Chapter 2 So well-behaved it's heartbreaking.
Cheng Cheng squeezed her hand and looked earnestly into Xiao Xiao's eyes. "I'm sorry, Xiao Xiao. I was wrong before. I apologize to you."
"Mommy won't do that again. Xiaoxiao, can you help Mommy correct her mistakes? If Mommy makes a mistake, Xiaoxiao, please point it out."
"May I?"
Cheng Cheng didn't dare to hope for Xiao Xiao's forgiveness, but the damage had already been done, and she couldn't travel back in time to stop the original owner's actions. She could only try her best to make amends.
Just as she was feeling uneasy, Xiao Lingxiao suddenly grabbed her hand.
Okay~
The single word, seemingly light, felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, giving Cheng Cheng the illusion of being released from prison.
"Thank you, Xiaoxiao, my darling!"
Cheng Cheng leaned over with delight and kissed Xiao Xiao on the cheek.
Xiao Lingxiao's expression first froze, then became bewildered, unsure how to react, when she saw her mother raise her hand and smile at her.
"Sweetie, let's give each other a high five!"
This time, Xiao Lingxiao raised his right hand and gently placed it on his mother's palm.
Cheng Cheng immediately exerted force in her palm, lightly tapping it like clapping, before withdrawing it.
She said in an exaggerated tone, "Little Xiao, are you ready? Mommy's going to clap for you!"
Little Lingxiao raised his little hand, a hint of excitement showing on his face.
"Three, two, one!"
Cheng Cheng acted swiftly, giving Xiao Xiao a high-five!
"Okay! High five!"
Cheng Cheng announced, and seeing that Xiao Xiao's face finally showed the innocence and liveliness that a child her age should have because of this high-five, she was also happy!
"Okay, high five! Now Mom's going to make fried rice!"
Adults' emotions often affect children's emotions; the joy and happiness in her tone also infected Xiao Lingxiao.
Watching his mother's busy figure, Xiao Lingxiao's thin face also lit up with joy. He thought to himself, "So this is what Mom meant by giving me a high five."
She loves high-fives!
Cheng Cheng first poured water into the pot. After the water boiled, she added diced carrots and green beans, sprinkled a little salt, blanched them until cooked, then took them out, drained the water, and put them in a bowl for later use.
It's a pity we didn't have any garlic at home, otherwise I could have minced some garlic, fried it in hot oil, and the fried rice would have been even more fragrant.
Moreover, there wasn't much oil left in the oil basin, so she scooped a spoonful into the pot, heated it up, and then poured in the rice.
The rice must have been leftovers from yesterday; she tasted it and it wasn't spoiled. The weather wasn't quite warm yet, and it was still a bit chilly at night.
She was worried that her little Xiaoxiao was still wearing adult slippers and was barefoot.
"Xiaoxiao, are you cold? Go put on some socks, and if you're cold, put on a coat."
Even if he drank it in tiny sips, he still finished the malted milk powder. Little Lingxiao held the bowl reluctantly and was licking the inside of the bowl.
Upon hearing Cheng Cheng's words, he put down his bowl, stood up, and ran out.
Cheng Cheng called out from behind, "Slow down! Don't fall!"
A little girl's feet were shuffling in an adult's worn-out slippers. When she ran, the shoes wobbled and twisted, and Cheng Cheng was afraid she would fall.
Suddenly remembering something, she shouted loudly towards the door, "Xiaoxiao, if you can't find your socks, wear Mommy's for now."
There was no sound from Xiao Lingxiao in the bedroom; perhaps he was speaking too softly to be heard from there.
Cheng Cheng held the spatula and stir-fried the rice until it was loose, then added diced carrots and green beans, and sprinkled in a little salt.
The aroma of carrots, green beans, and rice mixed together was released during the stir-frying, and the red, green, and white colors looked very appetizing!
She served the fried rice into two bowls, one large and one small, and placed them on the table.
She didn't rush to wash the pot. Instead, she took the aluminum kettle to the yard, filled it with water, and put it on the stove to boil.
Xiao Lingxiao was wearing a pair of gray socks covered in patches. Judging from their length and size, they were neither Xiao Lingxiao's nor the original owner's.
Cheng Cheng felt heartbroken. If she had a child, she would definitely offer her the best things in the world.
But since she was already here, she didn't know if she could go back. Xiao Lingxiao was connected to her by blood; he was her child, and it was her responsibility.
She carried Xiao Lingxiao to the yard to wash his hands, squatted down, and carefully soaped him, washing each finger and the dirt between his fingers two or three times.
After rinsing off the foam, a pair of delicate, white hands were freshly made.
Since the slippers didn't fit, she simply carried Xiao Lingxiao inside and placed her on a stool.
Can you eat by yourself? Do you need your mom to feed you?
Xiao Lingxiao shook his head, pointed to the bowl, and then pointed to himself.
Cheng Cheng understood what she meant and put the spoon in her hand.
Little Lingxiao held the spoon, his face almost buried in the bowl, and wolfed down his rice.
"Eat slowly, Xiaoxiao baby."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Lingxiao looked up at his mother, swallowed the food in his mouth, raised his head, held the spoon, and ate the food spoonful by spoonful.
Cheng Cheng also sat down and started eating. Although there was no minced garlic to enhance the aroma, the fried rice still tasted pretty good.
She smiled and asked her baby Xiaoxiao, "Is it delicious?"
Xiao Lingxiao finished half of her fried rice in no time. She puffed out her cheeks, nodded, and continued to put rice into her mouth.
Although her mother told her to eat slowly, she couldn't control her instincts and wanted to eat as fast as possible!
Cheng Cheng finished her bowl of fried rice quickly and asked Xiao Xiao if she was full. The little girl just nodded without saying anything.
She washed the dishes and cleaned the pot, and the water in the large aluminum kettle was also boiled.
In her memory, she took a bath in the kitchen. There was no shower room in the house, so she found a large bathtub and washed herself.
"Xiaoxiao, come here, let Mommy comb your hair."
Cheng Cheng took a comb, removed the rubber band, and gently combed it out, stopping when she encountered a knot.
She used her fingers to comb through the loose strands, and for those that were really difficult to untangle, she consulted with Xiaoxiao and cut them off with scissors.
The little girl's hair was long, but it was dry and yellow, and it looked like she was malnourished and hadn't been properly cared for.
Hair is nourished by the body's Qi and blood. If the body's own nutrition is insufficient, where will the extra nutrients come from to be delivered to the hair?
Cheng Cheng lowered her head and gently asked Xiao Xiao's opinion, "Xiao Xiao, how about Mommy takes you to get a haircut tomorrow? Let's cut your hair here."
She gestured to a spot at chin level, and Xiao Lingxiao seemed to have no objection, nodding in agreement.
She sat obediently on the small stool, her two little hands on her lap. No matter how light or heavy Cheng Cheng's movements were, she did not react at all and sat there quietly.
They are so well-behaved!
Cheng Cheng frowned. Xiao Xiao's obedience was the kind of obedience that felt strangely indescribable, as if something was a little abnormal.
She had met her cousin's niece before, and she would throw a tantrum if things didn't go her way. She was a real little devil!
On the other hand, when she accidentally used too much force, she immediately realized it, looked down to check on Xiaoxiao, and then sat quietly without crying or making a fuss.
So well-behaved it breaks my heart!
After combing her hair, she told Xiaoxiao to sit for a while, and then Cheng Cheng got up to pour some water.
I carried the bucket to the yard, added cold water, and tested the temperature; it was just right.
She refilled the aluminum kettle with water, put it on the stove to boil, and moved a chair into the yard.
I took an empty bucket, put the basin on it, and filled it with warm water.
"Xiaoxiao, come to me."
Cheng Cheng lifted her onto her lap, letting her lie on her knees. She supported the little one's head with her left hand, immersing her hair in the basin, and scooped water with her right hand to wet her scalp.
If water gets in your eyes, tell Mom!
Her voice was soft, just as gentle as the movements of her hands.
When she encountered such an obedient and lovable child, Cheng Cheng's maternal instincts seemed to be awakened, and she became full of patience.
She spent half an hour washing his hair, then wrapped his wet hair in a towel and used the towel to wipe his face.
The little one had very beautiful features, with big eyes and black pupils that looked like two big, round black grapes, sparkling as they gazed at her, just like a layer of white frost covering the skin of a washed black grape.
Wet and adorable!
I wish I were a little chubby; my face is so thin, there's no fat at all.
After washing her hair, she carried Xiao Lingxiao inside.
She sat down on the chair, then turned around to prepare the bathwater and boiled another kettle of water.
After stripping the little guy naked, Xiao Lingxiao was a little shy and looked down at the water.
Cheng Cheng looked at the little guy, whose ribs were so thin that he probably didn't have an ounce of flesh on his body, and her eyes turned red with anger!
With red eyes, I washed the little guy clean. The water in the bathtub was black, just like when I washed his hair.
Cheng Cheng was both angry and helpless. In her memory, Zhou Yue had sent back all of her monthly salary and subsidies, not to mention that he often sent packages from Beijing.
Silently, I dressed the little one and carried him to bed.
"Xiaoxiao, play by yourself on the bed for a while and let your hair dry, okay? Mommy will be back in a little while."
Little Lingxiao nodded understandingly.
Cheng Cheng returned to the kitchen. She wanted to carry the large bathtub outside and pour the bathwater into the yard, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't move it.
They had no choice but to use a gourd ladle to scoop the contents into buckets and carry them out in trips.
After doing all that, I poured myself a bath, already covered in sweat.
She went back to her room to get a change of clothes, and when she opened the original owner's wardrobe, she was speechless.
So all the money was spent on this?!
Cheng Cheng looked down at her figure. She had everything she needed, but she wasn't that fat.
She's only slightly better off than Xiaoxiao; she's not extremely thin, but she's still on the thinner side.
She frowned, sighed, grabbed a change of clothes, and hurried out.
I was a little afraid to look into Xiaoxiao's bright, clear eyes.
Cheng Cheng hadn't taken a bath in a large tub for many years, and she wasn't used to it. She remembered only taking a bath in a tub when she was a child.
After taking a bath, I poured the bathwater into the yard. I was exhausted. I left my dirty clothes in the bathtub.
Never mind, I'll wash it tomorrow!
She was so tired that she didn't want to move a single finger, and she hadn't even washed her own hair.
After locking the door and checking it three times inside and out, I returned to the bedroom and closed the door.
The area is mostly residential compounds for government employees, and there's a police station less than 100 meters from the gate, so safety is quite guaranteed.
Little Lingxiao was lying on the bed when he saw his mother come back, and immediately sat up.
Cheng Cheng smiled, sat on the edge of the bed, and touched her hair, which wasn't too dry yet.
There was no hairdryer at home, so she found a clean towel and wrung out Xiaoxiao's hair.
Little Lingxiao sat obediently, letting her do as she pleased. Cheng Cheng sighed inwardly once again, thinking how adorable Xiaoxiao was, and how perplexing the original owner's behavior was!
"Okay, let's wait a little longer, and our hair will be dry."
Cheng Cheng looked at the little guy with affection and patted his head. "Little Xiao, do you want to play with Mommy for a while? Or do you want Mommy to tell you a story?"
Little Lingxiao looked up at his mother.
Cheng Cheng tried her best to appear gentle and harmless, remaining silent and quietly watching the little girl, waiting for her to speak.
After a while, Cheng Cheng was about to give up when she suddenly heard Xiao Xiao's voice.
"Mommy, listen to a story~"
Cheng Cheng's eyes lit up with surprise. "Baby, what did you just say? Can you say it to Mommy again?"
Xiao Lingxiao repeated it again, this time louder than before, perhaps afraid that his mother wouldn't be able to hear him.
"Mommy, listen to a story~"
"good!"
Cheng Cheng readily agreed, and after thinking for a moment, said, "Then Mom will tell you the story of Sun Wukong."
She could recite the story of Journey to the West from memory, starting with a stone monkey that sprang from a rock.
Little Lingxiao leaned against his mother's chest, listening intently, his big, bright eyes, like black grapes, fixed on his mother without blinking.
Cheng Cheng checked her hair; it was completely dry. She gently patted her and softened her voice, "Okay, we should go to sleep now~"
I'll tell you about it tomorrow!
Lingxiao's eyes showed reluctance, but she obediently closed her eyes and went to sleep.
She's such a good, obedient baby!
After Xiao Lingxiao fell asleep, Cheng Cheng carefully placed her on the bed and covered her with a blanket.
She thought she would have insomnia tonight and wouldn't be able to sleep, but she passed out a few minutes after lying down.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Good luck is coming!!!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
