It was only when Mu Jingzhe saw his memorial tablet that she remembered that she had forgotten to take Shao Qihai’s taste into account.
“I forgot to ask you what your father likes. We’ll buy it next time on your father’s death anniversary. Your mother takes priority today.”
Shao Xi immediately said, “There’s no need.”
What death anniversary? He wasn’t even dead yet! These were all for their mother, not him.
The children looked at the full table of offerings that Mu Jingzhe had prepared and were very happy. They felt that this way, their mother could eat more in heaven.
In the past, they hadn’t been able to prepare much, and their mother had starved as a result. She could eat more this year.
With those thoughts in mind, they silently kowtowed to her.
“You can talk to your mother. You can say whatever you want.”
Mu Jingzhe thought that they might be holding themselves back in her presence. After all, Little Bei had just been mocked by the other kids. Thus, she cooked up some excuse and went away.
Unexpectedly, none of the children said anything in the end.
“Why aren’t you speaking?” Mu Jingzhe asked helplessly.
“I don’t know what to say.” Little Bei scratched her head. “Actually, we rarely did this in the past. It was always Brother who secretly took us to pay our respects.”
Back then, they didn’t have anything good to offer. At most, they would take some fruit and steamed buns that they had saved. They didn’t even have eggs and didn’t dare make a sound or burn joss paper for fear that Zhao Lan would find out.
Seeing that they weren’t used to it, Mu Jingzhe could only speak to Bai Lu herself.
“Don’t worry. The children have grown taller and gained some weight over the past few months.”
Mu Jingzhe still remembered their current height and weight, so she nagged Bai Lu a little about it.
“Although they’re a bit shorter and thinner than normal, I’m sure they’ll catch up by next year.”
The children couldn’t help but laugh when they heard that. Even Shao Dong pursed his lips and smiled.
The walls at home now had records of their height.
Mu Jingzhe said that she would measure their height and weight every three months, and she even wrote it down in her notebook.
In this day and age, there was no electronic scale, only an old-school scale that was usually used to weigh food and pigs. Two people had to carry the scale while the weight was being measured.
However, they were only children, so Mu Jingzhe could carry the scale by herself. When she’d weighed food previously, she had taken the chance to weigh the kids as well.
Mu Jingzhe felt that this was probably what a mother was most concerned about. She told Bai Lu about this and also about the kids losing their baby teeth.
Shao Dong and Shao Xi’s front teeth had already fallen out and new ones had grown out. Shao Nan and Little Bei were about to experience the same thing.
In the end, she concluded, “I’ll try my best to take good care of them in the future. You can rest assured and reunite with Shao Qihai in the afterlife.”
After the ceremony, Mu Jingzhe went to cook.
Because Bai Lu had died during a difficult labor, her death anniversary was actually also Shao Nan and Little Bei’s birthday.
However, due to this reason, Shao Nan and Little Bei never celebrated their birthday. They didn’t have the means to celebrate it either.
Because it was the day their mother had undergone great torment, Mu Jingzhe didn’t intend to celebrate their birthday either. After all, it wasn’t appropriate. However, since it was their birthday after all, after some thought, she made them longevity noodles[1] with a poached egg.
After this day, Shao Nan and Little Bei would be six years old. Mu Jingzhe specifically sprinkled a ‘6’ for Shao Nan and Little Bei by using chopped spring onions.
“6! This is a 6!”
“Yes, that means you’ve turned six.” There were no birthday cakes or candles, so Mu Jingzhe could only do some creative thinking here.
“Now that you’re six, it means that everything will be smooth-sailing in the future. You won’t have to suffer anymore.”
Shao Nan and Little Bei propped up their heads and simply gazed at the noodles, for they couldn’t bear to eat them.
Mu Jingzhe quickly urged them. “Hurry up and eat them. Don’t let the noodles turn soggy. Remember not to break them when you eat them. You have to slurp them in one go. This way, you will be safe from harm and live a long life.”
This was Shao Nan and Little Bei’s first time celebrating their birthday, so they felt a mix of excitement and nervousness when they heard that. They very much cherished it and gingerly started eating, afraid that they would break the noodle.
Fortunately, they successfully finished slurping the noodle in one shot without breaking it.
“Mommy, I didn’t break the noodle. I will live to a ripe old age.” Thrilled Little Bei asked for credit the moment she finished eating.
“Mm, Little Bei will live to a ripe old age.”
Shao Nan interrupted her. “I didn’t break it either.”
“Yes, Shao Nan will also live a long life.”
Shao Nan: “…”
He called her Mommy, but she wouldn’t call him Little Nan. She called one of them Shao Nan and the other Little Bei—what a big discrepancy.
However, Mu Jingzhe was indeed quite good to them, so he quickly added, “Thank you.”
His gratitude was sincere.
“You’re welcome.”
They felt that Mu Jingzhe had worked hard to prepare these dishes. After they finished eating, Shao Xi and Shao Dong insisted that Mu Jingzhe go and rest and let them wash the dishes.
When Mu Jingzhe didn’t agree at first, Shao Dong’s little face formed a frown, and even Shao Xi was angry.
“Alright, thank you then.” Mu Jingzhe finally agreed and thanked them for their thoughtfulness.
“When technology becomes advanced in the future, we can buy a dishwasher. When that time comes, we can simply load the dishes in and they will be washed automatically. There’ll be no need for anyone to wash the dishes anymore.”
Shao Nan was very interested. “There’s something that can wash the dishes automatically?”
“Of course. It will exist in the future. Just like a washing machine.” In any case, these appliances existed in the modern age.
“A washing machine? Will clothes also be washed automatically?”
“That’s right.” Mu Jingzhe thought for a while. The automatic washing machine would become popular in a few years and become one of the three most important items for newlyweds. It wasn’t available yet, but the first-generation, hand-operated washing machine in the country had probably been introduced to the world by now. It worked based on the same principles as the drum washing machine, except that it was operated by hand.
When the children heard Mu Jingzhe mention the washing machine and dishwasher, they were delighted. “Mommy, if someone makes these things in the future, won’t it be easier for us?”
Upon seeing Mu Jingzhe pick up a broom to sweep the floor, Shao Nan had an idea and asked, “Could there be a sweeping machine too?”
“Yes, there will be a sweeping robot.” Mu Jingzhe nodded. “It will sweep and even mop the floor automatically.”
Shao Nan’s eyes lit up when he heard that. He found it very interesting and even wanted to make it himself.
The children beamed, and so did Xiao Wu.
He was very obedient and sensitive to emotions. As long as his siblings and mother were happy, he would be happy too.
Apart from feeling happy, he was also envious of Shao Nan and the rest. This was because they all knew who their biological mother was, but he didn’t.
Fortunately, he also had a mother now.
Xiao Wu wasn’t sad, but he was inevitably curious.
What did his mother look like? Did she have curly hair like him? Would she look as pretty as Mommy Mu Jingzhe when she smiled?
Xiao Wu held a piece of charcoal and subconsciously drew his imaginary mother on the ground.
Mu Jingzhe found him. “Xiao Wu, why are you squatting here?”
Upon catching sight of Xiao Wu’s portrait, she asked, “Xiao Wu, who did you draw? Eh, it’s someone with curly hair.”
Xiao Wu panicked and wanted to wipe it off, but Mu Jingzhe still saw the word ‘Mommy’ underneath.
“Xiao Wu, were you drawing your mother?”
Mu Jingzhe understood. Xiao Wu must be missing his own mother after seeing his siblings pay their respects to Bai Lu.
“No, I don’t miss my biological mother. I love Mommy the most.”
Xiao Wu explained hurriedly and even hugged Mu Jingzhe. “I was just curious to know what she looked like. I don’t miss her. Mommy, don’t be angry.”
“I’m not angry.” Mu Jingzhe laughed and patted Xiao Wu. “Actually, I’m also curious to know who gave birth to you and made you so cute.”
Mu Jingzhe now knew a little about Dong, Nan, Xi, Bei’s mother, Bai Lu, but the identity of Xiao Wu’s mother was still shrouded in mystery.
[1] A longevity noodle is a single noodle which fills the whole bowl, and it is better not to break it when eating it.