Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Father's Favoritism 12

[Okay, I'll ignore him.] 9972 wanted to raise his hands and feet in agreement.

Zhuozhuo muttered, "Zhao Hongwei didn't give Zhuozhuo any money. He said he would give him twenty cents."

[Yes, Zhao Hongwei hasn't paid back the money yet, two cents! Baby, ask him for it after dinner.]

Zhuozhuo began to do mental arithmetic. "Two cents plus one cent, yes, one, two, three, thirty cents. Zhuozhuo has thirty cents. So, how big a house can I buy with thirty cents? Can it accommodate Zhuozhuo and my sister?"

9972 was surprised that Zhuozhuo still remembered his grand plan to buy a house. It quickly said, "Baby, three cents can't buy a house, but you made a lot of money selling clothes today. While you were sleeping, Zhao Hongwei and Ma Xia said that all the money you made is yours, and they even gave you a bonus. If you want it, you can ask for the money tomorrow."

At the rate we went this afternoon, we'll be able to sell out all these clothes and scarves tomorrow, which will be just the right time to settle the accounts and divide the money.

“Is this enough money to buy a house?”

I could buy an abandoned house in a very remote rural area, but I wouldn't have enough money left for renovations or daily living expenses. And baby, I don't recommend living in the countryside. Neighbors there are very close, often even blood relatives, which can lead to xenophobia and the tendency to bully the vulnerable. Baby, it's best for us to buy a house in the city.

And they were in major cities, like the capital Haicheng. In those days, there were no purchase restrictions in these cities, and housing prices were incredibly cheap compared to later generations. Most importantly, big cities offer rapid development and excellent public security, making life convenient and safe.

Zhuozhuo couldn't think of so many things, but he accepted 9972's advice and asked seriously how much money was needed to buy a house in a big city.

9972 quoted the lowest price and added, "Housing prices in big cities are also affected by many factors. Aside from crowded, chaotic areas, the more comfortable the living conditions, the higher the price. Furthermore, prices for high-rises, Western-style buildings, villas, and courtyard houses vary greatly. Baby, what kind of house do you want?"

It projects photos of each house into Zhuo Zhuo's mind and introduces the advantages and disadvantages of each house from all aspects like a professional real estate salesperson.

Zhuozhuo listened attentively, his heart yearning for it. After struggling for a while to choose, he said in a baby voice, "Zhuozhuo wants them all."

From the upper floors, you can see the scenery far away. The Western-style buildings, villas, and courtyard houses all have different styles, but they are all beautiful. Zhuozhuo held up his little face and began to imagine eating and playing with Xiaofang in different houses. His dull mood brightened.

Seeing this, 9972 simply discussed various house decoration options with Zhuozhuo and even suggested that Zhuozhuo raise some flowers, plants and pets.

Of course, all this required a lot of money, and the money Zhuozhuo earned from selling clothes was far from enough, but 9972 had already decided to cheat. Zhuozhuo had suffered so much in this world. She used to be pampered and carefree, never having to worry about money, but now she was able to bargain expertly and sell things with sophistication, and she could say whatever she wanted to say to everyone.

9972 wasn't saying this was a bad thing, but watching Zhuozhuo's transformation this afternoon had been heartbreaking. It didn't even want to attribute this change to Zhuozhuo's growth or experience; it simply felt it was a necessary evil, a necessity. Its Zhuozhuo simply needed to grow up happily and innocently.

As for the mission, it is obvious that Zhao Hongwei is not worth staying with, and Zhuozhuo has no feelings for him either, so let's separate now.

Seeing Zhuozhuo in a daze after finishing her lion's head meal, Ma Xia tentatively picked up a piece of scrambled eggs with garlic sprouts for her with her chopsticks, "Zhuozhuo, this is delicious too."

Zhuozhuo didn't look up, but slowly pinched a piece of egg and stuffed it into his mouth.

Ma Xia grinned, then quickly retracted her smile and looked at Zhao Hongwei. Zhao Hongwei quickly turned his gaze away from Zhuo Zhuo and said unhappily, "Why are you looking at me? Eat yours."

He frowned and wondered seriously whether Zhuozhuo had heard those two words.

He often told Xiaofang that she was a money-loser, and he'd also told Zhuozhuo, who had just arrived, just as often, but she always contradicted him, so he stopped talking. Just now, he was pissed off and blurted it out without thinking, but halfway through, he realized he was wrong and held his breath, waiting for Zhuozhuo's already angry response.

However, Zhuozhuo didn't react at all.

Zhao Hongwei subconsciously assumed Zhuozhuo hadn't heard him, so he breathed a sigh of relief and even ate a few mouthfuls of rice to calm his nerves. But soon he began to wonder: Did Zhuozhuo not hear anything, or did he hear it but just keep quiet?

Zhuozhuo wasn't one to submit to fate. Her silence wasn't due to fear, nor was it due to indifference to the word. Was she too lazy to argue with him about it? Or was she too busy eating to bother with him? Or was she simmering down, preparing for a vicious revenge?

It can't be that I'm sad and really ignore him.

Zhao Hongwei was full of hope, but he was becoming more and more uneasy. He wanted to pick up Zhuozhuo, shake her head upside down, and shake out all the thoughts in her mind so that he could see them clearly.

The meal was tasteless. Zhao Hongwei put down his chopsticks in annoyance, only to find that something was wrong with Zhuozhuo.

The little one doesn't make a fuss while eating, but he does make a lot of small movements. When he gets something he likes, he shakes his head with joy. When he gets something he doesn't like, he picks it out and saves it for last, eating it with a frown on his face. He also looks up and around from time to time, plays with chopsticks and spoons for a while, and even stares at his fingers, the bowl, or the holes on the table in a daze for a while...

But ever since he said those two words—he now wished that they would disappear from the world! Zhuozhuo was like an emotionless puppet, keeping his head down and maintaining the same posture, eating whatever was given to him.

Is she crying secretly?

Zhao Hongwei's heart sank, and the pain made his brain throb. He stood up suddenly, ignoring the overturned stool, and rushed over to pick up Zhuozhuo, "Zhuozhuo, you..."

He saw the brilliant smile, and the bright eyes seemed to be filled with a sea of ​​stars, shining brightly.

"Zhao Hongwei, why are you hugging Zhuozhuo?" Zhuozhuo tilted her head and looked at him with a cute smile. Her attitude was even better than before the quarrel.

Zhao Hongwei choked. His voice was soft and his expression was calm, but there was no emotion associated with him. He felt empty inside, a blank look flashed across his face, and he asked dryly, "Are you full?"

"I'm full."

9972 reminded, "Baby, it was Ma Xia who just picked up some food for you." The food she picked up was a balanced combination of meat and vegetables, much better than letting Zhuo Zhuo pick and choose.

Zhuozhuo looked at Ma Xia and said sweetly, "Thank you, Uncle Ma, for picking up the food."

Ma Xia held the bowl with her mouth open, looking at Zhuo Zhuo and Zhao Hongwei like a fool. After hearing what he said, she was stunned for a moment, "Ah...ah, no need to thank me, I'll give you some next time."

Zhuozhuo nodded softly, "Okay."

She yawned uncontrollably and waved her little hand at Ma Xia, "Zhuo Zhuo is going to sleep. Goodbye, Uncle Ma."

"Goodbye, Zhuozhuo."

Ma Xia looked at Zhao Hongwei silently, pointed to the wooden bed, and then rushed out of the room as fast as he could.

Zhuozhuo was so tired that he fell asleep as soon as he got into bed.

Zhao Hongwei covered her with a blanket, turned around and went out to find Ma Xia squatting in the yard. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Do you think there's something wrong with Zhuozhuo?"

"...Brother Hongwei, this is the first time I've seen Zhuozhuo, and I don't know what's wrong with her. But I think there's something wrong with you." Ma Xia glanced at the night sky, all kinds of ghost stories flashed through his mind. He swallowed nervously and wanted to unzip his pants and urinate on Zhao Hongwei.

Any demon or monster that dares to attack Brother Hongwei, get out!

"I became a father overnight, so of course things are different now." Zhao Hongwei said with a vicissitudes of life, "You don't understand."

Ma Xia could only believe it. He didn't have the courage to implement the idea in his head anyway, so he asked quietly: "Brother, how are we going to sleep tonight?"

Zhao Hongwei's mind was so preoccupied that he didn't notice his friend's timid look. He said, "Let's find a mat and sleep on the floor. It's cooler there."

He has been holding Zhuozhuo to sleep these days, but when he put Zhuozhuo on the bed just now, the little guy didn't even tug at his sleeve. He just rolled out of his arms and fell asleep with his arms and legs spread out, without any attachment to him.

So, Zhao Hongwei was worried that Zhuozhuo would wake up in the middle of the night and kick him down while he was sleeping in bed.

It's totally incomprehensible.

He was not afraid of Zhuozhuo, he was just too tired and didn't want to go through this again in the middle of the night.

Zhuozhuo, dominating the wooden bed, slept soundly, and so wet it. She woke to a rustling sound and, through the dim candlelight, saw Zhao Hongwei and Ma Xia busy at work. She scrambled to her feet, slumped over, and found the spot where her hand was pressed was damp and cold.

Zhuozhuo, who hadn't fully turned on the computer yet, stared at it for a long time before slowly realizing that she had wet the bed. She subconsciously wanted to cry, feeling ashamed, but she stopped crying before the tears came out because she remembered that this was someone else's home and someone else's bed, and she would have to pay for it if it was soiled.

His eyes were instantly filled with tears, this time because of the loss of money.

"shining?"

Zhao Hongwei's gentle, tentative voice sounded, "Are you awake or sleepwalking? Can you look up at Daddy?"

Zhuozhuo looked over when he heard the sound.

There is a reaction, not sleepwalking.

Zhao Hongwei breathed a sigh of relief and gently touched the corners of his burning eyes with a wet towel to wipe away the tears. "Is it the bright light that hurts my eyes, or is it a nightmare?"

"Zhuozhuo wet the bed." Zhuozhuo was filled with grief. "Zhuozhuo has to pay for it."

Ma Xia heard this and laughed, "What compensation? Did you flush the bed?" He walked over and took a look. "Wow, what a big bubble. It's okay, I'll move the bed to the yard and it will dry in the sun."

Zhuozhuo didn't expect the solution to be so simple. He looked up at Ma Xia and confirmed again in surprise, "Is the bed really not broken?"

"No, that's not a good thing."

Zhuozhuo was relieved, and then she noticed that it was still dark outside. She glanced at Zhao Hongwei and asked curiously, "Zhao Hongwei, what are you doing instead of sleeping?"

Zhao Hongwei: “…”

Zhuozhuo's attitude seemed to be the same as before the quarrel, but he had a vague foreboding in his heart.

Choosing his words carefully, Zhao Hongwei explained that he would be setting up his stall early today. "I put a wooden board under the cloth bag so it will be more comfortable for you to stand inside. If you're sleepy, just continue sleeping and don't think about helping sell. If you're not sleepy, just tell me what you want to do."

Zhuozhuo's eyes were bright and clear, as if they had just been washed. She stood up and said excitedly, "Zhuozhuo wants to sell clothes, hurry up and wash your face!"

"Okay." Zhao Hongwei took Zhuozhuo out of bed with his arms, and washed her face, hands and changed her clothes without complaint.

The place we went to this time was two streets away from yesterday. Two adults and one child chose a location and set up their stall. It was just dawn and people could see them when they went out.

Perhaps because everyone was busy that morning, not many people stopped by. But those who did, almost all bought something, so business wasn't bad.

As daylight grew, more and more people came out, and the stall regained its former glory. The three of them were busy all day and night, and it wasn't until after eight o'clock that they finally quieted down. Zhao Hongwei picked up Zhuozhuo and said seriously, "Open your mouth. Let me see your throat."

Zhuozhuo opened his mouth listlessly, covering his throat with his little hands, looking like a wilted puppy exposed to the wind and sun, dejected.

Zhao Hongwei tried hard to see anything unusual, so he asked in a deep voice, "Does your throat still hurt?"

Zhuozhuo didn't want to talk and nodded.

"Ma Xia, please take care of this. I'll take Zhuo Zhuo to the clinic."

"Okay, brother, go quickly. Zhuozhuo's throat is tired. Let the doctor take a good look and prescribe good medicine. Zhuozhuo is still young, don't let him get any problems."

After these two sales, both adults' throats were burning and stinging, and they couldn't even swallow saliva, let alone the little kid, Zhuozhuo. It was also because they had no experience with children, otherwise they wouldn't have let her speak this morning.

Zhuozhuo shouldn’t have been allowed to speak yesterday afternoon!