The Useless Stepmom Brings Her Kids to Reality TV Shows to Photograph Them

Chapter 448: Are You A Real Man?

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Auntie Bao led Auntie Huang to see the vegetable garden. There was cabbage, garlic, etc. Everything looked plump and thriving.

“I love growing vegetables,” Auntie Bao said with a smile.

“I like it too. The scent of bok Choy is lovely when stir-fried. And bok Choy dumplings, bok Choy soup with glutinous rice balls, stir-fried bok Choy with clams…” Auntie Huang transitioned from vegetables to cooking.

The two women chatted excitedly. For the first time, Lin Wan felt completely out of the loop. She didn’t even know what bok Choy was.

After a while, the two women realized they had become too absorbed in their conversation and forgotten about Lin Wan, who was not very good at cooking.

Auntie Bao pulled Lin Wan’s arm. “Wanwan, bok Choy looks a bit like a clover. You should have eaten it before. It’s just that bok Choy wilts quickly when stir-fried. You probably don’t recognize it like this. This is coriander and spinach. You know the dumplings you love with beef and coriander filling?

This is coriander. This is spinach.”

“I’ve seen spinach in Lan Village. I don’t recall coriander or bok Choy,” Lin Wan said.

“Your radishes are growing well too.” Auntie Huang pointed to the white radishes that had sprouted from the ground.

“I originally thought of digging them up for dumplings during the Spring Festival, so I planted a bit more. Now it seems I’ll have to wait until after the New Year,” Auntie Bao said while looking at the radishes.

After introducing the vegetables, Auntie Bao took Auntie Huang to see the chickens, ducks, and geese she was raising. Then they headed to the house.

At noon, Li Yanchen called Lin Wan. He knew that Lin Wan had gone to Xuecheng Village to pick up Mama Bao herself. “The road is slippery this time of the year. Why didn’t you wait for me to come with you?”

Lin Wan grinned. “I know. I deliberately took the highway. By the time you’re off work, it’ll be dark, and that’s even less safe. Don’t worry, I’m driving very slowly. ”

“Why didn’t you let Assistant Qin drive you?”

“The company is about to be on holiday, shouldn’t Assistant Qin be busy with more important matters? I’m safe. Let’s not talk about it anymore. See you tonight.”

Before Li Yanchen could finish speaking, Lin Wan hung up. He glanced at his phone screen and sent her a text: “Let’s have pan-fried fish dumplings tonight.

I’ve made the reservation.”

Lin Wan replied with a thumbs-up emoji.

After touring the old house, Auntie Huang helped Auntie Bao load the luggage into the car. Auntie Bao wrapped the boiled eggs in layer after layer of plastic wrap so that they would not smell in the car.

“These eggs are nutritious. I boiled a few of them,” Auntie Bao said.

As they left Xuecheng Village, Auntie Bao kept looking back.

“I’ve never been away for too long. I hope Auntie Zhang takes good care of the chickens and ducks, as well as the vegetables. I put up signs for people to take them if they want. I hope the neighbors won’t hold back…” “Xiao Bao, you’re still worried about your treasures.”

“Yes, I serve them food and drinks every day. I feel a bit uneasy leaving them behind.”

“Mama Bao, we’ll be back in ten days. If you’re worried, you can check the home security cameras anytime,” Lin Wan said.

“Right now, I feel a bit empty in my heart, but it’ll get better,” Auntie Bao whispered.

“Xiao Bao, what is going on between you and Old Yang these days?” asked Auntie Huang.

Lin Wan was curious about this too. “Xixi is coming home soon. She messaged me. She wants to treat everyone to dinner when we get back.”

Auntie Bao fidgeted awkwardly. “We’re just friends.”

Auntie Huang threw Lin Wan’s words at Auntie Bao. “Xiao Bao, are you truly content being alone? Haven’t you considered finding an older man?”

Auntie Bao had been watching a family drama recently. There was an elderly character in it who had lost his wife, had three children, and was quite quirky. At his age, he was still looking for a girlfriend and ended up getting scammed. When she heard the term “older man,” she immediately associated it with the unsavory old character from the show. Auntie Bao shuddered. “Old man? In his seventies or eighties?”

“Anyone over fifty is considered an old man.”

“Fifty is still quite young. How can you call that old?”

“I’ll put it differently. Haven’t you considered finding a younger guy?

Auntie Bao looked shocked. “Alright, just call it an “old man.” I’ll just leave it to fate. And you?”

“Mama Bao, did you meet Mrs. Wu’s father last time you came to Royal Water

“You mean that man who talks as if he’s quarreling, and his hands are always behind his back? The one who looks stubborn?” Auntie Bao recalled the impression she had gotten from the elderly man when she helped Auntie Huang throw trash.

He walked like he owned the road. He even claimed that the road in front of Wu’s house was their own, implying that Auntie Bao should step aside.

Mrs. Wu’s father was indeed that sort of person. He had a strong voice, carried his head high, and his hands were always behind his back.

“Have you met him?” Auntie Huang asked.

“Yeah, when I was throwing out the trash. I had to pass by the path in front of their house, and he wouldn’t let me go. He said the road belonged to the Wu family. He was quite unreasonable.” Auntie Bao had a very negative impression of him.

It seemed the elderly person Auntie Bao encountered was different from the one Mrs. Wu had described.

“Is he that overbearing?” Lin Wan asked.

“That old man always looks fierce. Auntie Wu said he’s actually quite soft-hearted. He often feeds stray cats in the community and sometimes even brings them home…” Auntie Huang often chatted with other housekeepers, so she had a bit of insight into the elderly folks living in the community. She believed that people who lived together would have a more objective evaluation than those who only met briefly.

“Perhaps it’s also because of me. There were arrows showing the way, and I went in the opposite direction,” said Auntie Bao. “Do you fancy him, Huang Huang?”

“No way! How is that possible? He’s the father-in-law of a rich big shot. I’m just an old lady from the countryside. We live in the same community, but we’ve barely exchanged a few words.”

“What’s wrong with being from the countryside? Rural folks are hardworking and simple. You’re probably just underestimating yourself,” said Auntie Bao.

“Mama Bao is right. I also came from the countryside. Many people wish to return to the countryside but can’t,” Lin Wan chimed in.

“In that case, I won’t consider it. I just want to take care of you all. Who would want to serve an Old man”‘ Auntie Huang said m a nutt. “And also, wny are we talking about me again? We still haven’t figured out Xiao Bao’s situation.”

The two old women continued to shift the conversation to discuss each other’s lives. Lin Wan smiled and listened to their conversation.

Li Zexin, who had been busy at the Sweetheart Inn, finally had the time to eat.

He put down the glue, washed his hands, and went to sit beside Xiao Yi.

The food was delivered by a private kitchen next door. The aroma filled the place.

Xiao Yi took out a bottle of beverage from his backpack and handed it to Li

Zexin. “It’s lychee flavored. It’s quite nice.”

Although it wasn’t very strong, it was still a type of alcoholic beverage. “I promised Mr. Li that I won’t touch alcohol until I’m an adult.”

“Is this even considered alcohol? Are you a real man? It’s a flavored drink with alcohol, you know.”

Li Zexin accepted the bottle. “Give me both the bottles..”