Chapter 65: The Master of Pouring Water and Medicine

Su Qinghu: ...So, you're saying that move just now is a traditional Chen family move? You guys are just so used to force-feeding people medicine and water?

Da Dan shot his younger brother a look. ""You've got it wrong!""

""Really?"" Er Dan sounded uncertain. ""I'm so smart, how could I remember it wrong?""

Da Dan: ""I was the one who got force-fed medicine.""

When he was five or six, he had stomach problems, so their dad took him to an old Chinese doctor for treatment. The doctor prescribed herbal medicine. Their dad personally brewed it and fed it to him. But back then, he was just in kindergarten—how could he possibly cooperate and drink that dark, bitter stuff?

So, in the end, their dad just held him down and poured it straight in...

As for Er Dan, his medicine was Western pills, crushed into powder, mixed with a little warm water in a spoon, and then fed to him by pinching his cheeks.

So far, in his memory, only Su Qinghu was gentle—she fed him medicine without spilling a drop, and never rough at all...

""Haha, hahaha,"" Er Dan scratched his head. ""So I really remembered wrong? Turns out it was my big brother who got force-fed by dad!""

Heh heh, Er Dan was secretly delighted. So he wasn't the poor little kid who got force-fed medicine after all~~~

Da Dan glanced at Er Dan's smug little face and snorted.

Heartless! And to think he even shielded him when that thief smashed into them.

""Bro, I'll buy you a White Rabbit milk candy tomorrow,"" Er Dan promised. ""Make your childhood sweet and happy.""

Da Dan: ""...Do you even have any ration tickets?""

Big talk!

""If you want it, I can get it!"" Er Dan patted his chest. ""Didn't we get the doctor to write us three certificates saying we need big bones for nutrition? We can trade those for tickets, and then I can buy you candy!""

He looked at Su Qinghu. ""Mom, you still have those certificates, right?""

Of course Su Qinghu kept them, but she wasn't too keen on handing them over. ""Weren't those certificates issued in my name? Technically, they belong to me, don't they?""

Da Dan and Er Dan looked at her in unison. Was she refusing to give them up?

""Why are you looking at me like that?"" Su Qinghu was speechless. ""The bones these days are so clean they're like they've already been gnawed on. What, do you think I'm hoarding a bit of meat off the bones?""

""The only reason I kept them was so I could smash the bones and make some broth. When I don't feel like cooking or eating out, we can just have some noodles in bone soup.""

Meat these days might smell good, but without ration tickets, she wasn't interested in these bones so clean you could slide down them.

Er Dan turned to Da Dan. ""Bro, I'll find another way to get you milk candy. Let's just forget about those bone certificates.""

Chen Lie came out of the shower, his short hair still damp. He looked nothing like his usual strict self, just wearing an army-green tank top and loose shorts.

He walked into the kitchen and casually asked, ""What bone certificates?""

Su Qinghu turned her head and her eyes lit up.

Handsome!

He was practically radiating testosterone from head to toe!

Chen Lie felt a bit awkward under her gaze. As a man, he couldn't show he cared too much, so he just repeated his question.

Su Qinghu: ""I know, just ask me!""

Look over here, look over here, look over here.

Chen Lie didn't even turn his head. ""Let the kids explain. It's good practice for their logical thinking.""

Su Qinghu: ...Tch, boring.

Da Dan and Er Dan glanced at Su Qinghu, then at Chen Lie, and suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

Su Qinghu likes good-looking men!

""What are you looking at me for?"" Su Qinghu raised an eyebrow. ""Go on, answer your dad's question.""

The boys quickly looked away. Er Dan started explaining to Chen Lie, with Da Dan chiming in now and then. At the end, Er Dan added, ""It was the first day I wanted to become sworn siblings with Mom.""

Su Qinghu: ""Don't even think about it. It's never going to happen, not in this lifetime.""

Sworn siblings? Dream on!

""You'd better watch it. Last time you said that, your dad didn't hit you—only because he was being merciful.""

Er Dan sneaked a glance at Chen Lie and fell silent.

He couldn't tell if Dad was happy or not right now...

After clearing the table, the family of four left the kitchen. The two kids went to shower, and Chen Lie followed them.

Su Qinghu went to the living room, sat for a while, then decided to use the free time to go to the bedroom and work on tomorrow's article submission.

As soon as she entered, she noticed two cardboard boxes stacked in the corner.

""Huh?"" Su Qinghu walked over and finally saw what they were.

—Instant noodles.

Her in-laws were really generous. These kinds of instant noodles sold for thirty-five cents a pack, and they actually sent over two whole boxes...

Su Qinghu sighed, left the boxes unopened, picked up her softcover notebook, scribbled a few lines, capped her pen, and zoned out for a while. When she heard noise from the yard, she got up and wandered over.

Da Dan and Er Dan had already showered, their hair still wet, clearly washed along with the rest of them.

The three of them walked toward the living room. Su Qinghu was heading out, and the four of them met eyes. Su Qinghu almost whistled out loud.

Handsome!

All with short, wet hair, arms and legs exposed, looking full of energy. Plus, with their looks, it was a real feast for the eyes.

And just then, Su Qinghu made a new discovery.

""Huh?""

Da Dan's face... no, his features—why are they so defined?

""Is Da Dan mixed-race?"" Su Qinghu asked in surprise. After checking out Da Dan, she looked at Chen Lie for confirmation.

She didn't notice that as soon as she asked, Da Dan tensed up, bristling like a little cub trying to look fierce.

Chen Lie paused for a moment, then nodded. ""A little.""

Da Dan's mother's grandmother was a mixed-race child with Chinese heritage. Her generation married a Chinese man and had Da Dan's mother, who then married another Chinese man and had Da Dan.

At this point, you could hardly see any mixed-race features in Da Dan's face.

Chen Lie said it so matter-of-factly that Da Dan immediately clenched his fists.

Su Qinghu looked like she expected as much.

Chen Lie watched her expression closely. Seeing no obvious reaction—no anger, no probing about overseas connections—a hint of a smile flashed in his eyes.

Da Dan was still tense, lips pressed together, stubbornly holding onto his pride. Er Dan edged closer and quietly grabbed his hand.

No matter what, big brother is still his big brother.

Da Dan glanced down at him, said nothing, but relaxed a little.

""No wonder his features are so defined and good-looking,"" Su Qinghu sighed. ""When he's in a good mood, his eyes aren't so dark—they look a bit amber. I thought I was seeing things...""

She paused, then looked at Da Dan in disbelief. ""So, ever since I married your dad, you've been in a bad mood?""

Seriously?

What kind of suffering is this?"