Chapter 164: Can’t You Slightly Respect My Opinion?

Chapter 164: Can't You Slightly Respect My Opinion?

Fu Yuanhang returned from Uncle Mu's house with a beaming smile. The usually composed kid was now skipping into the kitchen, helping Su Taotao prepare the meal.

"Uncle Mu will also join us," he said.

Su Taotao had made a mixed fish stew today. The fish seller had sold her the last bit of salted mixed fish at a discount, and since it could be kept until evening, she bought it all.

She fried sea fish of various sizes until both sides were golden brown, then added ginger, scallions, soy sauce, salt, and sugar into a clay pot to simmer for a while. Once it started bubbling, a delicious pot of mixed fish stew was done.

Su Taotao smiled and said, "That's great. We can all hang out together, but Auntie Zhong can't make it."

She had to step out, so Auntie Zhong and Xia Zhiqiu would help hold down the fort.

Fu Yuanhang's grin widened. "If Auntie Zhong can't go, Uncle Mu will be even happier."

Su Taotao chuckled. "That Uncle Mu..."

After thinking for a moment, Su Taotao said, "Let's ask your brother later if we can take a couple of days to swing by Qinglian County on our way back."

Fu Yuanhang paused, holding the rice bowl, his eyes lighting up, his heart racing. "Sis, are you saying..."

Su Taotao replied, "It's not set in stone yet. Let's check with your brother first."

"Ask me what?" Fu Zhengtu walked in with Fu Haochen, fresh from washing their hands, and caught the conversation.

"Bro, can we take a couple of days to visit Mom on our way back from the capital?" Fu Yuanhang asked.

Fu Zhengtu frowned and shook his head. "I'm afraid not. The schedule's tight. We have to head back right after the meeting. We can't spare even half a day."

"You can head back, and I'll take them home," Su Taotao suggested.

Fu Yuanhang's eyes, which had just started to dim, lit up again.

Fu Zhengtu still shook his head. "No, I can't let you handle two kids on your own. I wouldn't feel comfortable."

"I'm not a kid anymore," Fu Yuanhang chimed in. "I can help look after Chenchen and Sis."

"Uncle Mu might tag along too," Su Taotao added. "Yuanhang and Uncle Mu don't need me to babysit them. They can even lend a hand with Chenchen. As long as they stick close to me, it'll be fine. Chenchen's well-behaved. I can handle them."

Su Taotao knew Uncle Mu inside out. If Mo Gong couldn't take him back to their hometown, Uncle Mu would definitely find a way to talk Mo Gong into letting him tag along.

Instead, it would be better to get Mo Gong and Auntie Zhong on board from the get-go, letting Uncle Mu join them for a couple of days back home.

Back then, security was actually pretty solid. Even if you left the door wide open, thieves wouldn't dare to step in because the penalties for crime were harsh. Unless they were desperate, folks generally wouldn't risk breaking the law.

Plus, these two kids were pretty sharp. Reading tons of books and traveling far and wide, it's not a bad thing for boys to gain independence and experience life early on.

Chenchen tugged at his father's pants. "I also want to go home to see Grandma~~ I don't need anyone to take care of me~~ I can take care of myself~~"

Finally, Su Taotao called the shots. "I've always said that our family is a democratic one. When there's a disagreement, we vote, and the minority obeys the majority. Now I declare, three to one, the plan to return to our hometown is approved. Comrade Fu Zhengtu's objection is invalid. Let's eat!"

"Woo-hoo~~" Fu Yuanhang picked up Chenchen and spun him around. Chenchen laughed heartily. "Daddy lost~~"

Fu Zhengtu looked at Su Taotao helplessly. "Can't you slightly respect my opinion?"

Su Taotao replied, "I did respect it. If I didn't, would I have used a vote? I could have just vetoed it directly, right?"

Fu Zhengtu looked at her with a helpless expression, then pinched her cheek in front of the kids.

Su Taotao let go of his hand and gently pinched the back of it: "Fu, you forgot again that I’m trained in martial arts and can take on three people at once. I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting Yuanhang go out alone, but with me taking care of them, you can rest assured."

What could Fu Zhengtu say even if he was still worried? She always had the final say in household matters.

After dinner, Fu Zhengtu took the children to Dong Shengping's house to finalize the martial arts lessons.

As long as they were on the island without any special circumstances, the two kids had to report to Dong Shengping and learn martial arts with him.

After the trip to the capital was decided, Su Taotao only had half a day to prepare.

The leaders, whether overly trusting or simply careless, hadn’t prepared anything—no speech drafts, product descriptions, factory overviews, or products—and just had her tag along at the last minute.

However, considering the time on the train and during their meetings, she could still prepare her speech at the guesthouse. For her, the preparation time was sufficient.

Knowing that Su Taotao could accompany him on the business trip, Fu took his time that night, exuding a calm 'one step at a time' attitude, but this only left Su Taotao feeling restless and uncomfortable.

Determined, Su Taotao flipped over and pinned Fu down, turning the tables and giving him a hard time.

As Fu had anticipated, Su Taotao couldn’t get up the next morning.

Fu Zhengtu woke up half an hour earlier than usual and gently stroked her smooth, porcelain-like face, his touch tender and lingering.

He woke the children early and took them to Dong Shengping's house to check in, giving them some instructions before leaving to buy breakfast.

On the first day, Dong Shengping didn’t teach them any techniques, just had them do some basic warm-up exercises and then start practicing horse stance.

Fu Yuanhang was a remarkably determined child and could hold the stance for a long time without moving.

Fu Haochen, just two years old, was doing well simply by not causing trouble. Although he listened and could sit still, his stamina was limited, and he soon plopped down on the ground, startling himself in the process.

Dong Shengping was very patient with him, holding his arm and pulling his little hand, clearly delighted.

Who wouldn’t be in a good mood seeing such adorable kids first thing in the morning?

Dong Shengping's wife was even more so. She already adored kids and was currently trying to get pregnant. She wished she could see Chenchen all the time and hoped to have a child as beautiful as him in the future.

But it was just wishful thinking. Dong Shengping was good-looking, but she herself was only average. She had seen Su Taotao and Fu, and only parents like them could have a child as beautiful as Chenchen. She had enough self-awareness to realize that.

But Dong Shengping's good mood naturally lifted hers as well.

She was very grateful for these two kids.

Although Fu Yuanhang was on summer break, the kindergarten wasn't closed, and Fu Haochen couldn't drop out halfway, so he still had to go to school.

This left Fu Yuanhang by himself at home.

With less than a day left before their afternoon departure to the train station, he couldn’t attend Mr. Tang’s art lessons.

Uncle Mu's family was in the same situation.

The two mothers decided to take both kids to the factory for a work-study arrangement.

Su Taotao had already informed Auntie Zhong about the possibility of taking Uncle Mu back to their hometown if he was willing, but they both tacitly didn't tell him, expecting him to insist on going and looking forward to the excitement.

8.17 update completed, good night.