After this parent-child activity, Jiahui and Jiayao's attitude towards Xu Mingxuan changed significantly for the better. Although Jiahui still didn't let him hold her, the twins were no longer as resistant to him.
After lunch, due to time constraints, no one rested. Uncle De and Uncle Fu, along with Erhu and Xiangdong, were tasked with digging the cellar, while Xiangxi, Xiaoshan, Xiaoshuan, and Lin Mao led the women's contingent in stacking firewood.
Chen Lan, along with her mother and Xiaoshan's mother, and Mama Liu, all went to help. Chen Lan thought that firstly, if she didn't take her mother, Xiaoshan's mother, and Mama Liu out again, they wouldn't have another chance until next year.
If they didn't hurry and get out a few more times, by the day after tomorrow, when the weather turned and it started to rain, Changbai Mountain would enter winter.
The winters in Changbai Mountain were exceptionally cold. Her mother and the others wouldn't be able to go out again this year and would have to stay home for the winter, confined indoors for half a year until the thaw the following year.
Secondly, time was pressing. They urgently needed to build the firewood stacks within the next two days. Otherwise, when it started raining the day after tomorrow, they wouldn't have dry firewood to cook with when everyone started using separate stoves.
Therefore, by the afternoon, the arduous task of looking after the four children fell to Xu Mingxuan, who was recuperating from his injury at home.
Chen Lan very solemnly instructed Xu Mingxuan, "Brother Mingxuan, you must remember a few points when you're looking after the children at home this afternoon.
The first is that all four children have a habit of napping. They should sleep around one o'clock. Before they sleep, make sure they go to the toilet, especially Jiahui and Jiayao. If they don't, they'll definitely wet the bed.
The second point is that after they wake up from their nap, Brother Mingxuan, you need to be extra careful. The children all have wake-up tantrums, especially your daughter.
Of course, the first thing they should do after waking up is to go to the toilet again. Afterwards, you can make each of them a cup of goat milk and give them a few small snacks, like small cakes, biscuits, or bread. Don't give them too much at once, or they won't eat well at dinner.
Hutou and Xiaoshitou might want to drink yogurt, so you'll need to ask them before preparing the goat milk."
After Chen Lan's lengthy explanation of all the precautions, she waved goodbye to the children along with her mother, Mama Liu, and Xiaoshan's mother. Whether out of habit or because the twins truly understood, they also stretched out their chubby little hands and waved goodbye to their mother and grandmother.
Xu Mingxuan was going all out to appease the mischievous little ones. He took turns playing the "ride a horse" game with Jiahui, Jiayao, Hutou, and Xiaoshitou.
Fortunately, Xu Mingxuan had been a soldier, had undergone rigorous training, and had risked his life on the battlefield, so his leg muscles were very strong and powerful.
Xu Mingxuan sat with his legs crossed, one foot raised, and Hutou sat on that raised foot. Xu Mingxuan used his left hand, whose shoulder blade was not injured, to hold Hutou's two chubby hands and swung his raised leg up and down, just like riding a horse. Hutou, sitting on his foot, giggled with delight as he was bounced up and down, shouting "Giddy up, giddy up!"
Xiaoshitou, who had been waiting beside them, became impatient and urged, "Uncle, are you done yet! Hutou has been sitting for a long time. It's my turn, it's my turn, it's my turn to ride the horse!"
In this manner, the children took turns riding the horse. When it was Jiahui's turn, she was initially a little hesitant to let Xu Mingxuan hold her, but thankfully, she didn't cry loudly this time.
However, once she was on the "horse," she immediately burst into happy laughter, so delighted that her saliva trailed from her open mouth.
Jiayao, on the other hand, was even more enthusiastic. He wasn't shy in the first place, and after the friendly competition that morning, he had established a deep camaraderie with his father, Xu Mingxuan. Therefore, playing the "ride a horse" game made him exceptionally happy. He would occasionally exclaim, "Giddy up! Giddy up!"
Thus, the four children took turns riding the horse. When it was time for their nap, their biological clocks naturally told them it was time to sleep, and they all began to yawn.
Following Chen Lan's instructions, Xu Mingxuan put the twins in the stroller and took Hutou and Xiaoshitou to the toilet to take care of their bodily needs.
The children tossed and turned in bed for about half an hour more. Finally, after much effort, all four little devils were coaxed to sleep.
Xu Mingxuan, having worked up a sweat, quickly took a quick shower, disinfected his wound, applied medication, and took Sanqi tablets orally to promote blood circulation and speed up wound healing.
After showering and tidying himself up, Xu Mingxuan saw that there was nothing else to do, but he dared not leave. He leaned against the bed and fell into a restless sleep along with the children.
After sleeping for about an hour, around three in the afternoon, the four little ones gradually woke up from their naps. Jiahui had completely forgotten that she had refused to be held by her father.
She hugged her father's neck and nestled in his arms, staring blankly. Jiayao also climbed into his father's arms and leaned against him, lost in thought. Hutou and Xiaoshitou sat on the bed, also in a daze.
The four little ones remained in this state for about seven or eight minutes before they started to stir.
Jiahui, as usual, began to provoke trouble. She started kicking Jiayao with her chubby little right foot. Jiayao, not to be outdone, kicked her back with his little chubby foot.
Seeing the situation escalating, Xu Mingxuan realized that if this continued, a war would break out. He quickly stopped the two children from provoking each other.
He carried them to the stroller separately and took Hutou and Xiaoshitou to the toilet once again to attend to their biological needs.
Then, following Chen Lan's instructions, he meticulously prepared the goat milk and snacks. After attending to the twins, they finally quieted down, holding their milk bottles with their chubby hands and drinking happily.
He then looked at Hutou and Xiaoshitou. The two little ones hadn't touched the goat milk, and their cups were still full. They hadn't drunk a single drop!
Xu Mingxuan looked at them sternly and asked, "Hutou, Xiaoshitou, why aren't you drinking the goat milk?"
Hutou remained silent. Xiaoshitou, being older and bolder, said in a low voice, "Uncle, I want yogurt. I don't want goat milk."
Hutou nodded vigorously beside him and added, "I want yogurt too. Not goat milk."