Four Beautiful Babies

Xie Yunjin stared at the four pitiful kids. Though they were already four, due to poor nutrition, their limbs were tiny. When they walked, they couldn't even support themselves properly. All this was because of a lack of good food. 

This made Xie Yunjin hate Lu Jiao. Even tigers feed their children. That woman was worse than an animal. But today, the First Born was in the wrong and had to be punished. 

"Get the stick."

The First Born never dared to disobey his father. Though he was scared, he took the stick and brought it to Xie Yunjin. 

"Dad, you can hit me."

Xie Yunjin took over the stick. He didn't hit the First Born's hand. Instead, he struggled to pick up the stick and hit his own hand. 

The four babies were in shock. The First Born then started to cry, "Daddy, don't! Don't!"

Xie Yunjin hit himself with much difficulty and lectured, "The son's wrongdoing is his father's fault. I am responsible for your actions today. You have been punished. As your father, I should be punished as well."

The quadruplets all started to cry. Their dad was heavily injured but still hit his own hand. This was all their fault. 

"Daddy, we don't dare anymore. We don't dare."

Xie Yunjin said in a low voice, "Remember today. If you ever do something wrong again, you will get punished and I will get punished as well."

This statement became imprinted in the quadruplets' brains. Over the next few days, they really didn't do much wrong. 

However, Xie Yunjin, who had wrestled around during the night and again in the morning, finally could no longer hold on and passed out. 

The four babies cried out loud. In the kitchen, Lu Jiao heard their cries and rushed over. When she saw the passed-out Xie Yunjin, she flew over and felt Xie Yunjin's pulse. He passed out due to anger and strong emotions. 

He was already so wounded yet he still remained restless. This was deserved. 

Lu Jiao got him to lie properly and snuck a few drops of the stream water from her fingertips into his mouth. 

The quadruplets were far too sad to notice this. 

After she took care of Xie Yunjin, Lu Jiao said to them, "Stop crying. He'll be fine. You guys stop making mistakes that make him so angry. His illness takes time to heal and he can't afford to get so emotional. Alright?"

The quadruplets listened to her and said in unison, "We got it."

Luo Jiao stared at them and found all words to be lacking. 

Not only were they jaundiced without any fat, but they were also very dirty. Their hair was all tangled and there was dust and mud all over their faces. Their fingernails were also dark with dirt underneath them. 

Luo Jiao felt a headache as she looked at them. She decided that she won't do anything else today except bathe the babies and get them changed. Once those four little ones were clean, she could do the other stuff she wanted to do slowly. 

"Alright, the porridge is almost done. Come out and eat."

The quadruplets shook their heads, "We'll wait and eat with daddy."

Lu Jiao was about to say something when footsteps approached and Xie Erzhu's voice was heard, "Is the third brother awake?"

Lu Jiao speedily stared at the babies and whispered, "Don't say a word to your second uncle, alright? Or else your daddy will get so mad he'll pass out again."

The quadruplets nodded with much strength, "We got it."

This was for the benefit of the First Born. The matter of poisoning his mother could ruin his life. This was an era where filial ties were everything. If people heard of what the First Born did, nobody would offer him an opportunity in his lifetime. He will be burdened with this sin for the rest of his life. 

Outside the door, Xie Erzhu walked in. When he saw the four kids and their red eyes, he was certain that his sister-in-law had hit the children again. 

Xie Erzhu had a problem with this, "Sister-in-law, you cannot keep hitting the kids. They are still so young."

Before he could answer, Xie Yunjin woke up and said weakly, "Second brother, you're here."

Xie Erzhu's attention was diverted and he looked over to Xie Yunjin, "Third brother, how are you feeling? Are you feeling any discomfort? Have you eaten?"

Lu Jiao ignored the brothers and left the room. This morning, she made some corn and cooked some leafy greens. 

One of these boys was paralyzed in bed while the other four were malnourished. Corns were great but they weren't too nutritious. She had to figure out a way. 

Luo Jiao brought some corn to the room to feed Xie Yunjin and the four little ones. 

After breakfast, Lu Jiao boiled two giant pots of hot water to bathe the four little ones. The basin she used to bathe them was the one she used for herself. 

The wooden basin was huge. With water in them, one basin could fit two of the kids. 

The four little beans very much rejected the idea of a bath. Since they were born, Lu Jiao had never bathed them so the boys weren't used to this. 

However, they couldn't avoid Lu Jiao's persistence and agreed in the end despite their unwillingness. 

Inside the east bedroom, Xie Yunjin focused on the noises outside. He knew Lu Jiao had bathed the kids and didn't say much. 

Before, he was the one who bathed the kids. That woman would never do it. She herself was too lazy to wash up, let alone wash the kids. 

To bathe the children was very unlike her. Could it be that with the separation, she wanted to behave well and show off to him? Or maybe she didn't want to separate and did this to improve their relationship. 

That last possibility made Xie Yunjin's gaze turn cold. The sarcastic grin returned to his lips. To improve her behaviors now was far too late. 

Outside the room, the First and Second Born originally detested the idea of a bath. After some time, however, they started to enjoy it. To be inside hot water was truly comfortable. 

The evil woman never washed them before. It had always been daddy who washed them. Who knew she'd bathe them now?

The Second Born peeked at Lu Jiao and saw her look back. He quickly turned his gaze elsewhere. 

Lu Jiao naturally caught his small movement. She feigned ignorance and continued to wash these little guys meticulously.

There were lots of old and new wounds on these boys. She cursed at the original host. She truly was no better than an animal. 

Since the First Born's hand was injured, Lu Jiao washed him up first, "All done. Get out now."

The First Born was a little unwilling but he was too scared to object. He took his time to gett out. Lu Jiao said almost angrily, "You didn't want to wash up at first and now you refuse to get out. Enough now, your hands are injured today so get out. In a few days, you can bathe for longer."

The First Born's eyes brightened, "Really?"

He quickly restored his serious little expression afterward. Lu Jiao used an old cloth to dry him and as she wiped him, she suddenly stopped. 

The clean version of the First Born looked so much like Xie Yunjin. Not only were his features delicate, but his expressions also mimicked his father's. He was just too skinny and malnourished. Once healthy, he will for sure be one attractive baby. 

Lu Jiao had always liked beautiful children. It was a surprise to suddenly have four of them. Sadly, they weren't fated to be with each other long. 

However, she was more than willing to fatten them up. 

Lu Jiao dried up the First Born and had him change into an old shirt. However, there were no pants. Luckily, it was summer and for a four-year-old to be pantsless was no big deal. 

After the First Born was done, it was the Second Born's turn. After he was done, the water could not get any dirtier. Grossed out, Lu Jiao poured out the water and got a fresh batch for the Third and Fourth Born. 

The Fourth Born was such a scaredy-cat that he didn't dare to look at her. When she held onto him, he even started to shake uncontrollably. 

Lu Jiao was speechless. Just how scared was he? She didn't blame him though as the original host hit the Fourth Born the most.