Chapter 21: Chapter 21 What’s Wrong with Letting Her Do the Housework Chapter 21: Chapter 21 What’s Wrong with Letting Her Do the Housework Ye Xiu clutched her chest; without thinking much about it, she hadn’t realized how much Xingxing had to do in a day. Every time Ye Xiu came back, everything was done; was she under the impression that the house wasn’t busy?
When she and Bai Yu, Bai Ye were playing together, was Xingxing really not joining them because she didn’t want to?
No, it was because she was too busy. She had to cook, she had to do the chores!
“…”
Bai Da stared blankly at Ye Xiu, wanting to say that wasn’t the case, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
“Bai Yu and the others helped too…”
That was all he could say, but he knew how exaggerated that statement was!
“Oh, really?”
Ye Xiu’s gaze turned towards Bai Yu and Bai Ye. Bai Yu furrowed his brows and didn’t speak, while Xixi also bowed her head, seeming quite guilty.
And Bai Ye shouted at the top of his lungs,
“Mom, you can’t say that. If Bai Zhi isn’t going to dig fish mint to make money, what’s wrong with her doing the chores? Isn’t it right?”
Bai Ye didn’t think they were doing anything wrong. After all, if she’s not earning money, she should at least do the chores, lucky her!
“Huh, Bai Ye, digging for fish mint isn’t something only you can do, Xingxing can too, she just lacks the time. And what you said about her asking dad for money, that’s why Xixi’s tuition was gone and dad had to carry cement bags.
I’m telling you this, you are our son, and Xingxing is our daughter too. If she gets hurt, we pay for her medical expenses and buy her good food to boost her nutrition; that’s only right. Before, I used to divide things among you, but this time, Xingxing got hurt, so I gave all the good food to her. Do you have any objections?”
Regardless of whether they had objections, she had already decided.
She wondered if Xingxing would still want it, considering she must be disappointed in them, such parents, such a brother!
“Mom… it’s not okay, Xixi also needs nutrition!”
Bai Ye got anxious immediately. They could never forget how Xixi’s little face turned red from the fever, as the doctor said, Xixi needed nutrients too!
Ye Xiu frowned, her eyes moved towards the well-behaved Xixi; she needed it too.
“Then leave half for Xixi, and from now on, you two brothers can alternate doing the chores. If you don’t know, just learn, Xingxing is younger than both of you and she learnt,”
Ye Xiu thought, just like Xingxing said, maybe it’s better for their daughter at her father-in-law’s, she wouldn’t be so tired there, her father-in-law always doted on Xingxing.
Bai Ye stomped his foot, wanting to say more but Bai Yu pulled at his hand, and Bai Ye held back.
Ye Xiu noticed their subtle gestures, but now she didn’t have time to think about those,
“Now I’ll go cook, you two reflect on this here, Xixi, come with mom!”
Ye Xiu stretched out her hand towards Xixi, preparing to take her to cook
perhaps in this matter, Xixi was the only one who didn’t have complaints against Xingxing?
Xixi had always been well-behaved,
“Okay, Mom!”
Xixi obediently followed Ye Xiu back to the kitchen. Ye Xiu prepared to make Braised Pork Belly, cutting the pork belly into small pieces,
She heated oil in the pot, the ginger and garlic sizzled, then she added white sugar, stir-fried until the sugar melted, added the pork belly and started to fry until it changed color, added salt, soy sauce, dried chillies, and Sichuan peppercorns, only then did she begin to add water.
She brought it to a boil over high heat, then simmered it on low heat. When it was almost ready, she added the potatoes. After half an hour, the potatoes had become especially soft and flavorful.
“Mom, I’m sorry; we shouldn’t have neglected Sister,”
Xixi had been helping with the fire and, at this moment, she felt particularly embarrassed, keeping her head down, not daring to look at Ye Xiu!
“It’s alright, Xixi, you didn’t do anything wrong. It was your brothers, not that they did anything wrong either, just thinking incorrectly. This house belongs to everyone; how can Sister be the only one doing the household chores, right?”
But, Dad earning money is also unrelated to Sister. He indeed shouldn’t have been overexerting himself carrying cement, but Sister can’t be blamed since she didn’t do anything wrong!”
Ye Xiu held Xixi’s little hand, her gaze tender,
“Got it, Xixi?”
Xixi nodded vigorously, her eyes obediently fixed on Ye Xiu,
“Mom, I will definitely apologize to Sister in the future. I was wrong back then too; I should have said sorry to her.”
Tears welled up in Xixi’s eyes. She felt terribly sorry for Bai Zhi, lifting her tiny head, holding Ye Xiu’s hand, and promising word by word with utmost seriousness!
“In the future, I will learn to cook; we’ll pick fish mint with Sister, and we’ll study together. Mom, let Sister go to school; I won’t go, okay?”
Ye Xiu stretched out her hand and fondly rubbed Xixi’s little head. Xixi was genuinely adorable, her big eyes as if they could speak, her round little face like a lucky doll.
Compared to Xingxing, Xingxing really seemed like she could be blown away by a breeze. How had she overlooked Xingxing before?
Ye Xiu didn’t understand. She took a deep breath, stood up to check on the Braised Pork Belly. She didn’t dare look at Xixi, fearing that one more look would make her feel too selfish!
Xixi was taken aback. She was a very sensitive child, insecure, hence her extra dependence on Ye Xiu and Bai Yu. Just a moment ago, she seemed to have sensed a momentary distance from her mother, even if it wasn’t very obvious!
Ye Xiu opened the lid of the pot; the Braised Pork Belly was ready. She quickly filled a large bowl and set it aside.
This was for Xingxing and the others,
Ye Xiu thought for a bit, then made a stewed eggplant dish before letting them eat.
Bai Yu and Bai Ye immediately led Xixi to the table; Mom’s Braised Pork Belly smelled so good, their eyes glued to the dish Ye Xiu had brought over!
Ye Xiu smiled, her gaze gentle as she looked at them, regardless of their naughtiness, they were still kids who longed for delicious food!
“Alright, go ahead and eat. I’m going to bring Grandpa some dishes, behave, no snatching, take good care of your sister!”
After speaking, Ye Xiu prepared to fetch some eggs. Upon reaching the egg storage, there were surprisingly less than ten left, though there had been dozens previously.
It must have been the children eating them. Ye Xiu distributed the remaining ones into a basket and, taking the Braised Pork Belly, prepared to leave.
Honest Bai Da, a man who couldn’t speak well, felt very uncomfortable watching Ye Xiu treat him as if he were air!
He didn’t know how to comfort people, so at this moment, he didn’t know what to do!
“Wife, let me carry it!”
Bai Da took the items from Ye Xiu’s hands, giving her a glance before walking by her side,
carefully watching her, standing next to her without speaking,
“Let’s go, I have something to discuss with you!”
Ye Xiu didn’t say much, just in time, she felt it was necessary to talk with Bai Da. There were ways to earn money without him overworking himself carrying cement and with her salary still available!
Bai Da was good in many ways except one; he was reluctant to spend her money, claiming that as a husband, he couldn’t use his wife’s money.
This man, in truth, was somewhat chauvinistic.