The Zhan family does not let children play with electronic devices. They either play with toys or run around outside. Unlike other families who always give kids electronic products, which makes them addicted and unwilling to exercise.
Zhan Yue went back to the kitchen and brought out some snacks he had specially made for the children.
Su Meng ate several pieces in a row, drank a cup of water, put down the cup and said to Zhan Muchen: “Baby, come on, let’s go outside to play. I saw a bird’s nest in Eighth Uncle’s backyard tree. Let’s climb up and see if there are any baby birds.”
Zhan Yue did not stop the two little ones from going to the backyard to climb the tree. He only reminded them: “Be careful, don’t fall from the tree. Even if there are baby birds, you must not catch them. Just look, that’s all.”
“Got it, Eighth Uncle. We’re going out to play now.”
Su Meng pulled Baby and ran off. Zeng Xiaoya watched the happy backs of the two children and said: “Childhood is really wonderful, carefree and full of joy. Sometimes I truly envy children.”
“When we were small we wanted to grow up quickly. But after growing up, we feel that childhood was much better, without any worries.”
“Childhood should be full of happiness. We were quite wild when we were young too. In the villa grounds we climbed high and low, and we would run down to the foot of the villa to play with the workers’ children.”
Their childhood playmates who were capable have already joined the Zhan Group to work. Those with average ability stayed in the villa to help manage the fruit mountains or the flower fields at the foot of the villa.
“Back then Brother Su Nan often came to my house. Now his son is the same. The two children have grown up together since they were little. They are the best buddies. I hope their friendship lasts forever, just like my brother and Brother Su Nan.”
“It will. Those who grow up together are like family. The bond runs deep.”
“Xiaoya, how about we go outside for a walk too, and check on the two little ones climbing the tree to look at the bird’s nest.”
Zeng Xiaoya stood up. “Let’s go.”
The two of them followed and headed to the backyard.
Su Meng and the other really did climb the tree to look at the bird’s nest.
“Baby, are there any baby birds in the nest?” Zhan Yue walked to the bottom of the tree, looked up and asked his nephew.
Baby answered: “No baby birds yet, but there are two eggs. When we climbed up, there was a bird in the nest. As soon as it saw us coming, it flew away.”
“Eighth Uncle, will the bird mummy and daddy come back? Ah Meng and I have waited here for quite a while, but we haven’t seen them return. Do they not want the eggs anymore?”
Zhan Yue laughed and said: “With you two up in the tree, how would they dare come back? Come down quickly. If your parents find out you climbed a tree, they might give you a beating.”
The two children said “oh” and slid down the tree very smoothly. Their skilled movements and speed showed they were experienced tree climbers who had secretly done it many times before.
Then they ran to the swing. After swinging, they started to compete in leg strength. Zhan Yue let them have their match.
Anyway, the two started learning martial arts on the same day, so their progress is the same. It just depends on who has slightly more strength.
Zhan Yue asked Zeng Xiaoya to sit on the swing while he gently pushed it.
“They are competing. Aren’t you afraid they might get hurt?”
“What’s there to fear about getting a little hurt during a match? They are still so young, their strength is limited. Even if they get hurt, it’s only a scrape. Just rub some medicated oil at night and they’ll be fine.”
“The two of them study together, practise martial arts together, learn music, chess, poetry and painting together. Let them compete. They can’t sit still for even a moment.”
Zeng Xiaoya looked at the two children who were fighting fiercely and inseparably. She had never learned martial arts, so she did not understand. She asked Zhan Yue: “Who do you think will win?”
