BAHC 03

Do you know you were wrong?” Shen Yiyi asked. “You still dare to bully my children and steal from them?”

“I—I won’t dare, I won’t dare…” Zhuzi said quickly, signaling Gou Dan to return the fish to Da Bao.

Gou Dan and the others were completely stunned. Trembling, they hurried to give the fish back to Da Bao.

Da Bao wiped his tears, reached out, took the fish, and held it tightly in his arms.

Only then did Shen Yiyi let Zhuzi go.

“Run!”

As soon as he was free, Zhuzi ran faster than a rabbit. His followers scattered with him.

After running a short distance and making sure Shen Yiyi wasn’t chasing them, he turned around and shouted viciously, “You wicked woman! Just wait! Sooner or later Uncle will divorce you!”

Before Shen Yiyi could say anything, the children had already rushed forward. With their hands on their hips, they retorted, “You’re the wicked woman!”

Shen Yiyi was stunned.

“Stop calling her ‘Mom’—she’s not your real mother!” Zhuzi shouted. “She’ll abandon you soon and go live a good life. You guys—”

“Li Zhuzi!” Shen Yiyi snapped, rolling up her sleeves.

Li Zhuzi instantly lost his nerve. He and the others scattered like startled birds.

“Stop talking nonsense!” Da Bao was about to chase after him but was pulled back by Shen Yiyi. Even so, he still shouted at Li Zhuzi’s retreating back, “Mom is our mom! Dad and Mom will always stay with us!”

“Da Bao!” Shen Yiyi hurriedly held him back. Her voice felt sour and bitter in her throat. She crouched down to his level and gave him a gentle smile. “Don’t chase him. Next time Mom will stand up for you and make sure he never dares to scold me again, alright?”

It was the first time Mom had come so close to him, and she was even this gentle. Da Bao felt a little shy. “Mm…”

“Good boy.” Shen Yiyi saw that there were still tears on his face and reached out to wipe them away.

Da Bao felt even more embarrassed.

Seeing how gentle Mom was with Da Bao, Er Bao became a little anxious.

Er Bao was only two years old and couldn’t hide his feelings. Hugging the fish, he ran over on his little legs. “Mom~ fishy fish.”

“Alright, fishy fish,” Shen Yiyi said with a smile as she took it.

“Hehe!” Er Bao laughed, showing his neat little white teeth. He looked adorable.

Shen Yiyi was completely charmed. She couldn’t help but lean over and kiss his cheek.

At once, Er Bao’s eyes sparkled. He puckered his lips and kissed her back. “Mua~”

Shen Yiyi was covered in his slobber and laughed.

“Mom, me too!” San Bao quickly ran over.

Shen Yiyi kissed him too. San Bao hugged Er Bao, kissed him back, and giggled happily.

Only Da Bao stood a little farther away. He twisted his fingers together and pursed his lips. He also wanted Mom to kiss him, but he was already a big boy…

“Da Bao, come here,” Shen Yiyi called.

Da Bao didn’t expect her to call him. His eyes widened. He walked over shyly. “Mom?”

“Mua!”

Shen Yiyi kissed him.

Da Bao’s face turned red at a visible speed. He covered the spot she had kissed, full of bashful happiness.

San Bao urged, “Big Brother, you haven’t kissed Mom yet. Er Bao already did!”

Er Bao echoed, “That’s right! Kiss, kiss!”

Da Bao glared at his two younger brothers, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed. He looked at Mom and blushed deeply.

Watching this warm scene, seeing the children’s complete attachment to her—as if she had never neglected them—Shen Yiyi’s eyes turned red.

Before, because of the plot’s restraints, she hadn’t treated them well. As a mother, she truly owed them far too much.

How could she deserve three sons who were so sensible and well-behaved?

She felt deeply ashamed.

“Mom, why are you crying?” Er Bao noticed her tears and became anxious, circling around her.

Da Bao reached out to wipe her tears. “Mom, don’t cry~”

San Bao grew even more worried. He thought Mom was crying because he hadn’t kissed her. He quickly leaned in with a loud “Mwah!” and said urgently, “Mom, don’t cry! San Bao kissed you!”

Shen Yiyi had been crying sadly, but at San Bao’s words, she couldn’t help laughing through her tears. She quickly wiped her eyes and comforted them, “Mm, alright. Mom won’t cry anymore.”

“Er Bao! Your mouth smells like fish. You made Mom stink!” San Bao suddenly shouted and pulled Er Bao away.

Er Bao froze. He put his hand to his mouth and sniffed. Sure enough, there was a fishy smell. He immediately looked at Shen Yiyi with grievance. “Mom, sorry…”

“It’s okay,” Shen Yiyi said gently. “Mom likes Er Bao. Er Bao is Mom’s baby.”

Er Bao immediately smiled again and ran off on his little legs. “Wash.”

“Er Bao, slow down! Don’t fall!” Da Bao hurried after him to protect his little brother.

The water jar was tall and heavy. Shen Yiyi was afraid they would fall, so she quickly went over holding San Bao’s hand. “Don’t rush. Mom will scoop the water for you.”

She lifted the lid of the jar. The water inside had been carried back by Li Chen, and there was still half a jar left.

Since the children had just come back from outside and were dirty, Shen Yiyi helped them wash up.

“Mom, scoop a little more,” Da Bao said.

Shen Yiyi thought he hadn’t washed clean enough, so she scooped another ladle of water to pour over him.

But Da Bao quickly cupped his hands. “Mom, I want to drink.”

Before she could stop him, he lowered his head toward the water. Shen Yiyi reacted quickly and pulled the ladle away. “This water was drawn from the well. It hasn’t been boiled yet. You can’t drink it.”

“It’s okay!” Da Bao said, reaching out to grab it again.

“It’s not okay,” Shen Yiyi coaxed him. “There are lots of tiny bacteria in this water. If they get into your stomach, you’ll grow worms in your belly.”

“Like loaches?” Da Bao asked seriously.

Roundworms did indeed look like loaches.

Shen Yiyi almost laughed but quickly nodded. “Almost, but not loaches. They’re called roundworms.”

“That’s great!” Da Bao clapped. “Zhuzi once pulled out a roundworm when he pooped. We even roasted it. Big Brother said if we eat it, we’ll have meat.”

Shen Yiyi: “……”

Children really did speak without thinking.

“Don’t eat that!” Shen Yiyi felt nauseated. “Roundworms can’t be eaten. They’re parasites. If they’re in your stomach, they crawl around and eat your food. After they finish, if there’s nothing left to eat, they might even eat your stomach from the inside…”