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

Night fell over the house.

Zhuang Chaoying finally managed to coax her daughter and son to sleep.

She looked up and gazed at Tu Nan in the attic. After a pause, she called him softly, "Tu Nan, are you asleep?" There was no response, so Zhuang Chaoying assumed he was asleep.

He slowly and gently walked to the bedside and quietly lay down on the bed.

Then, he slowly lifted Ah Ling's blanket, and with a hint of shyness and anticipation, gently embraced her from behind.

Huang Ling had her back to Zhuang Chaoying and did not respond.

Zhuang Chaoying was not discouraged. She lowered her voice in A-Ling's ear, and her warm breath gently brushed against her ear: "A-Ling, the children are asleep!"

Huang Ling felt the heat swirling around her ears, instantly raising goosebumps all over her body. She shrank back slightly and said, "Let's not do it. Chao Ying, go to sleep. I got my period, and my stomach hurts terribly!"

Zhuang Chaoying then realized that Ah Ling's period had started.

I used to have painful periods myself, so I know how painful it can be. "Ah Ling, is today the first day?"

Huang Ling just gave a muffled "hmm".

Zhuang Chaoying immediately sat up, carefully covered A-Ling with her blanket, and then quickly walked towards the kitchen.

[System, buy one pound of brown sugar!]

[Deduct 80 cents from the system shelf.]

Zhuang Chaoying skillfully picked up a small basin, put some brown sugar in it, then picked up a cleaver and cut two slices of ginger. After that, she poured in some boiling water and put the small basin on the fire to slowly boil it.

While waiting, find a hot water bottle and fill it with hot water.

After everything was ready, she carried a water glass in one hand and a hot water bottle in the other, and slowly walked back to the bedside. She whispered that the children had just fallen asleep and she didn't want to be woken up by them. "Ah Ling, get up. I made you some brown sugar ginger water. It will make you feel better."

Huang Ling hadn't actually fallen asleep; in her drowsy state, she thought Chao Ying was hungry and had gone to find something to eat.

Hearing Zhuang Chaoying's words, he slowly sat up and took the water glass with some confusion. "Chaoying, we don't have any brown sugar at home."

Ah Ling really knows everything about the house.

She quickly came up with an excuse. "I bought this a few days ago, it was for you, I know you always have stomach cramps when you come."

As he spoke, he wrapped the hot water bottle in a towel and handed it to Huang Ling. "Put it on your stomach."

Huang Ling took the brown sugar water and sipped it slowly, finishing the cup quickly.

Seeing this, Zhuang Chaoying poured another glass of water. "Rinse your mouth, the brown sugar water is too sweet!"

Huang Ling obediently took the water and rinsed her mouth gently. "Chao Ying, you should go to bed too. I'm not in as much pain this time. Things have been much better since we moved to the new house. It used to really hurt."

Watching Chao Ying busy herself for me, I felt especially warm under the dim light.

At this moment, she finally understood the feeling of being carefully cared for and cherished, as Song Ying had described.

The last bit of awkwardness in my heart gradually dissipated, replaced by an indescribable feeling of gratitude and peace of mind.

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As time flies, Lunar New Year's Eve is fast approaching.

A festive atmosphere permeated the streets and alleys, with every household decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the sound of firecrackers rising and falling in waves.

The streets were incredibly lively.

The children clutched incense sticks tightly in their hands, their eyes wide open, carefully picking up small firecrackers from the ground. Every time they found an unlit firecracker, they excitedly called out to their friends.

Tu Nan, Lin Dongzhe, and Xiao Ting were having a great time, their faces flushed red from the cold wind, but they didn't care at all, enjoying their childhood to the fullest.

Huang Ling pondered to herself that she originally wanted to persuade Chao Ying to go back to visit her parents.

Zhuang Chaoying seemed to see through her thoughts: "Ah Ling, after the second day of the Lunar New Year, you don't need to do any work. Just take care of the children and eat and drink. Ignore whatever they say."

Huang Ling leaned gently against Chao Ying's chest: "Yes, I'm not the pushover I used to be, someone anyone can just bully."

Zhuang Chaoying's lips curled up slightly: "Can I pinch it?"

Huang Ling blushed slightly, got up and walked towards the kitchen: "I'm going to cook!"

Zhuang Chaoying quickly got up and followed behind Ah Ling: "I'll help you!"

Huang Ling and Song Ying agreed to have their New Year's Eve dinner together.

With a big smile on her face, Song Ying brought the four dishes to Sister Ling's house.

The table was laden with eight dishes: steamed pork with rice flour, braised pork, steamed fish, stir-fried dried tofu, stir-fried bok choy, stir-fried eggs, stir-fried cabbage, and braised pork ribs.

Xiaoting, Tunan, and Xiaodongzhe stared wide-eyed at the sight of the sumptuous meal, their mouths watering, just waiting for the adults' command so they could start feasting.

Zhuang Chaoying raised her glass: "Lin Gong, Song Ying, A Ling, a new year brings new beginnings. Our lives will get better and better, and the relationship between our two families will also get better and better!"

Lin Wufeng also raised his glass. "Teacher Zhuang is right. May the adults have a smooth work life and the children make progress in their studies. Cheers!"

After saying that, the group raised their glasses and drank their small glasses of wine in one gulp.

Lin Wufeng looked at Song Ying with concern in his eyes, picked up a piece of food and put it in her bowl: "Is it spicy? Eat some food to calm your nerves!"

Not to be outdone, Zhuang Chaoying quickly put a piece of lean meat on A-Ling's plate: "A-Ling, you should also calm down! That's enough for you today, I'll pour you some soda."

Seeing this, Song Ying couldn't help but laugh: "Teacher Zhuang, I didn't expect you to be such an interesting person! And so considerate of others."

Zhuang Chaoying smiled and looked at Engineer Lin, teasingly saying, "Your Engineer Lin isn't bad either; he's a doting husband."

Song Ying glanced at Huang Ling. "Sister Ling, aren't you going to do anything about your teacher, Mr. Zhuang!"

Huang Ling couldn't stop smiling. "What Chaoying said is true, there's no way to refute it! Haha! Hurry up and eat, the kids can't wait!"

No sooner had the words been spoken than the children began to devour their food.

Lin Dongzhe, in particular, ate with his mouth full of oil and his cheeks bulging, but he still didn't forget to put meat on Xiaoting's plate, picking out all the fatty meat for his own bowl and putting the lean meat in Xiaoting's bowl.

Seeing this, Zhuang Chaoying smiled. She hadn't expected that this kid would be so caring since he was a child. He had inherited his father, Engineer Lin's, true talent. Not bad!

Song Ying couldn't help but say, "Lin Dongzhe, eat less fatty meat!"

Lin Dongzhe replied nonchalantly, "Lean meat gets stuck in your teeth, and Xiaoting doesn't eat fatty meat anyway, so we complement each other."

After finishing their meal, with the bowls piled up in the kitchen, Zhuang Chaoying pulled Huang Ling over. "I'll wash them tomorrow. You must be tired from cooking today. Tu Nan, go get the basins."

The family of four each had a basin and were soaking their feet.

Huang Ling added some aged vinegar to the basin of water for everyone to disinfect!

That night, Zhuang Chaoying naturally fell asleep with Huang Ling in her arms amidst the crackling of firecrackers.

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