"Mom, Mom, I'm already three years old. Can I make a fire now?"
"You're not three, you're only one and a half."
"I'm talking about the traditional age, not the actual age."
"Even by that, you're only two and a half."
"Rounding up, it's more than half, so I'm three."
"You even know how to round up?" Zhen Niang said, sitting by the stove while making a fire, glancing at Qin Yi, who was clinging to her side trying to light the fire. She thought to herself, I really don't understand why kids like to make themselves sound older.
"Mom, Mom, I'm already three. Please let me make the fire."
Zhen Niang gave him a speechless look and continued, What's so great about these chores? Always rushing to do them, and if you don't, it's a problem.
A child this young shouldn't they just be thinking about playing all day? And if you want them to help with chores, you have to bribe or threaten them?
Unable to resist Qin Yi's earnest and longing eyes, Zhen Niang sighed: "Alright, alright. I'll teach you. But only when Mom or Dad is around can you make a fire, okay?"
"Yes, Mom, I understand."
Zhen Niang smiled at Qin Yi's obedient little face, pinched his chubby cheeks, and lifted him into her arms. Holding his small hands with her large ones, she picked up the thinnest, shortest piece of firewood and placed it in the stove. "See? Making fire is this simple. Did you learn it?"
Qin Yi looked at the skill "Cooking" leveling up to LV2, smiled brightly, and answered in his clear child's voice: "I learned it!"
"Good boy, Da Tou. Now that you've learned it, go play."
This time, Qin Yi didn't insist and obediently walked out of the kitchen.
Just as he stepped out, his second brother suddenly jumped out from somewhere, holding his nose and hopping around, teasing softly: "Brown-noser! Da Tou is a brown-noser, always flattering Mom and Dad!"
He repeated it two or three times, but Qin Yi just watched quietly, without crying or fighting back as expected. Disappointed, his brother left.
Qin Yi watched his brother's back, then turned back to the kitchen, tugging at Zhen Niang's clothes. When she asked with a helpless expression, "Da Tou, what is it now?" he innocently asked, "Mom, Mom, what's a brown-noser?"
Zhen Niang frowned, thinking for a moment, tightened her grip on the rolling pin she was holding, squatted to meet Qin Yi's eye level, and patiently asked: "Da Tou, tell me, who said this?"
"Just now, when I stepped out of the kitchen, it was second brother. He said I'm a brown-noser, Mom, he said I flatter Dad and Mom. Mom, what's a brown-noser?"
"Second…" Zhen Niang softly muttered, then raised her head and gently said, "Being a brown-noser is not good. You're a sensible, good child. We won't talk about it, okay?"
"I understand, Mom." Qin Yi obediently nodded.
"Alright, go play now."
After Qin Yi left, hiding behind the water jar, he saw Zhen Niang emerge shortly after, looking fierce: "Zhuzi, come here!"
Soon it was almost mealtime. Zhuzi, the second brother, was playing with mud in the corner of the yard. Hearing his mother's call, he quickly ran over. "Mom!"
"You little rascal! Da Tou is so sensible, helping me with chores, and how do you repay him? Look at me, today I'll really teach you a lesson…" She grabbed the rolling pin, aiming for his behind.
Zhuzi ran away, yelling, "Da Tou, you dared to tell Mom! Wait till I get you!"
"Oh really, you dared to bully your little brother? Let's see who's tougher!"
"Mom, stop, stop! I won't do it anymore, I won't!"
At this moment, Qin Yong came back. Seeing this scene, he hurried over, blocking Zhuzi. One hand held Zhen Niang, and with the other he took the rolling pin, asking in a relaxed tone: "Zhen Niang, what happened? What did second brother do to make you so angry? Tell me, I'll teach him a lesson, don't tire yourself out."
Zhen Niang had only hit him a couple of times in a moment of anger, so her fury had already eased. But hearing her husband speak, she pointed at the second brother and said angrily, "Ask him! What did he do?"
Qin Yong turned to the second brother, winking at him, and in a serious tone asked: "Second brother, what did you do to make Mom this mad?"
Covering his bottom and sobbing, Zhuzi stammered: "I…I said third brother is… a brown-noser. He… he tattled… Mom hit me…"
Feeling unfairly treated, Zhuzi clung to Qin Yong's leg, crying loudly: "Dad, I just said two words to Da Tou and Mom hit me, she's biased…"
Qin Yong immediately understood, scolded the second brother lightly: "Shut up, say another word and see what happens."
Then he turned to Zhen Niang: "Zhen Niang, see, it's just a small thing, don't be mad. By the way, what are you doing with the rolling pin? Making noodles today?"
"Yes, I'm rolling the dough. Make sure you properly teach the second brother a lesson, it's getting out of hand." Zhen Niang snatched the rolling pin and hurried back to the kitchen.
Qin Yong laughed at her retreating figure, shook his head, then picked up the second brother under his arm, jokingly said: "You little rascal, bullying your brother and badmouthing my wife, huh? Think you're tough now?" He spun him around twice, and Zhuzi burst into giggles.
After calming him, Qin Yong set him down and seriously told him: "Zhuzi, remember, Da Tou is your brother. You share the same blood, and besides parents and children, he's the closest person in the world to you. As an older brother, you must protect him, understand?"
Zhuzi lowered his head and muttered: "I understand, Dad, I know I was wrong."
"Good, now go play."
Then, like he usually does while washing his hands, Qin Yong rolled up his sleeves, approached the water jar, suddenly leapt to its side, and scooped Qin Yi up with his right hand, just like an eagle catching a chick.
He held Qin Yi at eye level, smiling: "Da Tou, remember, the tricks you use to fool others cannot be used on your family. Family is for protection, remember that, okay?"
(End of Chapter)