Chapter 97 The Eldest Nephew

Tang Banxia did not know any of this.

At that moment, she was greeting the two great-nephews who had come from afar.

It was the same little car, the same village entrance, but this time the ones getting out were her brother-in-law, Mo Ling, together with her elder nephew, Mo Shengning, and her younger nephew, Mo Shengsu.

“Sister-in-law,” said Mo Ling, carrying the boys’ luggage. “These two little brats are in your care now.”

“If they dare misbehave, use a belt on them. Break them and I’ll take the blame!” As he spoke, he shot a glance at his two sons.

The elder boy curled his lip; the younger had already turned his attention to the children running wild nearby.

“Still not greeting your aunt?” He gave both boys a kick.

Mo Shengning said, “Aunt, uncle.”

Mo Shengsu said, “Aunt, uncle.”

“Good boys.” Tang Banxia patted their heads. “Brother-in-law, you can rest easy leaving them with me.”

Mo Ling smiled. Of course he was at ease.

After delivering them, he left.

Once he was gone, Tang Banxia led her two nephews home, while Wen Mubai carried the bags behind them.

“Educated youth Tang, are these your children?” Passing them on the way was Hu Sansao, Wen Mubai’s sister, who looked curiously at the two stylishly dressed boys.

“My nephews,” Tang Banxia explained briefly. “Third Sister-in-law, where are you off to?”

“I’m going over to the old house.” As she spoke, her smile turned a little strange.

Tang Banxia understood at once. “Wishing you success.”

Hu Sansao shot her a teasing glance. “I’ll take that as a good omen.” Then she added, “Xiaobai, I made some fried twisted dough. Come by later and take some for the boys to try.”

“Then I won’t be polite.” Wen Mubai agreed briskly.

Tang Banxia’s smile froze for a moment, but she did not object. Only after Hu Sansao had gone did she give Wen Mubai a sidelong glare.

Mo Shengning was full of curiosity. “Aunt, are people in the village all like this?” So warm and friendly.

“Not at all. It’s just that your uncle is especially charming,” Tang Banxia said with deliberate sarcasm.

“They’re clearly trying to thank you,” Wen Mubai defended himself.

Mo Shengning looked from one to the other. “Aunt, you and Uncle have such a good relationship~”

Tang Banxia gave him a tap on the back of the head. “You little thing, what do you know about relationships?”

Mo Shengning was only eleven this year; Mo Shengsu was even younger, just seven.

Mo Shengning raised his neck in defiance. “Who says I don’t know?”

Tang Banxia eyed him. “Then tell me. How do you know?”

“I can see it. My dad and mom are just like that, and everyone says they have a good relationship.” Mo Shengning spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

His father also listened to his mother about everything; everyone envied them.

“Oh? Your father and mother are like that too?” Wen Mubai leaned in with interest.

Mo Shengning puffed out his chest. “Of course. Just like you and Aunt.”

Wen Mubai gave an enigmatic “Oh~” and said, “Seems this is a Tang family tradition.”

“What tradition?” Mo Shengning asked curiously.

“Why, being ferocious... no, having a broad mind!” Wen Mubai’s expression twitched oddly.

Was that so?

Mo Shengning looked puzzled.

Wen Mubai nodded and urged them on. “Come on, your aunt made a whole tableful of dishes. If we dawdle any longer, it’ll all get cold.” With that, he quickened his pace.

Tang Banxia silently withdrew her hand.

The moment Mo Shengsu heard there was good food, he could no longer sit still. Tugging at Tang Banxia’s hand, he urged, “Aunt, I’m hungry. Hurry, hurry.”

“All right, all right.”

When they got home, the two children’s eyes lit up at the sight of the large table laden with dishes, each one fragrant and colorful.

The younger one, especially, was amazingly sweet-tongued. “Aunt is the best. I like Aunt the most.”

Wen Mubai, who had just closed the door behind them, thought: Another “most”?

The Tang bloodline really was something miraculous in certain respects.

“Wash your hands. Dinner!” Tang Banxia announced loudly.

She had originally thought her sister and brother-in-law would be staying for the meal, so she had cooked six dishes.

But it was not wasted. After dinner, Tang Banxia sighed like this.

Truly, a half-grown boy can eat his father out of house and home. Between the four of them, the six dishes and one soup, along with a towering stack of flatbreads, were all eaten clean.

Afterward, Mo Shengning even volunteered to wash the dishes, while the younger one helped gather the plates.

Tang Banxia then looked at Wen Mubai.

Wen Mubai, who had rarelly enjoyed such a satisfying meal: ...

“I’ll wash them,” he said.

“Exactly.” Tang Banxia pulled the two children over. “You two go take a nap. This afternoon your aunt will take you out to play.”

The boys were obedient and went back to their room to sleep.

Spring had arrived, the weather was warming, and there was no need to heat the kang at night anymore, so the two children could sleep in the bed.

Tang Banxia was true to her word. After the children woke up, she and Wen Mubai took them for a stroll around the village.

Along the way, whenever they met someone, she would introduce the boys as her nephews, who had come to stay for a few days.

Everyone they met responded with kind smiles. Putting aside the benefits Tang the educated youth had brought them, just the fact that she had powerful backing meant no one wanted to offend her.

So along the way, the children ended up with pockets full of peanuts, melon seeds, and wild fruit.

Mo Shengning sighed. “No wonder teachers always say people in the countryside are warm and simple.”

Mo Shengsu also said, “I like it here.” Passing a group of children spinning tops, he lifted his small face and said, “Aunt, I want to play too.”

Tang Banxia pinched his cheek, then called to the child group, “Guzi, come here.”

The youngest son of the Sun family, Sun Gu, came trotting over at once when he heard her. “Sister Tang.”

Tang Banxia nudged her younger nephew forward. “Guzi, this little brother wants to play with you too. Can you help Sister Tang look after him?”

Sun Gu looked a little hesitant. “But we’re going up the mountain to pick fruit in a bit.”

“Then take him along too.” Tang Banxia decided. “It’s his first time going up the mountain. Guzi, help keep an eye on him. Tonight Aunt will make you candied haws.”

At the mention of candied haws, how could Sun Gu possibly refuse? “No problem. Leave it to me!”

When Mo Shengning heard they were going up the mountain, he was also eager. “Aunt, can I go too?”

“If you want to go, then go.” Tang Banxia said, “Just be careful.”

After all, the children were only wandering around the foot of the mountain. There were plenty of old women there digging wild vegetables, so it was quite safe.

“Wife, should we go up the mountain too?” Wen Mubai said, missing those days of mountain trysts with his wife.

“You go ahead.” Tang Banxia refused. “Pick me some wild fruit while you’re at it. I’ll make candied haws for you tonight.”

Wen Mubai pouted and could only go by himself.

Once on the mountain, he headed straight for his traps. At the first, there were three wild rabbits; at the second, two pheasants; then the third, the fourth...

After visiting every trap, his basket was already full.

Thanks to his wife’s beast-attracting powder, he always came home with a rich harvest whenever he went up the mountain, though he seldom used it for fear of provoking envy.

On the way down, remembering his wife’s instructions, he deliberately took a longer route through the places with plenty of wild fruit.

By the time he got home, Tang Banxia was watching the two nephews change their clothes.

Indeed, boys of seven and eight were little devils; after playing all afternoon, they were covered in dirt and scarcely looked human.

Seeing Wen Mubai, Tang Banxia’s eyes brightened. “Perfect. You go boil some water and bathe them, then wash their clothes too.”

Then she asked, “Did you pick the wild fruit?”

Wen Mubai lifted the basket lid. “All here.”

Tang Banxia leaned in to look. There were wild strawberries, dewberries, snakeberries, and silverberries. They did not look all that striking, but after tasting them, she found they were pretty good, sweet and tart, perfect for making candied haws.

After washing the fruit clean, she threaded each piece onto bamboo skewers and set them on a plate.

Then she took out a bag of white sugar and boldly poured it all into the pot, heating it over a low fire until the sugar melted into syrup and began to bubble furiously, at which point she removed it from the flame.

She then rolled the skewered fruit in the syrup and laid them back on the plate.

By the time the two boys finished bathing, the plate on the stove was already piled high with candied haws.

The children cheered. “Aunt?”

“Eat.” Tang Banxia gave each child one.

Seeing so many candied haws, the two boys felt, for the first time, that they were unimaginably rich, and they ate without the slightest hesitation.

“Aunt, it’s delicious.”

Tang Banxia smiled and glanced at them. “Delicious doesn’t mean you can eat too many.”

“Once you’re done, let your uncle take you to share some with the friends you played with today, and thank them for looking after you.”

Mo Shengning was not the sort to hog good things for himself, and he agreed readily. “Okay.”

Mo Shengsu was a little unhappy. Tang Banxia noticed and said, “Don’t worry. Aunt made plenty. There’ll be more than enough for you.”

The child was instantly cheered up...