Thinking about that incident still fills me with dread.
She was in the second semester of her second year of junior high school at the time. The school organized a spring outing, and they went to the lakeside for a picnic and cooking.
She went to the shore to fetch water, but someone pushed her from behind, causing her to lose her footing and fall into the water.
The lake water in March was as icy as ice and snow. Her thick cotton-padded coat, meant to keep her warm, became like armor when soaked, pulling her straight to the bottom.
Just as the lake water was about to engulf her head, Gu Chengfeng saved her.
The situation was chaotic, and he swam desperately towards the shore, so much so that he didn't even feel when his hand was cut by rocks at the bottom of the lake.
It wasn't until they were safely ashore that he noticed a long, deep cut on his hand...
Surprisingly, after so many years, the scar is still there.
She vaguely remembered that the old Chinese medicine doctor's prescription included a scar-removing medicated oil, but she couldn't quite recall the specific ingredients and herbs. It seemed she would have to find some time to go back to Jinfeng Village.
She stood there lost in thought.
On the other side, Gu Chengfeng was already working enthusiastically.
Unlike Chen Sisi's struggle, the saw in Gu Chengfeng's hands was as if it were oiled, and he sawed through a piece of wood in just a few swift strokes.
Niu Niu's eyes lit up with laughter, and she danced around excitedly, shouting, "Daddy's so awesome!!!"
Gu Chengfeng seemed to remember something, turned around, revealing eight big white teeth: "My good daughter, go rummage in Daddy's pocket and see what Daddy bought for you..."
Niu Niu, with her short legs, hopped and skipped like a little rabbit, reaching out to grab Gu Chengfeng's military overcoat and pulling out a lollipop!
Orange-flavored lollipops!
"Thank you, Dad..." Niu Niu opened her mouth to bite the wrapper, but Shen Sisi snatched it away.
She said sternly to Niu Niu, "It's almost lunchtime. Eat your food first, then Mom will give you some. Be good and listen to me!"
Niu Niu's lips immediately turned from an upturned smile into a standard V-shape, and she burst into tears.
Gu Chengfeng quickly put down the saw in his hand, wiped his calloused hands haphazardly on his clothes, and reached out to pick up Niu Niu.
"Sweetie, don't cry..."
Gu Chengfeng coaxed Niu Niu with a good temper, his clumsy attempts revealing his tenderness.
Niu Niu is young, but she's quite clever. Knowing that her father dotes on her, she squinted at her mother, her little eyes full of smugness.
Just when she thought her crying and tantrums were about to succeed, Gu Chengfeng suddenly changed the subject: "Let's listen to your mother and eat after we finish our meal, okay?"
Niu Niu was stunned, large tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.
Dad and Mom are actually in cahoots!
Hmph~
The poor little girl cried even harder...
Chen Sisi's head was buzzing from the noise, and she glared at Gu Chengfeng in annoyance: "You really are something... Let's make a rule from now on, no snacks allowed within an hour before meals, not even a mention of it!"
If Gu Chengfeng hadn't provoked Niu Niu, she wouldn't have cried until her voice was hoarse.
Even though Niu Niu cried and rolled around the yard, she didn't give in.
This habit shouldn't be indulged. If you allow her to eat candy before meals, she'll lose her appetite.
Niu Niu's body is already weak, how can she fight the virus if she doesn't eat?
Seeing her resolute attitude, Gu Chengfeng realized that he had made a mistake.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know children shouldn't eat candy before meals. I won't do it again next time..." Gu Chengfeng looked like a child who had done something wrong, his head hanging low.
Niu Niu was dumbfounded. How could her dad be more timid than her in front of her mom?
He sighed deeply, "Ignorance is no excuse, and you've never raised a child before, but this is a one-time exception."
Gu Chengfeng immediately snapped out of his dejected state and got up to saw the wood even more diligently.
Niu Niu was left alone, rolling around on the ground, covered in mud.
Chen Sisi carried a small stool and looked down at her from above, almost as if she had a handful of melon seeds in her hand.
After a while of stalemate, Niu Niu's tears dried up and her voice became hoarse, but her mother remained unmoved. Feeling awkward, she shut her little mouth.
Seeing Chen Sisi stretch out her arm towards her, Niu Niu seized the opportunity and jumped into her arms.
"You brat, you've only been in the city a few days and you've already developed a temper..."
Chen Sisi playfully patted her little bottom twice, getting her hands covered in dust.
In the past, Niu Niu would never have dared to act so arrogantly.
It's just that they feel loved and pampered, so they become unrestrained and spoiled.
This child... is truly a shrewd one!
One second Niu Niu was yelling and throwing a tantrum, but now that there's no hope, she instantly changed her tune and became her mother's obedient baby again.
"Mom, I was wrong..."
"Niu Niu, eat your food properly later, and then you can have candy."
Looking at the "mud ball" covered in dirt, Chen Sisi was so angry she gritted her teeth: "If you dare to do this again, I'll just pick you up and spank you."
Niu Niu tensed up instantly, stretching out her two little arms to cover her bottom: "Don't spank my bottom, it hurts..."
"Alright, go change your clothes first." Shen Sisi carried Niu Niu back to the house first.
Both of them changed out of their dirty clothes, and she also washed Niu Niu's hair and wiped her little face.
At this moment, the bone broth on the stove was almost ready, and Xu Hongying asked Shen Sisi to call Gu Chengfeng to come and eat.
Chen Sisi walked around to the backyard, and was about to speak when she was stunned by what she saw.
Gu Chengfeng had taken off his shirt at some point, leaving him only wearing a vest.
He stood on one foot on the wood, bent down and sawed the wood hard, the muscles on his arm were well-proportioned and firm.
When he bends over, his chest muscles, which are faintly visible under his vest, are taut and powerful.
When you stretch and lift your back, you instantly feel the power in your back muscles.
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