Chapter 309 Shen Zhaolin's Teacher
"Can't buy it anymore?"
Mao Mao said in confusion, "Uncle, there are so many books in the bookstore."
"Yes, what book is it? It's not even in bookstores?" Xia Xiaoxiang was also surprised.
Shen Zhaolin smiled and said, "It's not a very famous book. It was published many years ago, and there weren't many copies published at the time, so it's hard to find now. The bookstore doesn't have any in stock, so I plan to try my luck at the used book market."
The mother and daughter nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Since they had the chance to meet, Shen Zhaolin wasn't in a hurry to find the book. Instead, he invited Mao Mao, "Mao Mao, are you free today? May I invite you to go shopping?"
"shop?"
Mao Mao looked at her mother, then at Uncle Chen.
"Uncle, would you like Mao Mao to help you find the book?"
Shen Zhaolin was taken aback, then smiled and said, "No, that's not it. However, I do have something I'd like to ask for your opinion on. Zhuo Xian's birthday is coming soon; it's her eighteenth birthday, and I want to give her a gift, but I don't know what to give her."
Shen Zhuoxian is the daughter of Shen Zhaolin's elder brother. Mao Mao had met Shen Zhuoxian once when she went to his birthday banquet.
"Birthday?"
Mao Mao's eyes sparkled: "Uncle, are you having another banquet?"
Shen Zhaolin smiled and shook her head, saying, "Her eighteenth birthday celebration was originally supposed to be a banquet, as you suggested. However, Zhuo Xian passed the university entrance exam this year and went to university in Beiping. She can't come back, so the gift can only be mailed to her."
Mao Mao sighed immediately, her chubby little face full of disappointment: "That's such a pity."
Xia Xiaoxiang: "..."
Xia Xiaoxiang patted her daughter's head speechlessly: "Going to university! It's not a pity at all, of course going to school is more important."
How many people can get into university these days? This is a great event! It's more worthy of celebration than a birthday.
Besides, how many birthday parties and such has Mao Mao attended?
Although outsiders haven't attended many birthday celebrations, there are over a dozen people in their family! Everyone has to celebrate their birthday, even Old Madam Lou's cat is no exception.
Although it wasn't a grand banquet, the celebrations were always lively and fun. This year alone, there were several celebrations. Mao Mao helped cut each cake and ate a lot of cake herself, making her little face chubby.
Shen Zhaolin laughed heartily: "Indeed, it's a bit of a pity that I can't celebrate with her. So, as her uncle, I can only make up for it with a gift."
Mao Mao raised her little head without hesitation and patted herself: "Then Mao Mao will help Uncle find it."
"Okay, thank you Mao Mao."
You should go to the department store to buy gifts, and there are also many shops along the street.
The three of them walked towards the department store, stopping occasionally on the street. Before long, Mao Mao had a string of candied hawthorns in her hand.
Inside the candied hawthorn skewer was a small apple. The apple wasn't big, but it was still bigger than Mao Mao's fist. She opened her mouth wide and took a big bite, without even getting to the apple peel.
It's very chewy, and Mao Mao is completely absorbed in eating it.
"Mao Mao, why haven't I seen you picking up your brother from school lately?"
Mao Mao and the candy apple were having a tiff. Without looking up, Mao Mao said, "Mao Mao is going to kindergarten."
"Kindergarten?" Shen Zhaolin realized, "Yes, it's time for you to go to kindergarten."
"Uncle, kindergarten is so much fun!" Mao Mao said happily. "There are lots of other children, and they all love listening to Mao Mao's stories. Mao Mao has even learned to sing!"
Shen Zhaolin smiled and said, "Really? Then I..."
He paused, as if thinking of something, and the rest of his words got stuck in his throat.
Where Mao Mao couldn't see, Xia Xiaoxiang also shook her head vigorously at him.
Shen Zhaolin looked around and, coincidentally, there was a pastry shop not far away, and he could smell the delicious aroma from a distance.
He abruptly changed the subject: "Then...then I really should reward Mao Mao."
Mao Mao: "Huh?"
"They're selling mooncakes over there, Mao Mao, do you want some?"
Although I don't know why Mao Mao is being rewarded, how can I not eat mooncakes?
Mao Mao immediately responded loudly: "Mao Mao, eat!"
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, various pastry shops have begun selling mooncakes.
Like zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), mooncakes also come in sweet and savory varieties. People in Haicheng often eat fresh meat mooncakes. The soft, flaky crust wraps around a tender and juicy meat filling. They taste best when they're piping hot fresh out of the oven. They're only available around the Mid-Autumn Festival, and every year at this time, long queues form outside the store to buy mooncakes.
Shen Zhaolin joined the queue: "Mao Mao, do you prefer sweet or savory mooncakes?"
Standing at the shop entrance, smelling the delicious aroma, Mao Mao said with a bright smile, "Mao Mao likes everything."
So Shen Zhaolin bought her not only meat mooncakes, but also mooncakes with egg yolk and lotus seed paste.
With mooncakes, Mao Mao stopped eating candied apples. The freshly baked meat mooncakes were so hot they were burning hot even through the paper bag, and she puffed out her little cheeks and blew on them.
After blowing on it to cool it down a bit, she held it up first: "Uncle, you eat first."
Shen Zhaolin's heart softened.
"No need, Mao Mao, I..."
"Zhaolin?"
An aged voice came from behind.
Mao Mao and her uncle turned around and saw an old man with white hair and beard, deep wrinkles on his face, a slightly hunched back, and simple clothes.
"Teacher?" Shen Zhaolin was overjoyed. "What a coincidence to run into you here?"
The old man nodded: "I've come to buy mooncakes."
As he spoke, he looked down at Mao Mao, who was standing next to Shen Zhaolin.
Just now, he saw his student talking to this little girl. The little girl was fair-skinned, pretty, with bright eyes, and exceptionally cute.
Mao Mao tilted her little head up, and when their eyes met, she politely gave the unfamiliar grandfather a big smile.
The old man's expression softened slightly, and he asked, "Zhaolin, is this your child?"
Xia Xiaoxiang: "..."
Shen Zhaolin was also stunned.
He quickly realized what was happening and hurriedly explained, "Teacher, you've misunderstood. She's Mao Mao, not my child, but my friend."
Old man: "Friend?"
Shen Zhaolin nodded: "That's right, although Mao Mao is very young, we are indeed very good friends."
Mao Mao nodded vigorously beside her: "Uncle and Mao Mao are good friends!"
Shen Zhaolin said with a smile, "However, I did want to recognize her as my goddaughter and her godfather. But her father didn't agree, so we can only be friends."
Xia Xiaoxiang: "..."
Xia Xiaoxiang tugged at her daughter's clothes, secretly pulling her a little closer to herself.
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