On the other side, the fathers were busy repairing houses for the elderly and widowed villagers.
This task was much easier than cooking.
Huo Xiaozheng wore a cold expression, like an emotionless machine, as he worked alongside the other fathers to replace roof tiles on leaky roofs.
The work wasn't difficult, just tedious. Worried about Ningning, time ticked by slowly, and Huo Xiaozheng's expression grew increasingly cold.
The cameraman didn't even dare to point the lens in his direction.
Fortunately, it wasn't long before the chattering voices of children could be heard approaching.
The host asked, "Are the children back so soon?"
Zhang Ling, being outgoing, immediately boasted, "With Ningning leading us, we finished the task quickly. Look, let's exchange our rewards!"
The host replied, "No rush. We'll exchange them together once the fathers are done."
Huo Guining let go of Yinuo's small hand, handing her over to the host, and ran to Huo Xiaozheng, exclaiming, "Dad, I'm back!"
Huo Xiaozheng was still busy on the roof, but seeing her return unharmed, some of his anxiety dissipated.
He quickly climbed down the ladder and wiped her slightly damp forehead with the back of his hand, asking, "Are you thirsty?"
Huo Guining shook her head and whispered something in his ear like she was sharing a secret.
Huo Xiaozheng was surprised at first, then nodded in agreement, "Alright, I'll mention it later."
Huo Guining nodded.
After a while, the five men finally finished the repairs.
The host gathered everyone together to exchange rewards.
As Huo Guining had guessed, the treasures could be exchanged for items.
"Now, children, please take out the treasures you found to exchange for gifts. Who wants to go first?"
The children unanimously shouted, "Ningning (sister) first!"
The host was taken aback, "Ningning seems to be the popular choice. Alright, Ningning, you're up first!"
Huo Guining took out her cards and exchanged them for meat, potatoes, and the fail-safe tomatoes and eggs.
The host praised her, "Well done, Ningning! You found these treasures. Who's next?"
The cameraman shook his head silently, thinking: When the show airs, you'll realize how meaningless your performance is now.
Seeing Ningning finish, Yinuo couldn't resist raising her little hand, "Yinuo wants ice cream!"
The host mysteriously waved his hand, "Yinuo, it might not be ice cream, you know."
The children confidently stated, "Hers is ice cream, it's written on the card."
The host was confused. According to the plan, each child should have found different treasures, emphasizing individual competition.
But it seemed like these children were all working together.
Yinuo happily ran over and handed her card to the host, "Ice cream!"
The host looked, and indeed it was!
"Wow, Yinuo found ice cream!" he said, then his eyes gleamed mischievously as he added, "But there's only one ice cream..."
As he spoke, his eyes scanned each child's face.
The cameraman was so embarrassed he could curl his toes.
"We know there's only one," Liang Wenzhuo said proudly. "We already divided everything up, and the ice cream is for Yinuo!"
Even the fathers were surprised by this.
"Zhuo Zhuo, what's going on here?"
Children can hardly keep secrets, and hearing his father's question, he immediately explained how Ningning had led them to quickly find all the items and how they had efficiently divided the spoils.
He told his father everything in detail.
Meanwhile, the story's protagonist leaned nonchalantly against Huo Xiaozheng's leg, contentedly sipping her yogurt.
Huo Xiaozheng patted her head, his eyes soft with affection.
The host's expression was shocked. Since Huo Guining had already completed the process, he had become redundant.
He dutifully took the cards from the children and distributed items to everyone in turn.
After all the commotion, the sun quickly began to set.
Everyone headed home with their spoils.
Yinuo swung her short legs, quickly walking towards Huo Guining, once again clutching the hem of her clothes.
Huo Guining looked down, "Yinuo? What's wrong?"
Yinuo gazed up at her, "Going home with sister."
Cao Xunbo came over and took Yinuo's hand, "Sister needs to go home and eat with uncle. We can come play with sister after dinner, okay?"
Yinuo shook off her father's hand and hugged Huo Guining's waist instead, "Eat with sister!"
Facing Huo Xiaozheng's cold stare, Cao Xunbo broke out in a cold sweat.
"Yinuo, be good. Sister..."
Remembering her earlier plan, Huo Guining suddenly spoke up, "Yinuo, do you want to eat dinner with sister?"
Yinuo's eyes lit up, nodding vigorously, "Yes! I love Ningning sister the most!"
Seeing Ningning say this, Huo Xiaozheng also spoke, "Then let's have dinner at our place."
Cao Xunbo wiped the cold sweat from his brow and agreed.
Huo Guining walked in front, holding Yinuo's hand, with Huo Xiaozheng and Cao Xunbo following behind.
Once inside, Huo Guining settled Yinuo in the courtyard, then ran to the kitchen to ask Huo Xiaozheng if he needed help.
Huo Xiaozheng shook his head, reminding her to take her vitamins first.
After Huo Guining left, Cao Xunbo sighed, "Ningning is raised so well."
As soon as he said it, he regretted it. He had seen the news about Ningning, and his comment now seemed somewhat sarcastic.
Surprisingly, Huo Xiaozheng didn't give him a cold look.
Instead, he seriously replied, "It's not that we raised her well, it's mainly that Ningning is naturally well-behaved."
This made Cao Xunbo relax a bit.
"I see. Our Yinuo can be quite troublesome sometimes. When things don't go her way, she cries and throws tantrums. It's quite headache-inducing."
Huo Xiaozheng's hands paused for a moment, "I'd rather Ningning was that willful."
Hearing him say this, Cao Xunbo felt a pang of sympathy, "When Yinuo was little, she was almost kidnapped. After we found her, she became wary of strangers."
"The fact that Yinuo has become so attached to Ningning on their first meeting shows that Ningning must be a kind-hearted child."
"Good people will surely be rewarded. Just wait and see."
Huo Xiaozheng gazed lovingly at Huo Guining in the courtyard, murmuring, "I hope you're right."
With Cao Xunbo's help, Huo Xiaozheng and Huo Guining enjoyed a satisfying meal.
In the evening, the children gathered to play hide-and-seek, while the adults chatted in the living room.
Huo Xiaozheng patted Ningning's head and asked softly, "Do you want to go play?"
Huo Guining looked at the TV, then at Yinuo who was staring at her pitifully, and sighed inwardly.
"Alright, I'll go."
As she stood up, her little shadow immediately clutched the hem of her clothes.
The group of children marched out of the courtyard together.
For the first round, Zhang Ling was "it".
The children scattered in all directions as he started counting.
Yinuo seemed not to have understood the rules and kept following Ningning.
Huo Guining had no choice but to take her along, hiding in a small alley by the pond where a stone slab perfectly concealed them both.
The ancient village at night lost its daytime gentleness. As darkness fell, a cool breeze brought a chill.
At first, Zhang Ling was still counting, but as the children dispersed, silence settled around them.
The rules hadn't been explained clearly, and the children had scattered quite far.
Zhang Ling happened to walk near where Huo Guining and Yinuo were hiding.
The spot was quite windy, and Zhang Ling was hesitant to go further in.
As he hesitated, a piercing cat's cry suddenly echoed from deep in the alley.
It was spine-chilling.
The cameraman was startled and let out a yelp.
Zhang Ling's small frame shook, and he ran back in panic.
Yinuo was also frightened to tears, clinging to Ningning and crying incessantly.
Huo Guining struggled to pick her up, trying to comfort her as they made their way out.
"Help! A child has fallen into the water!"
An urgent cry came through the walkie-talkie.
Huo Xiaozheng's expression turned grave as he strode out with long steps, leading the way.
