Chapter 293: Chapter 293

The days following flew by quickly, and on New Year’s Day, Mr. Qin brought Aunt Yang and that naughty kid, Xiong Youxin, who truly lived up to the name "naughty kid" as his last name was even Xiong.

This naughty kid, Xiong Youxin, was already 11 years old, and it wasn’t his first time at the courtyard house. Despite the freezing weather, he didn’t come inside but roamed around the courtyard playing.

It was cold, and Li Xianglu had stewed a big bone broth, prepared a pot, and all the dishes were ready; just needed to add some broth at noon to eat.

At that moment, everyone was in the living room, cozily drinking tea and chatting. Li Xianglu and Qin Xi were nestling on the semicircular couch playing chess. By this time, Li Xianglu had already taken back her moves three times, but Qin Xi remained unfazed, having long gotten used to her shameless behavior.

Xiong Youxin pushed the door open and walked in, drawing everyone’s attention to him. Today, the kid was wearing a red wool coat embroidered with a blue bear at the hem, looking plump and extremely cute.

And naughty kid Xiao Xin had grown out his hair as well, with it tied back in a small ponytail. His cheeks were bright red, and in one hand, he held something indistinguishable.

Li Xianglu glanced at him then lowered her head back to study her chessboard, only to hear a faint ’whining’ sound. Startled, she looked up and indeed saw the naughty kid lift up whatever was in his arms with both hands, then triumphantly told his own mother, "Mom, I caught a dog! Let’s take it home!"

Li Xianglu’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, having caught a dog in their own yard! She stood up angrily, ran over, grabbed the dog and held it in her arms, staring at the naughty kid, "Why did you catch our Wangwang!"

With his hands now empty, Xiong Youxin incredulously looked at Li Xianglu and bared his teeth, "I caught it!"

Li Xianglu snorted, "You caught it? Where did you catch it? This is our courtyard, this is my dog, you’re quite bold! Wangwang’s mother is a big wolf dog, she usually eats raw meat, and you dared to bring her daughter here!"

Startled, Xiong Youxin was bewildered when suddenly the door was knocked. Old Geng entered anxiously, and upon seeing the little dog in Li Xianglu’s hands, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief, then explained, "I went to walk the dog, and when I returned, I saw Wangwang was gone, and Dahei was frantically running around the courtyard."

Hearing this, Li Xianglu turned to Xiong Youxin and said, "See, Dahei is a wolf dog. You’ve grabbed her puppy, don’t think about leaving now. Stay put in the room lest Dahei smells you and bites you!" Having said this, she handed Wangwang over to Old Geng.

Upon hearing this, Xiong Youxin quickly hid beside his mother Yang Huan, while Mr. Qin nearby smiled and comforted, "Your sister-in-law is just teasing you. Dahei is very smart. See, you’ve already given the dog back, she won’t bite you."

Xiong Youxin, who usually loved to argue with Mr. Qin, looked doubtful upon hearing Mr. Qin’s words, "Really won’t bite me?"

Mr. Qin nodded, feeling it was not enough, he reassured, "How about, I’ll carry you outside later?"

Hearing this, the naughty kid Xiao Xin pursed his lips, glanced at his mother’s slender figure, then looked at Mr. Qin’s much broader frame, and reluctantly said, "Alright, let me be carried by you then, just to prevent my mom from being bitten."

Everyone was stunned at this, Yang Huan helplessly shook her head; the Xiong Family always planted the idea in the child’s head that stepfathers were bad, which left the child forever suspicious.

At noon, the copper sand pot was layered with plenty of meat and vegetables. Li Xianglu made braised chicken in soy sauce, pork chops in a savory sauce, vermicelli with frozen tofu, and for vegetarian dishes, there were fresh spinach from their own garden, and also Chinese cabbage.

In the pot, Li Xianglu and Sister Xing had hand-sliced some fatty beef and prepared some fish cakes, steaming also some vegetarian potato balls.

Everyone was sweating from the heat after the meal. Xiao Xin was eating this kind of hotpot for the first time, his belly puffed up as he kept saying he ate too much, complaining with groans.

Yang Huan’s face turned red, feeling utterly embarrassed by the child’s manners.

Li Xianglu had already prepared some sour plum soup, serving everyone a bowl which noticeably relieved them.

It was then Mr. Qin brought up that he was going to Germany for advanced training which would take two years, and he could return once in between. He managed to secure not only a spot for himself but also for Yang Huan, though in different disciplines; Mr. Qin in cardiovascular, while Yang Huan in her specialty, gynecology.

This was a deep training by the country for some on-the-job talents. The country needed some specialized talents, and a hospital was allocated eight slots, though other industries also had allocations.

Qin Xi found it strange that Qin Shouhan, her uncle, was also going to the UK for training, wondering what HR personnel would need to study there.

The biggest worry for Mr. Qin and Yang Huan now was the naughty kid, Xiong Youxin.

This child was stubborn and sensitive. Taking him abroad seemed impossible as the first six months in Germany would require language learning, since German universities teach in German. Not passing the language barrier meant not being able to study their advanced medicine.

Mr. Qin had studied in Germany in his early years, so the language was not an issue for him, but Yang Huan had only a vocational background. She learned everything later through textbooks and practice, so taking the child abroad was out of the question.

Yang Huan absolutely refused to leave the child with the Xiong Family, fearing it would ruin him. Thus, they also had a request this time, hoping Qin Xi and her husband could take care of Xiong Youxin.

Qin Xi, however, remained silent. They were both students, about to start their senior year which indeed had fewer classes, but they needed to intern after school, and they were still living on campus. How could they take care of a child? It would mean bothering Grandpa and Grandma Su.

Qin Xi looked at Li Xianglu, who then looked at Mr. Li, and Mr. Li looked towards Su Yan.

Su Yan felt a chill going through her scalp. What are these grandparents and grandchildren trying to do, making it known that she’s the decision-maker in this house?

However, this action also made Su Yan feel she was significant in this household, so she nodded and said, "Let the child stay here then."

With that single statement from her, the fate of the naughty kid Xiong Youxin was decided.

However, Xiong Youxin didn’t want to stay, his eyes wide as he turned his head angrily: "Mom, you don’t want me again!" he cried loudly.

Yang Huan, somewhat helplessly, tried to hug him, but he pushed her away: "I knew it, I knew it, they said you’d abandon me once you got a husband. Look, you both are going out, and you don’t care about me!"

Yang Huan was so furious she wanted to hit Xiong Youxin, but spanking a child in front of so many people, what difference would that make her from those women on the streets? She said nothing, just watching Xiong Youxin coldly.