Chapter 79: Goudan Stinks Again!!!

Juanjuan nodded slightly. “Mm-hmm, I’m happy.”

“Juanjuan…”

“Hmm?”

Jiang Dai’s voice was tinged with sadness. She crouched down to look at Juanjuan, lowering her voice. “Do you think Mama is useless?”

“No way!” the little one denied immediately.

Jiang Dai said, “But Mama doesn’t know much. At first, I couldn’t even cook, didn’t know how to farm, couldn’t mend your clothes…”

As she spoke, her voice grew more and more dejected, and the sorrow in her expression deepened.

“Do you not like Mama anymore?”

Under the moonlight, the woman’s brows were gently furrowed, her face tinged with sorrow and vulnerability. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and though they didn’t fall, the sadness in them was all the more palpable.

Back then, Jiang Dai’s very first drama had gone viral because of that exact look—so delicate and heartbreaking.

If even modern young people couldn’t resist it, how could a four-year-old like Juanjuan stand a chance?

Juanjuan was immediately flustered by Mama’s expression.

“Mama is amazing! Juanjuan loves Mama! Really loves Mama!”

Jiang Dai pulled the little one into her arms, resting her chin gently on Juanjuan’s shoulder—a gesture that made her seem even more fragile.

“Really?”

Jiang Dai’s voice cracked, choked with emotion, tugging at the heartstrings.

Acting is a mysterious thing.

Some people act and instantly break the immersion.

But others—like her—have a kind of storybook magic. The more dramatic, the more captivating.

“Really! Mama is the best. Juanjuan loves Mama the most!”

Seeing her mother on the verge of tears, Juanjuan nearly burst into tears herself, her childish voice trembling with emotion.

Jiang Dai hadn’t expected a child to get so worked up.

Suddenly, a wave of guilt washed over her.

Her tears were fake, part of the act—but Juanjuan’s panic was real. Real worry that Mama didn’t believe her.

Jiang Dai wiped away her tears and looked at Juanjuan with a smile, her voice still hoarse from emotion. “Don’t cry, Juanjuan. Don’t worry.”

She wasn’t sure if she was comforting Juanjuan or herself.

“Mama just wanted to tell you… Mama loves you no matter what. Even if you don’t cook, don’t do chores, don’t sew—Mama still loves you.”

Her voice caught again as she continued.

“Our Juanjuan doesn’t have to be so well-behaved all the time. You’re still little, only four. This is the age to play and be silly.”

As she spoke, Jiang Dai felt her nose sting.

She was trying to comfort Juanjuan, but her thoughts drifted to her own mother.

She missed home.

Her mom always said she hadn’t grown up yet, always complained that she got in the way at home and wouldn’t let her help with anything.

In fact, she’d never really done housework growing up. Her dad always said if she dared enter the entertainment industry, he’d cut ties with her.

But when someone harassed her, he was the one who quietly stepped in to protect her.

She remembered something her mom used to say to her all the time.

“Juanjuan, you have to try to find the life you want, and work hard for it—without regrets.”

Jiang Dai’s tears began to fall uncontrollably.

She didn’t cry hysterically. She just sat there quietly, her tears gentle but full of strength, gazing at Juanjuan with a look of deep longing.

It was as if, through Juanjuan, she was looking back at her younger self—the little girl once so loved and protected by her parents.

Juanjuan didn’t fully understand the meaning of those words, but seeing her mother cry made her want to cry too.

Inside the house, Jiang Dai—experiencing motherhood for the first time—and Juanjuan—being a child for the first time—cried together.

Outside.

Bai Tian, who had gone out to look for his eldest son, came rushing back in with long strides, heading straight for the house.

With a loud “bang,” the door was flung open without any warning.

“Daidai! Goudan stinks again!!!”

He shouted in despair, then swallowed nervously.

【Wait a minute, something’s off in here!】

Seeing the two girls crying inside—one big, one small—Bai Tian froze completely.

【Crap… What am I supposed to do now?】

Bai Tian said, “You guys… stop crying.”

And then fell silent.

【Seriously? That’s all you could squeeze out after all that?】

He stood there dumbly in the doorway.

Jiang Dai couldn’t help but feel a mix of exasperation and amusement. She glanced at him, then looked away.

“Alright, no more tears. As long as Juanjuan knows that Mama and Papa will always love her, that’s enough!”

Jiang Dai gently wiped the tears from her daughter’s cheeks.

【Even if I became a mom a bit hastily—and yeah, it was sudden—since I’ve taken on the role, I have to face it. Time to really start learning.】

Jiang Dai might enjoy taking it easy, but that didn’t mean she lacked a sense of responsibility or the courage to face things head-on.

Juanjuan reached out and hugged her mother, nuzzling her little face into her embrace.

It was a picture-perfect moment of motherly love and filial affection.

But then…

“What did you just say?”

Jiang Dai picked Juanjuan up, her delicate brows furrowing as she looked at Bai Tian.

She was pretty sure she’d just heard him say…

“Goudan stinks again,” Bai Tian replied matter-of-factly.

Jiang Dai nearly choked on her own breath: …

She needed a second to process this.

Why is Goudan always so intimately connected with poop?!

Juanjuan, already somewhat mentally prepared: …

Sure enough, Big Brother stinks again.

Another night, the same Bai Family Goudan, the same overpowering stench—but this time, something seemed different.

Jiang Dai asked, “Hey! Bai Tian, doesn’t it smell a bit less awful than last time?”

Bai Tian nodded. “Yeah, it’s better than before. Last time it was enough to knock someone out cold!”

Inside, Bai Yunqi was taking a bath: …

【Of course it smells less. Last time the Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Washing was intense. This time it’s just a residual effect, so naturally it’s not as bad.】

【Aaaaaah! Why is Dad sleeping in our room tonight of all nights?!】

【I was planning to absorb Spiritual Power outside, then quietly heat some water and wash up after the Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Washing.】

【But why did Dad come looking for me?! I had to say I slipped and fell into cow dung!!!】

【At least the cleansing was successful.】

Juanjuan, listening from the side: …

She looked at her big brother with a bit of sympathy. She didn’t really understand all the things he always “talked” about, but it was clear he was really into it.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t go through all that and still come back reeking.

Dachui-gege likes good food too, but even he wouldn’t dig through poop to find it.

“Juanjuan? Were you crying?”

A clear, sunny voice came from beside her, full of concern.

Juanjuan turned her head and saw her third brother, Bai Yun’an, smiling shyly at her.

Thinking back to the conversation she’d just had with Mama, Juanjuan felt a little conflicted as she looked at him.

【She cried… Did Mama mess things up? Probably not! But then again, maybe she just doesn’t know how to raise kids either.】

Bai Yun’an glanced at the Favorability Points flickering wildly in the air and let out a cold snort in his heart, then shut them off completely.

Nope. Not looking. That crap messes with your head!