to invite them to eat anyway. Seeing them head inside, she simply walked away.
Fang Bowen pulled his gaze away from Jiang Jiu and Zhou Zehan, who were roughhousing in the courtyard.
His lips were pressed into a tight line.