Chapter 123 The Taste of Happiness

Chapter 123 The Flavor of Happiness

Su He held a bright flashlight, illuminating the dimly lit rural path ahead.

A large moon hung in the sky as the children laughed joyfully, skipping beside Su He.

"Mom, mom, will we get malt candy tomorrow?" Niu Niu, ever the foodie, asked.

"Yes, there will be. Tomorrow, I’ll take the malt candy to sell in the village. Do you want to come with me?"

"I want to go! I want to go!" Zai Zai and Niu Niu shouted excitedly.

"Aunt Su, I want to go too," Ji Liangchuan said.

"Auntie made this candy specially for your visit, so of course you’ll have some," Su He replied warmly.

"Yeah, Mom said she’d make malt candy once Brother Chuan arrived," Niu Niu chimed in.

At that moment, Ji Liangchuan felt that Aunt Su was truly amazing.

He wondered every day—why couldn’t Aunt Su be his mother?

His own mother never treated him with the same gentleness as Aunt Su did with her children, always cooking them different delicious dishes.

Even as an adult, she always considered the children’s feelings.

Aunt Su was so kind. If only his own mother could be like her—spending more time with him, not so cold and distant toward him.

Most importantly, his mother didn’t trust him.

Aunt Su would never distrust her own children.

The more he thought about it, the more Ji Liangchuan couldn’t help but feel disheartened.

But thinking about how he still had several days left here, he perked up again.

Children's happiness is so simple. Ji Liangchuan felt that as long as he could be with Aunt Su and the others, even without tasty treats or fun games, he would still be happy.

After returning home, Su He boiled water and gave the children baths before putting them to bed.

She let the kids share a room, while she took the other one.

This time, she'd put fresh sheets on both beds.

Fu Tinghua would be back this Friday. Would that mean sharing a room?

She couldn’t just send him to sleep at the Fu family’s place again—that wouldn't solve anything.

But her one-month rule still had over half a month left.

Su He wrestled with the question but soon fell asleep.

Losing sleep over something like this? Impossible.

Early the next morning, Su He got up.

She first took out the malt candy she'd gotten from her storage space—she couldn’t let the kids find out she didn't make it herself.

Then she began mixing the dough, planning to make dough drop soup (a simple flour-based soup) for the children’s breakfast.

Ji Liangchuan was the first to wake up. He had slept soundly last night and didn’t dream about his parents misunderstanding him and forcing him to apologize to the chubby neighbor again.

After getting out of bed, as soon as he opened the door, he smelled something delicious.

Instantly hungry, he rushed to the kitchen and, sure enough, saw Aunt Su cooking.

"Aunt Su, good morning."

Su He turned around and saw Ji Liangchuan standing at the kitchen door.

"Liangchuan, good morning! Go wash up, and breakfast will be ready soon," Su He said with a gentle smile.

"Okay, Aunt Su."

He thought: Zai Zai and Niu Niu are so lucky to have their mom make breakfast for them bright and early.

He must find a way to make Aunt Su his mom in the future.

Of course, Su He had no idea about Ji Liangchuan’s secret plans. Seeing that it was time, she went to the room to wake up Zai Zai and Niu Niu.

"Zai Zai, Niu Niu, rise and shine," Su He sat by the bed and called softly.

"Mom?"

As soon as Zai Zai heard her voice, he popped up from bed.

"That's my good boy. Mom has already made breakfast. Let’s get up, brush our teeth, and wash our faces, okay?" Su He asked.

"Mmm, okay. Mommy, up!" Zai Zai reached up toward Su He.

Su He was a little surprised. Zai Zai had always acted like a little adult and rarely been this clingy.

But she didn’t say anything and instead picked him up, then put his shoes on for him.

"What about Brother Liangchuan?" Zai Zai asked.

"He’s already up and getting ready now."

"Oh, then let me down, Mom. I want to go too," Zai Zai said urgently.

Ji Liangchuan was actually being so well-behaved at his house? Waking up so early? He thought: He couldn’t lose!

Su He was speechless...

A born competitor.

"Mom..." Niu Niu whined as soon as Zai Zai left.

"Here, sweetheart. Look at your little face, still pink from sleep."

Su He playfully squeezed her daughter's cheeks excitedly.

Her Niu Niu, now healthy and rosy-cheeked, was just adorable.

She always wanted to pinch those chubby cheeks every time she saw her little girl.

"Mommy, up!" Niu Niu whined.

Su He's heart melted, and she immediately picked up her little girl.

The kids were thrilled to have the dough ball soup again.

"Mommy, it's delicious."

This was Niu Niu's constant refrain whenever she ate something made by Su He—she was always the biggest fan.

"If it's delicious, eat more. Don't forget to drink your milk after finishing," Su He reminded them.

After breakfast, the kids gathered around the malt candy, eyeing it eagerly.

They couldn't help but swallow hungrily.

"Mommy, when are we going to sell the malt candy?" Niu Niu asked.

"We're going soon, no rush."

Seeing the kids' eager expressions, Su He asked, "You each get just one roll today. Do you want to eat it now or wait for Zhuang Zhuang and the others?"

"Wait for Zhuang Zhuang and the others!" the kids said in unison.

They hated watching others eat while they waited—that would just make them want it more.

When it was time, Su He wheeled the cart into the village.

"Get your malt candy here! Who wants some?" the kids shouted as they walked.

"Wow! The malt candy is back!"

"I really want some—it’s been ages since they've sold any."

"I'm gonna ask my grandma."

"I'll go find my mom—she's out in the fields over there."

"Hurry up, it always sells out fast! Last time, it was gone before I could buy any."

One kid came up and asked, "Still one mao per roll?"

"Same price as always," Su He replied.

"Okay, I'll go ask my mom for money. Can you put one aside for me?"

Su He nodded.

"Watch your step. I'll put one aside for you, don't worry."

Meanwhile, more and more people heard about the malt candy and came flocking.

Su He hadn't sold malt candy for nearly a month, and people had been asking when she'd be back—but she was away in the city last week.

Thing is, her malt candy was both cheap and way better than what they could buy in the city.

"I'll take three rolls of malt candy."