Chapter 112: Daily Life (1)

The children are having so much fun living in the Yau Ma Tei apartment that they don't want to leave.

He frequently received calls from Sheng Peirong.

Whenever the landline rang, he would sit on the sofa, holding the telephone receiver between his ear and shoulder, his chubby little hands twirling the telephone cord.

"Big sister, big sister, kindergarten is so much fun!"

"Yesterday, Teacher Ji took us on a field trip."

“We went to the Lions Club Nature Education Centre, where there were many insect specimens in the insectarium.”

"May I make you an insect specimen next time?"

When I have something good, the first thing that comes to mind is sharing it with my family.

Sheng Peirong remembered the cockroach-infested pen holder by her bedside and quickly refused, "I don't want it."

"Qingzai doesn't want it either." Fangfang sighed.

Unfortunately, his family didn't recognize its value at all.

Those are insect specimens! How could they not be interested?!

"We also planted a lot of small potted plants in the classroom."

"Teacher Ji said that the beans we grow are edible!"

"There will also be a water balloon fight in the summer."

He talked about all sorts of things, from kindergarten to the police station, but he never mentioned going home.

"If you don't come home soon, you'll hardly see me again," the older sister warned. "I'm going on a business trip soon and won't be back for several days."

Fangfang said considerately, "Big sister, have a safe journey."

Sheng Peirong was both amused and exasperated.

The child on the other end of the phone even said that when he had time, he could come home and have dinner with her.

"Not rare."

That evening, Sheng Fang and Zhu Qing appeared at Kadoorie Hill.

Fangfang clung to Sheng Peirong's side: "Big sister, you're just saying that out of anger."

The child's sweet, childlike voice cried out, "You must miss me and Qingzai terribly!"

...

After that, Sheng Peirong got busy and was rarely home, so she couldn't take care of her uncle and nephew.

As a result, Aunt Ping became the only idle person in the family. Her only task every day was to pick up the young master from the school bus station on time and then escort him to the Yau Ma Tei Police Station.

The scene is similar to the past, except that back then Aunt Ping lived alone on the hillside, but now she lives on Kadoorie Hill. Also, in the past, Madam didn't like to be disturbed, but now, it's the little darling who doesn't want anyone to disturb his and his niece's time alone.

After going around in circles, Aunt Ping's living conditions were still the best.

Sometimes, she even envied herself.

School bus driver Uncle Hu had long since figured out this young master's temperament and could always come up with something new every day.

Now, he has developed a keen eye and keeps a close eye on this child.

Beside the station, Uncle Hu held the little flower's hand tightly.

He will not let go unless his family shows up.

"I won't run around." Fangfang's hand was being held, so she could only shrug. "You have to trust me."

Time passed second by second, and Shengfang, standing at the station, finally saw Aunt Ping running over hurriedly.

"The minibus was late," Aunt Ping said breathlessly. "We almost missed it."

Fangfang tilted her little face up and looked at Aunt Ping, who was rushing by.

What's going on? I thought she was very composed!

On the way to Yau Ma Tei Police Station, Sheng Fang patiently reminded Aunt Ping not to take the minibus anymore.

"I'll take a taxi!" the young boss said generously. "I'll reimburse you."

Aunt Ping just smiled and ignored the young master's words, letting them go in one ear and out the other.

Taking a taxi is expensive; we can't waste it like this.

There is a basic routine for Fangfang's after-school schedule.

Upon arriving at the CID office, he chatted with each of his colleagues, learning about police operations and expressing his appreciation for their hard work. Even before reaching a superior position, he had already learned from Inspector Mok's strengths and aspired to be a caring officer who looked after his subordinates.

I heard that Inspector Leung recently enrolled in a police psychology course.

Every day, just before the end of the workday, he would gather a pile of professional books and embark on his long "journey of learning." Mo Sir, of course, supported this kind of self-improvement, but some of the trivial tasks at hand had to be delegated to other colleagues.

"No way!" Haozai exclaimed, slumped over his workstation. "I get a headache just looking at these reports."

Liang Qikai then looked at Xu Jiale.

Xu Jiale waved his hand in return: "Unless you invite me—"

Fangfang couldn't help but jump up: "I can help!"

Laughter echoed throughout the CID office.

After chatting with everyone for a while, Shengfang turned around and went straight to the senior inspector's office to have a long talk with him about parenting.

This is a magical duo, exploring fascinating topics and always managing to spark fresh ideas.

The mother of Shengfang was an extremely elderly mother. Although he was still in her womb at the time and did not know how much hardship she had gone through, it did not stop him from sharing his experience with Weng Zhaolin as someone who had been through it.

"It's very hard work," Fangfang said earnestly.

Aunt Ping is practically a nutritionist, with extensive experience in preparing meals for new mothers. She shared her pregnancy recipes with Sheng Fang. He then shared his knowledge without reservation, making him a favorite of Inspector Weng.

"What ingredients did you say you wanted to add?"

"Is that a medicinal diet?"

The treatment Sheng Fang received at Inspector Weng's place was always the best. Now, even his genuine leather swivel chair was offered to him so he could sit comfortably.

I let go of the table and spun around, holding onto the edge, until I felt dizzy.

Across from him, John was holding a notebook and scribbling down important notes.

“What else? Think again,” Weng Zhaolin said. “You’re more professional than those people at the door, unlike them, who know nothing when asked.”

Shengfang waved her little hand modestly.

In addition to his professional skills in caring for new mothers, he is also adept at raising children.

Because Fangfang himself is like a child. He knows exactly what children like and dislike, and like a little expert, he guides them one by one, helping John become a good father in the future.

This little kid is always worrying about the adults.

“About—” Weng Zhaolin looked up.

With a "thud," Shengfang jumped up from the swivel chair: "It's time!"

He put his little hands behind his back, turned around and went out the door: "I'm going to the next one."

Things are different now. Shengfang is already a four-year-old child. With Zhu Qing's special permission, she can move freely without any restrictions in safe areas like the Yau Ma Tei Police Station, as long as she doesn't run outside.

He strolled along, nodding and greeting acquaintances whenever he saw them.

When Fangfang encountered Rachel from the traffic police department, she covered her mouth and smiled sweetly, her eyes crinkling. In the case of the director's suicide pact, Fangfang had spotted her secretly dating Xiao Gao from the police station outside the movie theater. As agreed, Fangfang kept her mouth shut to maintain secrecy, making this signature gesture whenever she saw them. Xiao Gao and Rachel, understanding the unspoken agreement, winked at each other as a thank you.

But this time is different.

Rachel knelt down and put her arm around his little shoulder: "We've broken up."

Shengfang tilted her head, watching her expression.

He was still radiant and carefree, with a smile playing on his lips.

Fangfang, seemingly understanding but not quite, said, "Congratulations!"

Rachel was taken aback at first, then couldn't help but chuckle and patted his little head: "Thank you."

In the adult world, there are always too many unsolvable mysteries.

If he still couldn't understand it, he didn't force the issue. He turned around and continued strolling with light steps, eventually making his way to the forensic department.

In the forensic department, Cheng Xinglang had just finished toxicology testing, changed out of his lab coat, and was talking to his colleagues.

"Dr. Cheng!"

After calling twice without response, Shengfang's baby voice became even louder.

"Cheng-Xing-Lang-"

Cheng Xinglang turned around and saw the chubby little devil standing at the corner of the stairs calling to him.

Now that Dr. Cheng's status has been upgraded, Fangfang has also changed how she addresses him.

The younger elder actually imitated Zhu Qing's tone and called her by her given name.

"Who's taking advantage of their age?" Cheng Xinglang lightly tapped his forehead with his finger.

With a "thud".

"It's not an empty brain."

“It’s solid!” Sheng Fang proudly raised her head. “Clever little man!”

"Little brat," Cheng Xinglang sincerely advised, "Don't call yourself a 'petty person' anymore."

...

The little bicycle that was displayed was finally moved to the Yau Ma Tei Police Station.

The little bicycle gets in the way and can't be parked in a prominent spot downstairs like a prestigious police car. It has to be squeezed into the storage room in the stairwell, standing in a row with the other children's bikes belonging to the police officers' families.

However, this did not dampen Fang's enthusiasm at all.

Riding a bike in the spacious area downstairs from the police station was no challenge for Shengfang. The next second, Dr. Cheng carried him and his little bike to the back alley of the police station.

The back alley became a new map for Fangfang, with large graffiti walls that are about to be demolished.

Fangfang hadn't ridden this bike in a long time, and after being neglected for so long, it was suddenly acting up. Every time she started, Fangfang would wobble and struggle to maintain her balance, almost falling to the ground. Fortunately, Dr. Cheng always managed to stabilize the frame at the last second, averting the crisis of Fangfang being flattened.

When Zhu Qing arrived, Sheng Fang was still battling with her bicycle.

Cheng Xinglang's patience seemed to never run out, and he played with him from dawn until dusk.

Shengfang finally regained her sense of rhythm and rode more and more steadily. She immediately became bolder and began to mischievously set off on an adventure.

He discovered a new route, a steep slope. His chubby legs pedaled hard, but the wheels only moved with difficulty, then slipped back uncontrollably, proving difficult to conquer.

Since they couldn't pedal up, they pushed; Sheng Fang simply jumped off the vehicle.

Fang Fang, with her tiny figure, huffed and puffed as she went up the slope, then sat up again with her short legs, her eyes brimming with excitement.

"call out--"

The moment he slid down the slope, he excitedly lifted his little feet and exclaimed, "Wow!"

The children would sometimes scare people by deliberately shaking the handlebars, saying, "Qingzai, Qingzai, I'm going to fall down."

"That would be great," Zhu Qing said. "If you break a front tooth, Jinbao, Yesi, and Ajuan will be laughing."

These words really frightened Shengfang.

Even kindergarten kids need to save face, so he slammed on the brakes and came to a cool stop.

Shengfang fell into deep thought: "Then they will—"

"Laugh your head off?" Cheng Xinglang chimed in tacitly.

Upon hearing this, Shengfang continued pushing her bicycle uphill with peace of mind.

It's fine if everyone is toothless.

The setting sun cast a long shadow over Fangfang.

He pedaled his bike back and forth in a fixed area, almost oblivious to everything else, until he finished lap after lap and turned back to patrol, only to find that the adults were secretly eating ice cream behind his back!

On the steps of the stairwell in the back alley, Zhu Qing and Cheng Xinglang each had an ice cream.

Soon, Fangfang sat down next to Qingzai.

"Isn't there any for me?"

Dr. Cheng was like a magician, conjuring up a third ice cream.

When eating ice cream, you should do it neatly and properly!

Cheng Xinglang has recently started looking for a new house.

It's time to say goodbye to that old house filled with childhood memories.

When my younger brother comes back, they should have a new home full of sunshine, instead of being trapped in the past forever.

“You’ve been looking for him for eighteen years,” Zhu Qing turned her head, a smile in her eyes, “This time it’s his turn to come looking for you.”

"How long will it take?" Fangfang ate her ice cream in small bites.

"Who knows?" Cheng Xinglang chuckled. "He's never been as clever as me since he was a child."

Zhu Qing and Sheng Fang exclaimed in unison, "Chui Shui Lang!"

As the sun set, the three of them ate ice cream and gazed at the graffiti walls covering the alley.

The graffiti is imaginative and the vibrant colors are exceptionally vivid.

"It's so beautiful, why tear it down?"

"Only by tearing down this wall can we see a more beautiful view."

That same evening, Wang, the real estate agent, welcomed a new customer to his property shop on Nathan Road.

It was introduced to him by the young master of the Sheng family, a long-time customer.

Manager Wang grinned from ear to ear: "Mr. Sheng! Is it still iced lemon tea today?"

He's really hit the jackpot ever since he met this wealthy uncle and nephew.

May your wealth increase!

...

The biggest challenge for Zhu Qing and Sheng Fang, who are living alone, remains the same as before: meals.

Back when they were still looking at apartments, Shengfang always fantasized about wearing a little apron and wielding a spatula, while Qingzai would be his sous chef, helping out.

However, once he actually stood in the kitchen, the pots, pans, and seasonings all seemed to have their own temperaments. Reality often gives people a headache, and his beautiful dream was shattered just like that.

In fact, Sheng Fang had long planned to surrender, as had his niece.

However, whenever Zhu Qing recalls her responsibility of raising the little villain, she has to pick herself up again.

"We can't give up!" Zhu Qing shouted.

Shengfang raised her arms and shouted, "We can't give up!"

The uncle and nephew, carrying the vegetable basket left by Aunt Ping, marched proudly into the market.

They are not very good at buying groceries.

Shengfang comforted Qingzai: "Everyone has their own special skills. It's already amazing that the two of us can solve cases."

Fortunately, the stall owners in the market were all old acquaintances of Aunt Ping. When they saw the familiar face of the young master, they enthusiastically stuffed free gifts into his bag.

"Is it the young master bringing his niece to buy groceries? Take a little extra!"

When they returned home, they were carrying large bags and small packages, having gotten a great deal.

Zhu Qing didn't need to worry about washing the vegetables at all.

No child dislikes playing in the water. Sheng Fang washed the vegetables until they were sparkling clean, her little face beaming with pride: "They're so clean and white!"

But once the fire started, the uncle and nephew became flustered and disorganized.

They were at a loss with the iron pot and the clay pot, the ingredients were completely unresponsive, a far cry from the obedient and well-behaved dishes Aunt Ping used to cook.

"How did Aunt Ping do that?" Zhu Qing sighed, staring at the ingredients in the pot.

"We can't give up!" Sheng Fang raised her short arms high.

Zhu Qing chimed in, "We can't give up!"

They called Aunt Ping, trying to ask her for cooking tips.

However, no one answered the phone for a long time; she was probably in the kitchen battling with dough. Even when she was home alone, Aunt Ping would still come up with new and delicious recipes, making thin-skinned, generously filled xiaolongbao or char siu bao, and bring them over to put in the refrigerator. She could only feel at ease after making sure that her uncle and nephew never had to make do with breakfast.

"Qingzai, how did you cook it like this?"

The beautiful, clean white vegetables were ruined by the uncle and nephew's stir-fry, leaving them looking stale.

They looked at each other in bewilderment.

"what to do?"

"Give up."

Finally, the uncle and nephew dialed that familiar number—

"Cheng Xinglang, help!"

Half an hour later, the savior finally arrived.

The kitchen suddenly became lively and crowded. Cheng Xinglang was in charge of the work, while Zhu Qing and Sheng Fang wandered around on the sidelines, making things worse.

Cheng Xinglang scooped a spoonful of pork bone soup from the casserole with a wooden spoon, and the rich aroma filled the kitchen.

He held the spoon to Zhu Qing's lips with his long, slender fingers, saying, "Try it to see if it's salty enough."

Zhu Qing took a small sip.

They bloomed without ever stopping, standing on tiptoe and shouting, "My turn! My turn!"

Cheng Xinglang chuckled, scooped up another spoonful, and squatted down in front of the little devil.

Shengfang puffed out her little face and blew for a long, long time until the heat was completely dissipated.

A smart baby always takes good care of himself and will never get burned.

Three dishes and a soup were served, along with a plate of wilted stir-fried greens on the side.

Waste is shameful. This lesson will be taught by Dr. Cheng to the children.

He picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

"Um--"

"Is it tasty?"

"It's not bad, why don't you guys try some?"

The uncle and nephew were not easily fooled; they simultaneously rested their chins on their hands and shook their heads like rattles.

"We can't be fooled."

“There’s plenty more in the kitchen,” Zhu Qing said with a smile that crinkled her eyes. “If you like, you can pack it up and take it with you.”

Cheng Xinglang turned to Fangfang: "Look at her."

Shengfang, the fairest of the elders, sat down next to him and said, "Qingzai, you're not allowed to bully people!"

...

Like Qingzai, Shengfang's birthday falls in the spring when everything is reviving.

Zhu Qing had never imagined that celebrating a birthday could be such a happy thing. Only after experiencing it did she realize the warmth of the companionship and blessings.

She pinched Fangfang's round little face and earnestly promised that she would celebrate his birthday with him every year from now on.

"You have to sing the birthday song, okay?" Sheng Fang grinned, "Did you learn it?"

Looking at the little one with bright, sparkling eyes in front of her, Zhu Qing suddenly felt a little dazed.

Year after year, Fangfang grows up little by little and will eventually become a wonderful adult, but she is not in a hurry. Zhu Qing hopes that time will slow down so that Fangfang can also take her time, grow up in an environment full of love, and make up for the hurt and grievances she suffered in the original story.

Unlike my niece, the little girl who is so confused.

He knew his birthday and remembered it well in advance. He sat in front of the calendar waiting and even pulled Zhu Qing along to make invitation cards for the children.

The uncle and nephew had enthusiastically slept on the ground all day, but Zhu Qing ended up with a sore back and a headache, while Fang Fang also had a headache from the discomfort. In the end, they each obediently went back to their rooms to sleep.

But writing an invitation card, such an important task, inevitably had to be done together, lying on the floor.

A table full of colorful pens lay before him, and Shengfang, her little lips pursed, looked on intently. She carefully selected each pen, using a different color to write invitation cards for different children—a gesture brimming with sincerity.

Fangfang drew each child's name herself, showing great care.

"Jinbao must use gold!"

Jinbao's name is replaced with a round gold ingot, which is full of childlike fun. The invitation card, with its edges flicked, looks magnificent and resplendent.

The name for Coconut Baby is really too difficult to write.

Fortunately, the English name that Shengfang gave her was simple yet powerful, and she finished writing it in no time with her little hands holding the colored pencil.

"YES?" Zhu Qing asked in surprise.

When it was A-Juan's turn, both of them got stuck.

Shengfang casually drew a curly wavy line: "Is this okay?"

"That's too perfunctory..."

He nodded casually and buried himself in his drawing.

Many, many curly wavy lines came into view, covering the entire card.

Zhu Qing stared at it for a while, feeling increasingly guilty.

She could almost picture Ah Juan's mother's elegant and intellectual face, and the bewildered look on her face as she held the invitation card.

Finally, Zhu Qing had a flash of inspiration and picked up her pen to write four letters next to the curled lines—

ICAC!

This is an invitation card for little Juan from ICAC.

"Done." Zhu Qing snapped her fingers.

A crisp sound echoed in my ears.

Shengfang raised her head, her little mouth wide open, and pulled Zhu Qing's hand to look at it over and over.

How is a handsome voice produced?

I never expected that Qingzai had a trick up her sleeve!

...

The police station has been very peaceful lately, and there's not even a trace of homework at the kindergarten. For Fangfang, the most unpleasant thing is undoubtedly the tutoring time three times a week. On those three days, Aunt Ping is responsible for picking her up and dropping her off, because Qingzai has to go on dates.

The rest of the days were spent living alone with the uncle and nephew.

During her stay at the Yau Ma Tei apartment, Sheng Fang discovered something incredible.

They forgot to limit Qingzai's TV time!

Every night, the television screen lights up.

The children carried the prepared potato chips to the coffee table, while Zhu Qing took out juice from the refrigerator. The two of them lazily sank into the sofa, enjoying the leisurely evening.

Most of the time, they watch cartoons.

But cartoons also come to an end, and at that time, prime-time dramas become the alternative.

Crime dramas are Zhu Qing and Fang Fang's favorite.

Shengfang, the baby, was clutching her little feet on the sofa, her face serious. Zhu Qing, on the other hand, sat cross-legged, occasionally popping a potato chip into her mouth. They always competed to see who could guess the murderer first, analyzing the case with great seriousness and eloquence. They would even glance at the whiteboard at the same time, almost drawing a clue diagram. However, in the end, the clue diagram was never drawn because the uncle and nephew were both too lazy to move.

Crime dramas are not suitable for children, as they may occasionally feature frightening scenes.

Fortunately, Zhu Qing's hand always managed to precisely cover his eyes just as the eerie sound effects started.

"Heroic Madam!" Everything was pitch black before Shengfang's eyes; she couldn't even peek through her fingers to see the TV screen. "She never misses a beat!"

As for those love scenes, Sheng Fang watched them with a dazed look, but she had long since gotten used to them.

He has young couples around him too.

However, Fang Fang is still young, and there will always be times when she doesn't understand the plot.

At that moment, as he listened to the classic lines roaring on TV, he turned to look at Zhu Qing.

"Qingzai, this 'it would be better to have given birth to a piece of char siu than to have given birth to you'—"

Zhu Qing suddenly realized that the dialogue in the drama might leave a shadow on Zai Zai's young mind.

She pondered for a moment, then explained the meaning of the line to him from various angles in a way that the child could understand.

Zhu Qing's words were truly heartfelt and earnest.

It took me a long time to finish listening.

Shengfang swallowed hard, her little voice filled with longing: "Qingzai, I want to eat char siu."

————————

There will be about six extra chapters.