「The next morning.」

The gentle sunshine spilled through the window onto the bed. It wasn't blinding, but it was warm enough to chase away any lingering desire to sleep. Since they didn't have a crib, the couple slept on either side of the bed, protecting the babies nestled between them. Fortunately, the weather was hot, so there was no need for little blankets.

With the babies' ability to cycle through four different positions in a single minute, how could anyone get a good night's sleep? One moment a tiny foot would kick you in the face, the next a little bottom would be pressed against your head, and then one of them would be sprawled across your chest. It was a bewildering variety of movements, and it was baffling how they managed it all.

Aren't they tired? Or is changing positions just more comfortable?

That night, neither spouse had slept well. Zhang Yuxi, in particular, was exhausted from Lin Feng's antics on top of dealing with the four babies. She was so dazed she started to question her own existence, with a look on her face that screamed, "Who am I? Where am I? What am I even doing?"

The most restless of the bunch, the fourth baby, was the first to wake up. He immediately began rolling around on the bed, a bundle of ceaseless energy. After waking, Lin Feng took him to the bathroom to go potty. As they passed the small bucket with the crabs and turtles from the day before, the baby demanded it. Once the little one was seated on his potty, Lin Feng brought the bucket over and set it aside.

"Baby, you can play after you use the toilet," he said firmly.

The baby refused to listen, insisting that Lin Feng hand over the bucket. Lin Feng's expression hardened slightly; there were some things he would not compromise on.

"Baby, Daddy will give them to you after you're done on the potty."

He knew they could understand. The babies could decipher meaning from an adult's expression and tone, even from a single word. Lin Feng had spent days teaching them to use the toilet independently, and he couldn't let that effort go to waste. In the end, the fourth baby couldn't hold it in any longer; it was a matter beyond his control.

After washing the fourth baby until he was squeaky clean, his little face included, Lin Feng finally handed him the small bucket. The baby sat beside it and reached for the contents, but Big White, the dog, gently pressed his paw on the boy's little hand, signaling that these things were not to be touched. The baby kept trying to play, and Big White kept blocking him. He was a playful child but had a good temper and didn't get angry easily. The two of them played like this for a while. If it had been the second child, a tantrum would have erupted long ago. The fourth baby, however, was still giggling and having a grand time with Big White.

Meanwhile, the eldest and second babies woke up one after another. Lin Feng carried them to the bathroom and sat them on their potties.

Zhang Yuxi opened her eyes and mumbled, "Honey, let me sleep for five more minutes… just five minutes is all I need…" After tossing and turning for two hours the previous night, it was no wonder she was exhausted.

Lin Feng leaned in and kissed her. "Go back to sleep. I'll take care of the babies. I'll call you when it's time to eat."

Zhang Yuxi smiled sweetly. "Honey, you're the best. Thank you!" The next second, she was fast asleep again.

After finishing up in the bathroom, Lin Feng patted the babies' little bottoms. "Go on, go play."

They pitter-pattered over to join the fourth baby. Engrossed in his game with Big White, the fourth baby hadn't noticed that the little bucket had tipped over. The small turtles and crabs had already crawled out. The newly arrived eldest and second babies spotted them immediately. They plopped down on the floor and began interacting with the little creatures, giggling with delight.

By now, Lin Feng could discern his children's moods just from the sound of their laughter. Their laughter sounds a bit strange… Why are they so excited?

He was in the middle of dressing the third baby when he turned his head and saw them chasing the crabs and turtles. Fei Fei and Big White had joined in the fun as well. After Lin Feng finished dressing the third baby, the little one was wide awake. Seeing a crab scuttle past, he instantly perked up.

"Wow! Look, what's that?" he exclaimed.

Lin Feng played with the babies for a bit before heading to the kitchen, where Zhou Cuilan was already awake and making congee.

"Mom, I'll take over. You go watch the babies," he offered.

"Alright."

Outside, Lin Dashan sat contentedly on a wicker chair, watching the sunrise. In the living room, Lin Jie and his friends were playing video games.

The congee the adults were having had thickened enough to be suitable for the babies. After setting their portions aside, Lin Feng took some of the congee and simmered it over a low flame, adding shrimp and other ingredients to create a refreshing and delicious seafood congee. After about twenty minutes, he called everyone to come and eat.

With no high chairs available, the babies had to sit in a row on the living room sofa. To avoid future mealtime trouble, Lin Feng had established a firm rule ever since they started eating solid food: they had to sit properly and finish their meal before they could get down to play. No distractions were allowed in between. His efforts had paid off handsomely. The babies now sat quietly on the sofa, taking bites one after another. The seafood congee had a fresh flavor and a hint of saltiness, which the babies absolutely loved.

After more than half an hour, the babies were all full. Zhou Cuilan and Lin Dashan had already finished their meal.

"You two go eat, we'll watch our little grandchildren," Zhou Cuilan said.

"Go on, eat. We've got this," Lin Dashan added with a wave.

Zhou Cuilan picked up the escaped turtle and crab. "Come on, let's go to the yard and play hide-and-seek with these little guys." The grandparents then led their grandchildren outside to play.

"Bro, we're going to head out for a bit. We'll be back around noon," Lin Jie announced. "If we're not back by then, it means our big brother is treating us to lunch."

The 'big brother' Lin Jie referred to was Chen Miaomiao. The previous night, Chen Jianguo had called his son to ask for his hotel and room number. He had acquaintances in Sanya who could help if they ran into any trouble. It was a busy tourist season, and hotel rooms were scarce, so he had been worried they wouldn't find a place to stay. He was completely shocked to learn that Lin Feng had simply bought a sea-view villa, solving the accommodation problem in one go.

It wasn't that Chen Jianguo was cynical, but as a businessman, he tended to overthink things. In the past, some of his son's "friends" had secretly nicknamed him 'the ATM' while constantly coaxing him for spending money. Chen Miaomiao was an adult now; surely he could see through such things. Eventually, his son stopped flaunting his wealth, and with no one trying to befriend him for his money, he became friendless.

But this time was different. His son had finally found true friends—friends who studied and played with him. He saw a long-lost smile on his son's face, and it made him incredibly happy. He felt an urge to repay the Lin brothers twofold for their kindness. Guessing his son had plans for the day, he timed his call perfectly. When he heard that his son was going to be their guide, he was overjoyed.

"Take good care of your classmates. If you get hungry, go to that restaurant we always go to. If you run out of money, call Dad.

"Be careful when you're out having fun. Protect yourself and your classmates, understand?

"You're their big brother, so you have to be considerate in everything you do."

After hanging up, Chen Miaomiao led his three friends out. Zhou Cuilan was a little worried, so she offered a few words of caution before letting them leave.

The hottest part of the day was typically from noon to three or four in the afternoon, but since it was only the end of June, it wasn't overly hot. Short-sleeved shirts and beach shorts were perfect for the weather. Zhang Yuxi wore a white skirt with a yellow shawl, a perfect combination. The little girls were dressed in cute little dresses, while the boys wore matching short-and-shirt sets. Lin Dashan and his wife were in typical summer attire. One carried a bag with the babies' supplies while the other held their toys, following leisurely behind.

"I used to wonder when I'd finally be able to retire," Lin Dashan mused. "But these days, it already feels a lot like retirement."

Zhou Cuilan smiled. "As parents, it's enough that we don't cause trouble for our two sons. All that matters is that we have enough money to take care of ourselves when we're old, without becoming a burden." The greatest fear of the elderly is becoming a burden to their children.

Lin Dashan nodded in agreement. Their eldest son was earning good money, and their second son had been admitted to Peking University. Once the exam scores were released, he might even be the province's top scorer in science. With their sons doing so well, they could finally breathe a sigh of relief as parents.

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