"Wow!"
Both children gasped in surprise at the same time.
Pulling back the towel, inside was a large lunchbox, lying in Cheng Chao's hand, emitting a cool, misty vapor.
Kids love snacks, but this place is remote and lacks many supplies. Even popsicles are rare for the two kids; they've barely had any. Even the supply and marketing cooperatives in the mountains might not have them.
Upon opening the lid, the inside was filled with creamy popsicles, and the two children's eyes widened in surprise.
"Sis, why did you buy so much?"
The sweet smell was so strong it was practically wafting into my nose, and my mouth was watering uncontrollably.
Cheng Chao chuckled.
"Hey you two gluttons, come on, each of you take one and eat it. Take the rest home and put them in the well to eat later tonight."
"Why!"
Looking at this oversized lunchbox and soft towel, and recalling the gear I brought this morning and the market I just visited, it's obvious this wasn't bought here. With this quality, even the supply and marketing cooperatives in the mountains might not have this.
Cheng Chao silently packed it up and put it back in the shady spot under the basket.
Cheng Chao knew his sister had a secret, but this was probably the first time she had been so open with him. Thinking about it, Cheng Chao couldn't help but laugh. This meant that his sister trusted him, right?
Cheng Rui's emotions were quite straightforward, which was good. However, he didn't forget the important matter of the day. He was about to go home and gave Cheng Chao some serious instructions.
"Brother, you absolutely can't marry someone like that, you know? You have to marry someone like my mom. Or, why don't you let my mom find you someone?"
The couple met at the entrance of the residential compound after get off work and walked back together. When they got to the gate, they heard their ten-year-old son solemnly arranging a marriage for his nephew, who was in his twenties. Tang Sumei was unsure whether to go in or turn around and leave.
Cheng Zhuo was so angry he laughed, and he flicked the head twice.
"You little brat, you're trying to tell your brother what to do. Mind your own business first."
School starts tomorrow, do you think you can still find that book?
"Huh? Why do I have to go to school already?"
Cheng Rui wailed at the news, while Cheng An accepted it quite well; the two children's thought processes were completely different.
"Dad, is she still our teacher? Or has a new teacher arrived? Has Chen Xiulian really left?"
Cheng Zhuo entered the hospital, took off his coat, and washed up.
"The new teacher is a male teacher, so this time someone can keep you in check."
Cheng Rui had already run back into the house, and all that could be heard was snoring and groaning inside. He quickly came out again, covered in dust and dirt.
"Xiao An, have you seen my book?"
Cheng An sighed, washed his hands, and went inside to help rummage through the bottom of the trunk.
Cheng Chao's eyes were full of smiles; he was clearly not surprised and was simply watching the show.
"Second Aunt, let me help you wash the vegetables."
Cheng Chao took out his basket, while Tang Sumei nagged beside him.
"Is it Cheng Rui again, wanting this and that?"
"I just don't want to take him. And you guys too, it's just spoiling him. Everything's food, it's a waste to give him any."
Parents all over the world are like this: I can talk and discipline my child, but if someone says anything negative about him, it doesn't matter, and I'm not happy.
Compared to Cheng Chao, Jian Dan has spent less time with them and sometimes feels too familiar, but she can't always treat them as one of their own, like right now.
If she also started complaining about Cheng Rui's shortcomings, Tang Sumei might not say anything, but she would definitely feel resentful. Besides, Jian Dan didn't think Cheng Rui was bad at all; he was a very lively and loyal child.
"Second Aunt, isn't that just something to eat? This is my first time here, and I came empty-handed. I'm just buying some food for my little brother, so what's there to say?"
They're still so young, just kids. Being able to eat is a blessing.
Hehe, Second Aunt, actually, even though I'm all grown up, I still snack sometimes.
Tang Sumei pointed at her,
"You just spoil them. What do little boys eat?"
"Raise sons frugally and daughters lavishly."
That's what they said, but their facial expressions said the opposite.
"You're a young girl, and young girls should be pampered."
Cheng Chao took them out, opened them briefly, and found some he recognized and some he didn't. Tang Sumei introduced them to everyone, all of them smiling happily.
After dinner, while eating watermelon, Cheng Rui saw the watermelon and remembered what had happened that afternoon. He started rambling on, and Tang Sumei frowned.
"She just casually said at the market that she wanted to marry Xiao Chao?"
Tang Sumei couldn't believe it. With such strict enforcement of discipline regulations, especially after Chen Xiulian's case was brought up again a couple of days ago and was the talk of the town in the family compound, how could Yu Hongyan still be so bold as to say such things?
"Second Aunt, it's alright. I already said that today, and refused so decisively. She wouldn't still be so persistent, would she?"
"Brother, what's that? I don't know you, and I don't want to know you."
Simply mimicking Cheng Chao's tone and expression at the time,
"Second Aunt, do you think this is heartless? If she wanted to get to know you, she would have tried every means to find a way. Besides, she's been thinking about you for years. How could you say something like that to hurt her?"
"Nonsense!"
Cheng Chao gave her a light tap.
"Young lady, don't learn everything. What does it mean to have your eye on something? I don't even know who she is."
"If someone comes to you repeatedly seeking validation, would you still say that?"
We all live in the same residential compound. To be honest, we see each other all the time. Even if I see you a few more times, and then people go around spreading rumors, or even just vague statements, that you two have a relationship, how will you explain that?
Cheng Zhuo didn't quite believe the saying that men and women think differently.
"Really? Does that young girl really not care about her reputation? If her reputation is ruined, what will people think of her in the future?"
Tang Sumei clicked her tongue.
"Reputation is a constraint and a concern for people like us who follow the rules and care about our image."
But what's the use of being shameless and thick-skinned? They won't care.
Maybe she'd love to be tied to you, forcing you to do whatever she wants.
What does temporary fame matter if the goal can be achieved?
"If she's willing to swallow her pride and openly admit to having a boyfriend in public, how much of a constraint do you think her reputation can have on her?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Chao sat up straight, immediately feeling uncomfortable all over.
"Second Aunt, what should we do? She can't keep bothering me like this, can she?"
It seems we only met once, and I refused, and didn't do anything else. So, am I supposed to go looking for trouble and demand an explanation?
"It's not that bad, it's not that bad," Tang Sumei waved her hand, deep in thought.
"Keep this in mind. Don't have too much contact with her. But if she doesn't do anything else, we won't hold a grudge. However, be clear about your stance and keep your distance."
Especially you, Xiao Chao, no matter what, you must not be alone with her, understand?
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