Chapter 476 Sending You a Little Flower

Chapter 476: Here’s a Little Flower for You

"Aunt, Mom says kids aren’t allowed to drink alcohol," Da Ya reminded with wide eyes upon smelling the wine.

"Right, you can't drink alcohol, but Aunt’s version is okay—it only has a tiny bit," Su He replied with a smile.

"Sis, Aunt’s drink smells really good—I want to try it," Zhuang Zhuang chimed in nearby.

Da Ya blushed slightly, nodded, and then said to her younger brother, "If Aunt says it’s okay, then it’s okay. You can have some once it’s cooked."

Once the tangyuan was ready, Su He served each of the kids a bowl.

"Be careful, it’s hot. Blow on them to cool them down and eat slowly," Su He reminded them.

Then, she handed a bowl to Aunt Lan.

"Mom, here you go."

"Oh, thanks," Aunt Lan said, quickly accepting it.

She glanced at Su He, worried she might not know about the steamed corn and sweet potatoes, and added, "Ting Hua got up this morning and steamed some corn and sweet potatoes."

Actually, Fu Tinghua had only lit the stove before leaving—Aunt Lan had handled the rest, but she didn’t want to take credit in front of her daughter-in-law.

"Oh, alright," Su He replied cheerfully before asking the children, "There’s also corn and sweet potatoes. Does anybody want some?"

None of the children responded. They could have corn and sweet potatoes any day, but Aunt’s sweet wine tangyuan were a rare treat they only get once or twice a year.

The children had just taken a sip of the soup—it was sweet and really tasty.

Everything at Aunt’s house tasted better because she never held back on ingredients like oil, salt, or sugar.

If they were made at home, their families would likely use less sugar to save money, making the tangyuan blander.

"Aunt, have some tangyuan too," Ya Ya said.

"Alright, you all enjoy," Su He replied, glancing at Aunt Lan before adding, "It’s fine, we can reheat the rest for lunch."

Aunt Lan nodded and focused on enjoying her bowl of tangyuan.

"Aunt, will we have tangyuan for the New Year?" Zhuang Zhuang asked after finishing his bowl, wanting more but too shy to ask.

Su He saw right through him, took his bowl, and scooped him another portion.

"Of course we’ll make them for the New Year. There’s plenty more—just let me know if you want another bowl," she said, placing the refilled bowl in front of him.

"Thank you, Aunt," Zhuang Zhuang said, his eyes lighting up. He thought Aunt was the greatest.

"Aunt, the sweet wine is delicious. Let’s make it again for the New Year," Ya Ya suggested, looking at Su He.

At home, tangyuan were usually boiled in plain water and weren’t sweet enough, but Aunt’s version was always so much tastier.

"Sure! We’ll definitely have it for the New Year."

After the children finished their tangyuan, they all ran out to play in the field in front of Su He’s house.

Aunt Lan looked concerned and asked, "Doesn’t an adult need to go with them?"

"It's fine, Mom. There are so many kids in the countryside, and they're right at our doorstep. Nothing to worry about," Su He said as she cleared away the dishes.

Seeing how calm Su He was, Aunt Lan relaxed.

"I'll wash the dishes," Aunt Lan volunteered as the dishes were stacked in the wash basin.

Su He was about to refuse, but seeing how eager Aunt Lan was to do her part around the house, she nodded in agreement.

"Then I'll go check on the kids outside," Su He said, smoothing down her rolled-up sleeves.

"Alright, leave this to me," Aunt Lan replied with a smile.

Su He nodded and walked to the front door, watching the children running around in the fields, not even bothered by the winter cold.

How wonderful, she thought with a smile. Childhood should be like this—carefree and happy.

Not long after, Fu Tinghua returned.

Seeing him get out of the car, Su He quickly asked, "How'd it go?"

Noticing Su He was looking toward the fields, Fu Tinghua followed her gaze and saw the children playing happily.

He watched the children with her before replying, "Everything's set. The town is very happy that we're willing to donate the sugar oranges. They said they'll send people to start picking them tomorrow and deliver them to the disaster areas."

Su He nodded, hesitating for a moment before saying, "We'll need to tell your parents later."

After receiving such a large dividend last night, the Fu family might still have mixed feelings about this donation.

Fu Tinghua turned to Su He, right away knowing what was on her mind.

"My parents are frugal, but they're perfectly willing to help others. So don't you worry. If we were donating the sugar oranges for no reason, they would probably kick up a fuss, but since it's for disaster relief, they won't say a word," Fu Tinghua said with certainty.

"Okay, I understand. That's a relief."

Thinking back to the scene of dividing the money last night, Su He turned to Fu Tinghua and asked, "About last night, don't you have anything to say?"

Su He felt that her attempt to win people over might have fooled the simple and honest Fu family, but it certainly wouldn't escape Fu Tinghua's notice.

"What do you want me to say? Praise you?" Fu Tinghua looked at her, his eyes filled with amusement.

"Aren't you upset that I manipulated your family?" Su He said, somewhat amused.

"It's a win-win situation. How could I see it as scheming? You've done very well. Even if I were to handle it, I probably wouldn't do half as good a job as you."

Coming from Fu Tinghua, this was quite the compliment.

Su He looked at him in surprise and teased, "I never thought the upright and righteous Dr. Fu would start becoming as bureaucratic as me."

Fu Tinghua hesitated for a moment before responding.

"Sometimes, bureaucracy isn't entirely a bad thing."

This statement was the highest form of praise Fu Tinghua could give Su He, seeing everything she did in the best light. No matter what Su He did, as long as he considered it from her perspective, he would right away take her side.

Just then, Niu Niu ran up to Su He and handed her a little flower she had picked from the fields.

"Mom, I want to put this flower in my hair."

Su He looked at the tiny wildflower in her daughter's hand, not sure whether to laugh or cry.

"Alright, Mom will help you put it in."

Su He took the tiny flower from Niu Niu's hand and tucked it into her daughter's hair.

Once the little flower was in place, Niu Niu immediately turned to Ya Ya and Da Ya, who were following behind her, and asked, "Sister Da Ya, Sister Ya Ya, do I look pretty with the flower?"

"Very pretty," Ya Ya quickly replied, her eyes filled with obvious envy.

"Of course, Niu Niu, you look pretty with or without the flower," Da Ya said very sincerely.

What she said was true—Niu Niu was truly the prettiest and happiest little girl she had ever seen.

Because whenever she saw their aunt, she was always doting on and loving little sister Niu Niu.