After Xue He helped Zhao Di wash her hands, they sat down at the table to eat. Jiang Wanqing and the others didn't start eating first; there were vegetables and meat on the table.
"Mom, I want to eat braised pork."
Now that Nannan can express her needs clearly, she can say what she wants to eat directly. As soon as she says it, Cheng Ran is even faster than Jiang Wanqing. She specially picks pork belly that is neither too fatty nor too lean, cuts it into small pieces with chopsticks, and feeds it to the child.
"Eat slowly, there's still plenty left."
"Thank you, Dad."
"You're welcome."
Jiang Wanqing was serving soup to her daughter when she turned around and saw Zhao Di staring at them with wide eyes, not daring to touch her chopsticks or make a sound, looking like a frightened quail.
She paused for a moment, then used her chopsticks to pick up a piece of meat for Zhao Di.
"You eat too."
"Thank you, Auntie."
"You're welcome. How did you know to call me aunt?"
Fearing the child might be shy or scared, Jiang Wanqing started chatting with her, both to learn more about the child and to subtly inquire about her family situation, since she knew the child wouldn't lie easily.
"It was Mom who said it...she said..."
Zhao Di spoke haltingly for less than two sentences before timidly stopping and falling silent.
"Child, what else did your mother say to you? It's okay, you can tell us. Your great-aunt will protect you."
Xue He had plenty of experience taking care of children and patiently coaxed Zhao Di. The child could also feel everyone's kindness towards her and gradually let down her guard.
"Mom said that only if we are sweet-talking will my aunt and uncle let us stay, make us city people, and... let my brother and me stay to study, so that my parents can have a good life in the future."
Such parents deserve to die! They actually used such young children as rafts. Jiang Wanqing was furious just hearing about it!
Her face darkened, perhaps frightening Zhao Di, and the child immediately shut up.
"Auntie, did I make you angry?"
"No, don't be afraid." Jiang Wanqing pinched Zhao Di's cheek and sighed, "Eat your food quickly, look how thin you are. Don't your parents feed you in the countryside?"
Zhao Di shook her head: "It was given to me. I ate what my brother left over. Mom said that my brother is growing and that I should eat what he can't finish. It's perfect and won't go to waste."
Is this even human language?! Raising a child like this, and now they want to come to Beijing to fleece them? Jiang Wanqing will absolutely not let that happen!
"Come on, eat more. You're growing too, and you're still a child."
Jiang Wanqing felt sorry for Zhao Di and put two more pieces of meat on her plate, urging her to eat more. Xue He and Jiang Jianguo also felt their hearts clench with worry.
What kind of parents are so biased?! Are they even human?!
"Gangzi and his wife are truly despicable! This isn't a famine year; whether it's sweet potatoes or brown rice, how can they let their child go hungry!"
Cheng Ran remained silent and quietly handed Zhao Di a sesame seed cake. He had never lacked food or clothing since he was a child, and he had raised his own daughter in a very luxurious way. Now, seeing this child all of a sudden, he felt a little uncomfortable.
“This child is pitiful…it’s a pity we can’t help her much.” Jiang Jianguo sighed. “She will eventually have to go back to her parents.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Di burst into tears, perhaps because she was thinking of something sad, or perhaps because she didn't want to go back.
Jiang Wanqing restrained her sympathy. To be honest, she never wanted to assume malice towards others, but Zhao Di's parents were an exception.
It's possible that those two malicious people kept Zhao Di behind to evoke their sympathy and make things easier for them later, so she had to suppress her emotions.
"Mom, after Zhaodi finishes eating, take her to take a bath and then go to bed."
"good."
That night, Jiang Wanqing tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep, when Cheng Ran pulled her into his arms.
No one knows a wife better than her husband, so he asked her softly, "Are you still thinking about the child?"
"Well... although I know her parents definitely have ulterior motives, and might even have deliberately left her behind, otherwise they would have come back for her, but a living, breathing little life, watching her being abused in front of me, I just can't get over it. I want to do something, but I'm afraid..."
"Are you afraid that her parents will take advantage of you and use this to exploit your weaknesses in the future?"
Jiang Wanqing remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement. Cheng Ran stroked her hair.
"Do whatever you want. Believe that we always have a safety net. Zhao Di is really pitiful. Let's discuss it another day and see if there's a way to have the best of both worlds. It's too late today, let's go to sleep."
He patted her back and hugged her tightly. Jiang Wanqing pursed her lips and nodded.
"Okay, go to sleep."
The night passed, and when Jiang Wanqing woke up the next day, she followed the noise to the kitchen and was stunned to see Zhao Di helping to make breakfast.
"Mom, why is Zhaodi up so early..."
"Sigh, this child insists on helping out. She says that if she doesn't help out at home, her mother beats her. It's probably become a habit."
Hearing this, Jiang Wanqing felt even worse. As a parent herself, she put herself in her daughter's shoes. If this were her own daughter, she would never want her to do such rough work at such a young age!
She pulled Zhao Di out of the kitchen, squatted down, and spoke to the child in a gentle and kind voice.
"Zhaodi, you're still young. Adults can cook for you. What you need to do is eat well, sleep well, grow up quickly, and become independent, understand?"
"Aunt, what is independence?" Zhao Di blinked, looking completely bewildered.
"Independence means you've grown up, and no one can order you around anymore. You can earn your own living, you'll have your own goals, and you won't have to sacrifice for anyone, including your parents and brother."
"Then I want to be independent!"
Without a second thought, the child immediately replied, grinning foolishly. Jiang Wanqing twitched the corner of her mouth.
"Yes, if you want to grow up and become independent, you need to eat properly first. Go wash your hands and get ready for breakfast."
"Okay! Thank you, Auntie!"
Breakfast is easier to make than lunch and dinner; it's just a matter of steaming a few buns, stewing a pot of porridge, and making a few pancakes.
However, just as breakfast was served, Xue Gang and Guihua came in carrying their child, as if yesterday's unpleasantness had never happened.
"Oh, it's better to be lucky than early. Auntie, your breakfast is much more elaborate than ours in the countryside. Well then, we won't stand on ceremony. It's more fun to eat with more people."
Jiang Wanqing rolled her eyes. It was early in the morning, so she shouldn't get angry. She decided to hold back for now.
At that moment, several comrades in military uniforms entered and shouted at the top of their lungs.
Is Comrade Cheng Ran home?
"Looking for Cheng Ran?" Xue He glanced outside.
Upon hearing his name called, Cheng Ran came out and instinctively saluted the comrades.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Great news, Comrade Cheng Ran! The organization has an important task for you!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wanqing immediately got up and went to the courtyard. A major mission from the organization? But Cheng Ran is now a researcher at the institute, could it be... demobilization?!
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