This year, Chubei Province suffered from the same freezing rain and snow disaster as in 2008. After Mei Youyuan's family returned to their hometown in Baimei County, they stayed at home. Little Yuanbao Mei Xiaoyuan and little Xixi Mei Zhixi hardly went out to play.
The Chinese New Year is almost here, but there are no night markets to visit, no lantern festivals to watch, and no fireworks to set off in the square. The children are so bored that they lie on the window every day staring at the rain, or play badminton in the empty living room. It's so boring.
Seeing his daughters so depressed, father Mei Fang thought of a way to cheer them up -
He taught Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi to play video games together.
Since my daughters are still young, games with complicated operations are still difficult for them.
So, Mei Fang decided to play "Super Mario Party" with her daughters.
This is a Monopoly game that can be played by four people. In the game, everyone moves on the board by rolling dice.
Collect enough gold coins to reach the target point where you can buy stars and exchange them for party stars. The operation is simple and the goal is clear. Even a six-year-old child can easily understand and get started.
Various random events occur when each character moves, affecting the situation on the board.
Of course, the most interesting thing is the party game at the end of each round. There are nearly a hundred mini-games to play, including many somatosensory games such as catching popcorn, pole climbing competition, water gun battle, and boomerang competition. It is very interesting to interact with these various games.
Experiencing this new thing for the first time, Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi quickly fell in love with the game under their father’s guidance. They would pester their father to play with them every day.
"Come play with us, Dad—come and have a party!"
"Today I want to sit in daddy's arms and play!"
"But, a game for four people is always played by the three of us, so it's not that interesting... right?"
Under Mei Fang's guidance, Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi turned their attention to Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi who were preparing meals.
"Mother Yuan, Mother Xi! Come and play with us!"
"Hey... Are you really going to call us?"
Xia Yuan scratched her face a little embarrassedly. "Although mommy really wants to play with you, we are different from daddy. If I play with you, I will not let you down. If you lose badly, mommy is worried that you will be beaten and cry."
"Really?"
Little Yuanbao seemed very excited. "I have never been beaten to tears by Yuan Mama and Xi Mama. I really want to experience it!"
"Ah—you said it!"
Xia Yuan's expression suddenly became serious.
Our education is missing!
Ever since they can remember, the two children have been growing up in a honeypot, being doted on by everyone and have almost never encountered any setbacks.
I haven't even experienced what it feels like to cry.
Kids nowadays are so happy...
For example, Afang was once beaten by our parents in the mixed doubles team in kindergarten in front of so many other kids because he wet his pants. It was so embarrassing at that time.
Xia Yuan puffed up his cheeks and tried not to tell this story. After all, Afang cared very much about being a great father in front of his children.
However, as a good mother, Xia Yuan believes that she cannot watch this happen. She must give them some frustration education and let them experience the cruelty of the adult world.
"Okay, wait till I wash my hands, I'll come play with you guys!"
Xia Yuan rolled up her sleeves and was eager to try. Lin Youxi, who was standing by, smiled as she watched her prepare to join the battle. At this time, Mei Fang came over and asked softly, "What are you doing?"
"Youxi, do you want to play with me? I'll let you play."
"I don't need it... Don't you know me well enough?"
Lin Youxi winked at Mei Fang, and Mei Fang smiled knowingly:
"Haha... That's true."
Lin Youxi took Mei Fang's hand and whispered in his ear:
"Come to think of it, we started playing games when we were about the same age, right? I remember you started playing those games after your family got a computer..."
"By the way, I saw you playing a game at your house. It should be "Legend"?"
"You still remember it so clearly... I was really good when I was little."
"Because that was also my first time playing games, even though I was just typing on the keyboard beside you and disturbing you..."
Mei Fang and Lin Youxi were revisiting the good memories of the past when Xiao Yuanbao suddenly shouted:
"Dad, come and play! Mommy Yuan is going to take your favorite Wario away!"
Little Yuanbao called out to Mei Fang, while Lin Youxi patted Mei Fang on the back, urging him to go and play with the kids.
—
At the end of the game, Xia Yuan, who worked very hard, got the last place.
"How, how could this happen!?"
"My number of stars was clearly the highest when the calculation was done... but how come I was the last when the awards were given?"
"Don't be discouraged, Mother Yuan, this is how the game works... In addition to your grades, it also depends on whether you use the props. Mother Yuan just likes to save things. If it were me, I would use up all those props!"
"Mother Yuan, don't, don't be discouraged. Dad and I were also at the back at the beginning..."
Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi were busy coaxing Yuan's mother and asking her not to be sad, but Xia Yuan soon cheered up and shouted that he would get back at the next round.
In this way, everyone played many games in a row. Generally speaking, Xia Yuan and Mei Fang were at the bottom of the game rankings, and Xiao Yuanbao got the first place more often.
"Xiao Yuanbao is really amazing! You may be the most talented person in our family in terms of gaming talent! You may be a gaming genius that only appears once in a century!"
Under her father's flattery, little Yuanbao gradually raised her hands on her hips with a very proud look, just like the posture her mother Yuan would usually pose.
"Xiao Xixi is also great every time she plays!"
Xia Yuan hugged Xiao Xixi and kissed her. "I found that Xiao Xixi always gets first place in those games that test her eyesight. Do you have any secrets? Can you teach her mother Yuan?"
Yuan's mother's encouragement cheered up Xiao Xixi, who was originally a little disappointed:
"For this, just this will do..."
Lin Youxi is usually the one sitting next to her father watching the show. From time to time, she would serve tea and water, prepare snacks and fruits, and then remind Xiao Yuanbao and Da Yuanbao not to sit too close to the TV.
But at this moment, Xiao Yuanbao had a doubt in his mind:
Every time, Xi's mother just watches everyone play and doesn't play herself. How can she be happy that way
In the eyes of the children, Lin Youxi always looks gentle and considerate, but she always plays the role of a bystander and it is difficult for her to have fun with them.
Although he could certainly feel that Xi's mother loved him very much, Xiao Yuanbao always felt that he was not as close to Xi's mother as to Yuan's mother.
It would be great if Xi’s mom could play with us too!
I want to find some activities that can allow Xi's mother to participate and let her enjoy the time with us!
Little Yuanbao thought.
Um…
Dad must have a good idea.
Let’s go and discuss it with dad first!
Xiao Yuanbao took the invincible player figurine of Kamen Rider Exide to his parents' big bedroom to discuss it with his father. He saw his father Mei Fangzheng using his mobile phone with his back turned.
So Xiao Yuanbao put the figurine aside, tiptoed over, and then hugged Mei Fang's neck and shouted:
"Dad, Dad! What are you doing!?"
Mei Xiaoyuan noticed the bright and beautiful picture on her father's mobile phone screen, and her eyes suddenly lit up -
Yes, it is a cute and sparkly cake!
Little Yuanbao opened his mouth in surprise, "Who is going to have a birthday? Dad actually celebrated it secretly without telling me in advance!"
"It's mom!"
Mei Fang scratched Xiao Yuanbao's nose and said, "We are preparing a birthday party for Xi's mother. Didn't we hold it every year before? Have you forgotten it?"
Mei Xiaoyuan immediately pursed her lips in embarrassment: "No, I didn't forget! I remember Xi's mother's birthday every year, and I'm planning to prepare a birthday present for Xi's mother this year!"
"Hmm? Birthday present... Is it true or not? What do you want to give to Xi's mother?"
Under the gaze of his father Mei Fang, Xiao Yuanbao's expression gradually became aggrieved:
"I'm sorry, Dad... I, I just lied."
Xiao Yuanbao immediately admitted his mistake, "I actually don't remember Xi's mother's birthday."
"It doesn't matter, at least you remember it now, right?"
Mei Fang smiled and patted Xiao Yuanbao's head. "It's not too late to prepare birthday presents now. There's still a week left."
“Yeah… OK!”
Little Yuanbao clutched the corner of his clothes and looked at Mei Fang, "I, I want to prepare a birthday gift for Xi's mother... She will be very, very happy when she receives it!"
No matter what you give to Xi's mother, she loves you so much, she will definitely be very happy.
But Mei Fang cannot directly tell these truths to the child, she must guide her to think for herself, so that the child can grow up...
Although Xiao Yuanbao is only six and a half years old, he has a strong execution ability and immediately told Xixi that her mother's birthday would be in a few days.
"I'm different from you. I remember Xi's mother's birthday..."
Xiao Xixi lowered her head and muttered something. Xiao Yuanbao knew her sister's state very well because she was in the same state in front of her father.
"You can't lie. Mother Yuan said that children who lie will be taken away by the big bad wolf at night."
"I'm not afraid of the big bad wolf! Dad will definitely protect me anyway."
Xiao Xixi has great confidence in her father Mei Fang, but her voice became softer as she spoke:
"Well, I actually don't remember Xi's mom's birthday... I don't remember Yuan's mom's either. Before every birthday, the moms always prepare birthday gifts for me. I feel really sorry for them."
Xiao Yuanbao patted his sister's arm and said, "It's okay, now we all remember it. Next time we'll write it down in our notebooks so we won't forget it!"
Xiao Xixi nodded, then looked at Xiao Yuanbao, "Sister Yuanbao, what birthday gift are you going to give to Xi's mother?"
"I haven't thought about it yet. It's only a few days away from Xi's mother's birthday. Let's prepare it together for Xi's mother!"
"good!"
So the two sisters began to think about gifts that Xi's mother would like.
Xi's mother likes books, cooking and making delicious food.
"So, how about we give a book to Xi's mother?"
Little Yuanbao suggested: "Mother Xi likes to read fairy tale picture books to us. Let's give Mother Xi one of our favorite picture books!"
Little Xixi shook her head. "But, Sister Yuanbao, if that's the case, Mommy Xi will have to read it to us again, which doesn't seem like a birthday present from Mommy Xi."
"Well... that does seem like a gift to ourselves. That's - well... right!"
Little Yuanbao raised his hand high, "Let's prepare a dish for Xi's mother! Just like what we made in the cooking competition in kindergarten, how about it?"
"But Dad has prepared a birthday party, and Mommy Xi has a small appetite. It would be bad if she eats too much!"
“Yes!”
Little Yuanbao nodded, "Mother Xi always likes to watch us eat, saying that she feels full just by watching us eat."
"Then, what should I give to my mother..."
Little Yuanbao didn't have any idea. "I feel like Xi's mother can guess what I'm going to give her as a birthday gift."
There is no way it can be a surprise if you can guess it!
Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi have been very distressed recently.
However, the two of them have been getting together to discuss things recently, and Xia Yuan soon discovered their intentions.
It turns out that he was preparing a birthday present for Youxi!
Xia Yuan couldn't wait to join the children's plan, "Clang clang! Mommy Yuan knows what you are doing! Are you preparing for the birthday gift for Mommy Xi?"
"If you want to prepare a birthday present for Mother Xi, would you like to listen to Mother Yuan's advice?"
Xia Yuan smiled and shook her finger, "Since I was your age, I have been giving birthday presents to Xi's mother every year!"
"Then, what did Yuan's mother give her as a gift when she was a child—woohoo—"
"Shh—Xixi, don't ask!"
Xiao Yuanbao covered Xiao Xixi's mouth, then leaned close to her ear and conspired with her loudly:
"If only Yuan's mother would discuss it with us! She would!"
Xiao Yuanbao winked at Xiao Xixi and kept blinking.
“Yes, yes!”
After seeing her sister's posture, Xiao Xixi seemed to understand something and nodded vigorously.
"What are you discussing secretly? What do you understand?"
Xia Yuanwei said aggrievedly, "Why can't I discuss Xi's mother's birthday gift with Yuan's mother?"
Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi stood with their hands behind their backs, looking at their mother:
"Because! Mother Yuan sleeps with Dad and Mother Xi every day. If she knew what birthday gift we were going to give Mother Xi, she would definitely let Mother Xi know!"
Xiao Xixi also nodded, "We want to give Mommy Xi a surprise."
"Ahem... It's okay not to discuss this with Yuan's mother, um, yes, yes, but—"
Xia Yuan coughed a few times, thought for a moment, and looked at the two children with a red face:
"You can't discuss this with Dad!"
"If you go to Dad to discuss this instead of talking to Mother Yuan, she will be really sad!"
Little Yuanbao quickly waved his hands and denied, "No, no, Mother Yuan, if we don't discuss this with you, then we won't discuss this with Dad either."
Little Xixi also nodded vigorously, "We plan to work hard and find a birthday gift that can surprise Xi's mother."
Xia Yuan gradually cheered up with the comfort of Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi, and then smiled sweetly:
"No, but this is also proof that dad and mom have a good relationship! Mom is also very happy that you think so... Good kids, good kids."
After hearing Xia Yuan's answer, Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi looked at each other and then fell into thought:
"Besides Yuan's mother and father, who knows Xi's mother best?"
"Yes, who is it?"
Xia Yuan smiled and said, "We have to visit many relatives and friends during the New Year, so let's take this opportunity to discuss it with everyone. Mother Yuan will cover for you."
"Okay, okay! Thank you, Mother Yuan!"
Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi continued to discuss the planning of birthday gifts -
You can't ask others directly what birthday gift Xi's mother likes, because then Xi's mother may know their thoughts in advance.
Moreover, if everyone forgot Xi's mother's birthday like them, they would definitely be as sad as they were.
"That… "
"Let's ask them about Xi's mother's past interests and hobbies, preferably things that happened before we were born!"
"That's right. This way, Xi's mother will definitely not guess that we would know this. She will definitely be very surprised by such a birthday gift!"
So, Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi followed their parents to visit relatives and friends and started their birthday gift battle -
Xi Mama’s parents must know very well what Xi Mama likes!
"My mother's greatest hobby in the past should be studying!"
Xi's grandmother Liang Meijuan stuffed a thick stack of New Year's money into the red envelope. "She is doing very well in school! She studies very hard and often doesn't go to bed until after 11pm."
"ah?"
Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi were very surprised. "Mummy Xixi always tells us that we have to go to bed before nine o'clock, otherwise we won't grow up!"
"This is different. We are talking about what happened when Xi's mother was in high school. By then, Xi's mother had grown up."
Grandpa Lin Guochuan quickly explained, "You still have to go to bed early!"
It turns out that Xi's mother used to be a top student who loved studying and went to bed very late.
"Then she must want us to get good grades!"
Little Yuanbao was sweating a little when he thought about this. "But I failed the math final exam, and Xi's mother didn't blame me. She told me that I didn't have to study if I didn't like it. Is it too late to work hard now?"
Xiao Xixi thought about it and said, "I think Sister Yuanbao can write a letter of guarantee and promise to Xi's mother that she will pass the exam next time!"
"That's a great idea!"
Aunt Xinyi, Xi's mother's former deskmate, is Xi's mother's best friend, and she can also learn about Xi's mother's previous interests and hobbies from her.
"Xi, Xi, Mom, before... Are you asking about when you were in school?"
"She was a very silly and simple girl at that time. She could do nothing except study. To be honest, it was all thanks to me at that time. Otherwise—"
"What else?" Xiao Xixi asked curiously.
Otherwise there would be no Xiaoxixi.
Yue Xinyi smiled and shook her head, and just continued with the topic:
"Speaking of your mother's hobbies when she was in school, it was naturally novels!"
"What is a novel?" Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi tilted their heads.
"It's a book full of densely packed words... Look, it's like this! This is the book your mother also likes to read."
Yue Xinyi found a novel that she had treasured for many years and showed it to the children. The children looked at the cover and then read it aloud:
"Rabbit... No, eat..."
"There's not a single picture, and I don't recognize the words. It's so tiring to look at them!"
Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi have given up on learning to read. It turns out that Xixi’s mother likes to watch this kind of thing
In their memories, Mother Xi always read picture books to them.
The picture book has many cute little animals, only a few words and pinyin to read.
But the novel seems...
Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi started to discuss:
"Mother Xi used to like reading densely written words. We can use our New Year's money to go to the bookstore and buy her the novel recommended by Aunt Xinyi."
Xi's mother once said that when she was a child, she often played at her grandmother Xiang Xiaoxia's house.
So, grandma must know what interests and hobbies Xi’s mother had in the past!
Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi found their grandmother Xiang Xiaoxia.
"Youxi's previous hobbies..."
Xiang Xiaoxia held a granddaughter in one hand and said, "Your mother likes to study food, but you also know this."
"In that case, let me tell you a story about Xi's mother's childhood, okay?"
"I want to listen, I want to listen!" Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi came over.
"When Mom Xi was a child, she actually hated eating fish. Every time I cooked fish, she would secretly give it to your dad when I wasn't paying attention, thinking that grandma didn't know—"
"I don't like eating fish either. I was a picky eater because I was afraid of getting stuck by fish bones."
Little Xixi muttered, "But, I saw that mommy Xi was very happy eating fish..."
"That should be because I want to set an example for the two of you."
Xiang Xiaoxia stroked the children's heads and said, "Mother Xi must hope to be a role model for you."
Xiao Xixi thought for a while and said, "I will also write a letter of guarantee to my mother, promising that I will not be picky about food in the future. Then my mother will definitely like this gift very much."
When you come to grandma's house, you must also visit Aunt Xiaoya!
When Aunt Xiaoya was playing with Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi, she often boasted that she had watched their father, mother Yuan and mother Xi grow up.
Without Aunt Xiaoya’s help, there would be no Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi.
In that case, Aunt Xiaoya must know what Xi’s mother liked in the past!
"Aunt Xiaoya, Aunt Xiaoya, I want to ask you a question!"
Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi found Meiya who was tinkering with the live broadcast equipment in the room. Meiya was also very happy to be surrounded by the children.
"Ask me, ask me. As long as you're not asking me when I can find a boyfriend, I can answer you!"
Mei Ya happily pinched Xiao Xixi's face, and then Xiao Yuanbao took her arm and asked:
"Well... then, do you know what Xi's mother's hobbies were when she was a child?"
"Of course it's your father!" Mei Ya answered immediately.
"He's not a human being!" Xiao Yuanbao retorted hurriedly.
"Okay, how can you say your father is not a human being!"
"I, what we are asking is..."
Little Xixi said in a baby voice, "We want to know if Mommy Xixi had any special interests or hobbies in the past that we don't know about yet?"
"Hmm... let me think about it..."
What Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi don’t know is Xixi’s mother’s interests and hobbies.
It seems that these two kids are planning something...
You want to know Xi's mother's dark history, right
Meiya thought for a moment, then smiled mysteriously, "Your mother Xi does have a special hobby, which is—"
"That's—"
"Hide in the closet!"
"Hide, hide in the closet!"
Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi were very shocked after hearing the news, "Why does Xi's mother like to hide in the closet?"
"Yeah... why?"
Mei Ya smiled and said, "Would you like to guess? If you can't guess correctly, auntie will give you a reward!"
Reward you for helping me record a New Year greetings video!
Little Yuanbao raised his hand, "Is mom playing hide and seek?"
Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi looked at each other.
“I can’t imagine my mom playing hide-and-seek…”
"Yes, I too..."
"Mother Xi likes the sense of security of the wardrobe?"
"That's not right. Mommy Xi has had Dad by her side for a long time. She should be close to Dad."
“We can’t figure it out!”
Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi had bitter faces.
At this time, Mei Ya smiled and said, "Okay, okay, I won't keep you in suspense. Actually, the reason why Xi's mother likes to hide in the closet is because—"
"She wants to stay at our house longer and play games with Daddy!"
"ah."
“Ahhh!”
"Mom Xi, do you like playing games?"
Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi were shocked.
"Yes, your mother is a gaming genius. She is very good at playing any game. When I was a child, she played many games with me and my aunt..."
Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi felt incredible after hearing about the past experience of Aunt Xiaoya being taken to play games by Xixi's mother.
On the way home, the children could no longer suppress their doubts and ran to ask their mother Xia Yuan, who had been waiting for them for a long time.
"Mother Xi used to like playing games, why doesn't she play now?"
"Hmm..." Xia Yuan thought for a moment, then smiled and said:
"That... Of course it's because Mommy Xi found something more interesting than playing games!"
"What's more fun than playing games?"
"The thing that's more interesting than games, of course, is—"
"I see!"
Xiao Xixi thought about it:
"Xi's mother used to like studying very much, but she never forced us to study;"
"Xi's mother used to like reading novels, but she still read picture books with us;"
"Xi's mother actually didn't like eating fish before, but she still had to be non-picky in front of us."
Xiao Yuanbao quickly understood what Xiao Xixi meant, "So, the thing that's more interesting than playing games is, is us!"
Lin Youxi's birthday party was very simple. The family decorated the venue, and the birthday cake was a blue-green castle floating in the soft white clouds.
Small, delicate and cute.
"To Xi's mother! Happy birthday to Xi's mother!"
After everyone sang the birthday song together, Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi gave the birthday present to Lin Youxi.
The painting shows a family of five playing games together. Each person has a controller, and Lin Youxi is sitting in the middle. There is also a computer, a perfect test paper, a table of steaming dishes, and a wardrobe.
“We prepared these gifts together... We asked many people and thought of many birthday gifts, and we think this gift can best express our thoughts!”
Lin Youxi was particularly surprised to receive the birthday gifts from the children. "Thank you for preparing such a beautiful birthday gift for Mom! Mom is very happy."
Lin Youxi observed the birthday painting given to her, smiled and looked up and asked the children:
"But, don't you guys really want your mom to play games with you?"
"Um… "
Xiao Yuanbao and Xiao Xixi looked at each other and said, "I want to."
Little Yuanbao explained, "I heard that mom is actually a gaming genius. I wonder if mom Xi is just watching us play because she wants to be a role model for us."
"In addition to games, we also want to do many things with Mommy Xi and be as close to Mommy Yuan as we are to Mommy Yuan!" Little Xixi said with his hands behind his back.
Lin Youxi suddenly felt a little emotional. Ever since the children were born, Lin Youxi's mind has been completely focused on her family. She has become accustomed to being a silent helper and observer behind the family.
With the children's reminder, she realized that she hadn't thought about things that made her happy for a long time.
Xia Yuan, who was standing by, also pulled her hand to encourage her, "Mother Xi is an excellent role model!"
"At least on your birthday, you can be a carefree kid like you used to be and have some fun, right?"
Mei Fang put her arm around Lin Youxi's shoulders and squeezed them gently, her voice as gentle as ever.
So, with the encouragement of Mei Fang and Xia Yuan, Lin Youxi decided to join in the joyful atmosphere and played "Super Mario Party" with the children.
The result was that everyone was severely taught a lesson by Xi's mother.
"It turns out that Xi's mother is the real gaming genius!"
Xiao Yuanbao willingly gave the title of gaming genius to Xi's mother.
I suddenly had an idea to write this extra chapter. I wish everyone a happy new year!
(End of this chapter)