Chapter 25: Suffocated into Unconsciousness

The three little ones had each drawn a large map on the bed, turning the entire mattress into their own personal landscape of rivers and mountains.

When Shao Diandian walked over, the three little ones looked at her with wide, innocent eyes.

"Sister! How are we supposed to sleep like this?" Shao Erdan complained, feeling aggrieved.

Shao Erdan's own bed was no longer usable, and Wei Ting’s small cot couldn't accommodate a second person.

Shao Diandian sighed helplessly. "Erdan, go sleep with Father. Big Tiger, Second Tiger, Little Tiger, come sleep in my room."

She changed the three little ones into dry clothes. The trio clutched their beloved little pillows and scurried onto Shao Diandian's bed. Watching them succeed in their sleepover mission once again, Shao Diandian said sternly, "This is absolutely, definitely the last time!"

The three little ones nodded vigorously.

"Close your eyes and go to sleep!" Shao Diandian commanded fiercely.

The trio obediently shut their eyes and drifted into sweet dreams.

...

The sleeping postures of the three little ones left much to be desired. When Shao Diandian woke up, not a single child was left beside her. She searched the bed and, unsurprisingly, found one lying horizontally at the head, one sprawled at the foot, and the third tucked in a corner with his legs kicked up against the wall.

The three were breathing deeply in their sleep, looking endearingly silly. Shao Diandian tucked them back into the covers, poked their soft, fair cheeks one by one, and mentally added little "boing-boing" sound effects. She burst into laughter at the thought.

Three little shop-window dolls—how amusing.

Shao Diandian dressed neatly and carried the laundry to the backyard. A light snow had fallen overnight, leaving a thin layer on the ground that crunched softly under her feet. In her previous life, she had grown up in the south and rarely saw snow; she chose a university in a northern city and stayed there for eight years. Perhaps that was where her strong adaptability was forged.

Shao Diandian first lit the stove and set the water to boil, then took out the dough she had proofed and the beans she had soaked from the cupboard. While waiting for the water to heat and the dough to rise, she moved a small stool under the backyard shed to wash the laundry.

Wei Ting’s fever had broken, and he was no longer delirious, so he naturally woke up early. He limped to the backyard to wash up, only to catch sight of Shao Diandian sitting in the cold wind, washing clothes with her head down. He had heard the commotion last night—the three little rascals had actually wet the bed. It went without saying that she was washing the sheets they had ruined.

She didn't show a hint of resentment. Why? Naturally, it was to lose weight. The household laundry had always been Shao Erdan's chore, and since Shao Diandian couldn't do much exercise, she had taken over the housework.

Shao Diandian hummed a little tune as she scrubbed. In her past life, she had been tone-deaf, but this body possessed a voice kissed by angels. Coupled with her plumpness, she had great lung capacity and could hit high notes without even catching her breath. Still, she exercised some restraint early in the morning.

Watching her enjoy herself, Wei Ting felt he understood her less and less.

"Oh? You're up?"

Wei Ting was slightly startled, only then realizing he had been lost in thought staring at a little chubby girl. He composed himself and said coldly, "With you being so noisy, who could possibly sleep?"

Shao Diandian’s chubby face darkened. "I’m noisy every day! I haven't seen you unable to sleep before!"

Considering she was washing clothes for the children so early in the morning, Wei Ting didn't want to argue with her. He limped past her, intending to draw water to wash his face. However, he overestimated his mobility and missed his footing.

As he was about to tumble into the bone-chilling water vat, Shao Diandian hurriedly reached out to pull him back—she still had to make pancakes later, and the water couldn't be contaminated!

Perhaps she used too much force, pulling him too hard and causing Wei Ting to lunge directly at her. By the time she realized what was happening, she had been pinned to the snowy ground by Wei Ting. Out of a medical professional’s instinct to save the injured, she firmly held his head down with her hands.

With the soft snow as a cushion, Shao Diandian didn't feel any pain, though she felt dizzy for a moment before recovering.

"Wei Ting, you can get up now."

Wei Ting didn't move.

"Hey, even though I'm chubby, you’re quite heavy too."

Wei Ting still didn't move.

Shao Diandian frowned, lifted her head with difficulty, and took a closer look. Uh-oh... it seemed Wei Ting had been smothered unconscious by her. She had forgotten she was a "buxom" little chubby girl.

Shao Diandian couldn't move Wei Ting by herself, so she had to go to Father Shao's room and wake up Shao Erdan.

"Sister, are we going to sell the pancakes?" Shao Erdan woke up in a second. It turned out the only way to rouse a sleepy brother was to tell him he was going to sell pancakes.

"Not yet," Shao Diandian coughed slightly. "Your brother-in-law fell in the backyard; go help me carry him."

*If he fell, shouldn't you just help him up? Why carry him?* When he arrived, Shao Erdan understood—his brother-in-law had been knocked unconscious!

"How did he fall? Is he alright?" He was genuinely worried about Wei Ting.

"He's fine, he just needs to sleep for a bit," Shao Diandian couldn't very well tell him that Wei Ting had been smothered by her "luxury sea-view property."

"Carry him inside; don't let your brother-in-law freeze."

"Got it!"

The two of them worked together to carry Wei Ting back to the small east room.

...

Shao Diandian was worried he might have... *ahem*, sustained some injury, so she checked him for wounds and took his pulse, confirming there was nothing serious before leaving the room.

Due to this delay, she and Shao Erdan arrived at the town an hour later than the day before. The Jin Family Pastry shop had already sold several batches.

Shao Erdan pointed at the shop. "Sister, there's no queue anymore; everyone has already bought their things and left."

Not only were there fewer customers at the entrance of the Jin Family Pastry shop, but the shops behind them had also opened, meaning they couldn't set up right in front of anyone's door. She thought for a moment and went directly to the entrance of the small alley next to the shop.

Looking at the sparse flow of pedestrians, Shao Erdan asked with a bitter expression, "Sister, we won't fail to sell anything today, will we..."

The situation today was indeed unfavorable.

"Little girl! You're finally here!"

A familiar voice came from across the street. The siblings looked in the direction of the sound. It was the young scholar from the Jin Family shop the day before. He was wearing light blue academy robes, holding a folding fan, and looked refined and spirited.

He strode over, tapped his left palm with the fan, and said with a chuckle, "I caught you, didn't I? I’m the first customer today. It’s settled: if I buy one, you give me one free!"

"Yes," Shao Diandian nodded. "Which flavor do you want?"

The scholar huffed. "Don't you only have three flavors? Give me one of each!"

"There are four today," Shao Diandian said. "There's an extra chestnut one."

The chestnuts had been brought by Aunt Wu that morning; they were boiled and peeled, so she had tried making ten chestnut-filled cakes.

The scholar acted aloof for a second. "How would I know if it's good?"

Shao Diandian cut him a small piece. He tasted it calmly and said, "It's passable."

Shao Diandian: "Oh."

The scholar: "I'll take them all."

The siblings: "..."