833 A Million Times for You 195 (1/2)
Jin Yiheng guffawed relentlessly and gloated over his father's misfortune. ”Daddy, will you tell me a story?”
”Don't you hate hearing the stories I tell?”
”I'm just really bored. Tell me a story, maybe I'll fall asleep then.”
”Let me tell you a story about an ugly duckling, then.”
”I already know you're going to bluff me just by hearing the title.”
”I won't continue, then. It's just going to be a waste of my breath.”
”Tell me, tell me, Daddy, hurry, I want to hear it.”
Jin Qingyan switched off the lights and said slowly with his eyes open, ”A mother duck laid six eggs that hatched into six ducklings, one of which was extremely ugly. Ever since it hatched from its egg shell, it was mocked and ridiculed by other animals around it. It became the laughingstock of the animal world. Everyone thinks that it's not fit to be a duck. The ugly duckling lived a miserable life every day, and life was practically a living hell. It would hear words of criticism and humiliation wherever it went. In fact, even its mother despised it.”
”Did it become a swan afterward?” Jin Yiheng interrupted.
”No. The ugly duckling grew up slowly day by day, and it soon gained the ability to finally leave the toxic environment it was in. Thus, it managed to escape successfully and moved to a comfortable environment. A family of humans then adopted it and fed it well every day. It was in complete bliss and became the family's beloved pet. It no longer had to suffer any humiliation or mockery, and it could even enjoy delicious food every day. Life was simply amazing.”
”Daddy, this ugly duckling is so lucky.”
”Yeah, it thought it was lucky too, until one day, its owner found out that it was a male duckling that could not lay eggs. The owner then sold it to an abattoir, and it became a crispy roasted duck in the end.”
”…”
”Daddy.”
”Huh?”
”I'm not going to listen to your stories ever again.”
”Son, that's just how pragmatic the world and society are. If you're incompetent, you'll be eliminated ruthlessly. This is a teaching I'm imparting to you. Haven't you heard of the popular saying regarding hens? 'An egg a day keeps the cleaver away.'”
”I understand, I won't be an incompetent parasite when I grow up.”
A smile formed on An Xiaoning's face as she quietly listened to their conversation.
The family of three were sound asleep at three o'clock in the morning. However, Jin Yiheng was jolted awake by his sudden urge to answer nature's call.
He fumbled about and got out of bed slowly. Sleepy-eyed, he made his way to the bathroom.
By the time he returned to the bed, the spot in the middle no longer belonged to him.
His father was already hugging his mother tightly.
There was no space for him to squeeze in at all.
He had no choice but to lie down on the side.
Jin Yiheng woke up again later, only to discover that his parents were no longer lying beside him. Upon seeing the fresh set of clothes on the chair, he changed into it and skipped downstairs.
His mother was practicing yoga while his father was nowhere in sight.
”Where's Daddy?”
”In the kitchen.”
”Wow…” He hurriedly sprinted toward the kitchen and exclaimed, ”Daddy's actually making breakfast!”
”Your Daddy is a great cook to begin with,” said An Xiaoning.
”But he's never made breakfast especially for me before. Indeed, he's very selective.” Jin Yiheng then walked toward Jin Qingyan and asked, ”Daddy, what are you making?”
”Porridge made of black rice.”
”Daddy, why don't you make Eight Treasures porridge instead? I don't like black rice.”
Jin Qingyan turned off the stove and asked, ”Is there anything else you won't eat other than black rice?”
”No.”
”Liar. Will you eat a plate of dog feces?” Jin Qingyan quipped.
Jin Yiheng humphed dejectedly and left the kitchen.
During breakfast, he did not have any of the porridge and instead only drank a glass of milk.
Staring at the two bowls of porridge that belonged to his parents, Jin Yiheng remarked, ”It's so black and murky, it looks just like ink.”
Jin Qingyan glared at him and said, ”We don't think so. We should have left you to fend for yourself in ancient villages. You won't even get to eat plain noodles there. You'll stop being picky then.”