A reborn mother longs for her daughter's happiness.

Chapter 60 Gender Mini-Lesson

Night fell, and soft light bathed the living room. Li Yuan sat on the sofa, flipping through a magazine. Liu Qicheng, however, like a curious little explorer, his mind filled with questions about the differences between men and women, quietly moved closer to Li Yuan.

"Mom, why are boys and girls different?" Liu Qicheng asked with a puzzled look on his face, his big, blinking eyes wide open.

Li Yuan was slightly taken aback by the sudden question, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. She coughed lightly twice and said, "Oh, you'll understand when you grow up."

Seeing this scene, Liu Xuan couldn't help but laugh. He walked over and patted Liu Qicheng's head: "Son, this is a very interesting question. Let Dad tell you a story."

Upon hearing that there was a story, Liu Yixin and Li Shiqing immediately perked up and, like two cheerful little magpies, hopped and skipped over.

"Once upon a time, there was a magical island, inhabited by two groups of little elves, one group called the Smurfs and the other the Pink Elves," Liu Xuan began to tell the story vividly.

Liu Qicheng interrupted curiously, "Dad, why are they called Smurfs and Pink Elves?"

Liu Xuan replied with a smile, "Because the Smurfs all wear blue clothes, they are like boys—brave, active, and full of curiosity about the outside world, always liking to explore new things. As for the Pink Smurfs, they wear pretty pink dresses, they are like girls—gentle, meticulous, with a unique appreciation for beauty, and they like to decorate their little homes beautifully."

Li Shiqing pouted and said, "Dad, does that mean girls can only like pretty things and can't be brave enough to explore?"

Liu Xuan quickly waved his hand: "Of course not, baby. Just like there are some really brave Pink Elves. Once, when the island was hit by a big storm, the Pink Elves weren't afraid. They used their wisdom and thoughtfulness to find a safe cave and collected a lot of food and herbs to help everyone get through the crisis. When the Smurfs explore the island, they also find many beautiful flowers and seashells. They appreciate these beautiful things, but their way of doing so might be a little different."

Liu Qicheng nodded, seemingly understanding, "Then Dad, why are their bodies different too?"

Liu Xuan cleared his throat and continued, "That's because the Smurfs and Pink Elves have different missions. The Smurfs are stronger and more powerful, with broader shoulders, just like little warriors, in order to protect the entire island. As for the Pink Elves, in order to give birth to cute little elf babies, their bodies have a unique structure, with a warm little palace, like a magical cradle."

Liu Yixin frowned and asked, "Daddy, how does this little palace nurture the baby?"

Liu Xuan scratched his head, looked at Li Yuan, and Li Yuan gave him an encouraging look.

Liu Xuan continued, "When the Smurf and the Pink Fairy fall in love, the Smurf will give the Pink Fairy a little seed full of love. The Pink Fairy's little palace will become like a fertile garden, where the seed will slowly sprout and grow, eventually becoming a cute little fairy baby. But before that, the Pink Fairy will make some preparations for this little palace every month. At this time, there will be some small changes, just like older girls have their periods. This is the body telling them that they are slowly growing up and can welcome new life."

Li Shiqing blushed and said, "Dad, you're making it sound so embarrassing."

Liu Xuan laughed heartily: "Honey, this is the mystery of life. Although it's a little embarrassing, once you understand it, you'll cherish yourselves and each other even more. Look, because the Smurfs and Pink Elves are different, they help and accompany each other on the island, making it full of life and joy. Just like our family—Dad, Mom, you, your brother, and your sisters—because of our different genders, each of us has our own unique qualities. Together, we form this warm and happy home."

Liu Qicheng's eyes lit up: "Dad, I understand. Boys and girls are like Smurfs and Pink Elves. Although they are different, they are both very important."

Liu Xuan looked at the three children, his expression suddenly turned serious, and he cleared his throat and said, "Children, today Dad wants to talk to you about a very important topic."

Liu Yixin blinked curiously and asked, "Dad, what's the important topic?"

Liu Xuan said in a serious tone, "If a stranger wanted to touch your private parts, do you know what to do?"

Li Shiqing frowned and said loudly, "That's definitely not allowed! You can't just let anyone touch your private parts!"

Liu Xuan smiled and nodded: "Qingqing is right. Our private parts are very private areas of our bodies, like secret castles hiding treasures. We can't let others violate them casually. So, if someone tries to do that, how should we deal with it?"

Liu Qicheng's little eyes were full of confusion: "Dad, I don't quite understand, what are private parts?"

Liu Xuan patiently explained, "Son, for boys, the area covered by underwear is their private parts. And for girls, in addition to the area covered by underwear, the area covered by swimsuits is also their private parts. These areas should absolutely not be touched by strangers."

Liu Yixin chimed in, "If a stranger did that, I would yell for help to scare the bad guy away!"

Liu Xuan gave a thumbs up: "Xin Xin's idea is great. Shouting loudly can attract the attention of people around and make bad guys afraid to succeed easily. It's like a superhero raising an alarm to get everyone to help. But if there's no one around at the time, or if you feel that shouting for help might make the bad guys angrier and more dangerous, then there are other ways."

Li Shiqing thought for a moment and said, "Dad, I can run away to a crowded place and then ask a policeman or an adult for help."

Liu Xuan patted her on the shoulder: "Qingqing is so smart! Of the thirty-six stratagems, running away is the best. Getting away from danger is crucial. Just like a little rabbit encountering a big bad wolf, it quickly runs back to its burrow. And once you're in a safe place, you must tell a reliable adult as soon as possible, such as a policeman, a teacher, or your parents."

Liu Qicheng then asked, "Dad, what if the bad guys grab me and won't let me run away?"

Liu Xuan said seriously, "Son, if that's the case, you have to fight back desperately. Use your hands to grab and scratch the bad guy, and kick him with your feet, just like a little hedgehog. Turn yourself into a little spiky ball that the bad guy won't dare to approach. Don't be afraid of hurting the bad guy; your safety is the most important thing. At the same time, you also have to find a way to escape, such as taking advantage of the bad guy's inattention to break free from his grasp and then run away as fast as you can."

Liu Yixin said with some worry, "Dad, but I'm not strong enough. What if I can't beat the bad guys?"

Liu Xuan comforted her, "Xin Xin, strength isn't the most important thing. You can use your wisdom to protect yourself. For example, you can lie to bad guys and say that your dad is nearby and will be here soon, or that you've memorized his face and the police will be here to arrest him soon. Sometimes, these words will scare bad guys and make them give up their evil intentions."

Li Shiqing continued, "Dad, then we should also be careful not to get too close to strangers, right?"

Liu Xuan nodded in agreement: "Qingqing is absolutely right! We need to keep a safe distance from strangers, just like we keep a distance from little monsters. Don't accept gifts from strangers, and don't go anywhere with strangers. If a stranger asks you strange questions, such as about your home address, your parents' phone numbers, or asks you to go somewhere with them to find something, you must firmly refuse."

Liu Qicheng clenched his little fist and said, "Dad, I know, I will protect myself and my sisters!"

Liu Xuan smiled and hugged the children together: "Well done, kids! You must remember that your bodies belong to yourselves, and no one has the right to violate them. If you encounter such a situation, don't be afraid, take brave action to protect yourselves. Mom and Dad will always be your strong support. If anything happens, be sure to tell us immediately."

At this moment, Li Yuan smiled and said, "Alright, the story is over, and it's getting late. The children should go to bed now."

Liu Yixin and Li Shiqing obediently stood up and walked towards their room, still quietly discussing the story they had just heard. Liu Qicheng also yawned and followed Liu Xuan to wash up and prepare for bed.

On this peaceful night, through a wonderful story, the children gained a basic understanding of the differences between the sexes, and the love and warmth within the family grew even stronger and deeper amidst the laughter and questions.