Unable to endure the hardships of rural life, she returned home to arrange a marriage with a militar

"No," Shu Yun coldly rejected, ignoring the little one's cute, blinking expression.

Gu Xi immediately pouted unhappily, her lips pouting like a little duck. Shu Yun couldn't resist the urge to pinch the little guy's mouth. When her fingers touched the corner of the little guy's mouth, it was sticky, definitely from not finishing the candy.

Shu Yun's hand stiffened for a moment, then she casually wiped it on the little guy's festive red vest.

"Why?" Gu Xi was unhappy and turned her little body to the side, not letting her mother touch her.

Shu Yun thought to herself: She wouldn't even want to touch such a dirty little cub.

"You've already taken the candy, and you still want to eat other things? Tell me, how can you be so delusional?"

Shu Yun didn't give it to him, but the old lady couldn't resist her chubby grandson. While Shu Yun was busy in the kitchen and not paying attention, he took out a whole bowl of pork cracklings.

The old lady, treating both children equally, picked up her granddaughter, Xiaoyu, and placed the bowl between them, saying with a loving expression, "Eat, you two eat."

Gu Xi pinched one up and held it to Wang Xiuwen's lips, "Grandma, you can have some too."

The baby's sweet voice melted the old lady's heart. She hugged her eldest grandson and kissed him several times, saying, "Grandma doesn't want to eat, you guys eat."

Shu Yun heard the noise early in the morning. Looking out the window, she saw an old woman and two children squatting in the corner, eating pork cracklings. Anyone who didn't know better would think that they were abusing the elderly and children.

Seeing that Gu Xi's mouth was all greasy from eating, Shu Yun reached out and took the bowl away. "Alright, now that you've all eaten, I'm going to cook the rest of the dishes, so you're not allowed to eat any more."

However, Shu Yun clearly underestimated the old lady's love for her grandson. Perhaps because they hadn't seen each other for a long time, the old lady wanted to make up for all the good food and drinks she had given Gu Xi over the past few years. Not only the old lady did this, but Gu's father also secretly brought Gu Xi delicious food, and Shu Yun caught him several times.

"Here, freshly cooked sweet and sour pork. Take it and eat with your sister." The old lady gave Gu Xi a small bowl of meat without hesitation.

Not only that, but even the sauerkraut dumplings, pork bones, and even the brittle and cookies from the old lady's bedside couldn't escape Gu Xi's little mouth.

The little guy even learned some Northeastern dialect, giving a thumbs up and saying, "The sauerkraut dumplings are so delicious!"

Gu Xi has been eating and drinking well lately, and at night she snores loudly in bed.

Shu Yun frowned as she looked at her son, who was sleeping like a little piglet, and couldn't help but nudge Gu Jun. "Look at him, hasn't your son gained a lot of weight recently?"

Gu Jun put down his book and, following his wife's wishes, observed his son for a while.

Yes, she has indeed gained a lot of weight. She's now a giant version of a New Year's picture doll. Before, you had to hold your face up to see her double chin, but now you can see it anytime, anywhere.

"You have indeed gained a little weight."

"Right? The baby loves to eat so much. I really don't know who he takes after. I'm not so bad at eating, but you are too. How did you give birth to such a glutton?"

Gu Jun: ...

He silently turned a page of the book, trying his best to remain silent.

However, the chubby boy wasn't without his advantages. At least at night, Shu Yun was happy to hold her chubby son while he slept. He was like a little stove that kept emitting heat, soft and warm, and it was super comfortable to hold him in her arms.

On New Year's Eve, when Shu Yun was changing her son into new clothes, she couldn't pull up his pants because they were stuck by his little belly.

Gu Xi was on the verge of tears and could only turn to her mother for help, "What should I do? I can't wear it anymore."

Shu Yun: "Inhale." She tried, but still couldn't pull it up. "Inhale again."

Gu Xi tried several times, and at one point, her voice trembled with frustration and tears, "Mom, I can't suck anymore."

After she finished speaking, her flattened belly bounced back to its original shape. Gu Xi leaned on Shu Yun's shoulder, panting heavily, "I'm so tired."

The little boy was very disappointed that he couldn't get new clothes, so Wang Xiuwen, feeling sorry for her grandson, took it upon herself to make extra-large versions. The little guy was so happy that snot bubbles came out of his nose.

During the few days of the Lunar New Year, some people went to visit each other's homes, and some relatives came over. After a few days of lively celebration, things returned to normal.

Most of the children who had visited relatives had returned, and Shu Yun could sometimes hear a series of children's voices from the yard. She looked at the little one who had moved a chair and was sitting obediently next to her, and asked, "Why don't you go out and play, baby?"

Gu Xi rested her chin on her hand, "No, I don't like it."

Although she said that, Shu Yun was his mother, and with a quick glance, she could roughly guess what the little guy was thinking. She reached out and rubbed Gu Xi's chubby little face, "Okay, play with Mommy."

Shu Yun looked at the village with its continuous snow scene. In the winter, the rural areas of Northeast China are natural freezers. Every household makes freezers and ice tanks to store New Year's goods.

Shu Yun had an idea and said to Gu Xi, "How about we make ice cream?"

Gu Xi's eyes lit up when she heard about ice cream in winter, and she nodded her head frantically, "Yes, yes, yes!"

Shu Yun assigned him a task, "Then go find some firewood and carve it into small sticks of roughly the same size for Dad."

The little guy immediately responded and happily went off to do the work.

Shu Yun looked around the house, found a large basin, poured water into it and placed it outside. Then she put several small bowls filled with water in the basin and weighed them down with a wooden board.

In the rural areas of Northeast China, the temperature drops even lower at night. By the next day, when Shu Yun took the bowl out, all the water had frozen into ice, leaving only round holes where the bowl had been.

Shu Yun had a wonderful idea: pour in the syrup mixed with red beans and you'd have red bean popsicles; pour in milk and you'd have milk popsicles; and if she had oranges and apples at home, she could slice them, add syrup, and put them in to make fruit popsicles.

Then, insert a small wooden stick on top and leave it outdoors to freeze. When Shu Yun got up to check the next day, it had already taken shape.

Shu Yun was quite happy and was about to take one to try, but she quickly discovered a problem: the popsicle water and the ice water next to it had frozen and stuck together!

Gu Xi was still standing on tiptoe, peering around, and licked her little lips. "Mommy, how is it? I want to try it too."

"Uh."

Shu Yun: "Wait a minute, I'll go call your dad."

And so, Gu Jun forcibly cut these frozen popsicles, which were stuck in the mold, with a knife. Although they looked a bit messy, they tasted really good.

Gu Xi was quite satisfied. The three of them each took an ice pop and started eating. Soon, some children outside noticed and watched longingly.

Shu Yun waved Gu Xi over and handed him the remaining popsicles in the bowl, saying, "Take these and let the kids have a taste."

Gu Xi was a little reluctant; he had only eaten one fruit popsicle, and hadn't even tried the red bean or milk flavored ones yet.

Shu Yun saw through his thoughts and patted his head in an annoyed tone, "I saved it for you."

Gu Xi was happy and took the bowl to distribute to the children outside. Soon the little ones were surrounded by her.

Shu Yun was quite pleased with herself, nudging Gu Jun with her elbow, "See? My method is pretty good, isn't it? This way, Xiao Xi can smoothly integrate into her friends."

As Shu Yun spoke, she unconsciously picked up the second popsicle from the bowl, but Gu Jun stopped her hand, saying, "You've eaten enough today, be careful not to get diarrhea."

Shu Yun: ...Okay.

Gu Xi gained entry into the group of children through popsicles. Within a few days, several of her friends were waiting at the Gu family's door early every morning. Gu Xi would hurriedly get dressed, eat breakfast, and then rush out to play with her friends.

Shu Yun was initially pleased, but soon fell silent when she saw her son's clothes were covered in mud.

He's completely different from when he first returned to the village!

Gu Xi's hair was a mess, her face was flushed, and her clothes were dirty.

Well, all I can say is that little Gu Xi has completely integrated into the simple rural life of Northeast China.

Before Shu Yun could comment on his dirty clothes, Gu Xi awkwardly walked up to Shu Yun's side.

Shu Yun glanced at the little guy sideways, "Speak, what is it?"

Gu Xi scratched her face shyly, "Mom, could you please not call me 'baby' in front of my friends anymore?" Her little face was a little red.

Shu Yun: Okay, the child is grown up and knows how to save face.