Chapter Twenty-One: Drawing Little Turtles (Votes Requested)

“Brother Bai, let’s go to the market.”
“Old buddy, come eat at my place. We can have a drink together!”
Yang Qing chuckled, “I promised Miss Qin and her colleagues dinner yesterday, but something came up. Tonight, I’m not setting up the stall, so I’ve got time.”
“Alright then,” Bai Zhijun sighed, sounding a little disappointed.
But when Yang Qing came back from shopping at the market, Bai Zhijun’s eyes lit up immediately.
“You bought Da Xiong!”
“Yeah, it’s thirty years old. Not sure how good it is, but we’ll try it tonight.”
Bai Zhijun nodded excitedly, “Sounds great! But, what about your sister-in-law…”
Yang Qing couldn’t help but laugh, “I’ll go talk to her.”
“Ha ha… Let’s go, boss!”
“Let’s go, ha ha…”
…
“Old Bai! Watch the kids for me! I’m cooking with Qingzi!”
“Alright! Make the bangbang chicken spicy, it’s good with drinks!” Old Bai declared with gusto.
But in a flash, Mrs. Bai shot him a death glare.
Old Bai immediately shrank back, subdued.
Yang Qing carried the groceries into the kitchen, then came out again and called Xiaochun over, handing her his phone:
“Call Sister Qin and invite her and her colleagues to dinner tonight.”
“Okay!”
Xiaochun took the phone back to the group of children, and immediately a crowd of little ones started fighting to make the call, chattering away.
Old Bai grabbed a stool and sat at the courtyard gate, leisurely lighting a Hongta Mountain cigarette.
Watching the kids—how easy! As long as they stay inside the courtyard, all is well.
…
At the TV station, Qin Xue hung up the endless childish phone call with a smile, looking at her three colleagues who were discussing where to have hot pot:
“I’ll skip hot pot. You guys go ahead.”
Li Yuexi was stunned, “You’re not going? You’re the boss—who’s going to pay if you’re not there?”
Qin Xue rolled her eyes, “I’m not going. I’ve been invited to Yang Qing’s house for dinner by the little cuties!”
Li Yuexi froze, “Dinner at Yang Qing’s place? Didn’t he invite us?”
“Nope!” Qin Xue held back a laugh. “I told you, the little ones invited me. They don’t know you, how could they invite you?”
“You’re lying!” Wen Xiaorou protested. “Xiao Qiu’er knows me, she calls me Sister Rou! She’s adorable! Admit it, you’re lying!”
Qin Xue replied, “Xiao Qiu’er calls everyone ‘sister’.”
“Waaah… I don’t care! I want to go! Xuexue, please take me too!”
“Me too! I want to go, Xuexue—”
“Uh, me too…” Fang Du timidly raised his hand.
“Alright, enough whining. I’ll give each of you one punch if you keep it up. Five minutes until we’re off work, pack up. The little cuties invited us all.”
“Hooray!” Wen Xiaorou cheered, grabbed her bag, and dashed out.
“Where are you going?”
“To buy gifts for the little ones!”
“Wait for me!”
Li Yuexi hurried after her, but before she could leave the office, Wen Xiaorou returned, head down, looking dejected.
“Director Zhang… Good evening.”
Li Yuexi skidded to a halt, seeing Zhang Wei behind Wen Xiaorou, her face awkward.
“So, Xiaoxi, Xiaorou, where are you two rushing off to with your bags? It’s not even time to leave yet,” Zhang Wei smiled.
“Heh… uh, we… we…”
Li Yuexi stuttered, looking to Qin Xue for help.
Qin Xue: …
Useless teammates! Always dragging me down!
“Uncle Zhang, what brings you here?” Qin Xue stepped forward with a smile. “Xiaorou, Xiaoxi, stop standing there. Go make some tea for the Director.”
…
“Ha ha… no need to fuss,” Zhang Wei said, glancing at the three women. “You all need to be more careful. Your team is the breakout star of our planning group now—everyone’s watching you, so don’t get caught off guard.”
“We’ll be more careful in the future,” Qin Xue nodded. “Did you come by for something?”
Zhang Wei smiled, “Good news, actually. First, ‘A Bite of Huaguo’ has been approved. The funds are in place, and as soon as prep is done, we start filming. Second, Fang’s ‘Yangcheng Food Ranking’ proposal has officially been added to the preliminary research list.”
He patted Fang Du on the shoulder. “Well done, young man. Taking initiative—there’s a future for you!”
Fang Du grinned, flattered, “It’s all thanks to your and the team leader’s guidance.”
“Ha ha… don’t flatter me,” Zhang Wei laughed, then changed the subject. “I heard you’re all going to visit Xiao Yang’s place.”
Qin Xue: “…You were eavesdropping!”
Zhang Wei laughed heartily. “I’m curious about Xiao Yang too—a man who can write such a brilliant proposal is no ordinary person. So, if you don’t mind, can I tag along?”
“We mind,” Qin Xue rolled her eyes magnificently. “It’s a gathering for us young people—what would you do there?”
“Heh…” Zhang Wei wasn’t bothered. He glanced at Qin Xue and said, “Fang’s proposal, if I recall correctly, has ‘Jianbing Guozi’ as the top Yangcheng delicacy, right?”
Fang Du quickly nodded, “Yes, Yang Qing’s Jianbing Guozi.”
“Right,” Zhang Wei said. “Fang, I know you’re grateful to Yang Qing for his help, but we must remain objective—”
“Alright! You’re coming with us!” Qin Xue sighed, exasperated. “You’re just like my dad.”
“Ha ha, that’s what being old friends is,” Zhang Wei laughed.
…
In the courtyard at home.
Bai Zhijun was already snoring against the gate, while Yang Qing and Mrs. Bai were busy in the kitchen.
“Sis, what time is it? Why isn’t Sister Qin here yet?”
Xiao Qiu’er stared longingly at the gate.
“Seven. Don’t worry, Sister Qin will be here soon,” Xiaochun checked her watch, then turned to Xiaobai, curious, “Xiaobai, what are you doing with my colored pens?”
“Heh heh…”
Xiaobai grinned mischievously, “I’m going to draw a little turtle on my dad. Shh…”
He called Xiao Qiu’er over, and the two tiptoed to the snoring Bai Zhijun.
“Heh heh…”
“Hee hee…”
The two children began to draw. In his sleep, Bai Zhijun felt something tickling his face. He squinted his eyes open.
Just the kids.
As long as they don’t go out, it’s fine. Back to sleep…
“Heh heh…”
Bai Zhijun went right back to snoring while Xiaobai, delighted, pulled the startled Xiao Qiu’er closer.
“Keep going, don’t be scared. Dad’s a big pig!”
Xiao Qiu’er: (´∀｀)♡
“Knock knock knock…”
Just as the two finished drawing four little turtles and were looking for room for a fifth, there was a knock at the gate.
“Are the little cuties home? Open up! Your big sisters are here!”
A pleasant voice sounded from outside. The two children immediately jumped up and down, shouting excitedly.
“Sister Qin is here!”
“Dad! Wake up! Open the door!”
Bai Zhijun was shaken awake by the two, and, rubbing his eyes in a daze, went to open the gate.
“Oh, Miss Qin, you’re here! Please come in.”
Bai Zhijun woke up instantly when he saw Qin Xue and her group, but they just stared at him, dumbfounded.
Qin Xue examined him closely for a moment, then burst out laughing, “Are you… Brother Bai?”
Bai Zhijun: …
Do I really look so ordinary? It took you that long to recognize me!
“Come in, everyone’s been waiting for you.”
“Mm-hmm, hee hee… Brother Bai, your face…”
Bai Zhijun sighed, “I might look ordinary, but I should still be somewhat recog—”
“Recognizable!” Li Yuexi, holding back a laugh, said, “Hello, Brother Bai, I’m Li Yuexi, Qin Xue’s colleague. Your face is anything but ordinary!”
Bai Zhijun’s spirits lifted immediately.
What a sweet-talking, pretty girl!
Everyone entered the courtyard. The two children bounced toward Qin Xue.
“Hee hee… Qiu’er, Xiaobai, did you miss your big sister?”
“Yes!”
The two circled around her excitedly, while Wen Xiaorou, a bit jealous, huffed, “Hmph! Xiao Qiu’er, don’t you recognize your big sister anymore?”
“Hee hee… Sister Rou!”
At the sound of the sweet little voice, Wen Xiaorou’s smile bloomed. She picked up the child and looked at Chun and Xia, who had come over, and doted on them, “You must be Chun’er and Xia’er.”
The two politely greeted everyone, “Hello, sisters, hello, brother.”
“So well-behaved! Fang, what are you spacing out for!”
Fang Du: …
Why ‘little Fang’? You cheeky panda!
Fang Du started hauling things into the courtyard—boxes of fruit, milk, and bear-shaped drinks.
And plush toys, which Wen Xiaorou had bought.
“This pink talking horse is for Xiao Qiu’er, and the red one is for Xiaobai.”
She was happily distributing gifts to the children.
“This bunny is for Xiaodong’er… Where is Xiaodong’er?”
“Sleeping!”
“Sleeping?”
“Hee hee, she’s napping.”
“Oh, then let Xiao Qiu’er hold onto it for now. This one…”
While Wen Xiaorou handed out gifts, Qin Xue slipped easily into the kitchen, with Li Yuexi sneaking after her.
Inside, Yang Qing was busy—his last dish was bangbang chicken, made with his own hands under Mrs. Bai’s guidance.
“What are you making?”
A pleasant voice startled Yang Qing and Mrs. Bai. They turned to see Qin Xue and Li Yuexi, noses twitching at the aroma.
“Miss Qin, Miss Li, you’re here. Have a seat inside, dinner’s almost ready,” Yang Qing said with a smile, leading them out of the kitchen.
But as soon as he stepped outside, he was startled to see two men, arms around each other, smoking Hongta Mountain cigarettes under the eaves.
“Director Zhang, what brings you here?”
Yang Qing was genuinely surprised; he never expected such a high-ranking director to visit his humble courtyard.
“Plop!”
Bai Zhijun’s cigarette fell to the ground as he stared dumbfounded at Zhang Wei, whom he’d been bragging with moments earlier.
D-Director! You… you’re a director?!
Then… what nonsense was I just talking about?!
“Qing… Qingzi,” he looked at Yang Qing, dazed.
“Brother Bai, you… ahem, why don’t you wash your face first,” Yang Qing said, half laughing, half crying.
Wash my face?
Bai Zhijun was confused, then realized Yang Qing was giving him an out.
“Oh, right, you all chat, I’ll go wash up,” he said, hurrying inside. But the next moment, his furious roar exploded in the courtyard.
“You little rascals! You brat! I’m going to thrash you!”
Xiao Qiu’er shivered in fright.
Xiaobai laughed loudly, “Heh heh… Come get me if you can!”
Everyone: …