Chapter 4: The Wicked Mother

Lingwei, clutching her little belly, looked up with big, bright, pitiful eyes at the burly man. She puckered her cherry-red lips, soft and rosy like a morning rose, and said, “Daddy, carry me, don’t pay attention to Mommy, okay?” Her adorable eyes blinked innocently at him.

Zhao Tingyou smiled warmly at the mischievous little one and couldn’t resist planting a gentle kiss on her tender, dewy cheeks. “Our little Tangyuan is growing up and knows what it means to be shy now. Tangyuan, shy shy, haha.”

The burly man, seeing the little girl’s pouty, upturned mouth that could hang a wine jar, quickly took her from the arms of her teary-eyed mother. Whenever this little one cried, no matter how tough or harsh his heart, it would soften under the flood of tears.

He would rather face thousands of enemies on the battlefield than watch the tear-filled eyes and hear the heart-wrenching cries of his little girl.

“Lingwei, look, Daddy’s stomach is growling from hunger. Let’s go have breakfast and ignore your Mommy.” His strong arms held her firmly.

The little one playfully stuck out her tongue at Zhao Tingyou. “Ignore Mommy, ignore Mommy. Giddy-up, Daddy, run fast, Mommy’s chasing us!”

Zhao Tingyou put away her smile and sat down sturdily, paying no mind to the playful pair. She happily ate the steaming bowl of tangyuan. “Mmm, smooth and delicious. Madam Wang’s cooking keeps getting better. The temperature is just right. Truly exquisite.”

Lingwei’s expression shifted quickly as she rubbed her belly. Sniffling, she thought, “Mommy’s so mean, she knows my tummy is growling and is doing this on purpose!”

Eating all alone! Hmph, bad Mommy. The little girl was innocent and pure, her thoughts all plainly written across her tiny face.

Zhao Tingyou praised the food while eating, never taking her eyes off the playful duo. Naturally eloquent, she had spun a simple bowl of tangyuan into a rare delicacy unmatched anywhere in the world.

The little girl felt her stomach grow emptier still. Looking at her pretending mother, who actually had a smug expression, she was too annoyed and proud to lower her head to Zhao Tingyou.

Then a bright idea struck her. Hmph, bad Mommy, but she still had a good Daddy! She tightly grabbed the burly man’s chest, calling, “Daddy, Daddy,” while signaling with her eyes that she wanted some tangyuan.

The burly man, fully aware of the little secret between his wife and daughter, strode to the dining table. “My lady, see the sun hanging high outside? Your husband’s belly is rumbling. May I have the honor to eat?”

Lingwei blushed slightly, picked up the jade spoon about the size of her palm, and scooped a plump, white tangyuan. Just as she was about to eat it, her mischievous mother suddenly called out loudly, “Zhantai Chen, I’ve finished, you enjoy it.”

The burly man quickly steadied the little one. After so many years as a mother, how could she still be such a child? He turned his head and gave a disapproving, accusing look at the joyful Zhao Tingyou sitting nearby.

The little girl’s chubby hand trembled, and the plump tangyuan rolled straight off the spoon and fell along her lips to the floor. Lingwei’s eyes reddened as she stared at the fallen tangyuan, her lips trembling, ready to cry again. Sniffling, she glared angrily at Zhao Tingyou. “Bad Mommy, humph!”

The burly man quickly soothed the situation. “It’s alright, there’s plenty more in the bowl. Come, Lingwei, take your time, no rush. Daddy will take you out later.”

His few words, especially the last one, calmed the flustered little one, who then turned proudly and began eating her tangyuan again.