CHAPTER 373: CHAPTER 373: WHEN THE SECOND AUNT’S DAUGHTER

"Xiuxiu!" exclaimed Mrs. Song. "I steamed a custard for our boy and girl twins with no less than four eggs in it! I’m not sure if that’ll be enough to fill their little bellies." She carried out several bowls of boiled eggs in a large food container made from the family’s special wood, with Song Chengguang following her like a little assistant, all smiles.

"Eh! That’s plenty!" The twins had just been weaned and their appetite wasn’t great, so a small bowl of egg custard followed by some formula would be totally enough." Mrs. Song’s warm inquiry managed to pull Xu Xiuxiu’s attention away from Song Tianxin’s daunting gaze, triggering an automatic response from her.

"Then you should eat something yourself first. Let Yuanyao and me feed Little Moon and Little Baby." Mrs. Song put the food container down, scooping out a big bowl of just boiled eggs for the dining table in the main room. After also placing a bowl for Song Chengguang, she cheerfully reached out to take the completely unshy Little Moon into her arms. "My sweet grandson, come to Grandma for a cuddle." She coaxed him with utmost patience.

Little Moon happily left Xu Xiuxiu’s embrace and turned to nestle into Mrs. Song’s arms.

"Alright." Having sat in the car all day and only grabbing a quick bite along the way, in addition to caring for the three children, she had hardly eaten and was indeed quite hungry by now, so she dropped the formalities with Mrs. Song.

Meanwhile, Song Yuanhuan and Song Yuanming, having carried in the large color TV, walked into the main room. Under Father Song’s direction, they set the TV on a small table for the time being. The large color TV of that era was quite different from the ultra-thin LCD screens to come later; it was simply a bit larger than a black-and-white set and, of course, displayed in color, with the added convenience of a remote control for channel surfing.

"How nice this big color TV looks!" Mrs. Song beamed with pride as the brothers removed the cardboard packaging from the color television. As a mother, she was thrilled but didn’t forget that her sons had just arrived home: "Yuanhuan, Yuanming, put the TV down for a moment and eat some boiled eggs to fill your bellies." A mother always worried about her children being hungry, no matter how old they got, and she was no exception.

"Why put it down? When you do a job, you finish it clean and clear. We’re not so hungry that we can’t spare the effort," Father Song, who seemed quite fond of the large color TV, wanted to see it up and running. When he had visited his son’s home in Z city, he was overjoyed to see their color TV, but due to pride, and Mrs. Song’s cheerful commandeering of the remote, he hadn’t had much chance to use it. After all, Song Chengguang and the twins needed to watch cartoons, and he, as the grandfather, couldn’t compete with the kids for TV time.

Now that they had their own color TV at home, he was eager to explore its features. Hearing Mrs. Song suggest that the brothers take a break, he protested in annoyance.

"Yuanhuan, Yuanming, don’t listen to your mother. You’ve got to start what you finish; you can’t just leave things half-done." Father Song, still a bit concerned, advised the Song brothers.

"Got it, Dad. It’s not too much trouble; in a bit, I’ll just go outside, prop up the antenna, and mount it on the roof." With his experience installing the color TV in Z city, he knew it wasn’t difficult—just a matter of a few minutes. Better to get the TV set up now and eat in peace.

Otherwise, his father would keep a close eye on him, making it hard to relax even while eating. Besides, it was still light out, and in winter the darkness fell early. It wouldn’t be appropriate to try and install it after eating in the dark.

Song Tianxin had been standing there all along, watching as Song Yuanhuan and Song Yuanming moved the color TV. Then she slowly approached, her gaze fixed on the tray Mrs. Song was carrying out. "Grandma, didn’t you boil any eggs for Niuniu? Niuniu wants to eat too."

"Eh!" Mrs. Song was taken aback, obviously stumped by Song Tianxin’s question. She had been worried about dinner time approaching and in fear that Xu Xiuxiu and the others might be really hungry, so she’d boiled eggs to fill their bellies. Song Tianxin, who was at home, had already had lunch, and it was still not quite four o’clock. She truly hadn’t expected that Song Tianxin would be hungry for boiled eggs. "Niuniu, why do you want to eat boiled eggs too? Did you not eat enough at noon and are hungry now?" Mrs. Song asked somewhat awkwardly.

"Yeah! Boiled eggs are so delicious, and I haven’t had them in a long time!" Song Tianxin replied with an innocent expression.

Mrs. Song was momentarily dumbfounded, seemingly unsure what to do. It truly was her oversight not to have considered the family when boiling the eggs that day.

"Here, Tianxin, come sit next to Auntie and eat," Song Yuanyao quickly recovered and took a small bowl of boiled eggs from the tray and placed it on the table, signaling Song Tianxin to eat. Clearly, those boiled eggs were originally meant for Song Yuanhuan and Song Yuanming.

"Thank you, Auntie." Song Tianxin thanked her with a beaming smile, then sat down at the dining table and started eating the boiled eggs.

The little girl wasn’t really being unreasonable throughout the process, but somehow, her actions felt oddly out of place. Xu Xiuxiu, who didn’t actually like sweets, would have declined such sugary boiled eggs if she wasn’t hungry. But having something to fill her stomach was quite nice.

"Second Aunt, with the New Year coming, haven’t you bought any new clothes for Niuniu?" Suddenly, after gobbling down a boiled egg in a few bites, Song Tianxin lifted her head to question Xu Xiuxiu, "Second Aunt always used to buy them for Niuniu!" Her expression seemed full of disappointment.

Xu Xiuxiu was caught off guard by Song Tianxin’s question and immediately made an effort to smile. "Second Aunt has been busy taking care of your brother and sister and hasn’t had the time! Niuniu is a big girl now. If you want new clothes, you can ask your dad to buy them for you!" Xu Xiuxiu wasn’t planning on doing thankless tasks, nor was she willing to pick a quarrel with such a little girl like Song Tianxin.

But Song Tianxin’s question at that moment was almost akin to an accusation. If it weren’t for the young age of the little girl sitting in front of her, and the discomfort she made Xu Xiuxiu feel, Xu Xiuxiu wouldn’t even bother to respond.

"Oh." Tianxin nodded, her face showing understanding, "Is it because I’m not Second Aunt’s daughter, that’s why you won’t buy me clothes? Then how about I become your daughter, Auntie? After all, Tianxin doesn’t have a mom right now!" Song Tianxin continued her shocking speech without the slightest remorse, her tone naïve, but the look in her eyes that stared at Xu Xiuxiu was full of oppression.

Before Xu Xiuxiu could respond, Mrs. Song interjected with a teaching tone, stopping Song Tianxin’s line of thought: "What nonsense are you talking about, child! Your second Aunt can’t be your mother."

"Oh!" Hearing this, Song Tianxin fell silent and hung her head.