The two children had been influenced since childhood. Moreover, Aunt Xin Ci had rescued them from traffickers that day, so the children's trust in Fu Xin Ci was now the best, surpassing even their parents.
Upon seeing Aunt Xin Ci, Jin Zhong and Zheng Nan took the lead, guiding several little ones towards Fu Xin Ci.
"Sister Xin Ci."
"Aunt Xin Ci."
"Yes."
Fu Xin Ci crouched down, letting them hug her. Ning'er's face fell when he saw there was no room for him.
His sister was his, and they couldn't hug her like this. The little fellow was a jealous sort and didn't like anyone taking his place.
Grandpa Meng knew his grandson well and quickly found something for him to do before he could change his expression.
"Ning'er, quickly take Jin Zhong and Xiao Nan to find your mother and see what delicious food we have for breakfast today."
"Okay." Reminded by his grandfather, the little fellow remembered he hadn't eaten breakfast yet and was hungry. He then led the little ones to the kitchen.
"Second Uncle."
"Second Uncle."
"Uncle Ancestor."
The Zhong clan led the greetings to Grandpa Meng.
"Yes. You go find Ci'er and her mother to talk." The old man's words clearly indicated his attitude.
"Okay."
The group knew their request was a bit excessive, but as mothers, they couldn't bear to see their children get hurt, so they shamelessly came to beg Xin Ci.
Fu Xin Ci noticed there were still people outside the gate. Indeed, she saw Brother-in-law Wang driving a donkey cart and stopping outside the gate.
At this moment, he was carrying a sack of rice into the yard.
"Da Bao, what are you doing?"
"Uncle Ancestor, we feel guilty enough just sending the children over, let alone letting them stay here day after day..."
After expressing his feelings, Wang Da Bao ran into the yard with the sack of rice, not caring that his second uncle ancestor was telling him it wasn't necessary from behind.
"Second Uncle Ancestor, it's not okay not to. We already feel too indebted. But there's no other way. It's all for the children. We can only ask Second Uncle Ancestor and Sister Xin Ci to take care of them."
Wang Da Bao was quick-tongued and quick-footed, which was why he was chosen to deliver the goods.
Before Grandpa Meng could finish speaking, he had already taken the rice, flour, oil, vegetables, and eggs from the donkey cart to the kitchen.
When Grandpa Meng caught up, Wang Da Bao was already driving the donkey cart back, shouting to Grandpa Meng as he left, "Second Uncle Ancestor, I have to get back quickly. The Thousand Household Commander has new deployments today, and I can't be late."
Grandpa Meng: "Alright. If you have any difficulties, just say so. Don't worry about home."
"Yes, we understand. With Second Uncle Ancestor and Sister Xin Ci looking after our homes, we have no worries."
"Giddy up." Wang Da Bao's smile was so wide it almost reached his ears, and the little donkey ran even more joyfully.
Fu Xin Ci and the little ones had a memorable breakfast. Afterwards, she asked Ning'er to tell them the story of Sun Wukong's three battles with the White Bone Demon.
Zhong Shi noticed that Jin Zhong, who was usually quite boisterous, listened quietly while Ning'er told stories, behaving more docilely than a kitten at home.
Meng Yulian also noticed that her eldest son's eyes sparkled as he listened to her little cousin tell the story of Sun Wukong.
Fu Xin Ci hadn't expected that the little ones who constantly argued when they met would actually love listening to stories.
They particularly loved the stories from Journey to the West. As soon as they heard Sun Wukong's catchphrase, "Your Grandpa Sun," their little mouths would burst into smiles.
Later, she discovered that it wasn't just the little ones who loved listening; Zhong Shi and several of her cousins also enjoyed it.
Eventually, they simply had Ning'er and the others move small stools to sit in the yard and tell stories.
In the gentle spring breeze, the rich fragrance of lilacs wafted faintly. The child's soft voice, with its unique babyish tone, spoke the fiercest words.
Grandpa Meng listened, engrossed. Occasionally, he glanced at the back of the house, where a few more trees seemed to have appeared.
Based on his years of experience, they were fruit trees. The flower buds were already showing, attracting a few little bees that buzzed around the flower buds.
By the time Fu Xin Ci noticed, her grandfather had been staring at the fruit trees for a long time.
"Grandfather."
"What kind of fruit trees are those? They attract bees so diligently."
"Grandfather, those are the big cherry trees that Ci'er found a while ago."
"Oh, grandfather remembers. There are different sizes of cherry trees."
"Yes, the ones planted outside our yard are small cherry trees, very suitable for making juice and wine. These new ones are best eaten fresh."
"Good. Grandfather had only seen them in books before. Now, I can finally have fresh fruit."
"Grandfather, I heard people say that big cherries taste best when they are just ripe."
"Oh, Ci'er, you've made grandfather want to eat them now."
"..." Just as Grandpa Meng finished speaking, he felt something being placed in his large hand.
He looked down and saw five or six fruits, the size of copper coins and shining red, in his hand.
"Ci'er, are these big cherries?"
He couldn't help but lower his voice, his eyes wide with a rather childlike expression.
Seeing his granddaughter nod, Grandpa Meng secretly smiled again. As if talking to himself, or perhaps to his granddaughter, he said, "When there's no one around, I'll try them."
Fu Xin Ci knew that wasn't entirely true. His grandfather's idea of "secretly trying" meant trying them with his two grandsons.
Today, however, she was unsure.
Fu Xin Ci was deep in thought, a slight smile on her lips.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of a horn in the distance.
"Ci'er, there are smoke signals to the east and south."
Her grandfather's words reminded Fu Xin Ci. She looked up and saw two plumes of smoke rising into the sky one after another.
"Ci'er, two smoke signals mean that both these places are being attacked by bandits."
"Grandfather, Ci'er understands."
After Fu Xin Ci spoke, she saw Fang Shi and Tian Shi run out of the kitchen with pale faces.
"Mother, don't be afraid. You take everyone to hide in the cellar first."
"Okay."
Meng Yulian, however, handed her youngest daughter to her sister and ran out, her skirt trailing behind her. "I'll go get my mother and grandmother."
"Yulian, you don't need to go. Your mother and the others will be here soon."
The tacit understanding developed over the years meant that Fang Shi's words were quite reliable.
As if to confirm Fang Shi's words, the gate was pushed open from the outside not long after. Little Li Shi and Liu Shi walked in, supporting Li Shi. Tao Shi followed behind, carrying two bundles.
"Alright, don't waste time. Take the children quickly to the cellar."
Following their father-in-law's instructions, Fang Shi led everyone to the cellar and told the children not to make a sound.
The children nodded understandingly.