As soon as Zhu Hongan spoke, everyone looked over.

"Sheng, Chen." Zhu Hongan said again.

Now everyone's eyes turned to Zhou Chong again.

Zhou Chong stared blankly at Zhu Hongan. He had only mentioned this once. That day, the teacher mentioned the monthly exam and asked the students to prepare well. He said to Zhu Hongan, "The exam this month happens to be on my birthday, so I can go home and celebrate it."

He was just happy at that time, so he said it, but he didn't expect that Hongan would remember it.

"Today is my birthday." Zhou Chong responded with a shy smile.

Su Liuer filled a large bowl with taro balls, wrapped them in cloth, and placed them on the table in front of Zhou Chong.

"Happy birthday, you're eleven this year, right?"

Zhou Chong nodded, his face becoming more and more red with embarrassment. This was the first time in his life that he had received a birthday present. Children from poor families would just have a bowl of longevity noodles for their birthdays, so there was no way they would get any presents.

He reached out and held the cloth-wrapped bowl, feeling mixed emotions, embarrassed yet happy at the same time.

Su Liuer didn't give Zhou Chong more things. She could see that this child was a sensitive person. Giving him too many things would make him feel more embarrassed and pressured. Maybe he wouldn't be able to be friends with Zhu Hongan on an equal footing in the future.

Children from poor families are usually more sensitive. As an orphan, she can naturally understand and take better care of them.

"Zhou Chong, which village are you from?" Su Liuer casually changed the subject.

Zhou Chong came back to his senses from his mixed emotions and replied, "I'm from Downstream Village."

Su Liuer nodded and said to Zhu Hongan, "You stay here with Zhou Chong and play. Mom has to go open the shop."

"Okay." Zhu Hongan agreed obediently.

Su Liuer and the others started to get busy, carrying food in and out. Zhou Chong and Zhu Hongan continued to eat taro balls while watching.

After everyone was in the shop, Zhou Chong said to Zhu Hongan, "Hongan, thank you for remembering my birthday."

"Same." Zhu Hongan responded with one word.

Zhou Chong understood what he meant. He was also saying thank you for remembering his birthday.

"I will remember your birthday every year from now on, and I will prepare a birthday present for you next year." Zhou Chong promised Zhu Hongan seriously.

Zhu Hongan smiled, with two dimples on his chubby cheeks. He nodded: "Same." Next year he would also personally prepare a birthday present for Zhou Chong.

He brought Zhou Chong here today originally to treat him to a bowl of iced grass jelly honey, which everyone in the town likes to eat now.

But now it’s okay to eat the taro balls made by my mother.

Just as I was thinking this, the door curtain was lifted and Su Liuer walked in carrying a tray.

"Come, I've served you a bowl of iced grass jelly honey. Children can't eat too much cold food, so you two can have one bowl each." Su Liuer walked over, put down the grass jelly honey, and considerately put a spoon on it.

"Eat slowly." Su Liuer patted Zhu Hongan's head habitually.

Zhou Chong looked at Su Liuer who turned and left with an envious look on his face. He had been without a mother since he was a child. His father said that his mother was dead, but his grandparents said that his mother ran away with someone else and didn't want him and his brothers and sisters anymore.

His expression darkened, but after a moment, he immediately smiled again. He picked up the spoon and said, "I've been wanting to eat iced grass jelly honey for a long time. Thanks to you, I finally get to eat it today. Your mother is so kind!"

"Yeah." Zhu Hongan nodded and picked up the spoon.

He felt Zhou Chong's envy and loneliness, but he didn't need to say it out loud. They could just eat the sweet grass jelly honey together.

At least this year's birthday of Zhou Chong will be sweet when he recalls it in the future.