Chapter 93 Shopping at the Supermarket
North City, People's Department Store.
The largest department store in the northern part of the city is a five-story concrete building. The exterior walls have just been renovated, and the white strip tiles reflect a dazzling white light when the sun shines on them.
Several huge billboards stood on the rooftop, with red banners advertising a certain product fluttering in the wind.
The area in front of the department store was packed with people, and it took several minutes to get through the three- or four-meter-wide glass doors.
"Stay close to me, don't get lost when we go inside!"
Chen Yun and Gao Ming were practically pushed and shoved by the crowd as they walked toward the gate, the three children shielding each other in front of their chests, not daring to look away for even a moment.
We heard from the news that the first supermarket in the northern part of the city had opened in the building, and the family originally thought of going to join the fun. Unexpectedly, there were quite a few people who had the same idea as them.
"Are they all from that supermarket?" Gao Ming asked, puzzled.
He didn't know what a supermarket was, but his wife just wanted him to act as her driver and bag carrier, and follow her around.
"I should have just stayed home and rested," Chen Yun sighed helplessly.
There's no going back now, even if you wanted to. Getting out is more difficult than going in with the crowd.
Perhaps it's because everyone has spare cash, or perhaps it's because it's just before the Spring Festival and many people are preparing for the New Year.
The family finally made it into the hall amidst the smell of camphor balls.
"The supermarket is on the first floor, so why is everyone going upstairs?"
The two bright red characters for "supermarket" are prominently displayed in the center of the lobby; it's impossible not to see them.
But everyone's goal was clearly upstairs, and the flow of people surged up to the second floor like a river, while only a few people were heading towards the supermarket.
"It looks like there's an electronics store upstairs, shall we go check it out?"
Chen Yun quickly waved her hand: "We have enough appliances at home, let's not join the crowd." As she spoke, she reached out and grabbed her eager daughter: "With fewer people, we can stroll around at our own pace."
Gao Nian'an frantically tried to signal to her father, clearly wanting to follow the crowd upstairs to see what was going on.
“Your mom is the boss, she makes the decisions!” Gao Ming cleared his throat and said to his three children in a serious tone, “The money is all with Mom! It’s no use asking me if you want to buy anything.”
"Let's go."
The bright lights were dazzling, and the supermarket seemed even brighter inside than outside. A wave of heat hit you the moment you passed the entrance.
Chen Yun put the inspected handbag back on her shoulder and directed the children to push a shopping cart.
"Wow!"
"Mom, I want to buy this pencil. If you buy five, they'll give you a free pencil eraser..."
"Aunt Chen, what kind of noodles are instant noodles?"
The supermarket was filled with a dazzling array of goods, and the three children's eyes were glued to the shelves.
Before Chen Yun could even finish choosing a bar of soap, the three children had already squeezed to the shelf next door.
"Gao Nian'an... You can't tear things up if you haven't paid for them!"
"Okay!" Gao Nian'an responded loudly, then asked, "Mom, Li Shuaishuai wants strawberry cookies, and Nianping wants milk cookies. Can we buy them both?"
"Sure, Dad will buy you whatever you want today!"
Chen Yun turned to look at Gao Ming, who was "speaking recklessly," but ultimately chose to keep quiet and not be the spoilsport.
"You're afraid others won't know how much you spoil your child."
A row of instant noodles that suddenly appeared on the shelf made Chen Yun stop in her tracks. Her fingers brushed over the familiar words on the bright red packaging, and she felt a surge of emotion.
Seventeen years ago, when Chen Yun transmigrated, even eating a bowl of white rice was a luxury. Unexpectedly, as she lived, she finally saw many things that she had taken for granted in her previous life.
Gao Ming chuckled twice, then casually reached over Chen Yun's shoulder: "I work hard to earn money so that you and the kids can spend it. If one day I become stingy and refuse to spend money, then you should be worried!"
Chen Yun glared at Gao Ming with a smile: "You dare!"
"No, no, I wouldn't dare." The tall figure bent down slightly, bumped Chen Yun with his shoulder, and smiled ingratiatingly: "Didn't you hand over the money as soon as you made it? How could you dare to have any other thoughts?"
The border trade transport line was launched with exceptionally smooth progress. With Zhou Jianjun and his group of brothers joining, the vacancies for transport team drivers were quickly filled.
Moreover, most of these people are veteran drivers, whose ability to handle various vehicle problems on the road is far superior to that of other drivers.
The border trade route was almost entirely handled by Zhou Jianjun's convoy.
After the route began operation, Gao Ming signed transportation contracts with two international trade and logistics companies.
While Chen Yun was busy competing with imported insulated boxes in the past two years, Gao Mingshizhi had already established a branch company in Shanghai.
"Go check on the children, make sure they don't actually empty the shelves."
"Yes, sir." Gao Ming winked and saluted, quickly walking around the shelf. Soon, a gasp was heard: "This is toothpaste! Are you going to use all this toothpaste for a lifetime?!"
"Isn't it a cookie?"
"It doesn't say there are two toothpaste tubes on it..."
The sound suddenly disappeared and didn't come out for several seconds. Just as Chen Yun was wondering if something had happened, Gao Ming's voice finally came from the shelf next to him again.
"That's quite a coincidence."
Having lived together for over a decade, Chen Yun could immediately sense the displeasure in Gao Ming's tone.
I ran into someone I knew... but it wasn't a happy thing.
"So handsome."
Chen Yun: "..."
Chen Yun pushed the shopping cart around the shelves and, sure enough, saw Li Huguo's hand awkwardly hanging in mid-air, unable to retract in time.
Li Shuaishuai hid behind Gao Ming.
"Brilliant." Li Huguo's expression was slightly stiff, and he helplessly placed his hand on the cart handle and clenched it tightly: "Congratulations on getting the pass for Tiger and that line."
"If we don't get it, the company will collapse," Gao Ming sneered.
The six months seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye, but the adults present knew perfectly well how much hardship they had endured during that time.
"I'm sorry about poaching the driver." Li Huguo's voice was hoarse, his smile like a mask forced onto his face, the corners of his mouth twitching stiffly. "But I tried my best to make it up to you later... I..."
“I know those two international trading companies contacted you… From now on, neither of us owes the other anything.”
Before the Lunar New Year, Li Huguo's father passed away. Gao Ming helped Li Huguo with everything from start to finish, while his business partner didn't even show his face.
Perhaps it was for this reason that Li Huguo suddenly had a change of heart and tried his best to mend his relationship with Gao Ming.
However... the effect was minimal.
"I'm getting married in a couple of days, and I'll be having a banquet at my own home. You and your sister-in-law absolutely have to come," Li Huguo sighed, changing the subject.
"Marriage?" Gao Ming asked in surprise.
After Cui Niang's fake pregnancy was exposed, she heard that Li Huguo planned to cut ties completely. Chen Yun still heard some details from Li Yishu.
Cui Niang said she would go to the police station to report Li Huguo for embezzlement, and in the end, it took 30,000 yuan to resolve the matter.
If we calculate the timeline, he's only been separated from Cui Niang for three or four months, and now he's getting married to someone else?
"Uncle Gao, Aunt Chen."
A person Chen Yun never expected quietly approached from the other end of the shelf, and a light pink suit immediately caught her eye.
"Hu Yue'e?" Chen Yun exclaimed the name in disbelief.
She wore a fitted dress made of synthetic fiber, the hem of which just went past her knees, and black high heels that made her legs look long and fair. A bright gold necklace was faintly visible at the neckline.
In temperatures below -10 degrees Celsius, a pair of flesh-colored stockings was hardly enough to keep out the biting cold; Chen Yun felt sorry for her legs.
Hu Yue'e has changed a lot. Her youthful innocence has completely faded beneath the heavy makeup, replaced by an obvious "mature charm."
"Is she the one you're going to marry?" Chen Yun asked.
Li Huguo nodded, then turned his gaze to Li Shuaishuai, speaking in a gentle tone: "Shuaishuai, Aunt Hu is about to marry Dad, and we'll be living together from now on."
"Hello, Shuai Shuai." Hu Yue'e smiled and casually pulled a few pieces of candy from her pocket. "How about Auntie treats you to dinner later?"
Li Shuaishuai pouted, took a step, and hid behind Chen Yun.
“Shuai Shuai hasn’t liked candy for a long time!” Gao Nian’an retorted without any politeness, staring straight at Hu Yue’e: “The candy wrappers have melted, and they’re obviously sticky!”
"I hate eating sweets the most," Li Shuaishuai snorted.
If Li Huguo had paid any attention, he would have known that his son didn't like sweets. He only craved them when he was a child because there were few snacks available. Since moving to Guanming Hutong, most of the sweets ended up in Gao Nian'an's mouth.
Moreover, this child has the same taste as Chen Yun; he really likes spicy food.
Gao Nian'an and her brother inherited Gao Ming's inability to eat spicy food, so every time Chen Yun secretly went out for a treat of hot pot, she would bring Li Shuaishuai along.
Even the Gao family knew... clearly, their biological father was unaware.
"Shuai Shuai, how about Dad takes you to the amusement park to ride the bumper cars tomorrow?" Li Huguo approached him in a kind and gentle voice, his posture even somewhat humble: "Tell Dad what you like to eat, and Dad will buy it for you."
Li Shuaishuai tugged at Chen Yun's arm: "Aunt Chen, let's go."
"Li Huguo." Gao Ming pushed the car between the father and son: "Before Ruanqiu left, she entrusted the child to my wife and me. As long as Shuai Shuai is unwilling, I cannot let him go with you."
Li Huguo remained silent.
"Dad moved back home this afternoon, so let's have a good chat again tonight."
"Hmph!" Li Shuaishuai pulled Gao Nianping and hid on the other side of the shelf.
A moment later, Li Huguo gave up his plan to take Li Shuaishuai away.
No matter how humble he was, Li Shuaishuai didn't even give him a proper look.
As soon as Hu Yue'e turned around, she immediately hugged Li Huguo's arm, leaning half her body against him, and her soft, coquettish murmurs drifted over from afar.
"I remember Hu Yue'e used to call Li Huguo 'Uncle,' right?"
To be honest, Chen Yun never imagined that the two of them would get together. Li Huguo had witnessed Hu Yue'e's vow that she would marry no one but Tang Junjie back then, but in the end, they ended up getting married...
Gao Ming shook his head at the sight.
"Li Huguo is becoming more and more outrageous!"
"Did he marry Hu Yue'e because he wanted to have another child?" Chen Yun wondered.
When his parents divorced, Shuai Shuai was already old enough to understand things. He never gave Li Huguo, who had cheated on him, a friendly look. The father and son would only see each other occasionally during holidays.
Now that Li Huguo is rich, instead of lowering himself to please his estranged son, he might as well have another child.
Gao Ming put the toothpaste tubes that the children had taken back back in their correct places, his tone also somewhat puzzled: "Look at the way Li Huguo was smug just now, did he look like he didn't want to be handsome?"
"Doesn't look like it!"
Li Huguo was practically bowing and calling him "ancestor," acting as if Li Shuaishuai had said he wouldn't dare go west.
"I know why he's so good to me!"
The couple turned to look at Li Shuaishuai, who had suddenly interrupted, and then at Gao Nian'an and her brother, who also wore disdainful expressions.
It's clear that Shuai Shuai had already told the siblings in advance.
“Because my dad can’t have children anymore…” Li Shuaishuai said this with obvious sarcasm, deliberately drawing out the word “can’t”: “From now on, I’ll be his only child. If he’s not good to me, who will he be good to!”
How did you know?
“He was whispering to Grandma, and Nianping and I both heard it!” Li Shuaishuai pointed to his side, and Gao Nianping immediately nodded: “It was when you were working overtime for half a month and didn’t come home, I was sleeping at Shuaishuai’s house…”
Chen Yun certainly remembered! The period of overtime work coincided with the fertilizer plant leak accident. The neonatal department worked overtime for two consecutive weeks to conduct poisoning tests on the children of the plant's employees and their families before gradually returning to normal schedules.
Li Huguo braved the rain to return home in the middle of the night, and as soon as he entered the house, he said he wanted to take Li Shuaishuai for a blood test.
"Grandma told him to get out and go crazy, and then Dad said I might not be his child..." Li Shuaishuai suddenly clicked his tongue twice, his expression a half-smile: "Grandma kept asking, and Dad finally said he went to the hospital for a checkup and found out he can't have any more children!"
The two children didn't understand the disease that caused death or anything like that, but they could understand what Li Huguo meant—Li Shuaishuai's biological father was someone else.
Azoospermia...
Chen Yun silently completed the name of the disease in her mind.
Clearly, Li Huguo had become suspicious of Chen Yun's words the day he exposed Cui Niang's false pregnancy, and he must have gone for a checkup afterward.
Once she is certain that it is indeed azoospermia, she will naturally doubt whether Li Shuaishuai is her bloodline.
The result is obvious; otherwise, why would she have humbled herself to Li Shuaishuai and moved back in?
What Li Shuaishuai said next confirmed Chen Yun's wild guess.
Not only was Li Huguo excited, but Fang Fang was so shocked when she heard about it that she almost couldn't breathe. The next day, she took Li Shuaishuai to a very tall building to have his blood drawn under the pretext of a physical examination.
"Later, my grandma bought me a new schoolbag and new shoes, and I knew I must be her grandson."
Adults always think that children are too young to understand anything and can be easily fooled with a few words, but in fact they know better than anyone else.
Li Huguo spent a lot of money to get this paternity test done.
The result satisfied him and Fang Fang, but little did they know how deep a rift it left in Li Shuaishuai's heart, making it even more difficult to repair their relationship in the future.
"Don't tell your mother about this." Chen Yun felt that some things shouldn't be easily brushed off anymore, so she explained very seriously, "If she knew that Li Huguo took you to have your blood drawn, she would definitely be so upset that she wouldn't be able to sleep."
"It's a secret!" Li Shuaishuai patted his mouth.
"You dare to keep such a big thing a secret?" Chen Yun's gaze suddenly sharpened as she scanned the guilty-looking children: "Are there any other secrets you're hiding from us?"
"Yes." Gao Nianping was the one who couldn't keep a secret the most. As soon as he made eye contact with Chen Yun, he immediately revealed his sister: "My sister wants to be a martial arts star, the kind of actor who is really good at fighting in movies."
Chen Yun: "..."
"What kind of martial arts actor do you want to be?" Gao Ming asked.
"My sister also secretly learned martial arts..." He glanced cautiously at Gao Ming's lips, which were gradually turning down, and forced himself to continue, "Grandpa helped my sister find a martial arts teacher to learn from."
clever:"……"
Gao Ming can patiently guide his daughter to find her interests, and he can also tolerate her giving up quickly time and time again.
But Gao Nian'an must never be allowed to have an interest in dangerous things.
Martial arts have long been classified as dangerous. Gao Ming suffered a lot of hardship in martial arts training when he was young, and the scars on his waist have stayed with him for most of his life.
Just as her father was about to lose his temper, Chen Yun suddenly sighed.
"My daughter can even pin down a pig; she's got real talent for martial arts!"
It's such a waste that someone with that much strength doesn't learn some martial arts...
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