“Alright, go change your clothes quickly, I’ll help you pack.”
Ouyang Jian wasn’t new to helping his older brother pack.
While Ouyang Jun changed and washed up, Ouyang Jian went into his brother’s small study, tidying the books on the desk into his schoolbag.
He checked once more to ensure the school card was there, then slung the bag over his shoulder and left the study.
Ouyang Jun had just finished changing.
“Bro, I’m heading downstairs. I’ll carry your bag down for you.”
“Okay.”
Ouyang Jian went downstairs.
Not seeing his aunt in the house, he assumed she’d gone out.
After setting down his brother’s bag, he ran to the kitchen, drawn by a delicious aroma, eager to see if he could eat.
“Brother Zhan Yuan, I smell something good. Can we eat yet? I want… Aunt, you’re here!”
Bursting into the kitchen, Ouyang Jian saw his aunt standing behind Zhan Yuan, quietly watching him.
Mrs. Ouyang, composed, asked her nephew, “Has your brother got up?”
“I woke him up. He’s still washing up. Aunt, are you trying to learn cooking from Brother Zhan Yuan?”
Ouyang Jian asked cheekily.
Brother Zhan Yuan’s food was delicious, so it was normal for his aunt to want to learn.
His mum had said she wanted to pick up a few tricks from Zhan Yuan, then cook breakfast for him every day so he wouldn’t have to come to his aunt’s place early in the morning for food.
But his mum only talked about it. Every time he tried to wake her to come learn, she’d say she couldn’t get up.
Compared to beauty sleep, his mum chose sleep.
See, that’s how realistic maternal love was.
Sometimes there, sometimes not.
“Yes, Aunt wants to learn a bit,” Mrs. Ouyang replied casually.
With her nephew’s arrival, her conversation with Zhan Yuan paused, so she left the kitchen, taking the boy with her.
“Where’s your big sister?”
Mrs. Ouyang asked gently.
Ouyang Jian replied, “Didn’t I say she went jogging?”
His big eyes sparkled as he looked up at Mrs. Ouyang, asking innocently, “Aunt, do you have something on your mind?”
Mrs. Ouyang was momentarily stunned, then lightly patted his head with a faint smile. “Can you tell? Aunt has something on her mind.”
“I can’t tell.”
“Then why did you ask?”
Ouyang Jian answered honestly, “Aunt never gets up early, but today you did, and you have dark circles under your eyes. That means you didn’t sleep well, and not sleeping well means you have something on your mind.”
This kid’s pretty sharp.
Mrs. Ouyang affectionately patted his head again, saying, “Aunt didn’t sleep well last night.”
“You can talk to my mum about your worries. My sister always says, if you have something on your mind, you should talk about it. It makes you feel better.”
“We’ve got a big family. If Aunt has any worries, just say it. Someone will help.”
Mrs. Ouyang smiled. “A-Jian’s suggestion is good. I’ll go talk to your mum later about my worries.”
She got along well with her sisters-in-law.
If she shared her concerns with them, they’d help come up with solutions.
This was about her daughter’s future, a major matter for the Ouyang family. Discussing it with her sisters-in-law to hear their thoughts was a good idea.
“My mum usually doesn’t get up until after ten. It’s still early. Aunt, why don’t you go back upstairs for a nap, or go for a walk to breathe some fresh morning air?”
“But you’d need to wear warm clothes; it’s cold outside.”
Mrs. Ouyang smiled. “Aunt’s afraid of the cold, so I won’t go for a walk. I’ll head upstairs for a nap. You and your brother eat breakfast and then go to school.”
“Study hard at school and don’t be naughty.”
