Chapter 22: Teaching Them to Climb Trees

Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Teaching Them to Climb Trees

Fu Xiaoxiao looked at Lu Chen, who was excited below, and even though she didn’t look at Xiao Lin, she could feel his current mood; his little tail nearly turned into a propeller.

Supporting Lu Chen to help him grab hold of the branch, Lu Chen tried to mimic Fu Xiaoxiao by swinging his body back and forth, but as soon as he moved, his hand slipped.

Seeing that he was about to fall, Fu Xiaoxiao quickly grabbed his clothes, leaving him suspended in mid-air.

Lu Chen had originally closed his eyes, anticipating pain, but then felt himself steady. He carefully opened his eyes and realized he was only a little distance from the ground.

"You better take it easy for now." Fu Xiaoxiao didn’t dare let Lu Chen try again; the little guy wasn’t strong enough to hold on yet.

"Alright!" Lu Chen pouted, feeling for the first time that he should eat more.

"Xiao Lin, want to try?" Fu Xiaoxiao turned to Lu Lin on the side. A sparkle appeared in Lu Lin’s eyes, and he obediently walked over to Fu Xiaoxiao.

Fu Xiaoxiao used both hands to support Lu Lin’s waist, lifting him onto the branch.

After grabbing the branch, Lu Lin gave Fu Xiaoxiao a glance, recalling her movements to climb, and started to swing himself. As he swung into mid-air, he let go, but bent his knees a bit late, missing the branch. As he was about to fall, Fu Xiaoxiao intervened, helping him swing back, sending him onto the tree.

Lu Lin suddenly found himself standing on the branch, still a bit surprised.

"Remember this feeling." Fu Xiaoxiao said with a gentle laugh, seeing Lu Lin a bit dazed.

"Mm." Lu Lin nodded, thinking about how easy it was to get up the tree, compared to the past when his hands would get scraped raw.

Still, he kind of loved this feeling.

"Now try getting down from the tree." Fu Xiaoxiao noticed him reminiscing and encouraged him to try getting down.

Getting down was simpler. Lu Lin sat on the branch, grabbed the branch, leaned back, spun around, and effortlessly landed on the ground.

"Not bad." Fu Xiaoxiao said with a smile, ruffling Lu Lin’s hair.

"Brother, you’re amazing." Lu Chen said with admiration in his eyes; he, too, wanted to be like his brother.

"Can I do it again?" Lu Lin, still immersed in joy, looked at Fu Xiaoxiao and asked.

"Strike while the iron is hot, do it a few more times to remember better." Fu Xiaoxiao agreed.

Again and again, they went, lifting Lu Lin, going up and coming down, up and down, until Lu Lin even learned to improvise, using his flexibility to climb higher.

Fu Xiaoxiao watched him climb over higher branches until he almost reached the top, then he came down.

"I learned it!" Lu Lin beamed brightly, hugging Lu Chen.

"Xiao Lin learns quickly!" Fu Xiaoxiao noted, seeing Lu Lin excited, like a child for the first time.

"Don’t lose heart; you can do it too. But your most important goal now is not to go hungry and make your body strong, then you’ll be like your brother." As Lu Chen looked a bit down, Fu Xiaoxiao didn’t forget to encourage him.

"Really?" Lu Chen looked at Fu Xiaoxiao.

"Have I ever lied to you? It’s the truth." Fu Xiaoxiao ruffled his hair, the soft hair made her reluctant to let go.

She wanted to ruffle Lu Lin’s head too, but Lu Lin noticed her intention and dodged away.

Fu Xiaoxiao reluctantly withdrew her hand.

Someday, she’d make him willingly lean over for her to pat his head!

"Let’s go! It’s mealtime, let’s go home and cook!" Fu Xiaoxiao led the two kids down the hill, where Chen Xiu was picking vegetables in front of the house and waved to Fu Xiaoxiao as she returned.

"Sis, where did you go just now? The two kids were worried sick when they didn’t see you coming back." Chen Xiu specifically came over to ask Fu Xiaoxiao where she was after Lu Lin and Lu Chen came home, their anxiousness was surprising to her.

The two children had always been indifferent to everyone, yet Fu Xiaoxiao had only been here for two days, and they already cared so much?

"They thought I got lost in the back mountains and were worriedly trying to find me!" Fu Xiaoxiao laughed and explained.

"No way! I was just worried you might get hurt and make Mr. Lu anxious!" Lu Lin’s face flushed, and he pushed the door to go inside first.

He refused to admit he was worried.

Fu Xiaoxiao and Chen Xiu saw Lu Lin’s awkwardness, exchanged a look, and couldn’t help but laugh.

"Looks like we were really misled by Aunt Li before. These two are indeed good kids." Chen Xiu admitted her embarrassment for having misunderstood them and not treating them kindly before. She even advised her own children not to play with them.

"I always said they were good kids. You’ll love them even more in the future." Fu Xiaoxiao smiled confidently, winking at Chen Xiu.

"Today the kids insisted on having dumplings, so I’m making extra vegetarian dumplings and I’ll send some over to you; you don’t have to cook!" Chen Xiu said with a smile, pointing to the vegetables she was washing.

"Really? Sis, then I won’t be polite, it’ll be a treat for us today!" Fu Xiaoxiao accepted generously.

"Yes, really." Chen Xiu nodded, smiling at Fu Xiaoxiao’s straightforwardness, finding it increasingly appealing.

Talking to her felt simple and delightful.

"The kids found some mushrooms on the back mountain; I’ll make soup that we can all share!" Fu Xiaoxiao moved closer to Chen Xiu with a playful smile.

"Sure." Chen Xiu responded with a laugh.

"By the way, Sis, where does your kid go to school? What are the enrollment requirements? I want to enroll Lu Lin in school." Fu Xiaoxiao asked, sitting down to help Chen Xiu wash the vegetables.

"It’s simple, just pay two yuan, but lunch isn’t included so they need to bring their own." Chen Xiu generously answered Fu Xiaoxiao’s questions.

"Thanks, Sis, I was just worried about this!" Fu Xiaoxiao expressed her gratitude.

"Oh, don’t be so formal, from now on we’re like sisters, just come to me if you need anything." Chen Xiu patted her hand and smiled at Fu Xiaoxiao.

"Okay, you’re my big sister from now on." Fu Xiaoxiao agreed with a smile.

After helping Chen Xiu finish washing the vegetables, Fu Xiaoxiao returned to her own yard, where Lu Lin and Lu Chen were drying the herbs they had picked. Fu Xiaoxiao cleared her throat. "Sister-in-law Chen invited us to have dumplings with them tonight. Do you two comrades agree?"

"Stone’s mom doesn’t like us." Lu Lin gave Fu Xiaoxiao a glance and lowered his head to continue working.

"She told Stone not to play with us, said we were bad kids." Lu Chen said gloomily, as there weren’t many kids in the yard to begin with, and they rarely got to play with those of a similar age.

"She just asked me to apologize to you two, it was all because Aunt Li spread bad rumors about you, making them think you were bad kids. Now that it’s all clarified, she won’t stop you anymore." Fu Xiaoxiao repeated what Chen Xiu said earlier.

Lu Lin and Lu Chen lifted their heads to look at Fu Xiaoxiao, with surprise in their eyes. "Really?"

"Once I make mushroom soup and go over, you’ll see if I’m lying or not." Fu Xiaoxiao smiled, walking into the kitchen, washing the mushrooms they picked from the basket, ready to make a fresh soup.