Chapter 32: Sui Sui

Sui Sui didn't feel hungry; she ate well in the evening.

Liu Dafu asked, and Sui Sui obediently shook her head: "I'm not hungry, Liu Ye Ye."

The steward of the Sun Mansion, hearing this, smiled and said: "The broth for the noodles was simmered this morning as chicken soup—warm and fresh. If the young lady doesn't want noodles, a sip of the soup to warm her body will do."

Liu Dafu thought the arrangement was fine; the other children ate, Sui Sui didn't, so what should be done if the little girl feels uneasy?

He turned his head to Sui Sui and asked: "Shall we have some soup to warm our bodies before sleeping?"

Sui Sui obediently nodded.

Seeing the cute little child, Liu Dafu couldn't help but pat Sui Sui's small head.

Not to mention, it was slick, and the feel was quite good.

Liu Dafu didn't forget Sui Sui's weak spleen and stomach, turned and said a few more words to the steward: "Please skim the floating oil from the chicken soup; the child is frail, so she shouldn't be over‑nourished at once, and don't add too much salt."

……

The more he talked, Liu Dafu's doctor's habits emerged.

The steward listened patiently and complied one by one.

The noodles arrived in no time, while the others got chicken soup with cabbage noodles.

Sui Sui received a steaming bowl of chicken soup; after the floating oil was removed, it wasn't greasy at all, but even more flavorful.

Sui Sui took a sip; the fresh aroma made her squint her eyes and lift her foot.

She turned her head, wanting to share with her brother, saying the soup was so fresh.

But then she saw Feng Xuanrui chomping on noodles.

He hadn't had a proper dinner that night, ran around, fought a bout, and was already starving.

So when the noodles arrived now, he couldn't help but eat them in big bites.

Sun Ronglin had eaten well that night, so he wasn't too hungry now.

However, watching Feng Xuanrui eat sparked his competitive spirit, and he also ate in big bites.

The Qiu family brothers were fine; the two brothers knew their own portions, so they split a bowl of noodles.

Seeing Sui Sui watching them, Qiu Ping laughed and asked: "Little sister, what's up? Want some noodles? My brother hasn't touched his bowl yet; I'll share some with you."

As he spoke, Qiu Ping prepared to pick some noodles from his own bowl for Sui Sui.

Feng Xuanrui, hearing the commotion, quickly lifted his head from the noodle bowl and asked sideways: "Sui Sui wants noodles? Just have the kitchen bring more."

Sui Sui didn't want noodles, so she shook her head: "No need, I'll just drink the soup, not eat noodles."

After speaking, she didn't forget to thank him: "Thank you, Brother Qiu Ping."

Sui Sui's mind was still sharp; after just this short time together, she had already noted Qiu Ping's name.

Having thanked Qiu Ping, Sui Sui turned her head toward Feng Xuanrui: "Brother, eat quickly, or the noodles will get cold."

Feng Xuanrui, still uneasy, asked again: "Really not eating noodles?"

Fearing his sister might be timid and thus not dare to eat, Feng Xuanrui added: "You're my little sister; eat whatever you want, don't be afraid!"

Sui Sui still shook her head: "I truly am not hungry, brother."

Hearing Sui Sui say that, Feng Xuanrui finally relaxed, turned his head, and continued eating noodles.

I must say, the Sun Mansion cook's skill is really good.

Much better than the cook at their inn.

Feng Xuanrui and Sun Ronglin ate competitively, each taking a small bowl of noodles.

Liu Dafu watched, regulating their portions, fearing that over‑eating might cause a fever.

Sui Sui's earlier condition had scared him enough.

Thus the children ate their fill, but didn't overstay.

After the meal, Liu Dafu also prepared a digestive soup for them.

Seeing each child drink about half a bowl, he finally urged them to go to sleep.

It was rare to have so many children playing together, and with a little sister, Sun Ronglin simply didn't want to sleep.

When Liu Dafu said something, he immediately lay on the floor and started to act spoiled.

That's his usual trick.

Usually in the mansion, once he uses this move, whether it's his grandmother or his mother, they have to go along with him!

Sun Zhifu had already lost the face to appear before anyone.

His grandson…

No!

We can't keep letting the lady and daughter‑in‑law be spoiled like this!

Sun Ronglin caused a ruckus, and the Qiu family brothers also threw a fit.

Liu Dafu displayed his home‑grown skill, coaxed for a long while, but couldn't persuade them.

In the end he could only set a time limit, letting them play a bit longer.

The children, after eating their fill, had boundless energy.

Di Jiao and Di Yu hadn't slept well these past few days, and now their eyelids were already fighting each other.

But not far away, Sun Ronglin was still shouting at the top of his lungs: "I'm about to break free, I really am about to break free, I'm such a talent!"

Feng Xuanrui replied disdainfully: "How could that be? It's so far off, and the Nine Linked Rings are just a bit short—still a long way off. You're overthinking it."

……

The two children again challenged each other with the Nine Linked Rings, while the Qiu family brothers cheered from the side.

Sui Sui obediently stayed by Feng Xuanrui's side, occasionally saying a few words.

"Brother, you're amazing!"

"This brother can do it too, impressive!"

"Brother is the most impressive!"

Feng Xuanrui is already lost in one "brother" after another.

As for solving the Nine Linked Rings?

Stop messing around, I never solved it in the mansion.

Here, does he improvise?

Even with his sister's encouragement, it still doesn't work!

Sui Sui's constant encouragement makes Feng Xuanrui feel light, his feet almost not touching the ground.

But it makes Sun Ronglin instantly jealous, his eyes turning red.

He wants to throw the unsolvable Nine Linked Rings onto the ground, but fears scaring his sister, and ends up sitting there feeling aggrieved, pursing his lips: "Sister, am I not impressive?"

Hearing his question, Sui Sui nods vigorously: "Brother Ronglin is also very impressive!"

Hearing Sui Sui address Sun Ronglin that way, Feng Xuanrui lifts his head proudly, thinking: Sui Sui only calls me brother, but calls you all by name.

So, this is my sister; no one can take her away!

Sun Ronglin may be a year older than Feng Xuanrui, but hasn't become much shrewder; he didn't notice Sui Sui's double standards at all.

Hearing Sui Sui say he's impressive, Sun Ronglin silently picks up the Nine Linked Rings again.

He thinks: My sister already says I'm impressive; I'm not unable to solve it!

In the end, no one solved the Nine Linked Rings; each one was so stuck they kept dozing off.

Doctor Liu at this point steps forward, offers a couple of words, and then sends them back to sleep.

The young lady of the Sun mansion even sent someone to inquire, saying that if no one looks after Sui Sui, she can help.

Doctor Liu doesn't decide himself, but asks Sui Sui: "Do you want to sleep with Liu Ye Ye, or with Gentleness's aunt?"

Gentleness's aunt?

It sounds rather tempting.

But the young lady of the Sun family is unfamiliar to Sui Sui.

So, no matter how tempting, Sui Sui still doesn't want to go.

She obediently stays by Doctor Liu's side, lifts her head, and asks cautiously: "... Can I be with brother?"

Among these people, the one she knows best is still brother.

Therefore, she only wants to be with brother.

Feng Xuanrui, his eyes too tired to open, hears Sui Sui's voice, quickly turns his head and shouts: "Okay, okay, I'll be with my sister!"

(End of chapter)