Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 177 Chinese New Year
However, the reality was completely opposite to what Xiao Ting expected.

Not long after he and his sister Xiao Yun hid, they were found by Yan Ciwan.

Yan Ciwan was able to determine the location by sound. Although she could not see anything with her eyes closed just now, she could hear the footsteps of Xiao Ting and Xiao Yun. Based on the direction where the footsteps disappeared, she could easily track down Xiao Ting and Xiao Yun.

Afterwards, Yan Ciwan easily found Chaolu.

Xiao Ting was not convinced and believed that Yan Ciwan was playing rogue. She must have peeked just now and was clamoring for another hit.

Yan Ciwan agreed good-temperedly.

This time, Xiao Ting deliberately covered Yan Ciwan's eyes with a silk handkerchief to make sure she could not see anything. Then he made a gesture to his sister and Chaolu, and the three of them tiptoed away and hid separately.

Xiao Ting ran all the way to the courtyard wall, where there was a big pine tree. He hugged the trunk and climbed up using his hands and feet. It took him a lot of effort to climb up.

Although it was winter, the pine tree was still lush and leafy, hiding his small body tightly.

He often came here secretly to play. Sitting on the tree, he could see the scene outside the courtyard wall. This was his secret base, so he was confident that Yan Ciwan would definitely not be able to find him.

This street is lined with residential houses, with occasional pedestrians or vehicles passing by.

Xiao Ting noticed that there was a small stall selling sugar figures on the street. The stall owner was squatting on a small stool, kneading sugar figures with his hands flexibly, and from time to time he looked up and glanced towards Pinghu Residence.

Xiao Ting was attracted by the sugar man and swallowed his saliva involuntarily.

Because he has cavities, his parents don't allow him to eat candy, but the more he can't get it, the more he wants it. Now he is looking at those candy figures with such greed that he didn't even notice anyone approaching.

"I found you!"

Xiao Ting was startled, his feet slipped and he fell under the tree, he was so scared that he screamed: "Ahhh!"

Xiao Wang, Xiao Qie and others had just returned home when they heard Xiao Ting's shout. They were all startled and hurriedly ran towards the direction where the shout came from.

When they ran to the vicinity of the courtyard wall, they saw that Xiao Ting had fallen off the tree, but he did not fall to the ground. Instead, he was held steadily by Yan Ciwan.

Xiao Ting was so scared that his face turned pale and tears welled up in his eyes. He hugged Yan Ciwan's neck tightly, his body trembling slightly and his mind going blank.

"What happened?" Xiao Qi walked over quickly and asked seriously.

Xiao Ting finally came back to his senses from his shock, and hurriedly let go of Yan Ciwan, calling out incoherently, "Father, Father."

Yan Ciwan put him on the ground and explained to the brothers Xiao Xi and Xiao Wang.

"We were playing hide-and-seek just now. Ating hid in a tree and accidentally fell down. Fortunately, he was not injured."

Xiao Xi frowned and scolded him sternly: "A Ting, I told you not to climb trees, why didn't you listen? Do you know how dangerous it was just now? If you fell down and got hurt, how sad your mother and I would be?!"

Xiao Ting knew that he was wrong, but he was too embarrassed to admit his mistake in front of outsiders, so he defended himself in a low voice.

"Just now, I accidentally fell down because Sister Ning Ci suddenly appeared and scared me."

Xiao Xi's face immediately darkened, and it was obvious that he was really angry.

"A-Ting! It was Madam Ning who saved you just now, but instead of being grateful, you pushed the blame onto her. I always taught you that as a man you should be responsible, have you forgotten everything?!"

Xiao Ting was scolded so much that his face turned red and he could no longer hold back his tears.

At this time, Jiang Tingyue and Liu rushed over after hearing the news. After learning what her youngest son had done, Jiang Tingyue felt very guilty and apologized to Yan Ciwan again and again.

"I'm sorry, we didn't teach our child well. You must not take what Ating just said to heart. This child has a stubborn temper, but he actually has a good heart."

Yan Ciwan certainly wouldn't argue with a five-year-old child. She waved her hand to indicate that it was okay.

Xiao Yu ordered Xiao Ting to go back to his room and copy the "Standards for Being a Good Pupil and Child" ten times, and he was not allowed to step out of the room until he had finished copying.

Xiao Ting knew that his father was really angry. He lowered his head guiltily, wiped away his tears silently, and dared not argue anymore.

Jiang Tingyue pulled him back, intending to give him a good lecture when they got back to their room. At this time, Xiao Wang suddenly called out, "A Ting."

Xiao Ting stopped and looked up at his uncle.

Xiao Wang reminded her sternly, "You called her the wrong name just now. Ning Ci is not your sister. You should call her aunt."

Xiao Qi felt puzzled. He didn't understand what was wrong with his younger brother and why he cared about such trivial matters.

Jiang Tingyue was more thoughtful. She looked at Xiao Wang's serious expression and was slightly moved. Why did Xiao Wang care so much about the name? Could it be that he and Ning Ci...

She turned to look at Ning Ci, but saw that Ning Ci looked normal, without any girlish demeanor.

For a moment, she couldn't figure out whether she was overthinking or Ning Ci was disguising himself too well.

Xiao Ting was just like his father. He didn't understand that it was just a name, so why did he have to make a fuss about it?
But now that he had already pissed off his parents, he didn't want to piss off his uncle as well, so he could only honestly reply, "Oh, I'll remember that."

Then he looked at Yan Ciwan and called out awkwardly, "Auntie Ci."

Yan Ciwan actually felt that the title of sister was more pleasant to the ear, but she knew that if she really became Xiao Ting's sister, she would be one generation lower than Xiao Xie and Xiao Wang, and she would have to call them uncles, which was naturally not acceptable.

So she smiled and replied, "Well, let's play hide-and-seek together again if we have the chance."

Xiao Ting snorted: "I now reluctantly admit your strength. You are indeed a master of hide-and-seek, but I will not admit defeat. I will definitely defeat you next time!"

Jiang Tingyue pinched his shoulder: "How do you talk to your aunt? Be polite!"

Xiao Ting lowered his head aggrievedly and whispered, "Goodbye, auntie."

Yan Ciwan waved at him: "Goodbye, A-Ting, and goodbye, A-Yun."

Xiao Yun stood beside her mother and said goodbye to them obediently.

Jiang Tingyue took her two children away. Before leaving, she did not forget to instruct the maid, Aunt Miao, who came with her dowry, to lead the guests to the side rooms to rest.

So Yan Ciwan and Chaolu and their group decided to stay in Pinghu Residence for a while.

At this time, there were only three days left until the Chinese New Year. Jiang Tingyue had already ordered people to buy all the New Year's goods. On New Year's Eve, festive red lanterns were hung all over the house and red window grilles were pasted on the windows.

Xiao Wang and Xiao Qie wrote the couplet themselves and asked the servants to post it on the door.

Yan Ciwan and Chaolu deliberately changed into brightly colored dresses and pinned red plum blossoms on their hair as embellishments, looking more playful and lively than usual.

(End of this chapter)