"He’s on a business trip," Jian Zhiqing did run over for nothing; looks little rascal will have to stay here, but don’t worry, Jian Zhiqing comforted her, afraid that Qin Xiangnuan would find it a hassle,
"The two little rascals have always been sleeping together, going to school together, and I can take them with me when I go to work. After work, I’ll pick them up, but it means you’ll have to prepare meals for three men."
Qin Xiangnuan couldn’t help but snort with laughter, "three men"— in reality, all three are greenhorns. In her eyes, they don’t count as men but as boys.
"Don’t worry, I have nothing else to do when I’m home alone, so having the two of them around is good. I can pick up Taotao at noon, after all, kindergarten ends a bit earlier," Qin Xiangnuan walked aside to pour a glass of water for herself, then remembered that Jian Zhiqing had just come back and poured another glass for him, while truly not minding it. Actually, she prefers a bit of bustle, no one wants to isolate themselves, and she is no exception.
"Thank you," Jian Zhiqing took it and started drinking it right at his lips, "I’m sorry to bother you this time. When my aunt comes back, we can send the little chubby back."
Qin Xiangnuan smiled, "There’s really no rush, he can stay as long as you like," She won’t be starting school until next September, and Jian Zhiqing knew about her upcoming high school studies. Originally, no matter which school, she would have to take exams, but someone pulled some strings for her, and she didn’t even need to take the test to enroll directly.
She felt like she owed him one again, and afraid that she could only return the favor slowly. If not in one year, then two years, and if two years aren’t enough, then three years it is.
Qin Xiangnuan continued her routine of selling scallion pancakes in the morning. Jian Zhiqing, unwaveringly, went with her to help set up the stove and prepare everything, then went back to manage his two younger brothers, helping them to dress and wash their faces. Afterwards, leading the older and carrying the younger, they came to Qin Xiangnuan’s for breakfast. Qin Xiangnuan took advantage of the free time to cook some porridge; the three shared it, with Jian Zhiqing eating a pancake, Jian Zhiqin eating most of one, and the youngest, Taotao, eating just a tiny bit.
But Taotao was easy to please, eating however much he was given, fine even without, a sip of water would make him happy.
After they left, Qin Xiangnuan sold for a bit and then started to close up shop. She did her best to finish all the work, ending up with roughly a day of free time. Around eleven, she went to pick up Taotao. Concerned about such a young child, she gave him a small stool to sit and watch TV on his own, and she locked up Conghua, although the dog was smart, she still feared Conghua might accidentally bite the child.
Taotao sat in Jian Zhiqing’s room, and when Qin Xiangnuan had nothing to do, she’d check on him only to find she’d underestimated Taotao’s attention span; from the moment he got home, he would sit there, eyes glued to the TV, not even blinking, uncertain if he understood what he was watching, but he remained motionless, never even changing his posture.
It wasn’t until Jian Zhiqin came back that she finally breathed a sigh of relief, no need to look after the two young ones anymore.
And Zhiqing was right, though Jian Zhiqin is young, he knows how to take care of Taotao pretty well, it is probably something ingrained from a young age. The children of the Jians have never been coddled, and indeed, Jian Ming and Li Qiuhua are not only good parents but also strict ones.