People in the alley: A woman dressed as a man shouldn't be foolishly filial, Zhuang Chaoying

Chapter 461 The Little Dining Table

She sat back on the bed, took out the potty from under the bed, and prepared to help Xiaoyuyao with her bowel movements and urination.

Seven-month-old Yuyao's bones have hardened a bit.

Looking at her still sleepy husband sitting by the bed, Mrs. Huang asked, "Old Huang, do you feel unwell anywhere?"

Mr. Huang sat on the edge of the bed, yawned deeply, and then groggily opened his eyes, looking completely bewildered. "What did you say, Aunt Ling?"

"I said, have you noticed any strange changes in your body? It's like you've become more than ten years younger, and your arms and legs don't hurt anymore."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Huang quickly got up and stretched his arms and legs. His eyes lit up immediately, and his drowsiness vanished instantly.

He nodded repeatedly. "Ah Ling's mom, really! My legs and feet feel so much more agile, my neck doesn't hurt anymore, and my hands aren't numb anymore. It's strange, really strange, Ah Ling's mom, could it be a final burst of energy before death?"

Upon hearing this, Huang's mother instinctively reached out to hit him, but then realized that she was holding her granddaughter in her arms, so she stopped herself, almost dropping the child directly into the potty.

She was still shaken, and it reminded her of the time when she had looked after her eldest grandson, Xiuyuan, with her eldest daughter, Aping.

At that time, she was so tired, and she had already been helping Xiuyuan with his bodily functions for half an hour, so she drifted off to sleep.

When she heard A-Ping calling her from the doorway, Xiu-Yuan was already covered in poop and was happily crawling and playing on the ground.

This time, we can't let her sweet and soft little Yuyao fall into the poop basin too.

Huang's mother was both angry and anxious. "Oh dear, what are you trying to say? Bah, bah, bah! Say something nice! Quickly, slap yourself three times!"

Mr. Huang quickly smoothed the few remaining hairs on his head, smiled awkwardly, and gently patted his mouth as he realized he had misspoke.

"I was just talking nonsense. Do you think it was that stuff Chao Ying made us drink yesterday, and then we pooped it out and all the toxins were expelled?"

"I think so. That's good too. If I'm healthier, I can spend more years with Xiaoyuyao."

As Huang's mother spoke, she looked tenderly at Xiao Yuyao in her arms.

Little Yuyao seemed to sense her grandmother's love, and she grinned sweetly.

Mr. Huang shook his hair with great spirits, as if he had suddenly become several years younger.

He picked up the paper and wiped his grandson's bottom, then picked up the chamber pot and strode towards the toilet, humming an unknown tune as he walked, looking much younger.

.....

The day after the two companies discussed and agreed to open a small canteen, Song Ying, who was bold and decisive, couldn't wait to go to the cotton mill to apply for a leave of absence without pay.

Lin Wufeng accompanied her to the business registration office to obtain the business license. The business license only listed Song Ying's name because they couldn't list both of their names. Otherwise, given her personality, she would definitely have included Sister Ling as well.

Although the two families were as close as family, "even close brothers should keep clear accounts." After discussion, it was finally decided that Song Ying's family would provide the house, and the profits would be distributed in a 6:4 ratio.

Soon, the after-school program entered the renovation phase.

That day, Zhuang Chaoying, Huang Ling, Song Ying, and Lin Wufeng all put on their work clothes and set up the room.

Based on the cartoon image in her mind, Zhuang Chaoying was carefully sketching the outline on the wall with a pencil.

He planned to draw the rough shape first, and then have the other three people help him color along the lines.

While enthusiastically painting, Song Ying sang a cheerful song.

"I'm a painter, and I'm very skilled at painting. I'm going to paint that new house beautifully..."

Lin Wufeng looked at Song Ying, who was singing happily, and smiled.

Recalling Song Ying's excitement about starting a small after-school care business, he was momentarily speechless.

However, when he accompanied Song Ying to the factory the next day to complete the procedures for taking a leave of absence without pay, he realized what was going on, but he still went along with the trend and supported her.

He thought that if he could get her on unpaid leave sooner, Song Ying could also have a good rest at home. After all, she had worked for so many years and deserved a break.

Lin Wufeng had held back for three days before finally bringing up this crucial question, unable to resist asking it.

"Song Ying, have you thought about this? Our house renovation won't be finished until around June 20th, and the students will all be on holiday in less than ten days. Who will eat at our after-school care center then?"

Song Ying, who was happily painting, instinctively put her hands on her hips while holding the brush in her hand upon hearing this.

"Wu Feng, why didn't you say so sooner? If I had known, I would have waited until September to apply for a leave of absence without pay. Sister Ling, did you know about this too?"

Lin Wufeng laughed and explained, "Xiao Song, I just feel sorry for you. You've been working since you were a teenager and have never had such a long vacation."

Huang Ling continued, “Yes, Engineer Lin told us not to say it. He wants you to rest at home for two months. Anyway, summer will be over soon. We're both free of burdens now. You've taken a leave of absence without pay, and my son Chaoying is back. He can take care of the kids. We can travel around and have some fun.”

Song Ying then realized that she hadn't thought about the holiday. "Teacher Zhuang, would it be fine if your sister Ling lent me a month's time? Then Ling and I can be little girls again and relax."

Zhuang Chaoying had just finished drawing the cartoon pattern and picked up her brush to color it when she heard this. "I lent it to you during the day, but you have to return it tonight, Xiao Song."

Huang Ling called out somewhat shyly, "Chao Ying!"

Lin Wufeng raised his eyebrows and pulled Song Ying over. "Teacher Zhuang and Sister Ling have been separated for more than three months, they definitely need to have a good talk. You can go sightseeing around the area with Sister Ling, but it's hot now, so you should be careful."

Amidst the cheerful atmosphere, the four of them chatted and laughed while busying themselves with their work.

Before we knew it, a day had passed, and the walls on the first floor had been successfully painted.

The brightly colored cartoon patterns are sure to be a hit with kids.

Lin Wufeng knew people at the furniture factory and bought some long tables and small chairs.

Subsequently, he and Zhuang Chaoying worked together to clean up all the furniture and other items on the first floor of their house. They even moved the television to the second-floor bedroom and some furniture to an unoccupied room on the third floor.

The first floor then became a spacious and open area.

In the living room, they set up two long tables and chairs that could accommodate thirty children. The bedroom on the first floor was also arranged to accommodate fifteen people for dining and studying, and there were also bowls, chopsticks, and spoons.

Since it's our own house, there's no rent. Each family's investment is less than 600 yuan. Regarding expenses, everyone adheres to the principle of fairness, splitting all expenses equally, with no one taking advantage of the other.

...