"Hello Uncle Shang, I'm here to visit your home."
Shang Zhengxin smiled and nodded at him. After greeting his wife and daughter, he went back to his room to change his clothes before coming out.
Having spent many years navigating the complexities of the system, Shang Zhengxin, in his thirties, had already developed some of the demeanor of a leader. He took the tea his wife offered, plopped down on the other side of the sofa, took a sip, and began chatting casually with Chen Bing.
"Bingbing, did your dad get his results today?" As a middle school teacher, Shang Zhengxin was naturally most concerned about college entrance exams and grades. He had heard from his wife about Chen Shichao taking the adult college entrance exam, so he naturally asked this question after seeing Chen Bing.
After Chen Bing recounted what she had told Yun Xuan to Shang Zhengxin, the latter nodded, looking quite pleased.
Pengcheng Industrial and Commercial School, well, it wasn't for nothing that I explained all those problems to him.
After saying that, Shang Zhengxin took the opportunity of the college entrance examination to talk to Chen Bing about the inspirational principles of a good man going to university, and Chen Bing patiently and actively responded to him.
When he was so tired from talking, Shang Zhengxin subconsciously took a sip of tea and realized that he was talking about these things with a six-year-old child. However, seeing that the other child was listening attentively, he unconsciously said a few more words.
This education continued until Yunxuan called for dinner, which slowly came to an end.
After dinner, Yunxuan took her daughter to watch TV, while Shang Zhengxin, recalling his chess game with Chen Bing a few months ago, felt an itch to play again and invited him to the balcony for a few more games.
Chen Bing readily agreed, and the two quickly moved stools to the small table on the balcony, where they played several rounds of chess with varying degrees of success and failure.
After finishing the game, Shang Zhengxin praised Chen Bing while tidying up the chessboard.
"To be able to play so well at your age is truly remarkable; your talent is incredible." After saying this with satisfaction, without waiting for Chen Bing's reply, he continued, "By the way, how old are you this year? What's your birthday?"
"I am six years old this year. I was born on December 31, 2004."
Shang Zhengxin calculated the time; this child was still more than twenty days away from being seven years old. His daughter, born on almost the same day, didn't have such dazzling talent.
If this child is properly educated, he might be able to get into a top university in the future.
Thinking this, he looked up at his daughter, who was nestled in his wife's arms, watching "Today's Talk" with her.
A doting mother often spoils her son.
Shang Zhengxin shook his head inwardly, then turned his gaze back to Chen Bing. He wished this child were his own. His daughter would be raised by her mother, and he would raise his son himself. He believed that under his strict discipline, the child would definitely be successful in the future, and might even be able to get into those two top universities.
As he thought about it, his thoughts drifted further and further away.
As we all know, there are several ways to become the father of a child with whom you have no blood relation.
Adoption is definitely out of the question, as Chen Bing's parents are living peacefully next door; as for taking him in as a son-in-law, he's too young and it would be absurd.
So the best solution is to adopt him as a godson? Isn't that a bit awkward?
"Uncle Shang?" Chen Bing called out to Shang Zhengxin in confusion when she saw him looking stunned.
"Hmm? Oh, oh." Coming back to his senses, Shang Zhengxin picked up the tidied chessboard and walked straight to the study, still pondering what had just happened.
After Shang Zhengxin left, Chen Bing sat down on the side of the sofa and quietly watched the TV program.
The two men's actions caught Yunxuan's attention. She looked up at her watch and realized it was already past nine o'clock.
Even on holidays, the shopkeepers don't go to bed later than 10:30 pm, let alone now that they haven't even given the children a bath.
Thinking this, she hurriedly got up and herded Shang Yunmiao to take a bath like a duck. After the two left, Shang Zhengxin returned to the living room from the study, picked up the remote control, and changed the TV programs.
During dinner, he learned from his wife that Chen Bing's parents had gone on a trip and that the child would be staying at his house for the night, so he wasn't surprised that Chen Bing hadn't gone home so late.
About half an hour later, Yunxuan led Shang Yunmiao out of the bathroom. Both she and her daughter had their hair tied up with towels, which didn't look rustic at all, but rather had a unique charm.
"Zhengxin, why don't you take Bingbing to take a shower? I didn't turn off the water heater," Yunxuan said to her husband as they passed through the living room, holding Shang Yunmiao's hand.
The man nodded after hearing this, and immediately stood up to take Chen Bing to wash up.
This is a unique feature of bathing in northern China. People often don't feel ashamed to bathe together; instead, they are quite natural and open with each other.
This is even if the homes have heating and water heaters. In some areas where heating was installed later, people would still have to squeeze into public bathhouses with a group of strangers in winter.
As a native of northern China, Chen Bing had no objection to taking a bath with an unfamiliar uncle. So, after saying a word, he simply ran home to get his new clothes.
Men usually shower very quickly; they just wash their hair and lather with soap, and that's it. Although they might sometimes scrub themselves a bit, if they've just scrubbed themselves recently, that step is naturally skipped.
When Yunxuan came out of the shower, only ten minutes had passed. In such a short time, she hadn't even finished drying her hair.
"How come you guys showered so quickly?" Yunxuan asked, puzzled, after seeing the two men come out of the bathroom.
"Huh? What's the difference between fast and slow?" Shang Zhengxin scratched his head, looking a little guilty.
"Hmm... I asked you to take the child to take a bath so you could scrub him and give him a good wash." After saying that, she walked up to Chen Bing and bent down to smell the back of his neck.
As Yunxuan moved, Chen Bing felt a pleasant scent enter her nose, and a few cool strands of hair fell onto her shoulders.
After confirming that Chen Bing was indeed a virgin, Yun Xuan stood up and continued to mutter under her breath about Shang Zhengxin. Shang Zhengxin, being yelled at, didn't dare say anything more and silently endured the scolding with his head down.
Chen Bing watched this scene silently, unsure whether to stay or leave, feeling extremely awkward. After standing there blankly for a while, he was led to the bedroom by Shang Yunmiao, who had come over after hearing the commotion.
"Chen Bing, let me blow-dry your hair." As soon as they entered the bedroom, Shang Yunmiao took Chen Bing's hand and said.
Without saying anything to refuse, Chen Bing sat down on the edge of the bed as Mr. Shang suggested, and then quietly enjoyed her hair-drying service.
For people of the same age in this era, Chen Bing's hairstyle is considered quite "unconventional".
Tony, the hairstylist, meticulously trimmed the hair to varying lengths, giving Chen Bing's overall hairstyle more dimension and movement. The thin bangs were trimmed into a wispy effect, adding lightness and a natural feel to the hairstyle.
The hair was subtly parted from the top of the head to the forehead, creating a slightly parted effect. All of these elements contribute to a more fashionable and personalized look while maintaining a natural and casual feel.
Simply put, it's a very nice-looking micro-fragmented cap.
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