35
In the past, when the couple took their children out, they would always put leashes on their wrists to prevent them from running around. However, the skin of the three children was too delicate. No matter what material the wristbands or straps were made of, they would make their wrists turn red. Once, Mumu's hand was even chafed, so Zhong Wan dared not put them on her wrists anymore.
Safety is the most important thing when taking children out. Now that the harness is gone, Zhong Wan and Chu Qinghuai have to be more vigilant and keep a close eye on them.
Today, Chu Qinghuai was the only one there. He specially led the children along a sparsely populated path to the vicinity of the cake shop where Zhong worked late.
He could say "Be careful, don't wander off" two hundred times, until his throat was dry. When he passed a convenience store, he thought about going in to buy a bottle of water. Also, his family hadn't bought a new toy in a long time, so he thought he could buy one for the kids.
The toys in the convenience store were all relatively small. After browsing around, he came to a shelf of building blocks and was attracted by the colorful boxes. He said with interest, "These look pretty fun. Let's each pick one."
He was talking to the children, but when he turned around, the children beside him were gone. A chill ran through him. He looked around and called their names, but as soon as he turned around, he saw three little ones standing on tiptoe, peering into the freezer, like kittens scratching at a door, shaking their heads.
"How could you wander off like that? Come here quickly, I've bought you toys." Chu Qinghuai patted his chest to reassure himself, as long as he hadn't gotten lost.
Then he saw Mumu holding Cai Cai and Xiao He's hands, all three of them staring longingly at the ice cream in her hands, their bright eyes saying they wanted to eat it.
Did he not know what the kids were thinking? With his arms crossed, he deliberately asked, "What are you doing standing in front of the freezer?"
Mumu was too embarrassed to say she wanted to eat it.
Cai Cai asked shyly, "Daddy, what's this?"
He pointed to the contents of the freezer with one finger, genuinely unaware of what was inside.
"This is ice cream."
Although summer hasn't arrived yet, many supermarkets and convenience stores have already stocked ice cream and cold drinks. Not to mention children, even adults want to have one to cool off. Summer came early this year, and you can sweat profusely just by walking a few steps outside during the day.
"Ice cream must be delicious."
"What should I do? I want to eat it."
"But Dad would definitely not allow it. Dad is a coward. He wouldn't dare to give us food. Mom would scold him if she saw it."
The three little devils' words reached Chu Qinghuai's ears clearly, and he laughed angrily, "Who said I'm a coward?"
He was the one in the whole family most susceptible to being provoked.
So Chu Qinghuai took out his money and said, "You want ice cream, right? Dad will buy it for you, but if you eat ice cream, you can't buy toys."
These words were like heavenly music to the ears, and the children were overjoyed. Toys couldn't compare to food. If they could really taste ice cream, they would go a month without buying toys.
Dad was so good to them today! They were jumping and skipping around, so happy that they spoke more fluently, saying the sweetest things in the world.
"Dad, I love you."
"Dad, you're so good to me."
Chu Qinghuai was already immune: "So, do you like Dad or Mom more?"
Even little devils can't escape this question. Their three little faces scrunched up as they pondered for a long time. They were honest babies and wouldn't lie: "Mommy."
Chu Qinghuai immediately pretended to be unhappy, and the thoughtful Mumu ran over to comfort him: "It's okay, Dad, but Mom loves you the most."
We love Mom the most, and Mom loves Dad the most.
Chu Qinghuai's heart was instantly enveloped in a sweet mist; she really knows how to talk.
That's true.
Since the three children were very well-behaved today and the weather was very hot, he decided to buy them a three-color cup as a reward, and he would keep it a secret from Zhong Wan.
"Don't tell Mom, okay? Mom definitely won't let you eat ice cream, and she'll scold me if she finds out."
Chu Qinghuai has a handsome face. When he pretends to be pitiful, his brows furrow slightly, which amplifies the sense of vulnerability. The children really think he is sad. Cai Cai pats his shoulder and says, "Dad, don't worry, Cai Cai knows."
"Okay, then I'll buy you ice cream."
When he went to pay, he grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the shelf and handed it to the clerk along with the ice cream, saying, "Could you please give me three spoons?"
The children lined up, their hands resting on the table, their eyes fixed on the three-colored cup, eagerly anticipating its taste.
Upon seeing them, the shop assistant smiled and said, "Your babies are so cute! Are they triplets?"
"Thank you, no," he replied politely.
The young father seemed a bit aloof, the shop assistant thought to himself.
...
"This stuff is so expensive now, but it only cost two yuan when I ate it back then."
On a bench by the roadside, Chu Qinghuai sat down and carefully opened the lid of the three-color cup, which cost six yuan. Inside, there were three flavors: milk, strawberry, and chocolate. It was just enough for the three of them to have one each.
He tore the wooden spoon in half and handed it to the three children, saying, "Eat up."
Xiaohe poked the ice cream shell with her finger; it felt cool and refreshing. She couldn't wait to taste it.
“I want pink,” she said.
"I want white." Mumu's little spoon was already inside.
Even when forced to eat the last bit of chocolate, Cai Cai wasn't unhappy; she was still cheerful. After all, having something to eat was something to be happy about. "Cai Cai likes everything."
For babies trying ice cream for the first time, it was like opening the door to a new world. Their eyes widened as the cool taste melted in their mouths, and their throats felt cool after swallowing. It was so delicious that they wanted to spin around in circles.
The three people were really spinning around.
"Stop spinning, you'll get dizzy."
Chu Qinghuai held up the three-colored cup, warning them to be careful not to spill cream on them, but it seemed that no one was really listening to him.
"Is it really that delicious? It's all saccharin." Despite saying that, he himself ate a lot of it when he was a child.
"Uh-huh!"
"This isn't good enough?" Mumu looked at him, biting her spoon, as if to say, "Dad, you're such a picky eater."
"I wish I could eat this every day," Xiaohe thought to herself.
"Dream on."
Chu Qinghuai chuckled, noticing some melted liquid in the box, a mixture of three colors. Without a second thought, he threw it straight into the trash can. "Alright, come here, I'll wipe your mouths."
He wanted to destroy all the evidence so that Zhong Wan wouldn't know.
People feel guilty when they do something wrong, so he repeatedly reminded her, "Can you tell Mom you ate ice cream?"
"No," Mumu answered first.
Cai Cai was lost in thought, licking the corner of her mouth with her little tongue, still savoring the sweet taste.
"Did you hear that?" Chu Qinghuai tugged at his little hand. "You have to listen attentively when someone is talking to you."
"Cai Cai understands."
He sniffed and said happily, "I won't tell Mom."
"..."
-
Zhong Wan, who was setting up a cake for a customer, turned her head and sneezed. She touched her nose under her mask and felt itchy. She had sneezed three times in a row, and it was hard not to suspect that someone was talking badly about her.
"Xiao Wan, go wash your hands and go home. The bread sold well today. Pick out a few to take home," Ying Mo said as she walked out of the food preparation area.
"Okay."
She put three egg tarts into the bag, that's all she brought, mainly for the children to try.
"Xiao Wan, how are you going to get home later? Do you want me to give you a ride?"
"No need to trouble you, boss lady. My husband said he'll bring the kids to pick me up."
Upon hearing this, Ying Mo's weak face lit up with joy: "Really? I've never met your children before, are all three of them coming?"
"Yes, that's right."
After saying that, her gaze fell on the paper bag in her hand, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
...
"Shh, don't make a sound, we'll wait for Mom quietly outside."
Chu Qinghuai, afraid of embarrassing Zhong Wan, stood quietly at the door with the children, then took out his phone to send a message.
We're at the door, are you off work yet?
Zhong Wan, having just changed her clothes and slung her bag over her shoulder, replied to him: "I'll be right out."
"Boss lady, I'm leaving now, my husband is coming."
She waved goodbye, but the other person asked, "Where are you? Are the children here too?"
"right."
"Then let them in, I want to see them."
Zhong Wan couldn't bring herself to refuse, especially since Ying Mo really liked children.
So she opened the door and turned around to see Chu Qinghuai half-squatting down talking to the children. Those who saw her pointed and said, "Mom's out."
Suddenly, three children rushed towards her, shouting "Mommy!" like little firecrackers.
"Hey~ you guys are here."
She was almost hit, but luckily Chu Qinghuai caught her in time. The man put his arm around her shoulder and said, "Let's go home."
"Wait, wait, our boss said she wants to meet them." She pointed to the children.
"Huh?" Chu Qinghuai frowned.
As soon as she finished speaking, Ying Mo stood not far away, smiling: "Xiao Wan, why didn't you tell me sooner that you had such a beautiful baby? He looks just like you."
Zhong Wan smiled and patted the children's hair: "Call her Auntie."
They were all very obedient, calling her "Auntie" in their childish voices, and Yingmo immediately asked for a red envelope.
"No need, no need, you're too kind." Zhong Wan immediately stopped them, afraid that if they stayed any longer, Ying Mozhen would give them three red envelopes. She quickly told the three children to say goodbye and then took them away.
"See you tomorrow!"
Zhong Wan waved and disappeared from Ying Mo's sight with her husband and child.
No one saw the fleeting loneliness and sadness in her eyes.
-
"I really think her husband is inhuman. He had three abortions! What does that even mean? Does he really treat women like baby-making machines? Is a son that important?"
On the way home, Zhong Wan linked arms with Chu Qinghuai and spoke ill of Ying Mo's husband. She had been holding it in all day and couldn't hold it in any longer, so she poured out her grievances to Chu Qinghuai.
Every family has its own troubles, but Ying Mo's family's troubles are particularly difficult, almost driving her to the brink of death.
Zhong Wan sometimes felt that being poor had its advantages; at least Chu Qinghuai was a decent person, and the two of them could just focus on how to make money all day long.
Sometimes she couldn't understand how Ying Mo, who was so capable, good at making money, and had such a good personality, could have fallen for that unlucky husband. Perhaps she was blinded by greed.
Chu Qinghuai shook his head and smiled upon hearing this: "One is willing to hit, and the other is willing to be hit. Let's not judge each other."
He told Zhong Wan, "Don't say these things in front of others. We don't do things that ruin other people's relationships."
“I’m not stupid.” Zhong Wanbai glanced at him.
To avoid getting even angrier, she decisively changed the subject, "What time did you pick them up? Yu Yue didn't go to the noodle shop today, did she?"
Yu Yue is A Yue.
"It's a little before four o'clock. I heard from Chen Yu that she didn't go today."
Zhong Wan straightened Cai Cai's collar and said, "When I was texting Sister Lin this afternoon, they were still taking a nap. I guess they won't be able to sleep tonight."
Her hand accidentally touched Cai Cai's neck. The child flinched and giggled, saying it tickled. Her collar immediately became even more disheveled.
"Slow down, baby, let Mommy fix it for you."
Zhong Wan stood in front of him and suddenly noticed a dark stain next to the button on his clothes. She squatted down to examine it closely, but couldn't remove it with her fingers. "What is this? Did you go play in the mud? You've gotten your clothes so dirty."
Chu Qinghuai felt nervous and guilty, so he pretended to look straight ahead and tried to start a conversation to divert her attention. But as clever as Zhong Wan was, she immediately noticed the chocolate stains on her clothes, but didn't say anything. "Did Aunt Lin Jiang give you chocolate bread again?"
She hadn't even considered the possibility of ice cream, and Chu Qinghuai breathed a sigh of relief. But then a traitor appeared among the crowd, and Cai Cai confessed without being asked, covering her mouth and backing away, "Mommy, Daddy didn't give us any ice cream."
Chu Qinghuai was so angry he died.
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