Chapter 362: Indeed, He is Li Shengxiao’s Son
Rong Yan felt that preparing six dishes for three people was already plenty, but to her surprise, by the time she went to clear the bowls, there wasn’t much left of the six dishes.
She efficiently cleaned up the dining table and quickly washed the dishes and utensils, then wiped her hands and came out.
Seeing that Li Shengxiao had already finished bathing Little Baby and was out, she resignedly accompanied Little Baby in playing games for a while before coaxing him into bed.
She took out the storybook that she had prepared in advance and began to read it in a soothing tone.
“A long, long, long time ago, in a very far, far away place…” Rong Yan’s voice was very light as she read the storybook while gently patting the little guy’s back, soothingly lulling him to sleep.
“Little Rabbit wondered why Little Pig didn’t eat the carrots that Mr. Elephant gave as a gift but instead planted them back in the ground. So she went to Little Pig and asked, ‘Little Pig, Little Pig, why don’t you eat all those carrots?’ Little Pig said, ‘If I eat them now, there will be no seeds for next year. I am saving these carrots as seeds for next year so that I can harvest a lot more again.’
“Little Rabbit didn’t take it to heart and idled her days away, quickly finishing her share of carrots. When the next year came around, Little Pig harvested many carrots again, but Little Rabbit had none. That was when she realized how wrong her laziness had been, but alas, this year Mr. Elephant didn’t give her any carrots.”
Rong Yan finished the entire storybook, thinking the little guy with his eyes closed had already fallen asleep. But just as she started to withdraw one hand, ready to get up and take a bath,
the little one with his eyes shut suddenly opened his wide, shimmering eyes and earnestly asked her, “Mommy, why did Mr. Elephant give Little Rabbit and Little Pig carrots? Does Mr. Elephant like carrots? Little Rabbit couldn’t help eating all the carrots, but Little Pig didn’t. Is it because Little Pig doesn’t like carrots? Because Grandma says rabbits like carrots, but other little animals don’t like them.”
Rong Yan was caught off guard by his thousand whys and almost ran out of patience.
“Uh. Mr. Elephant gave them carrots because both Little Pig and Little Rabbit had helped him, so the gift was a gesture of gratitude. As for whether elephants like carrots or not, this is a fairy tale. The carrots simply represent something they like to eat.”
Li Duidui somewhat understood and nodded, then asked another more challenging question, “If Mr. Elephant doesn’t give Little Rabbit any carrots, what will Little Rabbit eat? Will Little Pig give Little Rabbit any carrots?”
“If you were Little Pig, would you be willing to share the carrots you grew with Little Rabbit?” Rong Yan asked this with the intention of teaching her child about the virtue of sharing.
To her surprise, the kid earnestly replied without a second thought, “I would give Little Rabbit some carrots, but Little Rabbit must help me plant carrots. When I harvest more carrots next year, I can give her a bit more. But I won’t give her too many.”
“Why not?” Rong Yan was puzzled.
Li Duidui looked at her with a sympathetic gaze, as if he was implying she was a simpleton, “Because if I give Little Rabbit a lot of carrots, she can plant her own carrots next year and won’t help me plant anymore. If I only give her enough carrots to eat, maybe just a bit more, then she will have to help me plant carrots every year. That way, I can take a break.”