Chapter 12: He's Mother Becomes Godmother After Dinner

"I'd lost my graduation certificate long ago, and didn't give it much thought since most jobs requiring a degree nowadays are looking for a college education, so I just looked for jobs that didn't need one. It's a bit tiring," Luo's Mom pursed her lips with a wry smile, feeling a bit embarrassed as she looked at Mother He, "Thank you for taking the trouble."

"It's no trouble at all. Having Qianqian as a good friend of my daughter is an honor for our entire family. Ah, I can smell something delicious. Qianqian, Xiao Yu, you two keep trying on clothes; I'll go cook. Old He, come and help me." Mother He's face blossomed into a smile. She whispered to Mr. He, "I have to make these siblings like my cooking. Today I need to show off all my skills."

"I should help too," Luo's Mom said, feeling awkward for not doing anything.

"No need, no need, it'll be done in no time." Mr. He assisted Mother He into the kitchen.

"Come, come, come Qianqian, try this one." He Wenyu happily dug out a pink dress from the pile of clothes.

"I think this one looks better; you'd look like a coal rolled in snow if you wear it," Luo Shufan picked out a snow-white fluffy dress and landed it on Luo Qianqian's head.

Luo Qianqian, looking at the earnest faces of the two and then at the clothes in their hands, was speechless. She turned to Luo's Mom, who was discreetly chuckling and in a great mood, and resigned herself to digging through the pile to find clothes that, in her eyes, didn't look so ostentatious.

A white, pattern-free, cotton sleeveless stand-collar top, paired with denim shorts and a blue belt casually tied around the waist.

"En, not bad, not bad," Luo Shufan's eyes lit up, speaking appreciatively.

"Looks good, Qianqian. Take it off, I want to try it," He Wenyu said, despite her disdain for the skirt, but still seemed a bit tempted by the handsome look.

Luo Qianqian, speechless, grabbed a black sleeveless vest with concealed buttons and found a pair of fringed denim shorts on the side: "Not a skirt, can you accept that?"

"I like you so much, Qianqian. How did you know I don't like skirts?" He Wenyu gleefully took the clothes and stripped off her tank top and pants. Luo Qianqian glanced at her brother and found that he was already staring at the sky.

"I guessed." Could I not understand you? I've nearly spent twenty years without seeing you in a skirt, and besides, the clothes laid out here that you clearly dislike and never wear are mostly dresses, and then there's the look of disdain on your face, an obvious answer, isn't it?

"How does it look?" He Wenyu turned around in the new outfit. "Feels a bit tight; are the shorts too small?"

"Not really; you just twisted them when you pulled them on. Do you have any hats, the kind with a brim? Black or blue would do." Luo Qianqian straightened He Wenyu's twisted shorts with her hand, crossed her left hand in front of her chest, propped her right elbow on her left hand, and put her right hand on her chin in a 'I'm thinking, please do not disturb' pose.

"A hat, huh? I don't think I have that kind, but I could ask my mom to make me one," He Wenyu pondered with a frown.

"Dinner is ready." Mr. He came over, bringing a waft of the delicious aroma of the meal, "Oh my, who is this beautiful young lady? Why is she so pretty?"

"It smells so good. Come on Qianqian, let's taste my mom's pig's trotters. They're super delicious." He Wenyu, lured by the aroma, didn't care to show off the clothes she was wearing. Her eyes sparkled as she pulled Luo Qianqian along.

Luo Qianqian's eyes squinted with pleasure as she sniffed the scent, and her eyes closed into happy arcs.

"Qianqian, change back into your clothes, don't get Auntie's clothes dirty." Luo's Mom looked at the little glutton who had forgotten her own name, feeling somewhat sorry.

"No, no, we have plenty of clothes at home that will be too small if not worn. And how else would you get to mix and match like this? Come sit down and eat; you kids must be starving." As soon as He's mother finished speaking, the three of them were seated, but they all looked at each other, and no one made a move.

"Usually, the greedy monkey would have already started eating, but today she's showing restraint, which is quite rare." The adults took their seats. Once they started eating, no one spoke at the table; they were too busy eating, fearing that talking would waste time and leave them with nothing.

The meal was devoured like a whirlwind, leaving chaos behind. After the six people finished, that was the only way to describe the table scene, and there was nothing left to eat. Six round bellies contentedly burped in satisfaction.

"Auntie, it was really delicious. You could sell this, and it would definitely be snatched up in frenzy," Luo Qianqian said sincerely.

"Who would buy anyway, we can make it at home." Mother He said modestly.

Luo Qianqian's eyes lit up with a spark of inspiration, "Auntie, why don't you make some and we try selling them outside?"

"School's out, where will you sell?" Luo Shufan frowned, looking at the gleaming eyes of Luo Qianqian.

"At the place we're going to during the holidays." Luo Qianqian blinked, and Luo Shufan immediately understood, but this was undoubtedly something that Luo's Mom could not know about.

"It's possible," Luo Shufan said, lowering his head to calculate the feasibility of doing this without Luo's Mom finding out.

"Mom, make some, please? I want to earn some pocket money, Qianqian and Qianqian's Brother said it might work." He Wenyu, with his round belly, sidled up next to Mother He, "Just try making a little, and if it doesn't sell out, we can still finish it ourselves."

"Right, Auntie, let's start with a trial. If it works out, we won't need to give Xiao Yu allowance anymore, and even if it doesn't, we can consider it nourishment for Xiao Yu. Otherwise, I'll… my brother will buy the pig's trotters." Luo Qianqian, seeing the supportive actions of her best friend and the verbal backing of her brother, clenched her little fists, determined to not give up until her goal was achieved, "Auntie, we'll exercise with Xiao Yu in the morning, and my brother will tutor us with our homework in the afternoon. We have to go out to play anyway, might as well do something meaningful. If we can make money, why not?"

"Older Brother He, you sure have thoughtful kids. The saying 'children in their youth can have the cleverest ideas' really fits this picture," Mr. He said affectionately as he looked at Luo Qianqian and Luo Shufan and glanced occasionally at his own monkey-like He Wenyu.

"Our Qianqian does have her own opinions, but she's still a kid at home, not quite like Xiao Yu," Luo's Mom said, slightly embarrassed, and quickly waved her hand.

"Mom, it's not like that. I am still a child. Do you really expect me to earn money to support the family?" Luo Qianqian flopped onto Luo's Mom's lap, pouting and speaking with faux offense, "I just want to eat Auntie's cooked pig's trotters; it's not fair to expose me like that."

"Mom, let Qianqian have what she wants. Otherwise, I could buy the pig's trotters. I will also prepare a thank you gift for Auntie. That should settle it, right?" Luo Shufan, who could not bear to see his little sister, who was always by his side like a tiny tigress, showing a face of grievance, began to persuade," Qianqian doesn't want to eat street food or snacks. Please, just say yes."

To the side, the He Family of three watched the sibling interactions with envy: the brother protecting his sister and the sister being obedient and sensible like a cuddly doll that everyone wanted to cherish.

"Older Sister He, it's not a bother for me. It's suffocating to be home all day, and it's nice to have something to do. And making a few pig's trotters isn't hard. If the kids can't sell them, it's not a waste." Mother He spoke up, "Qianqian, wouldn't you like to have new clothes often? Don't you want to come and eat and play with Xiao Yu often?"

"Xiao Yu is my best friend, now and in the future," Luo Qianqian added silently in her heart. She stood up from Luo's Mom's lap, "Auntie, Xiao Yu and I have a good relationship, so you need to have a good relationship with my mom too, so she will always say yes to me going out to play with Xiao Yu." And Mom would have a good friend too.

"Qianqian is also Xiao Yu's best friend forever, today, tomorrow, and all the 'tomorrows after tomorrow,'" He Wenyu said happily as she ran from Mother He's side to Luo's Mom's side and grabbed Luo Qianqian's hand.

"Older Sister He, if you don't mind, just call me 'big sister,' and from now on we'll be like one family," Mother He said, feeling content as she watched the two little girls holding hands tightly.

"I don't know if that's appropriate..." Luo's Mom's face turned a bit red, "Plus that would mean bothering you often."

"What's wrong with that? If you don't call me sister, does that mean you look down on Xiao Yu and think she's not fit to be your child's friend?" Mother He put on a face, implying if Luo's Mom disagreed, it would be like looking down on her child.

"Auntie, I don't think my Mom means that. The reason she's reluctant might be because she's older than you, so how could she call you 'big sister'? Don't just look at her face; my brother is already so grown up; how could my mom be young?" Luo Qianqian said with a smile, "But my mom never likes to admit that, so you and my mom can just get along like Xiao Yu and me. I already have two aunts and so many cousins I haven't met."

"Child's Mom, if you like Qianqian, you can consider making her your god-daughter instead of troubling 'Older Sister He.' With Qianqian and Xiao Yu's relationship being so strong, I believe 'Older Sister He' wouldn't object," Mr. He said, looking at the distracted Luo Shufan and his daughter An Zilan with a wry smile, then turning to Luo Qianqian, who was held affectionately, he felt a wave of sympathy for the family without a pillar and quickly spoke up.

"Exactly, exactly! Old He, prepare the red packet. Don't forget the eldest son's too. Young lady, you now have a brother and sister; are you happy?" Mother He gleamed in anticipation, directing the agreeable Mr. He to prepare red packets.

"..." Auntie, although I may look young, if it weren't for my past life's history with Xiao Yu, I couldn't even be sure I'm not older than her, Luo Qianqian thought quietly to herself.

"..." Why do I feel like a bonus gift again? But why am I somewhat happy about being overlooked? Is it because I'm relieved that my sister has grown up? Luo Shufan glanced at his quiet sister and decided to silently accept the situation like her.

"..." Did I just sell both of my children over a meal? But it seems not bad, Qianqian can have a friend her age, and seeing that the family's parents are also open-hearted and the children sensible and cute. Luo's Mom An Zilan, still a bit dazed, accepted the situation.