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Zhong Wan took some time early in the morning to bring the children to the noodle shop with Chu Qinghuai. She showed the video to Lin Jiang: "Sister Lin, do you remember this person?"
The other person squinted, leaned closer to examine the child closely, and suddenly exclaimed excitedly, "How could it be her? Oh, I almost didn't recognize her! I have a very deep impression of this girl. She often comes to the store to order a bowl of tomato beef noodles and praises the children for being cute. I really didn't expect her to post our children online."
Lin Jiang always has times when she can't keep an eye on her three naughty children, and inevitably, there will be times when she can't keep a close eye on them and someone with malicious intent takes photos of them. Besides, as noodle shop owners, she and Chen Yu are very careful about their customers' privacy. Who would look at someone else's phone? And who knows what those people are up to?
“No wonder, she asked me where the kids were yesterday, but I managed to fool her.” When she saw that Mu Mu and the others weren’t there, the girl named A Yue sighed in disappointment and barely ate any noodles, which made Lin Jiang mistakenly think that she liked the three children too much. It was really hurtful. She threw the rag on the ground, feeling indignant: “I always give her two extra pieces of beef, it’s such a waste.”
Chen silently bent down to pick up the rag from the ground and sheepishly wiped the table, saying, "It was indeed unethical of me to do that."
This matter could be a big deal or a small deal. After all, the three children aren't exactly famous child stars, and their online popularity is only so-so. Moreover, the comments they attract are mostly positive. But as parents, Zhong Wanchu and Qinghuai are thinking a lot more. They are just ordinary people who want their children to live ordinary lives. Indeed, there are no bad comments about the children in the video now, but what about in the future? As the number of people who know them increases, there's no guarantee that some unreasonable bad people won't say bad things. The couple simply can't accept the thought of it.
No parent would willingly exploit their child for personal gain, let alone tolerate others guiding their child to make money.
No one can think of the best solution right now. Lin Jiang is in a hurry and wants to go directly to the girl to delete the video. Chen Yu told her not to act rashly, because who knows if she will anger the other party, which would be bad for everyone. What if she spreads rumors about the children?
"So we just have to put up with it? Just watch her make a fortune?"
"Don't worry, it's definitely not going to happen. I don't believe it. If she can never see her child again, how can she possibly take photos and send videos?"
Chen was relatively optimistic, believing that his method was excellent in every way, as it avoided a complete falling out with the other party while addressing the problem at its root.
Chu Qinghuai agreed with him, saying, "That's what I was thinking too, so we won't send the children over for a while, so you and Sister Lin can relax for a few days."
"Oh dear, that's not what I meant." Chen Yu immediately became anxious, moved the stool, and said to the young couple, "Why don't we just put the three kids upstairs? We're quite busy this morning, so let your sister Lin stay upstairs and watch the children. I'll take them outside to play this afternoon. The weather is nice now, and the parks and playgrounds are so lively. They'll definitely love it."
Zhong Wan quickly waved her hand: "No, no, that's too much trouble."
Her and Chu Qinghuai's original intention was simply to have Sister Lin and Brother Chen help look after the children without interfering with the shop's operations. They couldn't possibly treat them as mere tools for childcare; she would feel guilty about that.
Lin Jiang: "What's the trouble? Summer vacation is coming soon, and Chen Yun will be helping out at the store anyway, so there's no worry about who will take care of the kids."
Zhong Wan couldn't refuse, so she said, "We'll see."
...
The four adults chatted for a long time, while the three children sat at the table next to them and played, and no one noticed them for a while.
The children were unusually quiet, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Soon, Cai Cai and Xiao He started arguing, fighting over toys back and forth. In the end, it seemed like they were competing to see who could smash their toys the loudest. Zhong Wan glanced over habitually. Children are most afraid of their mothers being angry, and they were very good at reading the room. They remained silent for a few seconds, pretending nothing had happened.
But as soon as Zhong Wan turned her head away, they continued to disobey. The two of them fought like tug-of-war over a small toy, pulling with all their might. Xiao He stood up and tried to snatch the toy car from her brother, while Cai Cai, looking angry, sat on the ground kicking her legs and shouting, "I hate it!"
Just moments ago, the two children were a warm and loving brother and sister, even talking about building a castle together. Now, their smiles have vanished, replaced by fierce and adorable looks.
"Give me the bok choy!"
"I got it first, I want to play with it."
"But you've been playing for a long time, it's my turn."
"I disagree." The soft and cute Cai Cai spoke coldly and ruthlessly. No matter how much Ren Xiao He tried to persuade her, she just wouldn't listen. On the contrary, the most fun was the toys that they fought over.
Xiaohe was angry and sad. She had no right to ask Xiaoqingcai to give her the toys, so she could only attract her parents' attention by crying loudly so that they could uphold justice.
Bok choy is so annoying.
To everyone's surprise, the fair and impartial Zhong Wan merely glanced at them indifferently and said, "So noisy, bring the toys over."
She confiscated it and put it in her bag, saying, "Don't play any more games today."
The two then calmed down.
Lin Jiang gave a thumbs up: "You really have a way with things."
Zhong Wan smiled, glanced at her watch, and realized she was almost late for work. She turned to Lin Jiang with a different expression and said, "Sister Lin, you don't need to be so polite. They should be criticized for being disobedient. I'm going to work now. Chu Qinghuai will come to pick them up this afternoon."
I was late for work a few days ago because the boss wasn't there, so I absolutely can't be late again today.
Seeing their mother get up and walk towards the door, the three children, as if they had radar inside them, immediately dropped their toys and ran over to hug her legs or waist.
"Mother."
"You guys behave yourselves, I'm going to work."
Mumu nodded, indicating she was almost used to the separation. "I'll miss your mother."
"Me too."
Xiaohe said she wanted to go to work with her mother, but Zhong Wan patted her head and gently refused her request.
"You should play nicely with your older brother and sister, and stop fighting."
"But I really can't bear to leave my mom."
Those little lips are as sweet as honey.
The scene with the daughter is heartwarming, but the scene with the son is unbearable to watch. Cai Cai loudly says, "Mom, bring me something delicious when you go home."
There is absolutely no sincerity involved.
Zhong Wan laughed and pinched his cheek, "Greedy cat."
After playing with the three children, Zhong Wan immediately left on her way to work.
-
Zhong Wan ran and sprinted, finally arriving at the store two minutes before her shift started. The owner was already there, wearing a dark green, plain dress, sitting in the center of the counter looking at the bills.
She greeted the person upon seeing them, saying, "Good morning, boss lady."
"Yes, good morning."
The moment the other person looked up, Zhong Wan was a little startled, because her face at that moment could not be described as pale, but rather as a sickly, lifeless, deathly white.
"Boss lady, you..."
The other person forced a bitter smile, like a puppet on a string. "What's wrong? Haven't seen me for so many days, have you been missing me?"
She was still joking, so it seemed like nothing serious was wrong, Zhong Wan reassured herself.
"Are you not feeling well? You don't look too good."
She shrugged, her weakness evident, but she still forced herself to speak, "Do you want to know where I went the other day?"
Curiosity drove Zhong Wan to ask, "Where did they go?"
Ying Mo: "I had an abortion, so I haven't been feeling well."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Wan almost couldn't close her jaw. Her eyes widened slightly, her face full of incomprehension. Ignoring everything else, she walked over to her and asked in a low voice, "Didn't you just do it once more than five months ago? It hasn't even been half a year."
Zhong Wan herself didn't realize how puzzled her tone was, and even a little resentful.
However, the person involved seemed both concerned and indifferent, saying, "There's nothing I can do."
"What do you mean 'no choice'? The decision to have an abortion, or even to get pregnant, is entirely hers. What can't she decide?" As far as Zhong Wan knew, the other woman had already had three abortions. She took a deep breath; she couldn't stand idly by. "Boss lady, forgive my bluntness, but your husband is really irresponsible. You may not understand, but abortion is very harmful to women..."
Before she could finish speaking, Ying Mo smiled helplessly, placing one hand on her lower abdomen, "Both he and I really like children."
That's incredibly contradictory; it's more likely she likes boys.
Zhong Wan held back her words and didn't intend to persuade her anymore. She felt sorry for this woman who was so shrewd in business, but had become like this after being brainwashed by an unlucky man. She was angry at her lack of self-confidence.
"Take care of yourself, I'm going in to change my clothes."
“…” Zhong Wan shook her head as she turned around.
She had never met Yingmo's husband, but from the few words she had heard from him before, she guessed that he must be a good man. But so what? What kind of good man could cause his wife to have repeated miscarriages?
-
"I'm leaving too, goodbye."
Chu Qinghuai smiled and waved to the three children, but the treatment he received was completely different from that of Zhong Wan; none of the children cared about him.
"I'm leaving, aren't you going to see me off?"
He's still waiting for someone to hug him.
Goodbye, Dad.
Only Mumu said goodbye to him. Chu Qinghuai felt that his daughter hadn't been spoiled in vain. He said sourly to the other two, "You two little ingrates, your toys are gone this afternoon."
Both Cai Cai and Xiao He are clever and quick-witted. "Daddy, I'll miss you."
Xiaohe copied Caicai saying this.
Chu Qinghuai was both amused and exasperated.
In the afternoon, keeping his promise, Chu Qinghuai bought three toys to pick up the children. As if by coincidence, he witnessed Cai Cai and Xiao He arguing again as soon as he entered the door, and the scene was quite intense.
No one else could understand what they were arguing about. He walked around the corner to the cashier and asked Lin Jiang what was going on.
It turned out that Xiaohe fell asleep before Caicai at noon, so when she woke up, Xiaohe woke up first and inevitably made some noise, waking Caicai up.
The siblings have been at odds for a long time. Chu Qinghuai slapped the soft bottom of one of them and said with a smile, "You're not even as tall as my waist yet, and you little brat are already resorting to the silent treatment."
Cai Cai kept a cold face, ignoring her sister's words, crossed her arms, turned her head to the side, and hummed to herself.
The children's little squabbles are sometimes quite amusing, truly reflecting their personalities. But one thing they all have in common is that, no matter who it is, when they can't win an argument or a fight, they like to sit on the ground, cry, and act coquettishly. Chu Qinghuai quietly asked Lin Jiang who cried today, and the other pointed and gestured.
This little rascal must be made of water, crying several times a day.
He didn't care anymore; he dressed the three children, put on sunscreen, and took them to pick up their mother from get off work.
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