Chapter 170

The twins got up earlier than before. After Gao Quan got up, they got up as well.

Gao Quan was surprised to see them get up so early, asking, “Tangtang, Guoguo, why are you up so early?”

Guoguo said, “Uncle Gao Quan, from now on we will get up at this time and learn kungfu from you.”

Tangtang also nodded.

Although they didn’t tell the reason, Gao Quan guessed it was because of what had happened yesterday. He heard the twins saying that they wanted to protect their little brother and Daddy. Everyone thought they were paying lip service. To his surprise, the two children actually meant it and got up so early to learn kungfu from him.

Looking at the two children who were under seven and just reached his waist, Gao Quan was touched. The eldest master was always protecting the second master in childhood, saying that he would find his younger brother the best husband so that he would not worry about anything.

Nephews were like their uncles. Although they had never met before, and they didn’t even know that they had an uncle, their behavior was the same, as if they were born with it.

Gao Quan nodded. “Alright, go out with me now. But we can’t go up the mountain yet as it’s not bright yet, and you can’t see the way.” As he said, he opened the door and went out.

The two children followed him. Guoguo asked Gao Quan to teach them some powerful moves. He wanted to beat people who wanted to harm his little brother with one fist.

Gao Quan wanted to laugh when he heard that. He was not laughing at GuoGuo’s ambition, but he was happy that his second master had two such good children. No, three. The one in his infancy should be good as well.

Although Tangtang was not interested in kungfu, he followed Guoguo and never complained. Gao Quan was touched by their perseverance. He recalled when he was seven years old, he was naughty and didn’t even know what kungfu was. Back then, he never thought about what kind of life he would lead in the future, and what he would grow up to be.

And these two children had already started to plan for their family at such a young age. He was touched, but at the same time, he felt distressed. They worked so hard at such a young age. What about the future?

Sunk in thought, he suddenly heard a voice in his ear, “Uncle Gao Quan, you don’t have to think too much. Dad has said that no pains, no gains. One could never have too many skills. We have to learn something.”

Gao Quan looked down and saw the two children looking up at him. Even if he couldn’t see it clearly, Gao Quan knew that their eyes were glinting of hope and beauty, which indicated how they looked at the world.

He thought no matter how difficult it would be, the two children would support each other and achieve their goals.

Gao Quan raised his head and said, “I understand. I will change my mind.”

The twins didn’t say anything this time because they didn’t know what to say.

Outside their house was a big wide road, and very few people would pass by. Recently, the road was frequented because of the potato business, but at this time, there would be no one around. Therefore, Gao Quan was relieved to let the two children stand by the roadside and practice kungfu with him.

…

After Xu Ran went downstairs, he didn’t hear the voices. He searched the house in the faint moonlight, but he didn’t find anyone or any light. He went to the living room and lit an oil lamp. Taking the lamp in his hand, he went to the stable and the sheep pen, but he found nothing. He put the oil lamp away, guessing that the twins might have followed Gao Quan out.

Xu Ran opened the door and saw three figures, one big and two small, practicing the same moves not far away on the road.

Recalling the twins said that they would protect their little brother, Xu Ran couldn’t name his feeling. He remembered when he woke up, Guoguo said he would take care of his elder brother. These two scenes came up and merged. Xu Ran thought that no matter what would become of him in the future, whether he accomplished both success and fame, whether he would become rich, what he was most proud of was that he had two such good sons.

They were the sons of the fool, also his sons, who made him feel proud.

Xu Ran didn’t go out, standing at the door for a long time. It dawned, and Gao Quan led Tangtang Guoguo up the mountain. Then, Xu Ran closed the door and walked to the kitchen.

Shao Yu happened to go downstairs. He was surprised to see Xu Ran. He greeted him like a family, “Why are you up so early?”

Xu Ran said, “I had a nightmare, and I couldn’t sleep, so I got up early. I’ll fix breakfast today. Help me ask who has piglets during the day. It’s time to buy two and raise them here.”

Shao Yu nodded. “Okay, I’ll ask. Don’t forget to make rice soup for Baozi when you fix breakfast. I’ll go cut the grass first.”

Xu Ran said, “Go ahead! It’s not bright yet. Be careful not to go too far.”

“Okay.” Shao Yu nodded and went to wash his face.

Xu Ran boiled the water for Liu Tong and the twins to wash their faces, and then he made rice soup for Baozi and warmed it on one side. After that, he started to knead the dough.

It was a blessing to be able to cook for his family.

Xu Ran wanted to make shaved noodles. He had never tried it before. Now that he thought of it, he wanted to give it a try. It was not difficult, but he could only knead the dough, which might not be as delicious as fermenting the dough.

However, they probably couldn’t taste any difference.

When Xu Ran kneaded the dough, Liu Tong got up with Baozi in his hand. When he got to the kitchen, he found that Xu Ran was cooking. He asked him, “Ran, you didn’t sleep after midnight. Why not go to sleep for a while now?”

Xu Ran was tired from the dough kneading, shaking his head at Liu Tong. “No, I’m kneading the dough. The rice soup for Baozi is ready, and there’s also hot water in the pot. You wash your face and then feed him. I’ll go see if the twins are back. If they’ve come back, I’ll cook the noodles.”

Xu Ran went to wash his hands and then took Baozi from Liu Tong. He carried him to the door to see if the twins had come back.

Xu Ran stood at the door for a while and didn’t see anyone. Liu Tong had washed his face and came out with a bowl of rice soup to feed Baozi. Xu Ran thought he could see if the twins come back at the door, so he held Baozi there and let Liu Tong feed him.

Baozi ate more than before. Besides, the rice soup was not as good as ewe’s milk, so he ate more frequently in a day than before.

Xu Ran said to Liu Tong, “Tongtong, I’ll go buy another ewe today. Baozi is too small. How can he not drink milk?”

Liu Tong said, “Okay. Go buy an ewe that has just given birth! Baozi doesn’t have to wait anymore. I don’t think he likes rice soup.”

Although the rice soup didn’t taste fishy, Baozi was more used to ewe’s milk as he drank it from the beginning.

As the two of them spoke, Liu Tong didn’t stop feeding Baozi the rice soup in the bowl. Just then, Shao Yu returned with a full basket of grass on his back. Xu Ran passed Baozi to Liu Tong and took the bowl. “I’m going to shave the dough. The sun is up, and they should be back soon.”

Liu Tong said, “Go! I can watch here.”

Xu Ran went to the kitchen. He added some firewood into the stove, making the fire flare, and then began to shave the dough into noodles.

The kitchen knife was made of iron, so it was heavy. Xu Ran hadn’t used it to shave the dough before, so he was a little clumsy. The size and thickness of the noodles that he shaved varied a lot. As he practiced, he got more skillful, but the noodles didn’t look good.

Xu Ran thought that he was not the one to blame. The knife was not good. He should buy a better knife next time.

However, he didn’t know this knife was used to kill people before.

Just as he put the noodles in the pot, he heard the voices of the twins outside. Xu Ran heard Liu Tong tell them that Dad was fixing breakfast in the kitchen. The two children shouted happily and ran to the kitchen.

They liked it best when Xu Ran cooked. Although the taste wasn’t the best, they could taste something they hadn’t eaten before. Even if Shao Yu or their daddy later made the same dish better than their dad, it didn’t taste better than the first time they ate it.

The two children went up to Xu Ran and asked, “Dad, what are we eating this morning?”

Xu Ran stirred the water with chopsticks and looked back at the two sweating, saying with a smile, “We will have shaved noodles. It’ll be ready soon. There’s hot water in the pot. Go wash your face first. You are as dirty as small cats.”

Tangtang covered his face in embarrassment and walked over to fetch some water.

Guoguo made a face at Xu Ran and ran over.

Xu Ran smiled again. They were so adorable.

At breakfast, everyone had a large bowl of shaved noodles in front of them. Although it didn’t look very good, it looked appetizing with some red chili paste in the white noodles.

Xu Ran explained about shaved noodles and told them how to make it. He said if they liked the taste of it, they could have it as breakfast from now on. He guessed Liu Tong and Shao Yu would make it more delicious than he did.

After Xu Ran told them to eat, the two children couldn’t wait to take the noodles with chopsticks and stuff them into their mouths. They chewed and swallowed, saying that it was delicious, which pleased Xu Ran.

Xu Ran smiled happily. No matter how it tasted, it was good that they liked it.