Chapter Nineteen: The Friendship Among Little Ones (Thanks to “Pocket Torn and Penniless” for the recommendation)

"Brother!"

When Yang Qing returned, four little children rushed into his arms, their faces still streaked with tears.

"Mmm... Waa... Brother..."

Little Dong'er, with her lips pouted, wriggled desperately to squeeze in, but couldn't find a spot, for among them was a strange child who had joined the group.

Yang Qing soothed his sisters gently, while Bai Zhijun, looking constipated, asked his wife,

"What’s that silly girl doing? Qingzi is comforting his sisters—why is she joining in? Look, she’s pushing Dong'er out of her place."

Mrs. Bai gave him a sidelong glance. "Heh, you don’t know your own child? She just wants to have fun."

Bai Zhijun muttered, "But why does she look like she’s been crying? Did she annoy you and get spanked?"

"Nonsense!"

Mrs. Bai scolded, "She’s a silly little thing, always up to mischief! She saw the others crying, said that as a good friend she couldn’t not cry too, otherwise she wouldn't be a good kid."

Bai Zhijun: (￣д￣;)ノ

"Alright, no more sadness,"

Yang Qing wiped their tears one by one, then turned to Little Bai. "Little Bai, would you take care of Autumn and play with her?"

"Okay!"

Little Bai scratched her watermelon-shaped head, took Autumn’s hand, and said, "Hey silly girl, stop crying now, let’s go play!"

Autumn, still teary, said, "Brother..."

"Be good, go play with Little Bai. Brother needs to talk with our sisters."

"Alright..."

The two little ones walked off hand in hand. Yang Qing quickly scooped Winter up for a hug and a kiss, then looked at Spring and Summer.

"What’s wrong? Did someone bully you at school? Tell Brother, I’ll stand up for you."

"No... no,"

The two shook their heads in unison.

"But... Brother, Sister’s arm is hurt,"

Though they wouldn’t speak, Winter pointed her little finger at Summer, who hung her head.

"Let me see,"

Hearing this, Yang Qing’s heart tightened. He hurriedly took Summer’s hand.

Her small hand was thin and rough, the result of frequent chores. Carefully, he lifted her sleeve and saw a bandage on her elbow.

"Does it hurt?" he asked gently, worried.

"No,"

Summer shook her head. "Aunt Bai put medicine on it, it doesn’t hurt at all."

"Good,"

Yang Qing lovingly patted her head. "How did it happen? Can you tell Brother?"

"I fought with a classmate."

Lowering her head, Summer choked up, "Brother, I’m sorry. I caused trouble again."

"Brother, please don’t blame Summer,"

Spring began to cry. "Ma Mingtao pulled my hair and broke Summer’s backpack, so Summer fought him. It’s not her fault."

"Alright, it’s not your fault,"

Yang Qing set Winter down and hugged the two girls tightly.

"How could Brother ever blame you? I could never love you enough. Be good, don’t cry."

"Yes... yes... Brother, we’ll love you forever, always and always..."

"Brother..." Summer clung to Yang Qing’s neck, sobbing, "You enrolled us in the little artist class, you work so hard to support our schooling, and yet I fought with a classmate... I’m not a good child."

"Who says you’re not a good child? You are the best, Brother’s favorite sisters,"

Yang Qing stroked her hair. "That boy bullied you and Spring, it’s his fault. Next time, tell the teacher or come home and tell Brother. Brother will handle it, but you shouldn’t fight.

Fighting isn’t good, and when you get hurt, Brother worries, and Autumn and the others worry too."

Yang Qing asked gently, "Your arm is hurt, but what about the boy? Did you hurt him?"

After being comforted, Summer felt much better. "He had a nosebleed and cried a long time. I didn’t cry at all."

Yang Qing laughed. "Our Summer is the toughest! Tomorrow, when you see him at school, apologize, alright? We must be good, honest kids—admit our mistakes."

"Okay. But... Brother, my backpack is broken. Grandma sewed it for me."

"No worries, Brother will mend it for you. From now on, you and Spring can use the new backpacks Sister Qin Xue bought for you,"

Yang Qing said. "I know you miss Grandma. Keep her kind smile and image in your heart. I’ll help you preserve the backpack Grandma made, alright?"

"Okay, thank you, Brother."

"Alright, take Winter and go play. Brother will speak with Uncle Bai, then we’ll go home."

"Mm-hmm,"

The two wiped their tears and went off with Winter to find Autumn and Little Bai. Yang Qing stood up and walked to Mr. and Mrs. Bai.

"Qingzi, have some tea,"

Mrs. Bai brought over a cup of hot tea, smiling. "Are the kids alright?"

Yang Qing shook his head. "They’re fine, just a minor school spat."

"Yes," Mrs. Bai smiled. "What trouble can kids cause? My silly girl stirs things up in kindergarten every few days, she’s quite mischievous."

"Haha, Little Bai is lively and energetic,"

Yang Qing laughed, then continued, "Sister-in-law, I heard from Big Bai that you want to start a small porridge shop."

"Yes,"

Mrs. Bai glanced at Bai Zhijun, who was grinning foolishly. "But we haven’t found a place. The one we saw last time with Old Bai was too big, over a hundred square meters."

"It’s not too big, just right,"

Yang Qing replied, "I’m planning to open a small shop too. Why don’t we rent together?"

He spoke earnestly, "Over a hundred square meters—we can rent it and put up a partition, so you and I each have our own shop. What do you think, Big Bai, Sister-in-law?"

"Great!"

Before Mrs. Bai could speak, Bai Zhijun slapped his thigh. "Qingzi, that’s a fantastic idea!"

His eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "Qingzi, are you still planning to sell pancakes?"

"Yes, pancakes and steamed buns,"

Yang Qing spread his hands with a smile. "I don’t know much else, but these two I can do well."

"Ay, don’t be so modest,"

Bai Zhijun said, thrilled. "You’ll sell pancakes and buns, my wife will sell porridge—ay, we’re going to hit it big!"

Mrs. Bai looked puzzled.

What do you mean, hit it big?

"What’s going on?"

"Ay, you don’t know anything, woman! I’ll tell you tonight, Qingzi’s amazing!"

Mrs. Bai: ………

Old Bai, how dare you yell at me!

You want to create a new account? Go create one for nothing!

………

The next day, as usual, Yang Qing rode his cart, took the four children, and set out early.

After dropping Spring and Summer at school, he went to the office, found Teacher Zhang, and paid a ten-thousand-yuan registration fee. Then, carrying the still sleepy Winter and holding Autumn’s hand, he left.

In the classroom, Spring and Summer scanned the room but didn’t see their classmate Ma Mingtao. They sat quietly and began to read.

Suddenly, a small hand reached out before them, palm open to reveal two pink butterfly hair clips.

"Ma Mingtao, you..."

"Don’t hit me!"

Ma Mingtao shrank from Summer’s glare. "My mom told me to give these to you. I’m sorry, I won’t bully you anymore."

Spring smiled.

"It’s alright. Here, this is from my brother for you—the pancake you always wanted."

"Ah, really! The delicious pancake!"

"Yes, my brother made it,"

Summer nodded proudly, then added seriously, "I’m sorry too, I shouldn’t have hit you. Does your nose still hurt?"

"No! Haha... My mom’s spanking hurt way more! That pancake..."

"It’s for you."

"Haha... I’m so happy, thank you for the clips!"

"Hee hee... Thank you!"

"Haha... Let’s be good friends!"

"Okay, yes..."