Chapter 308 Character

In the early morning, Xiaoman woke up in unfamiliar surroundings. When she opened her eyes and saw the unfamiliar bed curtains above her head, the little girl was first confused and a little scared.

But when he turned his head and saw his mother sleeping soundly next to him, his little heart immediately calmed down.

He snuggled closer to his mother, who hugged him tightly again, making him happy.

But Xiaoman remembered her father saying that she shouldn't disturb her mother's sleep, so she obediently stayed still, her little face pressed against her mother's, smelling that comforting scent, and drifted off to sleep again.

Nan Zhiyi didn't wake up until the sunlight streamed through the window.

She glanced at her watch and realized it was almost nine o'clock.

As soon as she moved, Xiaoman, who was next to her, rubbed her eyes and sat up, saying urgently, "Mommy, I need to go to the toilet!"

Nan Zhiyi quickly got up, took her son's little hand and led him to the bathroom, pointing to it: "Son, look, it's here. Just like at home, if you want to use the toilet, just come over yourself, and remember to flush, okay?"

Xiaoman nodded vigorously, looking very serious.

Nan Zhiyi helped him wash up and change into clothes that were easy for him to move in.

"Come on, Mom will take you out for breakfast, and then we'll go to the flower market to look at the pretty flowers and find a gardener who knows how to grow them."

Upon hearing that they were going out, Xiaoman immediately responded enthusiastically, obediently letting her mother hold her hand as they stepped out of the vermilion wooden gate of the courtyard.

The alley outside the gate was narrow and quiet, the bluestone pavement was damp and dark in color.

On both sides are gray brick walls of varying heights, with tender green buds just sprouting from old locust trees peeking out from the tops of some walls.

Occasionally, someone riding a bicycle would pass by, ringing a bell, with a net bag of vegetables hanging from the handlebars.

A faint, wisp of smoke, like that from a extinguished coal stove, lingered in the air.

Stepping out of the alley, the scene comes alive.

A breakfast stall was set up against the wall of a house facing the street.

The aunt was picking steamed buns out of the steaming bamboo steamer, while fried dough rings were sizzling in the oil pan next to her.

Two or three people in overalls were standing in front of the stall, waiting for their turn.

This would have been unimaginable a few years ago, but now, these individually owned stalls are quietly appearing.

Nan Zhiyi led Xiaoman over and ordered two steamed buns and a bowl of millet porridge.

She wrapped the hot buns in oil paper, blew on them to cool them down, and then handed them to her eagerly waiting son.

Xiaoman took it and took a big bite.

"Mom, let's go out to eat!" he said, repeating the word even with food in his mouth.

"This isn't considered eating out; it's more like eating at a breakfast stall. But both are equally delicious."

She took a bite of the bun herself; the dough was soft and fluffy, and it truly tasted like home cooking.

After breakfast, Nan Zhiyi took Xiaoman's hand and went to the famous flower, bird, fish and insect market nearby.

Stepping into the market area felt like entering another world.

The air was filled with the smells of earth, flowers, bird droppings, and a faint fishy odor, and various sounds and smells assaulted the senses.

Along the narrow passage, stalls stood side by side, some set up on wooden planks, others simply covered with plastic sheets on the ground.

Xiaoman's eyes weren't enough; everything she saw seemed new and exciting.

Rows of earthenware pots are planted with roses, jasmine, and gardenias, all in bud.

Inside the small cages woven from bamboo strips, thrushes and larks hopped and jumped around, chirping away.

There were also vendors selling goldfish. In large wooden basins and sea tanks, colorful dragon-eye and bubble-eye goldfish, with their long, flowing tails, swam leisurely.

Xiaoman (the 15th solar term) is most fond of small fish.

"Mommy! Fish! Red fish!"

"Slow down, don't tip the pot over."

Nan Zhiyi quickly grabbed his hand.

Further along, you'll find vendors selling cricket jars and cricket gourds, where artisans will pyrrate the gourds on the spot.

Some displays feature various tree roots and unusual stones, claiming they are materials for bonsai.

They even sell newly hatched chicks and ducklings, fluffy, pale yellow tufts that chirp and twitter, attracting many children to gather around and watch.

Xiaoman was overwhelmed by what she saw, asking one question after another: "Mommy, why are the birds in the cage?" "That's a katydid, can it sing?" "Can the chicks come home with us?"

Nan Zhiyi patiently answered all her questions, neither rushing nor giving perfunctory answers, allowing her son to explore freely.

She slowed her pace, her gaze sweeping over the lush green saplings, pondering what to add to the courtyard house and where to find a skilled gardener.

After lingering in the flower and tree market for most of the morning, Nan Zhiyi saw that her son was getting tired, so she decided not to go any further.

As she was leaving, she saw the little guy looking back longingly at the goldfish stall, and her heart softened. She took him back with her.

"Xiaoman, pick out two small fish, let's take them home."

Xiaoman carefully pointed to a small fish that was entirely orange-red and another that was black with golden spots: "Mommy, I want the red one, and this one with flowers too!"

Nan Zhiyi asked the stall owner to scoop up the two small fish she had chosen, and then bought a simple round glass fish tank.

The vendor skillfully packed the fish and water into a thick plastic bag, tied it tightly, and handed it over.

Just as Nan Zhiyi was about to reach out to take it, Xiaoman stepped in first, carrying the bag with both of her little hands: "Mommy, I'll take it!"

"Okay, Xiaoman, come get it. Walk slowly, the little fish will be afraid of being shaken inside."

"Yes!" Xiaoman nodded solemnly.

Nan Zhiyi, carrying the fish tank, stood protectively beside her son.

The mother and son had a simple lunch outside and then returned to the courtyard house.

As soon as they got home, Xiaoman urged her mother to put the small fish into the fish tank, and Nan Zhiyi naturally did as she was told.

Xiaoman, contrary to her usual behavior, refused to take a nap during her afternoon.

He placed the fish tank on the living room table, sat down in front of it, rested his chin on his hands, and watched intently as the two small fish gracefully swayed their tails in the water.

Nan Zhiyi opened the fish food the stall owner had given her, pinched a small amount and placed it in Xiaoman's palm: "Here, this is all you can feed her, the little fish will feel uncomfortable if they eat too much."

Xiaoman imitated her mother, picking up a few grains with her chubby fingers and scattering them on the water's surface.

Watching the small fish quickly rise to the surface to peck at the food, he found it extremely interesting and reached out to grab more fish food.

“Son,” Nan Zhiyi gently pressed his little hand and explained in a way he could understand.

"You can't feed them anymore. Look, the little fish have such small bellies. If we feed them too much, their bellies will become bloated and uncomfortable, and they won't be able to swim, just like when you eat too much and have a stomachache."

After hearing this, Xiaoman looked down at her belly and then at the little fish in the water, as if she truly understood what her mother had said.

He withdrew his hand. "The little fish will be upset. Let's not feed it now. We'll feed it tomorrow." His expression was a mixture of sympathy and restraint.

Seeing her son so quickly internalize the principles and put them into action, Nan Zhiyi felt a surge of intense satisfaction and pride.

This child's personality is not only obedient, but also able to understand reason and is considerate.

He even bears a resemblance to Gu Xiao.

Is a person's personality really related to genetics?

She was filled with a sense of pride and happiness, and hugged her son tightly, kissing him repeatedly.