Bathing the Kids

Chapter 10

As she ate, she remembered something. This were jujube fruit but could also serve as medicine. Most importantly it could be made into dessert and sold for money. Su Ying was so excited that she was trembling with joy. Today was indeed her lucky day. So she decided to mark the spot and come back for it another time. She was already feeling tired carrying the basket.

She headed home immediately. While passing by she gathered some herbs like scallions with could add a spicy aroma to the pheasant, clintaro and ginger. With this herbs she was sure she could produce a satisfying pheasant chicken. With that thought she hummed happily while heading home.

Arriving at the foot of the mountain she noticed that the house was quiet but they two kids where still in the compound playing with mud looking dirty and unkept. Immediately she felt her OCD flare up again. She wanted nothing more than two catch them both and give them a good scrubbing. And that was what she did immediately she reached their house.

On sensing her presence the kids stiffened and they looked at her with vigilance. But she just ignored them and entered the house to drop the things and boil water for bathing. They both breathed a sigh of relief and looked at each other before whispering in what they thought was hushed tones.

"Big brother that woman has not spoken or touched us for a while. Do you think she is planning something bad again. And also the basket she was carrying there were herbs grasses in it. Is she so hungry that she wants to eat grass like Auntie Zhou cow?".

This was the sentence that Su Ying heard when she came outside to call them over for bathing and her lips twitched in exasperation. Regardless she pretended not to hear anything and called out to them both to come here.

"You both come over here. I have something to tell you". Su Ying spoke in what she thought was a gentle tone while beckoning to the kids to come.

Recluntantly the kids started walking towards her with the elder shielding the younger one from her afraid she would pounce on him. When they finally reached where she was Su Ying was already feeling tired of standing. Looking at them both she ordered

"Remove your clothes you both".

They both looked at her like she was a hooligan about to take the innocence of a young lady leaving her speechless.

"You.. what are you planning to do. We have not done anything wrong so why do you want to punish my brother and I. We will not remove our clothes". The elder one uttered defiantly thou afraid.

"What ridiculous thought are running through your mind now. I asked you to remove your clothes so you can take a bath. I have already boiled the water for bathing and besides I need your help with something after the bath. So hurry up let's be done with this before your father comes back" Su Ying uttered.

The two kids stood frozen there staring at her in shock. This was they first time their mother took the initiative to bathe them. She didn't use to care if they had bathed or eaten or even dead, so seeing her concerned about them now was a bit shocking.

Su Ying saw that were not moving and thought they were unwilling so she decided to remove it herself which woke them from their daze and they tightly clutched their clothes while moving away from them.

"You both don't want to remove it so I decided to help. I'm going in to bring the water for bathing outside and you both should be done with bathing before I'm back". With that Su Ying went back inside leaving the kids flustered.

The stared at each other before stripping off their clothes and getting ready for bathing with their mother. Soon Su Ying emerged from the room carrying a bucket of water and heading to the back of the mountain with the kids trailing behind her. She has just remembered that people here have no soap or sponges for bathing. But only wipe with clothes down. Which was another trouble itself