The Fat Wife of the 1980s Awakens

Xie Chunyan was sitting in front of a sewing machine, her fingers moving flexibly between the fabrics, while Xie's mother was carefully cutting the pieces of cloth beside her. The two of them worked in perfect harmony, and the atmosphere was warm and busy.

"Where's Dani?"

Xu Xiufang asked, her eyes full of concern.

"She's having lunch outside," Xie's mother looked up and smiled in response, "You didn't eat yet? We left some food for you, go eat it while it's hot!"

"I ate with Brother Yi at the state-owned restaurant," Xu Xiufang refused with a smile, then stepped forward to help.

Xie's mother quickly stopped her, "You've been busy since early morning, you should take a break. I'm old, so I can only do this kind of work."

Xu Xiufang couldn't persuade her, so she had to give up and turned back to the main room.

In the main room, Xie's father was playing house with the children, while Zhou Dani was watching with interest while eating.

The children's voices rose one after another, performing classic scenes from Journey to the West: Xiaobao waved a wooden stick, playing the role of the omnipotent Monkey King; Xiaoyun wore a homemade pig nose, looking adorable, and was the greedy Zhu Bajie; Weiwei was the noble and elegant White Dragon Horse, while the two little ones Huanhuan and Kangkang played the role of Sha Seng and imitated Tang Seng respectively. As for Xiaojun, he innocently acted as a "monster".

The little ones were playing and fighting around Xiaojun. Except for Xiaobao, the other children did not seem to have a clear distinction between friend and foe. Huanhuan and Kangkang could not even walk steadily and were crawling around on the floor unsteadily. Father Xie followed closely behind them, always ready to hold up any little body that might fall.

Xu Xiufang's appearance immediately attracted the attention of the children. They rushed over and shouted in their childish voices: "Monster, give me your life!"

"Hey, hey, hey?"

Xiao Bao was "fighting fiercely" with the "monster" Xiao Jun. Hearing the sound, he immediately rushed over to block everyone, "She is the Queen Mother, she is on our side, we can't fight her!"

The children turned their heads around, not quite understanding what was going on, and continued with their "demon-hunting mission."

Xu Xiufang looked at this funny scene and felt both amused and helpless.

Zhou Dani was laughing so hard that she couldn't straighten her back. Xu Xiufang sat down and said in a funny and angry tone, "These little rascals are so energetic."

"For children, it's a good thing to be lively," Zhou Dani said with emotion. Compared with the quietness in the village in the past, her home is much more lively now.

"Too."

Xu Xiufang nodded in agreement, and suddenly remembered something, "Oh, by the way, I have already registered Xiaojun and Weiwei for elementary school. Because they are temporary students, the fee for one semester will be slightly higher, thirty yuan."

"Thirty dollars?"

Zhou Dani was a little surprised. After all, going to school in the village only cost a few yuan a semester. But she also knew that the situation was different now. With her current income, thirty yuan was not a burden. "Xiufang, thank you so much!"

"You're welcome."

Xu Xiufang responded nonchalantly, looking around for Erbao, and then asked Xiaobao, "Xiaobao, where is Erge?"

"He's studying in his room!"

Xiaobao answered seriously.

Xu Xiufang felt relieved that her second child was indeed sensible and self-aware.

At this time, Father Xie seemed to remember something.

"Oh, right. He hasn't eaten yet," Xie's father suddenly slapped his head. "I called him at dinner time. He said he would come out after finishing his exercises, but he hasn't moved since!"

Xu Xiufang frowned slightly, obviously worried about Erbao's selfless attitude.

Zhou Dani looked envious: "Your Erbao is really hardworking. He is the most diligent child I have ever seen."

It seems a bit too much to try so hard.

Xu Xiufang instructed Xiaobao, "Xiaobao, go and ask your second brother to come out for dinner, and tell him that mom asked him to come."

"Ok."

Xiaobao went there obediently.

Xu Xiufang walked into the kitchen, prepared a hot meal for Erbao, and even made a cup of milk.

As soon as I returned to the main room, I heard Erbao's loud voice penetrate the door: "Can you please stop disturbing me? I only have one question left to complete!"

"You said that before, why is this question taking so long?"

Xiao Bao asked back, his tone full of confusion, "I finished my share very quickly."

"You are not me, why should I spend any time on you?"

Erbao's tone sounded a little irritable.

"You forgot to eat!"

Xiaobao reminded anxiously.

Erbao responded impatiently: "Leave me alone, get out!"

"Mom asked me to call you!"

Xiaobao emphasized again.

There was a brief silence in the air.

"boom!"

With a bang, Erbao pushed the door open and walked out of the room angrily.

Xiaobao followed closely behind, his steps were a little heavy, perhaps because he had just been severely reprimanded by his brother Erbao. There was a hint of grievance and confusion in his clear eyes, and he murmured as if talking to himself: "My kindness was taken for granted!"

The tone was full of helplessness.

"Are you still reasonable?"

Erbao's temper was like a lit firecracker, instantly out of control, his volume suddenly increased, and the whole room was filled with his dissatisfaction.

"Stop arguing, stop arguing," seeing this, Xie's father hurried forward to mediate, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.

He noticed Erbao's anxious look, and without saying anything, he grabbed Xiaobao who wanted to argue, and shook his head gently, his eyes full of restraint.

Xiaobao is stubborn and refuses to admit defeat. He picked up a coat beside the sofa and put it on without caring whether it matched his outfit today, then walked towards the door angrily.

Every step he took was firm and powerful, and his stubbornness was so strong that even Xie's father felt powerless to stop him.

"Xiaobao--" Xu Xiufang's voice was gentle yet a little anxious, trying to keep the impulsive child.

Hearing his mother's call, Xiaobao paused for a moment, but did not turn around. He just responded in a slightly angry tone: "Mom, I'm going to play with my classmates and will be back soon!"

The voice was mixed with the rebelliousness and unruliness unique to teenagers.

"Don't play too late, and be safe."

Xu Xiufang's words were full of maternal concern and reluctance. Seeing Xiaobao disappear at the door like a gust of wind, she couldn't help but feel a little worried.

Xiaobao ran out of the house, leaving Erbao alone in the living room. His face was still gloomy, and the atmosphere around him became solemn because of his irritable mood.

The other younger children were frightened by Erbao's appearance. They clung to Xiaojun, the oldest child in the family, with fear written all over their faces. They dared not make a sound. The scene was unusually silent.

Xie's mother and Xie Chunyan, who lived in the west wing, heard the noise and hurried into the living room. "What's going on? Why is it so lively all of a sudden?"

There was some concern and confusion in their voices.

"Second brother is angry!"

When the children saw the adults coming, they seemed to have found a support. They gathered around them and started reporting everything in unison.

Upon hearing this, Xie's mother and others first looked at Erbao, who was sitting with an unhappy look on his face and puffed cheeks, and then turned to Xu Xiufang, their eyes conveying inquiry and concern.

Xu Xiufang walked gently to Erbao's side, placed a bowl of hot food in front of him, and said in a soft but firm tone: "Come, eat first!"

The steam rising from the bowl seemed to be trying to ease the tense atmosphere.