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nWhen Yu Dong saw that Shen Li has lowered his head thinking about something she raised her hand and patted his head. Though she didn't know what he was thinking about, with his anxious bunny-like behaviour he must be thinking about something upsetting to make him frown like this. She wished he would speak his mind like Ye Liu, even if he spoke in just mere whispers - that was fine too but what was unacceptable, was that he never spoke his thoughts out loud and always bottled them up. She was afraid that if he kept doing this, he might hurt himself emotionally not that he needed any more scars.

nHowever, she was not in a hurry. Slowly and gradually she will change his habits and make him open up. One day, whether it's Shen Li or Ye Liu or Chen Mi they will speak their minds to her without fearing anything.

nShe rubbed his silky head and grinned

" you don't need to be like this, what I am doing for you is only right. And you don't need to say a word of gratitude for that, just two pairs of new clothes and you are acting like I saved your life or something. Just wait I will make you the most happiest mers of the village, from now on you don't need t say a word of thanks even if I give you a spanking new wardrobe or a new house. It makes me happy that you three have so much faith in me, I'm really happy but it makes me upset if you keep thanking me for the smallest things. It's your right and it's my duty - I will do what's the best for you three, Yu Mai and Little bun. With me here, I can't allow anyone to bully my little mers, so speak what you want and ask what you need because I will definitely do my best to get it for you

"

nShen Li and Ye Liu were both touched by her ' I will definitely do my best to give you the best ' speech and blushed shyly. Shen Li couldn't help but lower his head, even more, to let Yu Dong rub his head more easily while Ye Liu laughed happily

" Big brother did you hear what wife said! You don't need to keep worrying about little things from now on, rest at ease. Our wife would definitely not let us get started, so take a chill and stop saying things that might make her upset

"

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" like you are any better, didn't you use to worry about the same things and keep saying that you are really happy that Wife changed for the best? Don't you think that by saying this you are slapping your own face? No need to talk about anything else, the fact that you keep counting the coins every time Wife gives them to your keep, you kept thanking her like she is your saviour and fill my ears with all sort of gratifying speeches. What about that ?

" while they walked back home, Ye Liu and Shen Li indulged themselves in light debate on the topic ' who was more grateful to their wife '. Yu Dong heard their bantering and had a jaw splitting smile on her lips, she was really glad at least these two started to talk in front of her.

nYu Dong was happy to let them be engaged in a small quarrel at least this would change their monotonous life at house. Their life was really good these days but Yu Dong still wanted them to be a little active and not just stay at home silently while doing the chores, how boring is that? They hardly ever talked to her about how their day went by or what they did, even at the dining table they focussed on the tasks that they need to do - apart from that they hardly ever conversed. If they opened up a bit more and stopped acting reserved then at least their lives would be a bit more joyful.

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" wife, should I bring out the meat that we brought today from the town? I'm afraid that Mai won't eat the breakfast tomorrow morning without any meat on the table, he is at the age where he is a lot pickier than before, should we do that?

" asked Ye Liu, after coming back from the town and being pampered by his sister and his brothers in law, Yu Mai has gotten a bit spoiled. He didn't create a fuss like modern children but he did pout like he was eating sour lemon if he didn't get to eat meat.

nAh, that's what she forgot! Because of Qiu Bai and his instigations, she completely forgot what she was doing and all her focus was on controlling her anger. Because she was afraid of hurting anyone, Yu Dong sighed, she wanted to go back to the forest but she was in no mood to go hunting after being given so much headache. But the meat at home was too little they didn't buy much because Yu Dong didn't like meat that wasn't fresh, so they only had half a catty of fatty pork and some big bones to stew bone soup. It wasn't enough for the breakfast and lunch five people, right?

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" wife, should we try to catch some yellow croakers? I think we can make do with so yellow croakers, if we add some fish we don't have to worry about lunch and breakfast

" Shen Li seemed to know what was going on Yu Dong's head and was worried she would go back to the mountains so he hurriedly spoke up stop her in case she changed her mind and went up the forest again.

nSmall yellow croakers? Yu Dong's eye lit up! That's right if they don't have enough meat then they could at least catch some fish to make up for the lack of meat! How can she forget that? And the fresh croakers of this world would definitely be tastier than the ones in her world, those small croakers were all artificially made and didn't even taste that good - ah, she could cook salt and pepper yellow croakers or spicy yellow croakers fish stew, or she can even pan fry them, ah the delicacy, Yu Dong couldn't help but swallow her drool as she thought of all the images she saw in the web when she was searching for a way to cook yellow croakers in the past. Though it might take a bit more time, she might as well work hard to feed delicious food to her family.... Of course, she will eat as well!

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