At dinner, everyone at the table kept glancing at Lin Xiuqing, making her feel a little awkward.
Mother Ye thought for a moment and said, "Don't go spreading word about what happened with A Qing this afternoon. We don't even know if she is yet, and they're very strict about it now."
More children meant more blessings. If she was pregnant, Mother Ye naturally hoped she could safely have another child.
"We know."
"Mom, what's wrong with Third Aunt?" Ye Chenghai asked his mother curiously.
"Nothing. Children shouldn't be so nosy, asking about everything the adults say. Hurry up and eat."
"Hmph..."
"When you take food, stop poking around in the dishes with your chopsticks..."
"You lot hurry up and eat too. Stop dawdling. Are we feeding you too well? Back when there was hardly anything to go with your rice, you all fought over it and ate so fast..."
"Have you got a hole in your chin? You've dropped rice all over the table. Pick it up and eat it..."
Voices scolding the children rang out constantly around the table, and, by unspoken agreement, the matter of Lin Xiuqing was set aside for the time being.
After dark, once everyone had gone back to their own rooms, Ye Yaodong took out the guavas he had hidden away, cut them up, and handed them to the two excited children.
"Great-Grandma gave you these to eat. Don't tell anyone outside, or she won't give you any next time."
"We know, Dad."
His younger son nodded along and echoed his brother.
Ye Yaodong handed the other guava to Lin Xiuqing, but instead of eating it, she took it out, cut it in half too, and handed him one half.
"Let's eat it together."
He smiled, accepted it, and took big bites. Only