The reborn of paranoid boss cannon fodder wife(251-255)

Chapter 251: The Taste of Home is

Making bold statements is something only children do.

People at the top level earn respect through their abilities.

After a little joke, everyone goes back to their own homes.

At home, the sticky rice and mung beans were already soaked, so Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu started making zongzi as soon as they got home.

During the dragon boat race, Xiao Cheng's pants got wet at the hem, and his shirt got a little damp. Bai Lu asked him to change clothes before coming out to make zongzi to avoid catching a cold later.

Although his clothes weren't very wet, and the weather wasn't conducive to catching a cold, Xiao Cheng still went to change.

Xiao Wei stood by the small table, watching Bai Lu make zongzi with a conflicted expression, as if he wanted to learn but also didn't.

Bai Lu could guess what he was thinking and chuckled, "The dragon boat race isn't until tomorrow, so if you want to eat the king's zongzi, you'll have to wait until then. Today, let's eat homemade zongzi."

"Home zongzi?" Xiao Wei had never heard of home zongzi before and looked incredulous.

Was it some kind of magical zongzi?

But looking at the ingredients Bai Lu was using to make zongzi, they were the same as the ones sold in breakfast shops on the street, except for the filling inside the zongzi.

Of course, except for the filling inside the zongzi.

Seeing the little one's eager expression for knowledge, Bai Lu gently explained, "Home zongzi is zongzi made by family members, with the taste of home."

Xiao Wei nodded in understanding, "The zongzi sold outside doesn't have the taste of home."

Bai Lu sensed that the breakfast shops outside were about to lose a long-time customer, even though she had never had one.

But it's still worth explaining: "The zongzi sold outside has the taste of the hometown."

Xiao Wei understood, "The zongzi sold on the street has the taste of the hometown, and the zongzi made by family members has the taste of home."

"What does the king's zongzi taste like?"

Bai Lu: "..."

I haven't eaten it.

How would I know what it tastes like?

"The taste of champions."

Xiao Cheng answered the tricky question on Bai Lu's behalf, rolling up his sleeves casually and stepping into the kitchen.

Xiao Wei noticed the situation and quickly followed.

"Why not learn from big brother?"—Because big brother has never made zongzi before and doesn't know how to make them.

So both big brother and little brother learned how to make zongzi from Bai Lu with sincere and serious attitudes.

Xiao Wei made the first one, which didn't resemble a zongzi at all.

Xiao Cheng did better, making a proper rectangular zongzi, but it was tied too tightly.

Bai Lu finally understood what it meant when they said zongzi looked like they had been strangled.

A beautifully made zongzi was tied into sections by a single piece of grass strings.

If it weren't for the resilient bamboo leaves, they would have been strangled into eighteen pieces long ago, which was quite impressive.

Xiao Cheng noticed Bai Lu's expression of speechlessness, paused the action of picking up a piece of straw rope, seemingly casually and inadvertently put it down, and casually and inadvertently adjusted the zongzi.

"Not wrapped like this?"

Bai Lu's ears rang with the voice, realizing that she had been staring at the big guy's hands for too long.

Resolutely shook her head: "No, zongzi is wrapped like this. You did a great job, this is a very perfect zongzi, it would be even better if the rope could be a little looser."

Xiao Cheng looked at the zongzi Bai Lu wrapped and then at the one he wrapped himself, and understood.

He loosened the rope a bit.

"But if the zongzi is wrapped too loosely, won't the rice leak out?" Xiao Wei asked Bai Lu, holding up his own poorly made zongzi.

This was a question he heard from Mrs. Zhang when he returned from the riverside, overhearing Mrs. Zhang chatting with the neighbor's daughter-in-law.

Bai Lu heard it too and answered with a light smile, "If the zongzi is wrapped too loosely, it will indeed leak rice during cooking, but if it's wrapped too tightly, it might burst during cooking. It's best to be slightly tight but not too tight."

"But how do you wrap it if it's not too tight?" Xiao Wei asked, not understanding, and also showing his poorly made zongzi to Bai Lu.

Bai Lu looked at the four-not-like zongzi in front of her, with a slight twitch at the corner of her eye. This was no longer something that could be adjusted.

It needed to be unwrapped and rewrapped, so that the zongzi wouldn't leak rice at the top, burst at the bottom, and be uncooked in the middle.

Bai Lu unwrapped the zongzi, explained to Xiao Wei while rewrapping, and handed him the grass strings from the side, teaching him how to control the tension when tying the zongzi.

"Wrap around once..."

"Press down the end of the string, then wrap around again..."

Xiao Wei received 365 icy stares from his big brother and 365 icy stares from Bai Lu.

His hand, held by Bai Lu for teaching, felt stiff, as if it had been slashed many times and was in pain.

It felt like it was about to break into eight hundred pieces the next second.

Xiao Wei subconsciously shrank his hand, "Big sister-in-law, I understand, I want to try it myself."

Bai Lu praised him, "Very clever, take your time, tying the string well is already half the success."

Xiao Wei just wanted to avoid half of the icy stares and finally be able to breathe a sigh of relief after leaving Bai Lu's teaching.

After leaving Bai Lu's hands-on teaching, Xiao Wei finally breathed a sigh of relief and earnestly learned how to make zongzi.

After finishing one, not a four-not-like zongzi, but a rectangular zongzi, Xiao Wei looked eagerly at the bowl of fillings on the table.

"Sister-in-law, I want to make chicken leg zongzi!"






























Chapter 252: Heartfelt Knot

The fillings for the zongzi were prepared by Xiao Cheng, including not only the commonly used pork belly but also chicken legs, chicken wings, and shrimp.

With forward-thinking, every ingredient was delicious.

Smiling, Bai Lu picked up a chicken leg for the little guy and said, "Make sure to add more green beans and sticky rice, otherwise, the chicken leg might not cook through, and it won't taste good."

Looking at the zongzi with the big chicken leg, Xiao Wei nodded vigorously, "Got it!"

Adding more green beans and sticky rice, folding the leaves properly, and tying them tightly with grass strings.

Xiao Cheng made a shrimp zongzi.

Seeing that he added a lot of shrimp, forming a whole nest, the green beans were squeezed out of place.

With just the right amount of sticky rice layered above and below.

After wrapping and tying, the chubby zongzi looked like a little pufferfish, chubby and cute.

The cuter, the tastier.

And indeed, when the zongzi was cooked and Xiao Cheng opened the leaves, the fragrance of shrimp colliding with sticky rice filled the kitchen instantly.

"Wanna try?"

Xiao Cheng picked up a piece of shrimp zongzi with sticky rice and offered it to Bai Lu to taste.

Bai Lu's heart was pounding, admittedly a bit flustered. She and Xiao Cheng were sneaking a taste behind Xiao Wei's back.

The zongzi had just been cooked, and she and Xiao Cheng had agreed to wait until Xiao Wei returned to eat them together.

But now...

Bai Lu looked at the delicious zongzi, her mouth watering, "Isn't it not good for us to do this?"

"Xiao Wei hasn't come back yet..."

Xiao Cheng's tone was indifferent, "He can eat when he comes back."

Bai Lu pursed her lips, trying to remind the big boss of a fact, "What we're doing is eating zongzi sneakily."

More precisely, she was the one eating sneakily.

No, no, no, Xiao Cheng was forcing her to eat sneakily.

Seeing the hopeful eyes of the girl, Xiao Cheng lifted the chopsticks, and the shrimp zongzi touched her lips directly.

Bai Lu: "!!!"

So delicious! Too delicious!

What kind of divine shrimp was this!

How could it be so fragrant, so delicious? Even the shrimp-flavored zongzi was so fresh and tasty!

She only realized after finishing the zongzi that she had broken her promise to the little flower of the motherland.

What to do? She couldn't spit out the shrimp. It was too delicious; she wanted more.

The only way was to share the joy and the burden, to share the pot together.

Xiao Cheng was suddenly stared at by Bai Lu's shining eyes. He paused in his chopstick action.

Before he could ask anything, the chopsticks in his hand were taken away, and a piece of shrimp zongzi was delivered to his lips.

"Try it quickly, the shrimp zongzi is really delicious. The shrimp is light and refreshing, chewy and tender, the green beans and sticky rice are fragrant and tasty. I guarantee you'll want more after you finish."

Xiao Cheng looked at the girl's expectant face and roughly understood what she was thinking. He opened his thin lips.

Without hesitation, he bit into the shrimp zongzi.

At that moment, a small figure appeared at the door, hesitated for a moment, and froze from head to toe.

"Big brother..."

Oh no!

The little flower of the motherland is back!

Bai Lu quickly moved the chopsticks to Xiao Cheng's hand and turned around with a smile, "Xiao Wei is back."

"The zongzi was just cooked and was very hot. We were about to take them out and let them cool for a while before you came back to eat together. But as soon as we opened them, they seemed a bit undercooked, and we were worried about your delicate stomach, so we tried one bite, and you came back."

After hearing the explanation, Xiao Wei still looked sad and sat quietly at the table without saying a word, with a lonely back, like a little cat or dog forgotten in the corner.

Bai Lu decisively moved the shrimp zongzi to him and took the chopsticks on the table, picking up a piece of shrimp.

"Come, try this shrimp zongzi. It's really delicious. Your brother personally made it, put a lot of shrimp in it. We only took one bite. We were waiting for you to officially start eating when you came back. If you don't believe it, look at the whole zongzi, how much is missing, and if there are any extra spots for you to eat."

Xiao Wei knew Bai Lu was right, knew she wouldn't lie, but just now...

What was that fragrance?

Was that the taste of zongzi!?

Xiao Wei looked at the shrimp zongzi in amazement, then looked up at Bai Lu with a face full of surprise.

Without hesitation, he took a bite.

Big sister-in-law wouldn't lie to him. Big sister-in-law was the best to him. The shrimp zongzi was indeed delicious.

Xiao Wei looked surprised, staring at the big zongzi on the table that had just been excavated of three pieces of shrimp and sticky rice.

This was the most delicious zongzi he had ever eaten!

"Big sister-in-law, the shrimp zongzi is delicious." The clear and bright eyes of the little guy suddenly lit up.

Bai Lu smiled and was about to say "if it's delicious, you can eat more" when suddenly, the zongzi disappeared.

In the blink of an eye, it was on the other side.

"Go get it yourself if it's delicious." The big boss spoke, pointing directly at the zongzi in the pot.

Xiao Wei: "..."

Bai Lu: "..."

To be honest, Xiao Wei had never seen the big brother being so protective of food before. He only tasted one bite, and the big brother took the zongzi back. Was that necessary?

The big brother was getting more and more biased.

Before going to get the zongzi from the pot, Xiao Wei reached out and showed Bai Lu what he had brought back, opening his hand to reveal something he had grabbed on his way back.

A red heart-shaped knot.

Bai Lu was slightly stunned, looking at the heart-shaped knot in Xiao Wei's hand, "Did Uncle Hu give it to you?"

Xiao Wei nodded and added, "I told Uncle Hu that we were going to have dinner tomorrow, and Uncle Hu said the time wasn't right."

Wasn't the time right for dinner on Dragon Boat Festival?

Bai Lu looked up at Xiao Cheng. Xiao Cheng was already used to it. "Let it be."

Bai Lu became increasingly curious about this old man who was proficient in metaphysics, who had helped Xiao Cheng many times, and had turned danger into safety, but if others didn't come, she couldn't force it.

It was also inappropriate to visit uninvited; metaphysical matters had their rules.

Bai Lu stared at the heart-shaped knot in Xiao Wei's hand, "Did Uncle Hu say anything else when he gave it to you?"

Xiao Wei looked at Xiao Cheng, who was dividing the zongzi into bowls for Bai Lu, and handed the heart-shaped knot to Bai Lu.

"He gave you and big brother this heart-shaped knot."

Bai Lu looked at it, slightly shocked. If this simple heart-shaped knot was given by an ordinary person, it would be fine, without any other meaning.

It would be impossible for them to change it.

But if it was given by Uncle Hu, things would be big.

Xiao Cheng glanced at the girl's pensive face and spoke softly, "The zongzi will cool down if we don't eat them soon."

Bai Lu snapped out of her thoughts, walked over, and handed the heart-shaped knot to Xiao Cheng, "He gave it to you."

Xiao Cheng glanced down and said calmly, "You keep it."

Bai Lu was about to politely decline when a small, painful "hiss!" came from the direction of the stove.

Bai Lu immediately put away the heart-shaped knot and went to check on the little guy's injury, "Where did it burn?"

"It's okay, I was too hasty when grabbing the zongzi just now, and I didn't pay attention for a moment. It's just a little hot. No injury." Xiao Wei showed Bai Lu a slightly reddened index finger.

Bai Lu carefully examined it several times, confirmed that it was okay, and then breathed a sigh of relief, "The zongzi just cooked is very hot. It's easy to burn your hands if you're not careful. Next time, if you want to eat, just let me or your brother get it. Or you can use a ladle to scoop it up, don't grab it with your bare hands, it's easy to get hurt, okay?"

"Yeah, I got it."

Xiao Wei pointed to the zongzi on the stove, "Big sister-in-law, let's take the zongzi over and eat with big brother."

"Sure."

"Yay! Big brother and big sister-in-law are going to eat zongzi!"






















Chapter 253: Dragon Boat Festival

The 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar, Dragon Boat Festival.

Dragon Boat Festival is one of the four traditional Chinese festivals, integrating folk customs such as worshipping gods and ancestors, praying for blessings, warding off evil spirits, and celebrating with food and entertainment.

The origin of Dragon Boat Festival encompasses ancient celestial culture, humanistic philosophy, and other aspects. Due to the different cultures in various regions, there are differences in customs and details.

There are many legends about the origin of Dragon Boat Festival.

Some commemorate Qu Yuan, some commemorate Wu Zixu, some commemorate Cao E, some trace back to the Xia Dynasty, and some relate to the totem worship festival of the Wu and Yue ethnic groups... The most influential is the legend of Qu Yuan.

According to legend, during the Warring States period, Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet of Chu State, witnessed the invasion and conquest of Chu by enemy forces, feeling heartbroken but unwilling to abandon his homeland. He threw himself into the Miluo River on the 5th day of the 5th month.

Later generations mourned and commemorated him, making the 5th day of the 5th month a festival to honor Qu Yuan.

In May 2006, Dragon Boat Festival was included in the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage List by the State Council.

In September 2009, UNESCO officially approved the inclusion of Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, making it the first Chinese festival to be included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Dragon Boat culture has a wide influence around the world, and many countries and regions also have activities to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival.

Domestically, since ancient times, there have been activities such as dragon boat races, worshipping, praying for blessings, and eating zongzi during Dragon Boat Festival.

The annual dragon boat race in Pingcheng is the most prominent traditional cultural festival characteristic.

When Bai Lu, Xiao Cheng, and Xiao Wei set out, the streets were already resounding with drums and gongs, and enthusiastic people flocked to the riverside with lion dance troupes. Firecrackers occasionally burst, and laughter and joy filled the air.

Today was sunny, the sun rose high, the sky was blue with white clouds, and the gentle river breeze brushed past.

Forty-five teams participating in the race had already gathered on the banks of the Gui River, encouraging each other on the green grass.

Family members, relatives, and friends who came to cheer for them had also arrived in Xinzhen. They strolled the streets, bought candied chestnuts, snacks, and sweets, and made plans to go to the riverside to watch the dragon boat race together.

On Dragon Boat Festival, everyone was off work.

Boys and girls who devoted their youth to studying, absorbing knowledge, and shaping their future could finally take a break and give their tense brains some relaxation time.

Joyfully celebrating the festival, enthusiastically watching the races, and cheering for their supported teams.

"Brother Cheng! Brother Cheng!"

"Look, look! Brother Cheng is here!"

"The champion team from our Xinzhen is here!"

The young people from Xinzhen saw Xiao Cheng and cheered excitedly, quickly making way for the champion's passage.

Yesterday, the entrance, which could only accommodate five or six people, had been widened to allow more than ten people to pass side by side.

The thorny bushes around the entrance had been trampled into debris by the excited crowd, and it was all entrances as far as the eye could see.

Outside the bamboo forest, by the river, children frolicked under the supervision of adults, elderly people in plain clothes discussed which team would win the championship this year.

The young people, full of youthful vigor, passionately debated the ultimate winner of the dragon boat race, their faces flushed with excitement.

No matter how poor life was, festivals always ignited people's enthusiasm, lively and carefree, forgetting their worries.

"Sister Lu, wait for me!" Wang Cuihua caught up from behind, holding a small bag of sunflower seeds in her hand, her colorful new clothes stunning passersby.

Passersby made way.

Bai Lu was fortunate to witness Xiao Cheng being given sunflower seeds for the first time in his life, across this life and the previous one.

"Brother Cheng, these sunflower seeds are delicious, fragrant and crispy. Try them quickly!"

Comrade Wang Cuihua completely ignored Bai Lu and Xiao Wei, holding a bag of freshly bought sunflower seeds and offering them to Xiao Cheng, looking at Xiao Cheng expectantly.

Curious onlookers stopped to watch.

Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu were husband and wife, known to everyone in Xinzhen.

People who came to participate in the competition from outside were unaware of the situation and ignited gossip through casual discussions.

Xiao Wei thought that his big brother would definitely not accept Wang Cuihua's melon seeds, but the next moment, to his astonishment, he never imagined.

Big brother actually accepted Wang Cuihua's melon seeds in public.

And then... he gave them to his sister-in-law!

And in that tone, even a deaf person could hear the indulgence as he said to his sister-in-law, "Eat melon seeds."

Bai Lu looked at Wang Cuihua's expression of being struck by lightning and smiled very tactfully, "Thank you for the melon seeds."

Of course, thanks should also go to the big brother who gave the melon seeds. Bai Lu opened a melon seed and handed it to Xiao Cheng.

After tasting it, Xiao Cheng commented, "It tastes good."

Wang Cuihua: "…"

Did Bai Lu do it on purpose?

Intentionally, in front of her, taking her melon seeds, peeling them open, and giving them to Xiao Cheng, deliberately provoking her!!!

The spectators haven't even watched the dragon boat race yet, and they're already getting appetizers, eating to their heart's content in an instant.

The gossip is too big to swallow in one bite.

It's better to watch the race and eat with friends.

Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu parted ways and went to the back of the Xinzhen's dragon boat team, Wang Cuihua immediately ran over.

"Bai Lu, I'm coming to your house for dinner tonight!"

"No." Before Bai Lu could speak, Xiao Wei decisively refused for her.

Wang Cuihua ignored the refusal, "When I left, I threw a chicken over the wall into your yard. That's my dinner tonight. I'll bring the zongzi after watching the dragon boat race. I want to spend the Dragon Boat Festival with you."

Xiao Wei couldn't believe his eyes after hearing the first sentence: "You threw a chicken into our yard?"

After Wang Cuihua nodded in confirmation, Xiao Wei was angry and frustrated: "What if the chicken runs around and poops in the yard!"

The chicken running around and pooping was a definite outcome.

Xiao Wei was enraged and devastated: "Big brother hates dirty yards the most. If he comes home and sees chicken poop in the yard, he'll be furious. If you want to eat, wait to be kicked out along with the chicken by big brother!"

Terrified by the terrible consequences, Wang Cuihua looked anxious and at a loss: "What should we do?"

"What else can we do? Go back, get the chicken, clean up the yard, or we're all finished."

The old mother hen and the chicks raised by Xiao Wei were kept in the backyard, and not a step was allowed into the front yard.

Wang Cuihua dared to throw a chicken into their yard, and Xiao Wei was furious enough to burn the chicken alive.

Bai Lu was speechless at Wang Cuihua's actions, deliberately causing trouble just to stay for dinner, throwing a chicken into someone else's yard in advance.

Everyone had brains, but hers seemed to be the most effective, always bumping into trouble every time.

Bai Lu glanced at the dragon boats on the river that were ready to go, sighed helplessly, "Let's go back first."

Wang Cuihua did a good deed with bad consequences, afraid and flustered, immediately turned around and headed back.

But Xiao Wei blocked Bai Lu from going back: "Sister-in-law, give me the keys. Mark and I will go back, it's almost time for the race to start. Big brother will be worried if he doesn't see you, you stay and cheer for big brother."





















Chapter 254: Dragon Boat Race

Bai Lu paused for a moment and subconsciously glanced at the river, coincidentally meeting the gaze of Xiao Cheng, who had never taken his eyes off the shore since boarding the boat.

Or perhaps it wasn't a coincidence. Since boarding the boat, his gaze had never left the shore.

The rules of the dragon boat race involved elimination rounds, with forty-five teams competing. In the first round, there were nine groups, with the top team from each group advancing to the next round. The rest were eliminated. In the second round, the nine winning teams were divided into three groups, and the winners of each group advanced. The rest were eliminated. The final round determined the champion.

Xiao Cheng's Xinzhen Dragon Boat team was preparing for the first round, the elimination round of Group 1.

Xiao Cheng drew the lots, and there was no Pingcheng City team in their group; instead, they were grouped with teams from neighboring towns.

"You're lucky," Zhou Jiayi said arrogantly, appearing next to Bai Lu, full of herself.

"In the next round, if we draw the Pingcheng City team, your Xinzhen team will be eliminated. You won't even make it to the finals, let alone think about winning the championship. You'll be carrying our boat, the ultimate loser."

"You're talking nonsense. My brother will definitely win!" Xiao Wei glared at Zhou Jiayi and took the keys from Bai Lu's hand. "Sister-in-law, you cheer for Brother. He'll definitely defeat the Pingcheng team. We'll go back, catch the chicken, clean up the yard, and come back right away."

Wang Cuihua also didn't allow Xiao Cheng to be labeled a failure. "Brother Xiao Cheng will definitely win the championship."

"We'll finish up and come back to see the results!"

After exchanging words, Xiao Wei the child hurried home.

Bai Lu's instructions were drowned out in the crowd, and the childish responses grew fainter.

Zhou Jiayi, full of herself, again tried to intimidate Bai Lu but was shut down by Yu Xiaoling.

"Just because it's the first round, you're in such a hurry. Are you afraid of being eliminated in the second round and having no chance to show off? Do you have to boost your own morale because you're afraid no one else will?"

Zhou Jiayi stopped in amazement and had to argue before leaving.

The result was that by the time she led the cheering squad to cheer for the Pingcheng team, they had already started.

The Pingcheng team drew the second group, indicating that the first group had already been decided.

Without surprise, Xiao Cheng's team took first place and Zhou Jiayi was livid.

Fortunately, the Pingcheng team also took first place, which partially pacified her anger.

Armed with the good news, Zhou Jiayi once again went to boast to Bai Lu, but was rebuffed by Yu Xiaoling.

"Go wash your brains in the river!"

The laughter echoed, leaving Zhou Jiayi red-faced.

"Four consecutive championships are ours, and a fifth is just a small matter. The championship will definitely go to our Pingcheng team!"

The second round had already begun.

The Xinzhen team still didn't draw the Pingcheng team.

In the first group, neither the Xinzhen nor the Pingcheng team was present; it was the Dashi Town team with Zhang San and Li Si.

Yu Xiaoling and her friends surrounded Bai Lu, talking about Xiao Cheng.

"Sister-in-law, is Brother Cheng usually fierce?"

"Sister-in-law, does Brother Cheng treat you well?"

"I bet he treats you really well. Just now we saw Brother Cheng giving you sunflower seeds. The expression, the tone, unprecedented tenderness. We've never seen it before."

"Brother Cheng never participated in the dragon boat race in previous years. Why did he suddenly join this year? Is it because of Sister-in-law?"

"Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law, Brother Cheng is looking over here!"

"Ah, ah, ah! Brother Cheng must be looking at Sister-in-law!"

"They're about to start the race. Brother Cheng must want Sister-in-law's encouragement!"

"Now that Pingcheng team has won again and entered the finals, Zhou Jiayi is showing off again. Our Xinzhen team must not lose to Plain City. Sister-in-law, cheer for Brother Cheng!"

Bai Lu's eyes twitched slightly, her head buzzing from the urging, and her gaze drifted to the downstream track.

The dragon boat race course was 1500 meters long, and the riverbank from start to finish was packed with people, from top to bottom, a sea of heads.

Bai Lu and Yu Xiaoling's position was in the middle to upper stream, near the finish line.

Xiao Cheng and the dragon boat team were at the downstream starting point, separated by a kilometer.

How could they hear the cheers from so far away?

Moreover, each dragon boat had a war drum at the front, and the competition began with the rhythmic beating of the drums. With thunderous drums, the team members were fully focused, united, and coordinated, rowing in unison and speeding forward.

Who would have time to pay attention to anything outside the dragon boat? Even if they shouted, it would be in vain.

"It's too far for them to hear," Bai Lu gently declined the unrealistic suggestion.

But Yu Xiaoling felt differently: "As long as Sister-in-law's cheers are loud enough, Brother Cheng will definitely hear."

The girls agreed, "Yes, as long as Sister-in-law shouts earnestly, Brother Cheng will definitely feel it!"

"Brother Cheng is looking at Sister-in-law right now. As soon as Sister-in-law speaks, Brother Cheng will definitely know it's encouragement."

"Brother Cheng likes Sister-in-law so much. No matter how far away or noisy, as long as Sister-in-law speaks, Brother Cheng will definitely be able to catch Sister-in-law's voice accurately and win the championship with ease!"

"Sister-in-law, look, the Pingcheng team has won again and entered the finals. Zhou Jiayi is showing off there again. Our Xinzhen team must not lose to Pingcheng. Quickly cheer for Brother Cheng!"
























Chapter 255: Good Indeed

In the second group, the Pingcheng team inevitably secured the first place in the group stage and successfully entered the finals.

The third group consisted of the Xinzhen team.

In the same group, one team was from Qingshui Town, where Chen Dafu was, and the other was from Changle Town.

Only the first-place team could enter the finals, while the second and third would be eliminated, with no chance for a comeback.

The Xinzhen team was already prepared and poised for action.

Xiao Cheng sat in the first row holding the oars, with Luo Shiliu next to him also holding oars. In the second row were Xiao Dazhuang and Wang Hao, and the drummer was a young man from the Xiao family.

From a distant distance, Bai Lu could clearly see Xiao Cheng's tall and straight figure, his gaze looking from afar, but she didn't believe her voice could carry that far.

With the riverside bustling with people, the lively voices surged like waves, surely drowning out her voice.

Bai Lu found another reason to politely decline: "Don't worry, they'll get first place even without my cheering."

"Big Sister... if you cheer, they can row even faster."

Seeing Bai Lu, who was only a year older than herself but incredibly smart, wise, and unusually beautiful, Yu Xiaoling decided she had to encourage her further.

Turning to her companions, she said, "Let's show Big Sister how to cheer for the Xinzhen team and see if they can hear us."

The girls immediately understood and nodded with smiles, each forming their hands into small trumpets by their mouths.

Across the sea of people, they shouted loudly towards the starting point of the race a kilometer away: "Go Xinzhen team!"

"Go Luo Shiliu!"

"Go Xiao Dazhuang!"

"Go Wang Hao! Go Xinzhen team!"

"Go Xinzhen team, charge! Go, go, go!"

The girls shouted loudly, breaking through the noise of the crowd, directly aimed at the starting point of the race, catching the attention of everyone, with some people admiring and others teasing.

Is it really possible for the sound to travel a kilometer? All the members of the Xinzhen dragon boat team turned to look.

Bai Lu could only look for a place to hide.

Yu Xiaoling and her friends intentionally didn't shout for Xiao Cheng, leaving his name for Big Sister to shout.

This led to a wave of teasing from the dragon boat, with comments like, "Oh~ What did I hear! The girls didn't cheer for Xiao Cheng but for Xiao Dazhuang!"

"This is a golden opportunity, Dazhuang, remember which girl cheered for you. Win the race and marry her right away~"

Luo Shiliu's words were always so considerate, always thinking of the honest folks.

Ignoring his wild and uninhibited trademark smirk.

Xiao Dazhuang refused without hesitation: "I'm not in a hurry to get married. I want to make money to give my mom a better life. The matter of marriage can wait."

"No one cheered for Xiao Cheng because Big Sister is here. Big Sister will cheer for Big Brother soon."

Wang Hao earnestly agreed: "I agree. Big Sister's cheers are the most suitable for Big Brother, and nothing else matters."

"Oh~ Is that so?" Luo Shiliu made binoculars with his hands and looked towards the riverbank a kilometer away. "Let me see where Big Sister is."

"Big Brother, don't worry. The girls are cheering for all of us, but not for you. Big Sister isn't cheering for you either. She must be thinking about how to cheer louder for you~"

This consolation sounded a bit heart-wrenching?

The dragon boat team members wanted to laugh but dared not. They pretended to laugh while rowing, their oars trembling from holding back their laughter.

Xiao Cheng remained expressionless, showing no signs of impatience, completely ignoring Luo Shiliu's words.

Only the drummer facing him on the boat knew that Big Brother's eyes had been focused on Sister-in-law since he got on the boat and had never looked away.

When the girls cheered just now, Xiao Cheng's eyes lit up for a moment, but soon dimmed again.

Isn't it obvious enough?
Xiao Cheng really wants Sister-in-law's cheers!

Yu Xiaoling and her friends also wanted Big Sister to cheer for Big Brother: "Sister-in-law..."

"The race is about to start, please cheer for brother Cheng quickly and let him win first place."

"Yes, Sister-in-law, look at us cheering for the Xinzhen team. They all heard it. If you cheer, brother Cheng will definitely hear it too. brother Cheng is looking at you and waiting for your cheer!"

"You just cheer for him~"

"Xinzhen team made it to the finals. Only if Big Sister cheers for brother Cheng can they compete for the dragon boat race championship tonight."

The girls' enthusiasm was irresistible, and Bai Lu reluctantly agreed, "Wait a moment."

"When they reach the middle point of the race, I'll cheer. That way, Ah Cheng can hear it more clearly."

Ah... she really couldn't shout loudly. Such rude behavior had to be dealt with smartly.

Let's symbolically shout "go" a little closer.

Yu Xiaoling accidentally guessed Bai Lu's thoughts because Wu Xiuyun had said that Bai Lu was a gentle girl who couldn't shout loudly.

So, Yu Xiaoling was very thoughtful and left.

Soon she came back with a large megaphone.

"Sister-in-law, use this megaphone to cheer for Cheng Ge. This doesn't need to be shouted loudly; he'll hear it no matter how far."

Bai Lu was stunned by the megaphone in Yu Xiaoling's hand. "Where did you get this?"

"It's my mom's." Yu Xiaoling explained happily, "Since there are so many people coming to Xinzhen to participate in the competition today, watching the competition, my dad didn't go to the city to sell fruits. He specifically took out the megaphone we used when we just started selling fruits to help my mom sell candied chestnuts."

"Sister-in-law, rest assured, this megaphone is of very good quality. When my dad put it at the intersection, the calling voice could be heard in all four directions. People from all four streets would come to buy fruits and candied chestnuts after hearing the sound, and business was booming!"

"Even outsiders heard the megaphone's calling voice and knew that there were candied chestnuts for sale in Xinzhen. They followed the sound and went to my mom's stall to buy candied chestnuts. It shows how loud the megaphone's sound is."

"Big Sister, hurry up and use the megaphone to cheer for brother Cheng! This megaphone doesn't need to be shouted loudly; brother Cheng will definitely hear it. Sister-in-law, take action now!"

The girls looked at Bai Lu with shining eyes, excited and eager for Bai Lu to cheer for Xiao Cheng.

Bai Lu: "..."

"Is it...appropriate?"

"It's very appropriate!" The girls nodded vigorously.

"This is the annual dragon boat race." Yu Xiaoling said, "There's only one chance this year."

"Big Sister, hurry up and cheer for brother Cheng! There won't be another chance after today, and Big Sister will regret it for the rest of her life."

Bai Lu: "...Is it that serious?"

"Mm-hmm! It's very serious!"