While they were talking, Shintaro’s phone rang. He answered the call, “Yes… come quickly, I won’t tell you…. it’s a surprise… Trust me, you will be shocked… oh, okay…” he looked at Mu Lan and asked, “Is there something you want, princess? We sent Al to the cities so that he can buy necessary things.”
Mu Lan said, “I do need some clothes and towels for the children. Tell him to buy four sets of towels, clothing and whatever is available. Four colors will be sky blue, purple, light green and pink. And lots of diapers.”
Shintaro talked to Altan over the phone, “You heard the princess… why four? Because she wants to. Same color would be boring, right?… alright, I’m hanging up now. Roger.”
Mu Lan said, “I almost forgot that he was with us.”
Antonio said, “It would be abnormal if you remembered after what you have gone through. Recalling your scream still makes me shiver.”
Mu Lan wanted to know the details of Hua Rong and her auntie’s divorce and so on but the people, especially Ru Xin was around. So, she didn’t say anything to ruin the mood. She took her firstborn in her arms and kissed his small forehead.
———
Winter, spring and summer had passed. It was Autumn. Ten months had already passed. The Mongoose had stopped searching for Mu Lan three months ago. However, the children were too small to go for an adventure, so Mu Liang, Mu Lan and their four children with Pedro, Caro and Antonio stayed back.
Ru Xin was also there. Others left because of their missions. Ru Xin already forgot those faces who left. He tried many times to remember but he couldn’t, not even the names of those people. He found it strange. He would leave the island from time to time to run some errands.
It was noon. Mu Liang was bathing his four sons under the sun. Pedro was helping him. Mu Lan was sitting on an easy chair and relaxing.
———–
Mu Lan had elixir in her body; as a result, she healed in no time. She wanted to help others at work but others didn’t let her, especially when she wanted to bathe her children or change the diapers. Mu Liang most of the time changed the diapers and washed them. Pedro helped him only when it was time to bathe the children. Mu Lan only ate and fed her own children. She also had another work and that was to make those trouble makers fall asleep.
The kids weren’t just trouble makers; they were super troublemakers. If they opened their eyes and didn’t see their mother, they would start to wail loudly. The big boys couldn’t figure out how the small boys could scream so loudly. They certainly didn’t get their parents vocal. Only later, Mu Liang said, “They got my grandfather’s vocal.”
The big boys came to confirm one thing; as long as the small boys’ mother was around, they were the best kids in the world. If their mother wasn’t around, the third world war would start in a second.
Though these small guys had some similarities, they had some dissimilarities as well. For example; the eldest one was quieter and more aloof than his three younger siblings. But when he would see his mother, he would show a beautiful angelic smile. It would make Mu Lan’s heart melt in a second. In his eyes, only mother existed but it didn’t mean he didn’t like his father, he just didn’t show it to him. One day, Mu Liang fell asleep while hugging him. He kept looking at his father. It was such an adorable site. The couple named him Mu Lian.
The second one was the cheerful type and always laughed no matter who it was. He was friendly and went to anyone’s arms as long as they were good to him. Other than his parents, he liked Ru Xin. As long as Ru Xin was around, he would never fall asleep. His name was Mu Ling.
The third one was the sly one. His eyes would always dart around and when he wanted something and others refused to give him, he would show puppy eyes making others’ hearts crumble. People would start to think that they had done something wrong. Not only did he get his mother’s eyes, he also got his mother’s personality. No one could resist his charm. He was friendly just like his second brother. Carlo would call him ‘sly dog’ in his mind. He was named Mu Laquan.
And the fourth one was the innocent type. He would shy away if he saw someone other than his parents. But if he stayed with others for a long time, he would slowly become familiar with other people. He was the only one who would smile from time to time seeing Mu Liang’s face. They named him Mu Lin.
Carlo and Antonio were very dissatisfied with the newborns’ names. Carlo complained, “Why do they have similar names? This is so irritating!”
Mu Lan pouted. “So, what! They are mine and Liang Liang’s children. Since our name matches, we wanted to give them similar names. Look, even my beloved rice balls love their names. They are smiling so happily.” She pointed out her children. She gave them the nickname ‘rice ball’.
Mu Liang sighed and said, “Lan, it was you who wanted to give them similar names.”
Mu Lan protested, “But you didn’t oppose it. You even named rice ball number three and rice ball number four.”
Mu Liang shook his head helplessly. There was no way he would oppose her, was there? However, it was true that he liked the names she chose. Hearing the boys’ name made him feel that they were very harmonious. Above all, he was happy, as long as his suddenly large family was happy.
It was only two of them up until now and it suddenly became the family of six. He just imagined their family members’ expressions. It gave him thrills.
Carlo scoffed again. He was always there to ruin the mood. “What’s with rice ball number one, two, three, four? This is so ugly, just like their monkey faces.” Just then, Mu Lan threw a small toy towards him and he immediately caught it.
