Chapter 11: Hiss, Pain!
Bai Lixia and the other two quickly hid their hands behind their backs and lowered their heads in fear when they were discovered by Su Mulan. “No, we didn’t do anything…”
“You say you didn’t do anything, but I saw the eggshells in your hands…”
Before Su Mulan could finish her sentence, Bai Lixia hurriedly stepped in front of Bai Zhuye and Bai Midou, and explained, “I gave Zhuye and Midou the eggshells. Didn’t Mother say the eggshells should be crushed and fed to the chickens? I saw there was still some egg liquid on them, so I let them each lick it once. It doesn’t stop the eggshells from being fed to the chickens.”
Bai Lixia finished speaking in one breath, lowered her head, and clenched her teeth.
She was ready to take the blame. Even if Su Mulan got angry and wanted to hit someone, she would rather it be her. No matter what, she couldn’t let her younger brother and sister get hit.
Su Mulan looked at Bai Lixia and the other two, immediately understanding what was going on. She paused and said, “It’s best not to eat raw eggs; they can be hard to digest and upset your stomach. The eggshells aren’t clean either, and you might get sick from eating them.”
“If you’re really craving eggs, I’m planning to fry some later, and everyone will get some.”
After saying this, she didn’t explain further. She just added a little water to the bowl of eggs and quickly beat the egg liquid with chopsticks. She waited for the flatbread and cornmeal porridge to finish cooking in the pot before using the iron wok to fry the eggs.
Meanwhile, standing in the courtyard, Bai Lixia and the other two exchanged glances and then looked at the eggshells in their hands.
There was a long silence until Bai Midou spoke up, “Did Mother just say we’re having fried eggs tonight?”
“I think so?” Bai Zhuye pinched the back of her hand while speaking.
Hiss, it hurts!
So, this isn’t a dream?
Bai Lixia also felt a bit dazed, standing there holding the eggshell for a while, unsure of where to put her hands and feet.
It wasn’t until the flatbread was brought to the table, with a rough bowl filled with fragrant, yellow pieces of fried egg, that Su Mulan divided into roughly equal portions and distributed into their bowls, that the four of them fully realized what was happening.
Eggs, they could actually eat eggs.
And not just any eggs, but fragrant, oily fried eggs. Just looking at them and smelling the aroma was enough to make their mouths water.
In their shock, they were more overwhelmed with joy. After a moment of astonishment, the four of them eagerly picked up the eggs and put them into their mouths.
Bai Shuiliu did the same but paused when her chopsticks were in mid-air. She turned the chopsticks around, intending to place the egg into Su Mulan’s bowl. “Mother, you should eat more.”
Su Mulan’s sudden willingness to let them eat their fill, and even offering them eggs, surprised and delighted Bai Shuiliu. However, she was more worried that Su Mulan might be up to some other trick, making her even more cautious.
Bai Lixia was the first to understand and also held out her bowl. “I’ll give mine to Mother too.”
“Me too…”
“No need,” Su Mulan stopped them. “I have some in my bowl. You eat yours.”
“I appreciate your filial piety, but you’re at an age where you need to grow. If you don’t eat enough, you might get sick.”
After speaking, Su Mulan’s gaze swept over the four little radishes, and she gently patted Bai Shuiliu’s head. “Alright, hurry and eat. The eggs won’t taste good if it get cold.”
Her actions were gentle, and her words were kind.
After exchanging glances, the four radishes finally picked up their bowls under Su Mulan’s urging.