“There’s also a packet of medicine that I’ve concocted. Just put it into a teapot, or boil it in a pot, and let Aunt Jiang drink it. If she drinks this for some time, her health will slowly improve. You must remember to give it to her.”
The black woolen scarf felt cozy around his neck. The girl was standing so close that Mo Beihan could almost smell the faint herbal smell on her body.
“Yao Yao!”
“Hmm?”
Mo Beihan just looked at the young girl, who was standing on a bench to arrange his scarf, but did not say anything. He just smiled and patted her head. “It’s cold out here. Go back in!”
“Alright! Be careful on your way home. The roads are slippery in winter.”
“Alright!”
Mo Beihan took the things that his wife had given him. The wind and the snow were chilly as he walked home, but his heart was warm!
When he got home, his mother and nephews were still awake. They were warming themselves around the fire!
Jiang Yingqiu smiled when she saw that Mo Beihan was back. “You’re back!”
Mo Beihan nodded. He went to the kitchen for a ladle, bowls and chopsticks. He knew that his mother and the two children had already eaten, but they definitely did not have much. The mutton soup was still hot, they might as well eat it straight away.
In any case, he was here. He would not let them go hungry.
“Yao Yao cooked this. You should try it!”
When he opened the jar, the aroma immediately wafted out, and the two children leaned over.
“It smells wonderful!”
Mo Beihan poured a bowl for each of them.
Jiang Yingqiu frowned and said, “We’ve already eaten. Let’s save this for tomorrow!”
Mo Beihan smiled. “No need. I’m sure you didn’t eat much tonight. You might as well eat this now and I’ll find some other food tomorrow. The brigade will be distributing the meat tomorrow, so you should just eat this today.”
The mutton soup was hot and spicy. There was cabbage, vermicelli and some red chili. It was particularly warming to drink this in winter.
The mutton soup was delicious. The two children had already had dinner, but they still polished off their portion.
The mutton was very fragrant, and there was plenty of meat. The two children ate until they were satisfied.
Jiang Yingqiu could not help but eat two bowls. She was rather amused.
“Did Yao Yao make this?”
Mo Beihan nodded. “Yup! By the way Mother, I have some news. Uncle Gu divorced Zhang Xiaohui today. The Zhang family has taken their things and left. In the future, Yao Yao will belong to the Gu family, and will not be related to Zhang Xiaohui in any way. Gu Ruoqing left with Zhang Xiaohui, and will have nothing to do with the Gu family.”
Jiang Yingqiu was shocked!
She was in poor health and was particularly affected by the cold. She had spent her day at home by the fire, and did not know what had happened.
Mo Beihan said, “It’s not a big deal. Even Uncle Gu is not sorry. Mother, you know Zhang Xiaohui is not very reliable. She insisted on a divorce the day he returned. Uncle Gu had no choice. In their circumstances, the Gu family cannot afford to offend someone like Zhang Xiaohui, so they just let her go and cut their ties with her. To the Gu family, this is a good development!”
“What… what about Yao Yao?”
Mo Beihan laughed. “Don’t worry, Yao Yao is fine. She was very angry when Zhang Xiaohui insisted on a divorce. Anyway, Zhang Xiaohui has never shown her any affection. The absence of a mother like that doesn’t affect Yao Yao much. So there’s no problem on Yao Yao’s end.”
Jiang Yingqiu sighed. “Ai… With a person like Zhang Xiaohui, a divorce is a form of release, but it’s hard on Yao Yao. She’s such a nice girl… What do you think her mother is thinking? She doesn’t like Yao Yao although she’s so mature and obedient, while she dotes on Gu Ruoqing, who behaves so poorly.”
Mo Beihan’s deep black eyes flashed.”Probably a case of birds of a feather. Gu Ruoqing is just like her!”
Jiang Yingqiu: “…”
