Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Gift Giving

The closer it gets to the Chinese New Year, the wetter and colder the weather becomes, heralding the arrival of the peaceful rainy season.

At daybreak, there was movement in the courtyard of No. 15 Guanghua Street.

"I don't care...I'm going to go with you too."

"Dad will take you out to play after taking a rest. This time, let your eldest brother and second sister go."

Shi Feiying, who usually wouldn't wake up even if Wang Nian called her, got up very early today for the first time ever. She had already put on her clothes and pants, and insisted on going to the zoo with her brother and sister.

And today is the day that Jiang Feng and his wife meet Shi Shuwen and his sister.

No matter how Shi Xiangming tried to persuade her, Shi Feiying held on to her sister's clothes tightly and refused to let go.

Everyone thought that the kids were just playing around and didn't understand the situation. Only Shi Shuwen understood that his brother was actually worried that they would never come back.

A few days ago, when Wang Nian was asking for their opinions, Shi Feiying eavesdropped outside the door and learned that he was not his older siblings' biological brother. He was so sad that he didn't even eat dinner.

"Mom, let Feiying go with us." Shi Shuwen persuaded.

Shi Wan also held her brother's hand tightly and said very seriously: "If they don't let Feiying go with us, then I won't go either."

"Then you guys keep a close eye on Feiying along the way and don't let him cause trouble outside." Shi Xiangming could only agree helplessly.

The three siblings happily went out holding hands.

The car that came to pick people up had already stopped at the door. Liao Guang was leaning against the driver's door smoking a cigarette, with smoke forming a cloud above his head. He didn't know how long he had been standing there waiting.

Hearing the noise, Liao Guang turned around, then subconsciously threw away the cigarette butt and quickly waved his hand to disperse the smoke.

"You must have waited a long time." Shi Xiangming actually had a good impression of Liao Guang. Seeing the person coming, he smiled and walked over: "I'm so sorry, our third child insisted on following his elder brother and sister..."

"No problem." Liao Guang smiled, went around to the back seat and opened the door: "I promise to bring all three children back to you before dark."

"Mom, remember to pick us up!"

Shi Feiying was the last one to get on the bus. She waited cautiously until Wang Nian gave her instructions before getting on. Her righteous and aloof look made the adults laugh so much that they had no time to answer.

The boy was so anxious that he kept gesticulating through the glass window after the car door was closed.

Only when Wang Nian nodded did he finally calm down.

"Then I'll go first."

"Slow down."

The two men were calm and at peace with each other, like neighbors who had not seen each other for many years, distant but absolutely polite.

The car started, turned left and right, and soon disappeared in the traffic of all sizes.

"Are you so confident that you can let him take all three children away from home?"

Zhang Hongyan even found Wang Nian's calmness unbelievable. If the child she raised with great effort was seduced away by her rich mother, she wouldn't even have time to cry.

"It's a good opportunity for me to have a day off." Wang Nian just smiled.

Before agreeing to let Jiang Feng take the children out to play, Meng Cheng had actually investigated Liao Guang thoroughly.

This man has been in society since he was a child. He has a strong sense of gangsterism, loyalty and affection. Both company employees and friends praise him highly.

Jiang Feng opened a clothing store and her business was quite prosperous. She was a well-known "strong woman" on that street.

"You are still broad-minded."

"Let's go to Baoshan Bridge to buy crabs later, do you want to go?" Wang Nian smiled and took Shi Xiangming's arm: "Our chief engineer is taking a break, so it's a good opportunity for him to help us carry the basket."

"Go! Why not?" Zhang Hongyan hated to see Wang Nian show off his affection, so she rolled her eyes and sneered, "Just like I don't have a lover, I'll go home too and call my family Technician Qiu."

"Haha, then I'll go call Hu Wenli."

"We should buy some more good fish for Kangping to nourish his body. I don't think he can recover his lost energy in a short time." Zhang Hongyan shook her head.

As he was at the age of growing up, Xiao Kangping did not have enough to eat or wear warm clothes. He was not only short but also skinny.

Hu Wenli rested at home for a week and then started to work hard to provide the child with good nutrition. Most of Lao Xiao's salary should be used to buy food.

It seems that the effect in the past half month is not ideal, and the child's face is still thin.

"You reminded me. I have some qi-replenishing herbs at home. I'll go home and give them to Hu Wenli." Wang Nian said.

"I also asked someone to buy some wild ginseng from my hometown."

“…”

In the speeding car, Liao Guang kept observing the three dolls through the rearview mirror.

The eldest brother, Shi Shuwen, looks very much like Shi Xiangming, with superior bone structure, a high nose bridge, and a very gentle personality. No matter what his younger brothers and sisters ask, he will patiently answer them. If he encounters something he doesn't know, he will say to write it down and go back to ask his father.

Shi Wan has a pair of bright and clear eyes, and her round face looks as lively and cute as a kitten when she smiles. She doesn't look like Jiang Feng at all, but more like... that stepmother Wang Nian.

"Brother, do you think the fastest person in the world is faster than a car?"

Shi Feiying, who asked the most imaginative questions, looked very smart. Among the three children, he was the one who adapted to the environment the fastest.

Moreover, this kid is only five years old, but his head looks like he is seven or eight years old. He will definitely grow up to be a tall man like his father.

"Then we must first know how fast the fastest runner in the world is before we can compare." Shi Shuwen answered this question very seriously.

Shi Feiying nodded in agreement, and then brought up her father again: "Then let's go home and ask Dad, he will definitely know."

Liao Guang understood that in the hearts of the three kids... Dad knows everything and Mom can do everything.

When I see someone selling candied haws on the roadside, my first reaction is to go home and ask my mom to make them for me instead of spending money to buy them.

"Brother, did you bring money?"

Suddenly, Shi Wan, who was sitting in the middle, spoke up and then patted her small yellow shoulder bag.

Shi Shuwen said, “I brought it.”

Shi Feiying blinked mysteriously: "Here it is."

Liao Guang was curious about what riddles the children were telling, but unfortunately the three of them stopped talking after saying this sentence.

The car suddenly became quiet.

"Uncle Liao, haven't you arrived yet?" Shi Feiying stuck her head between the two driver's seats and asked politely, "My second sister is dizzy."

"Shi Wan must be carsick."

The smell of the newly bought car has not yet dissipated, and the whole car is filled with the smell of leather, which can easily make children who are riding in a car for the first time get carsick.

Shi Wan understood the word dizzy and nodded quickly: "I still want to vomit."

"We'll be there soon."

As soon as he finished speaking, the car stopped by the roadside and a shop with a sign that read "Charming Woman" appeared.

The shop is very big, and you can see the clothes hanging inside through the large glass windows. There are also many posters of fashionable women pasted on the glass.

"This is your mother's shop. Let's rest here for a while." Liao Guang opened the car door and said to the three children.

As soon as the three children stood up, they showed the same bitter face. Shi Feiying patted her pocket and said, "I think the money we brought is definitely not enough."

"If it doesn't work, try again." Shi Shuwen sighed.

"Shuwen, Xiaowan."

Hearing the noise, Jiang Feng hurriedly left the guests behind and ran to the door, but after calling out the name, she seemed to become hesitant again.

Shi Shuwen still had some impression of Jiang Feng. After a few seconds of pausing, he called out, "Mom."

Shi Wan fiddled with the strap of her bag shyly, and only spoke after Shi Feiying pushed her: "Mom."

Shi Feiying immediately smiled and said, "Hello, Aunt Jiang Feng."

Jiang Feng tried hard to suppress her excitement. Her lips trembled and she looked around in confusion. Liao Guang smiled and helped her out: "Go in and play for a while. Your uncle will take you to eat Western food later. We'll go to the zoo in the afternoon."

"Western food?" Shi Feiying's eyes rolled, and she seemed to have some strange idea in her mind. Even the question she asked seemed very purposeful: "Is Western food delicious?"

"You'll know if you try it." Liao Guang touched the back of Shi Feiying's head with his big hand and led people to the store: "If it doesn't taste good, we won't go next time."

You can tell at first glance that Shi Feiying grew up in a happy family and is not shy at all.

The brothers' children were all afraid of Liao Guang, saying that he looked fierce and evil and would definitely beat people.

Unexpectedly, the three children were not afraid at all. The eldest was very polite, the second kept peeking curiously, and the youngest quickly called uncle first and uncle later, with his little thoughts written all over his face.

"He does know how to teach kids." Liao Guang muttered in a low voice.

"Uncle, what did you say?" Shi Feiying asked immediately.

When everyone walked into the house, the three children were instantly attracted by the beautiful clothes hanging on the wall. Shi Wan suddenly recalled the time when she went to the black market with her mother when she was a child.

He also bought a very beautiful coat there, but after taking the photo, he never saw Wang Nian wearing it again, which Shi Wan felt was a pity.

Jiang Feng's eyes were always on Shi Wan and Shi Shuwen.

As soon as my daughter came in, her eyes were glued to my clothes, and her sparkling eyes looked particularly beautiful.

When Shi Shuwen was scanning, she suddenly caught sight of the underwear hanging in the store. Her ears instantly turned red and she quickly looked away in embarrassment.

"Which one do you like?" Jiang Feng walked over and tried to sound gentler: "Mom will give it to you."

Shi Wan was startled and subconsciously looked at her elder brother.

Shi Shuwen shook his head: "Auntie...Mom, we don't want the clothes, these are all for sale." Then he pulled Shi Wan in front of him: "We just want to take a look."

Shi Wan looked at Jiang Feng for a few times, wanting to say something but hesitant, but finally listened to her elder brother and nodded.

Jiang Feng felt uncomfortable, but she endured the sour feeling that rushed to her nose and forced a smile: "All the clothes in the store belong to my mother. Xiaowan can have as many new clothes as she wants."

Shi Wan's face wrinkled as if she heard something unhappy. She opened her mouth and said, "Xiao Wan is... um..." Her mouth was instantly covered tightly by Shi Shuwen.

"Then let my sister choose one." Shi Shuwen smiled gently.

Shi Wan patted her brother's hand and immediately said happily after being freed: "Thank you, Mom."

Her mother's sincere words pierced Jiang Feng's heart, and she couldn't help but choke up with sobs.

"Feiying."

Shi Wan immediately called Shi Feiying to run to the corner, and they whispered to each other head to head. Sometimes they pointed to the left, and sometimes they looked up at the wall.

"Today is such a good day, don't cry." Liao Guang sighed, and simply reached out to hold him: "If you have tears and snot, just wipe it on your sleeves, don't waste paper."

Jiang Feng pushed Liao Guang's hand away and cleared her throat.

"Shuwen... tell mom how you and your sister have been doing these years!" As he said this, he reached out to hold Shi Shuwen's arm.

Shi Shuwen dodged almost subconsciously, and then smiled awkwardly after he came to his senses.

Jiang Feng's hands froze in mid-air, tears welled up in her eyes unconsciously, and after taking several deep breaths, she finally stopped crying.

"There's a stool over there. Sit down and talk to Mom slowly."

Liao Guangxi finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that his wife would cry all the time, which not only did not bring her closer to the children, but instead made them more distant.

The motherly love that has been missing for more than ten years cannot be made up with just a few words.

"My sister and I lived with my grandmother for several years... Five years ago, our family came to Anhuai."

When Jiang Feng asked, Shi Shuwen answered honestly, but he was just stating facts and consciously did not add any subjective opinions.

"Your grandparents are not nice to you?"

But Liao Guangduo was a smart man and he immediately spotted something wrong in what Shi Shuwen said.

He only mentioned the years he lived with his grandparents in one sentence, but he spoke in a light tone about his life in the third-line factory, and it was obvious that he enjoyed that time very much.

"Not good." Just two words of answer.

"Did your grandmother beat you?" Jiang Feng asked. She had experienced what kind of person her ex-mother-in-law was more than ten years ago.

Shi Shuwen nodded.

"You guys..." She wanted to ask why her father didn't care, but she suddenly felt that she had no right to blame Shi Xiangming. In the end, Jiang Feng just sighed and continued to ask: "So is your father good to you guys?"

Shi Shuwen looked at Jiang Feng with a strange look in his eyes: "Dad and Mom are both very good to us."

This mother naturally refers to Wang Nian.

"Okay... okay, that's good."

Shi Wan and Shi Feiying, who had been discussing for half a day, finally finished their discussion. Shi Wan came in front of Jiang Feng and pointed obediently at a dress worn by the model in the window.

"Mom, can I have this dress?"

The upper body is a white polka dot shirt with a red background, and the lower body is a black high-waisted skirt. Jiang Feng also specially matched it with a pair of black leather shoes and a black leather bag.

"That's for adults to wear. Xiaowan, take a look over here."

Shi Wan's voice undoubtedly pulled Jiang Feng out of the awkward and self-blaming atmosphere. She walked over and carefully pointed to the children's clothing on the other side.

"It's for adults to wear!" Shi Wan looked up at Jiang Feng seriously and said sincerely, "My mother looks great in red."

Jiang Feng: “…”

Shi Feiying tugged at her sister's sleeve, and Shi Wan immediately took out a handful of money from her yellow bag: "We also want to buy that pair of leather shoes together."

Just now, the eldest brother said that they only wanted to choose clothes. Shi Wan remembered it very clearly, so she suggested buying the shoes with her own money.

"Mom looks really good in red." Shi Shuwen followed up on his sister and reached into his pocket to take out some money: "If it's not enough, I have more."

"Mom will definitely like it." Shi Feiying jumped up and down happily.

“…”

Touched, envious, even jealous, all kinds of emotions surged in Jiang Feng's heart, and the money in his hand seemed so heavy that it seemed to crush him.

At this moment she realized very clearly what she had missed.

Finally, Jiang Feng took off the clothes and shoes and put them in the bag, and returned all the money to Shi Wan.

Then she saw the money returned to everyone, and all three of them contributed all their pocket money.

After getting themselves in good spirits, they took their three children out to play for a whole day, and only sent them home after it was completely dark.

The car was still parked on the roadside where I picked someone up in the morning.

However, the door was closed at this moment, so Shi Feiying jumped out of the car in a hurry and knocked on the door. After a while, Shi Guizhi came and opened the door wearing clothes.

"Second aunt, where is my mother?"

"Your mom and dad went to see a movie." Shi Guizhi smiled. When she saw Jiang Feng approaching, she also smiled and greeted him, "Long time no see."

"Second sister." Jiang Feng already knew that Shi Guizhi also lived here.

"What!" Shi Feiying's eyes widened in disbelief. She ran in and out of the gate like a gust of wind, jumping up and down in anger: "He must have deliberately left us out."

"Your mother is always around you three and she can't go out and play by herself."

"snort!"

"Hey - aren't your parents back?"

A man and a woman gradually walked out from the dark shadows of the trees. The man was tall and handsome, and the woman had a sweet smile.

The two held hands tightly, seemed to be talking about something, and looked at each other from time to time, looking extremely sweet.

"They have such a good relationship." Shi Guizhi sighed.

Shi Feiying didn't think so. She shouted "Mom" loudly and rushed over immediately.

"Mom." Seeing this, Shi Wan was afraid that all the credit would be taken away by her younger brother, so she immediately ran over with the bag.

"Mom has permed her hair." Shi Shuwen noticed Wang Nian's long curly hair draped over her shoulders at a glance.

Jiang Feng just stood silently by the roadside and watched the two children jump into Wang Nian's arms, and immediately reported one by one where they had been that day.

My daughter's liveliness at this moment is completely different from her restrained state during the day. She chirps like a little sparrow.

Wang Nian hugged the two children and continued walking home, just listening to their conversation with a smile.

This scene... is very heartwarming.

Jiang Feng couldn't help but recall the years when she and Shi Xiangming were husband and wife. It turned out that there was such a big difference between having feelings for each other or not.

"Mom, did you perm your hair?" Shi Wan quickly noticed something different about Wang Nian.

Shi Feiying immediately flattered her: "Mom is prettier than all the teachers in our school, just like a big star on TV."

A big hand suddenly covered her shoulder, and the warmth flowed through the palm and gradually warmed Jiang Feng's limbs.

She turned around and smiled at her husband who had been standing behind her, finally letting go of everything she had experienced...

"Then we'll go back first." Jiang Fengyuan said to Wang Nian and Shi Xiangming.

The couple nodded in tacit understanding, and neither of them said anything.

The car drove away, and only Shi Shuwen looked back at the taillights. Shi Wan didn't pay any attention to that from beginning to end. In her little head, she was always thinking about how to send the clothes out later.

"It's getting late, go wash up and go to bed."

"Mom, sit down first!"

As soon as they entered the living room, the three children mysteriously helped Wang Nian to sit in the middle of the sofa, and Shi Shuwen took the lead in handing over a colorful bag.

"Happy birthday in advance, Mom."

"I just wish that mom will stay young and beautiful forever." Shi Wan handed over the left leather shoe.

Of course, Shi Feiying was the last to put down her right foot: "I hope my mother will always like me."

"This is not a blessing. A blessing should be something good for your mother," Shi Wan reminded.

"Then I wish that I will love my mother forever." Shi Feiying quickly changed her blessing.

In previous years, her birthday was always in Leshan. The adults were busy with work and celebrating the New Year and hardly ever celebrated her birthday properly.

After getting married, Wang Nian always entertained herself with a bowl of egg noodles. This year, Shi Xiangmingfei said that the conditions were ready and he wanted to celebrate the birthday of his lover who had worked hard for a year.

Since he had to celebrate it, Wang Nian decided to celebrate it well, which was why he spent several hours getting a perm today.

Black leather T-strap shoes with square heels and two golden round buckles add a lot of color to the shoes.

Wang Nian looked at the shoes over and over again, his face full of surprise.

“It’s so beautiful!”

"Mom, take another look at the clothes." Shi Wan urged.

What Wang Nian took out of the bag was not the set that the brother and sister had taken a fancy to in the afternoon. The polka dot shirt was only suitable for summer and was too cold in winter.

A white lapel slim sweater and a pair of black tweed pants.

"Mom, you'll look really good wearing that red coat," said Shi Wan.

Wang Nian stood up, measured the length of her trousers, and tried on the size of her shoes. She was as happy as a little girl who had just bought new clothes.

"Go inside and try it." Shi Xiangming smiled.

Wang Nian took the pants into the house to try on the size. As soon as the door was closed, Shi Xiangming's smiling expression immediately changed.

"Where did you get the clothes and shoes?"

“…”

"Shuwen, you come and talk."

Shi Shuwen told the whole story of what happened in the clothing store that morning, including how Jiang Feng helped the staff officer to finally choose the suit.

"Have I ever taught you to ask for things from others?"

As soon as Shi Xiangming's voice became colder, the three siblings immediately felt uncomfortable.

"No." Shi Shuwen answered on behalf of his brother and sister, while the other two people's heads shook like rattles.

"Do you know what went wrong?"

The three of them nodded hurriedly.

Shi Xiangming crossed his legs, put one hand on the armrest of the sofa, and stretched out the other hand with the palm facing up: "Since you want to use your pocket money to buy birthday gifts, then of course you have to spend money."

Sanwa: “…”

But what else can you do except pay the money… You can save up more pocket money if you’re gone, but you won’t be able to sleep at night if your butt is hurt.

The three of them could only obediently take out their pocket money again.

Shi Xiangming took it, casually opened the drawer of the cabinet and put the money in.

"I'll ask someone to send the money for the clothes tomorrow. We can't take advantage of others." Shi Xiangming said. Suddenly, he heard the door ring and his expression changed instantly: "It looks really good."

Sanwa: “…”

The door was only slightly opened, how could he think it looked good?

Among them, Shi Wan was the most depressed: If I had known earlier, I would have chosen what I should wear... Now, not only has I been taught a lesson, but I have also lost my pocket money!

***

The light shines obliquely through the glass window and falls on a corner of the bedroom. The sunlight seems to bring with it a warm power, quietly dispelling the damp and cold winter.

Wang Nian turned over, closed his eyes and stretched lazily.

I stayed up late last night with the kids, so I had a rare nap today and still didn’t feel like getting up.

Shi Guizhi's movements in and out of the kitchen could be heard outside the house, so Wang Nian didn't want to move anymore.

Anyway, someone is cooking...it seems okay to sleep for another hour.

"Wake up!"

His forehead felt warm, and a big hand grasped Wang Nian's right hand that was stretched out from under the quilt, interlocking their fingers.

The old coil in the palm of his hand rubbed Wang Nian's fingertips, making them itchy. He subconsciously retracted his fingers, and suddenly there was something cold on his ring finger.

Wang Nian suddenly opened his eyes and looked over.

It really was a gold ring, a very simple band without any patterns, and the size was just right, just encircling the slender ring finger.

Shi Xiangming smiled tenderly and turned over his left hand. On his ring finger was also a similar gold ring.

"After eight years of marriage, we finally have wedding rings."

His cold eyes were now gentle and focused, and there was a clear smile at the corners of his lips.

Wang Nian chuckled, picked up the slender right hand and looked at it carefully.

"Buy me something nice next time so I can show off when I go out."

"good!"

Shi Xiangming smiled, and his lips lightly touched Wang Nian's ring finger, then slowly moved down from his brows.

The house is full of beautiful spring scenery.