Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
Advance chapters available for patrons on Patreon. And a chapter can be sponsored by buying me a ko-fi.
When Tang Tang woke up the next day, she suddenly remembered what Ji Yan had said to her the night before. After a three-second pause, she jumped up and the first thing she did was hide her bank card in the bottom drawer of her wardrobe and lock it with the key. She couldn’t afford to lose so much money.
After confirming the card’s safety several times, Tang Tang felt relieved and went to do other things.
Tang Tang took out the denim fabric she had bought for Ji Xiaozhuo and started making overalls for Ji Xiaozhuo, comparing them to pictures of denim overalls for children online.
Although Ji Yan said the family was well-off and she didn’t need to be too frugal, Tang Tang felt that even with money, one shouldn’t spend it recklessly. She should still save where possible, as there would be many more expenses in the future. Besides, as a wife and mother, making clothes for her husband and child was a kind of happiness. There wasn’t much she could do for them, and she wanted to do this herself. Moreover, the quality of the clothes she made stitch by stitch was guaranteed, and they would be much more comfortable to wear.
Ji Xiaozhuo knew she was making clothes for him, and he was incredibly excited. He stopped playing games and reading books, and just lay next to Tang Tang, watching her work with great interest. He wasn’t bored at all, and even offered suggestions from time to time: “Mommy, I want a big pocket in the front, like the one Zhuang Zhuang wears, is that okay?”
Tang Tang nodded, “Of course!”
The little guy was satisfied, and then asked, “Mommy, can I wear my new clothes tomorrow?”
“Of course!” The little guy’s anticipation was too obvious. Originally, she couldn’t finish making them today, but Tang Tang decided to work overtime to fulfil the little guy’s wish.
Ji Xiaozhuo happily kicked his chubby little legs, then climbed off the sofa with his bottom sticking out, and ran to the kitchen. A moment later, he returned with a banana in his arms, carefully peeled it, and offered it to Tang Tang’s mouth. “Mommy, you’ve worked hard, have some fruit.”
Tang Tang chuckled, took a bite, and then pushed the banana to his mouth. “Thank you, baby, you and Mommy can eat together.”
Ji Xiaozhuo didn’t mind his mother’s saliva at all, happily taking a big bite, his eyes narrowing with satisfaction, as if he were eating some delicacy.
Since coming here, Ji Yan hadn’t allowed Ji Xiaozhuo to buy snacks, requiring him to eat only fruit and milk besides three meals a day, and even then, not too much fruit. Ji Xiaozhuo was obedient; he had never cried or fussed about wanting snacks, even though he used to love them.
Now, fruit was his only snack.
Tang Tang suddenly felt a pang of heartache. Before she came here, she would often make snacks for the little guy, and he would always be very happy. But since she came here, she had been constantly busy, and thinking about it, she hadn’t made him anything delicious in a long time. She had been neglecting him a bit.
Tang Tang patted the little one’s head guiltily, “Baby, do you want some dessert? How about Mommy makes you some egg yolk pastries?”
Ji Xiaozhuo’s eyes lit up instantly, and he nodded without thinking, “Mommy, I want some!”
“Okay, Mommy will make them for you now, and then I’ll make you some clothes.” Tang Tang put away her needlework and got up to go to the kitchen to make pastries, while Ji Xiaozhuo became her leg-hanger, clinging to her leg and watching her closely.
Just as the egg yolk pastries were ready, the doorbell rang, and Wen Wen came over with a big watermelon.
Ji Xiaozhuo was perched on the coffee table, ready to dig into the egg yolk pastries, when he saw Wen Wen arrive. He immediately waved to her, “Wen Wen, come quick! My mom made something delicious! Let’s eat together!”
“Wow, Tang Tang, what are you making? It smells so good!” Wen Wen sniffed and came closer. Her eyes lit up when she saw the delicate egg yolk pastries. Without hesitation, she sat down next to Ji Xiaozhuo, grabbed one, and popped it into her mouth. It was soft, chewy, and sweet without being cloying— a truly delightful experience.
“Tang Tang, these egg yolk pastries are so delicious! How come everything you make is so good?” Wen Wen instantly transformed into a little glutton, and she and Ji Xiaozhuo began to feast together on the pastries, almost fighting over them.
“Eat as much as you like. I made a lot. You two can eat slowly,” Tang Tang said, continuing to sew.
Wen Wen then saw how Tang Tang made her clothes and stared in astonishment. “Sister Tang Tang, you sew all your clothes by hand?”
Tang Tang was confused. “Yes, what else?”
Wen Wen swallowed her pastry and pounced on Tang Tang, grabbing the needle and thread in her hand and examining them closely. The more she looked, the more incredulous she became. “My goodness, Sister Tang Tang, you’re amazing! I thought you made your clothes with a sewing machine, but I never imagined you sewed them all by hand! There are still people who make clothes with needles and thread, and they sew even better than a sewing machine! I never would have guessed that you sewed everything by hand!”
A sewing machine? Tang Tang didn’t know what that was, but she always sewed by hand, so it wasn’t surprising.
Wen Wen was still amazed for a moment, then suddenly lay down on Tang Tang’s lap, hugging her legs and saying, “Sister Tang Tang, I always thought that a woman had to be a powerful and successful businesswoman to be considered a modern woman. I thought that being a kitchen maid, sewing, and taking care of children were all lame. But now I know I was wrong. Sister Tang Tang, you’re the real expert! If you wanted to go out and make money, you wouldn’t have to worry about not being able to!”
Tang Tang blinked. Could someone like her even make money?
“Sister Tang Tang, if you were a man, I’d marry you right now, I wouldn’t ask for anything! No, no, no, even if you’re not a man, I’d still marry you! Sister Tang Tang, will you marry me?”
Tang Tang: “…” This little girl is talking nonsense!
Hearing this, Ji Xiaozhuo protested, putting down the pastries he was holding and running over to pull Wen Wen up. “Sister Wen Wen, my mom belongs to me and Dad. You can’t marry her. Go find someone else to marry.”
“Then can’t I share your mom with you?”
“No, there aren’t enough for Dad and me to share!”
“Alright, Wen Wen, stop teasing Xiao Zhuo.” Tang Tang gently patted Wen Wen and explained to Ji Xiaozhuo, “Sister Wen Wen is just joking with you, it’s not real.”
Wen Wen had played enough, so she sat up, and poked Ji Xiaozhuo’s chubby cheeks. “Okay, I was just teasing you. Sister Wen Wen is going to marry a handsome guy in the future.”
Ji Xiaozhuo was still a little uneasy, so he simply sat down next to Tang Tang’s legs, hugged her legs, and claimed them as his own.
Wen Wen’s eyes darted around, and she suddenly gave Tang Tang a fawning smile, her voice becoming several octaves higher, “Sister Tang Tang~, I’d like to ask you for a favor, is that alright~”
Tang Tang was startled by this voice and almost pricked herself with the needle.
Ji Xiaozhuo shivered and said to Wen Wen, “Sister Wen Wen, you look like a villain on TV about to do something bad.”
Wen Wen snorted at Ji Xiaozhuo, then clasped her hands together and continued to smile ingratiatingly at Tang Tang, “Sister Tang Tang, I’ve got my eye on a dress, A brand’s newest main style this year, it’s super pretty, but it’s too expensive, it costs several thousand, and my mom won’t let me buy it.”
Tang Tang now understood what the little girl wanted, “You want me to make one for you, right?”
Wen Wen grinned and nodded vigorously, her eyes full of hope, “Sister Tang Tang, can you make me one exactly the same? I’ll buy the materials, okay? Sister Tang Tang, I’m not in a hurry, you can just sew a couple of stitches for me whenever you have a spare moment, you don’t need to make it for me specifically, okay?”
This was a small matter for Tang Tang, and since she didn’t have much else to do, she readily agreed, “Sure, give me a picture of the dress, and I’ll make it for you after I finish what I’m doing.”
“Ah! Sister Tang Tang, I love you! You’re my goddess!” Wen Wen jumped up excitedly, bouncing and shouting like a little madwoman.
Ji Xiaozhuo shrugged, once again feeling that his mother was the best in the world, and all other women were terrifying.
Wen Wen stayed at the Ji family home all day, even having lunch with Tang Tang and Ji Xiaozhuo. She still didn’t want to leave by evening, and it was only after a series of calls from the group leader’s wife that she was finally called home.
Seeing the little girl’s reluctant expression, Tang Tang found it amusing and packed a box of egg yolk pastries for her to take home. “Okay, don’t be so reluctant. You can come anytime you want. Xiao Zhuo and I are always home. Take this egg yolk pastry home for your parents to try.”
“Sister Tang Tang, you’re so kind! I love you! Mwah! I really want to take you home!” Wen Wen hugged Tang Tang emotionally, wanting to kiss her, but under Ji Xiaozhuo’s wary gaze, she had to let go and slunk away.
Ji Xiaozhuo immediately closed the door, as if afraid Wen Wen would come back.
Tang Tang suppressed a laugh; children are so funny, they immediately feel threatened when they see someone else liking their mother.
“Alright, Sister Wen Wen has gone home. Mommy is going to make dinner now. Why don’t you go play by yourself for a while?”
Ji Xiaozhuo shook his head, then suddenly hugged her leg and said, “Mommy, I love you the most! You’re my goddess! You’re also my Guanyin Bodhisattva!” In Ji Xiaozhuo’s heart, Guanyin Bodhisattva was the most powerful deity.
Tang Tang was both amused and exasperated. It seemed that Ji Xiaozhuo had actually taken Wen Wen’s nonsense seriously; the little guy was quite jealous.
Helpless to appease the little guy, Tang Tang had no choice but to kiss him twice and launch into sweet talk again: “Mommy loves you the most too. You are Mommy’s precious little darling. Mommy will always be with you. No one can take Mommy away from you because Mommy belongs to you.”
Sweet talk was very effective on Ji Xiaozhuo. These words successfully made the little guy’s lips slowly curl up, and he couldn’t suppress it. However, the little one still worriedly reminded her, “Then Mommy, you can’t let anyone else kiss you except me, okay?”
Tang Tang nodded unconditionally, “Okay, okay, Mommy will only let baby kiss you.”
Ji Xiaozhuo nodded in satisfaction and was about to walk away when he suddenly stopped, turned back to look at Tang Tang, and said with a furrowed brow, “Mommy, I’ve thought about it, and I’m not actually that stingy. I’ll still allow Daddy to kiss you too, after all, you’re his wife.”
Tang Tang almost lost her balance. This child…
When Ji Yan returned from training, he stood at the door for a while but Ji Xiaozhuo didn’t come to open the door for him. He couldn’t help but feel strange. Usually, the little one would eagerly open the door to greet him even before he arrived. Was he not home today?
Zhang Cheng, who had returned with Ji Yan, couldn’t help but wonder, “Why didn’t your little guy come out to greet you today? He usually opens the door and calls you when we’re on the first floor.”
Ji Yan shook his head, intending to open the door himself, but when he reached into his pocket, he realized he hadn’t brought his keys. Since he rarely needed to open the door, he had gradually forgotten about them.
Helpless, Ji Yan knocked on the door.
There was no response. Ji Yan knocked again, and after a while, he heard the “thump-thump-thump” of Ji Xiaozhuo’s short legs pawing the floor. Then, the little boy’s sweet voice came from inside: “Who’s outside? State your name!”
“Pfft— haha, Old Ji, is your son meeting with a spy?” Zhang Cheng burst into laughter, amused by Ji Xiaozhuo’s antics.
Ji Yan’s lips curled into a smile, and he reluctantly played along with Ji Xiaozhuo, “It’s me, your dad.”
There was a few seconds of silence behind the door, then the lock clicked open, and the familiar little chubby boy finally rushed out, burying himself in Ji Yan’s arms. “Daddy, you’re back?”
Ji Yan bounced the chubby little boy in his arms. “What were you playing today? Why didn’t you open the door for Daddy?”
Ji Xiaozhuo wrapped his arms around his neck and solemnly declared, “Daddy, from now on, I’ll always ask who it is before opening the door. I can’t let bad guys in.” Anyone who wants to take Mommy away is absolutely not allowed in. Ji Yan was both amused and exasperated, wondering what kind of emotional journey the little guy had gone through today to arrive at such a statement.
Zhang Cheng, listening nearby, couldn’t stop laughing. He thought the Ji family’s child was too funny, making him want children too. Alas, it was a pity his wife just didn’t want to have any.
Tang Tang had just finished cooking when she heard a noise at the door and came out. Seeing Ji Yan return, she happily said, “Honey, dinner’s ready! Come in and eat, are you hungry?”
Ji Yan turned around, revealing Zhang Cheng behind him. Tang Tang then noticed Zhang Cheng and felt a little embarrassed. So she quickly said, “Zhang Cheng, you’re back too! Have you eaten? If not, come to my house and have a bite. I made a lot.”
Zhang Cheng quickly waved his hand, refusing, “No need, sister-in-law, I’ll eat at home. You all go in and eat.”
Ji Yan looked… Seeing the dark door of Zhang Cheng’s house, it was clear his wife wasn’t home. Tang Tang said, “Alright, don’t be shy, come to my house for a meal. It’ll save you from cooking again.”
Zhang Cheng didn’t really want to eat the noodles he’d cooked, and he was indeed starving, so he didn’t refuse. He scratched his head and said, “Then I’ll shamelessly come to your house for another meal.”
Tang Tang quickly added another set of chopsticks and bowls to the table, and served everyone a bowl of yam and pork rib soup[1], saying, “Have a bowl of soup before you eat.”
“Thank you, sister-in-law.” Zhang Cheng took the soup and drank a sip. His hungry stomach was instantly soothed, and he felt like he’d come back to life.
Looking at the dishes on the table again, his heart ached. What incredible luck Old Ji had! His son was adorable, and his wife was so virtuous— good-tempered, and a great cook, making such delicious food for him every day. Unlike him, who basically just ate noodles and fried rice whenever he got home.
Compared to this, he felt truly pathetic.
Halfway through the meal, Zhang Cheng suddenly remembered that tomorrow was Saturday. They had been supposed to be hosting, but he’d almost forgotten.
Zhang Cheng quickly asked Tang Tang, “Sister-in-law, we’re hosting a dinner party tomorrow. Could you help with the cooking? What groceries should we buy? Tell me, and I’ll have my wife bring them back from town.”
Tang Tang replied, “Just buy whatever you want to order. I’ll cook based on what you buy, as long as there’s meat and vegetables.”
Zhang Cheng scratched his head, embarrassed, and said, “Sister-in-law, could you please help us decide what to order? My wife doesn’t cook and has never shopped for groceries before. She has no idea what to buy. It would be terrible if we bought the wrong things.”
Ji Yan glanced up at Zhang Cheng.
Zhang Cheng immediately returned a pleading look.
Tang Tang didn’t notice the exchange between the two men. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Then I’ll make a menu for you. Just buy according to the menu.”
Zhang Cheng was extremely grateful. “Thank you, sister-in-law!”
Ji Yan didn’t say anything in the end, but after finishing the meal, he took the bowl and chopsticks from Tang Tang’s hands. “I’ll wash the dishes. You go and make a menu for Zhang Cheng.”
Tang Tang waved her hand. “No need. You can leave it here. I’ll write it for Zhang Cheng and then come back to wash the dishes. You should go and rest. You must be tired after a day of training.”
Ji Yan smiled helplessly. He suddenly remembered what Zhang Cheng and a few of his soldiers had teased him about. They said she spoiled him and treated him like a treasure. At the time, he thought it was ridiculous, but now that he thought about it, she really didn’t let him do any chores at home and always thought he was tired.
Other men don’t seem to get this kind of treatment at home…
Ji Yan chuckled and sighed, turning Tang Tang’s shoulder and placing a hand on her waist, gently pushing her out of the kitchen. “Tang Tang, I’m not that tired, and I’m not the kind of man who can’t even wash a dish, trust me, okay?” His light, cheerful voice exploded in her ear, and the hand on her waist felt like a hot iron. Tang Tang was momentarily speechless, pushed out of the kitchen by Ji Yan, and it took her a while to come to her senses, her heart pounding wildly.
He… he just put his hand on her waist… his hand is so big and hot…
Oh dear, he just casually put his hand on her, he just wanted to push her out, why was she thinking about all this nonsense!
Oh well, I’ll let him wash the dishes tonight.
Tang Tang patted her face, forcing herself to stop thinking, and only after her fever subsided a little did she go to the living room to concentrate on making a menu for Zhang Cheng, noting how much of each item to buy.
Guys, ads are my only source of revenue, so please do not turn on the AdBlock when you are accessing this website…. Thank you, this would be a great help…
You can buy me a ko-fi and sponsor a chapter on: https://ko-fi.com/midnightrambles
Or become a Patron on: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=45665005
If you support me, I would be able to provide more chapters….
Previous • Table of Contents • Next
