Chapter 239 If she were alive, she would definitely like you too.
"Auntie?"
Mao Mao looked around and asked, "Where is Auntie?"
I didn't see Mao Mao today.
“She’s not here.” Shen Zhaolin’s fingertips brushed over the gentle and beautiful face in the photograph, his gaze lingering. “She has been gone for many years.”
Maomao: "..."
Shen Zhaolin and his wife Bai Zhiyue were childhood sweethearts. They knew each other since they were young, grew up together, went to school together, and eventually got married. However, Bai Zhiyue had always been in poor health, and after marriage, she fell seriously ill. Despite years of careful care, she still passed away.
After her death, Shen Zhaolin had no intention of remarrying and devoted all his energy to literature and education.
But sometimes, in the dead of night, I think of her.
Over the past few years, his wife has remained the same as before, leaving him alone in this world to slowly grow old.
Fortunately, she left behind photographs before her death, so that he would never forget her face.
“If I could, I would also like to introduce you to her, but unfortunately…” Shen Zhaolin gazed at his wife in the photo, as if trying to talk to the person in the photo, and said gently to Mao Mao, “She loved children when she was alive. If she could meet you, she would definitely like you very much too.”
Unfortunately, the person in the photo neither moves nor smiles, silently staring at him, neither speaking nor responding.
Suddenly, a soft little hand gently touched his other hand, which was hanging by his side.
Shen Zhaolin snapped out of his daze and looked down to meet a pair of large, wet eyes.
"Uncle." Mao Mao hugged his hand, pressed her soft, chubby cheek against his arm, and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Mao Mao saw the photo and recognized Auntie."
"..."
Shen Zhaolin paused for a moment, then gently touched her head with the hand that was holding her.
He smiled and said, "Yes, I'll tell you about her, so you can get to know her."
"Uncle, don't be sad, have a happy birthday."
"I'm not sad, I'm very happy today."
Mao Mao stared wide-eyed at his face, and only when she saw that he no longer looked lost and dejected did she feel relieved. She gently nuzzled his arm with her little head.
Shen Zhaolin suddenly remembered something: "Speaking of which, Mao Mao, I should thank you."
"hold head high?"
“You and your brother helped me recover my wallet from the thief before.” Shen Zhaolin: “My wallet contained a photo of my wife. There were only a limited number of photos of her when she was alive. If it were lost, it would be one less photo, which would be a great loss to me. Fortunately, you found it for me.”
Mao Mao exclaimed in surprise, "Eh!"
What a coincidence!
"So, I'm really grateful to you." Looking at her blank little face, Chen Zhaolin smiled and said, "Would you like to listen to me ramble on for a bit and tell me about her?"
What else is there to be unwilling about?
Mao Mao nodded.
The children's toys that Shen Zhaolin had prepared were no longer needed, so they were used to tell her stories.
His late wife, Bai Zhiyue, was also a woman of great talent. Before her death, the two often discussed literature, ambitions, and romantic matters. If it weren't for her frail health, she might be quite famous by now.
The courtyard where Shen Zhaolin lived was planted with many flowers and plants, left by his late wife, and it was full of vitality.
He pulled an old book from the bookshelf: "This is a collection of poems she compiled with her classmates when she was in school... I've got it, Mao Mao, I'll read it to you."
Although Mao Mao couldn't understand, she still cheered and clapped her little hands until they were red.
After reciting a few poems, her soft little body leaned against Shen Zhaolin as if it had no bones.
Mao Mao tilted her little head up and looked at him expectantly: "Uncle, do you miss Auntie a lot?"
"...Yes, I miss her very much."
"Then... then when you miss your aunt, you can tell Mao Mao."
Shen Zhaolin paused for a moment.
“My mother said that you can’t keep things to yourself, you have to say them.” Mao Mao raised her chubby chin: “When my mother is not at home, I miss her and I tell her about it. Uncle and Aunt can’t hear me, but Mao Mao can help you hear.”
Shen Zhaolin couldn't help but laugh.
“Really!” Mao Mao said anxiously, “Uncle, after I tell my mother, she will buy me candy.”
Shen Zhaolin patted the little girl's head: "I don't need to eat candy."
Don't eat sugar?
Mao Mao is happy when she eats candy.
What can make my uncle happy?
Mao Mao thought for a moment and said, "Then, Uncle, I can also play the harmonica for you."
Shen Zhaolin: "...A harmonica?!"
"Okay!" Mao Mao nodded her little head vigorously and said enthusiastically, "Uncle, I'll play the harmonica for you!"
She was in high spirits and even wanted to find her harmonica.
Unfortunately, she only brought one gift with her when she went out today, and didn't bring her beloved harmonica.
Mao Mao looked around with her little head: "Uncle, do you have a harmonica here? A piano is fine too, my fourth aunt taught me to play the piano."
Shen Zhaolin: "..."
Although he had never heard a little girl play the piano.
But he had already witnessed her harmonica performance at her birthday party.
Shen Zhaolin said tactfully, "No need, no need to trouble you, Mao Mao, thank you for your kindness."
"Uncle, don't be so polite." Mao Mao patted herself on the shoulder with a friendly gesture: "We're good friends!"
Shen Zhaolin: "…………"
Shen Zhaolin's eyes darted around in a panic.
Soon, his gaze fell on the specially prepared children's toys.
Shen Zhaolin eagerly picked them up again: "...Mao Mao, let's play with our toys!"
"hold head high?"
Mao Mao tilted her little head.
Without thinking twice, she readily agreed: "Okay!"
...
They played until dusk.
Although it was just playing with childish toys with a little girl, Shen Zhaolin didn't mind at all and spent the whole afternoon playing with her.
During this time, Shen's mother and others came looking for her, but seeing that the two children were having a good time, they didn't disturb them and left quietly.
While Mao Mao was playing with toys with her uncle, Lou Yansui was also in his study, enthusiastically working on problems all afternoon. At first, Shen Zhuoying stayed with him to do problems, but after half an afternoon, she turned pale, made an excuse to escape, and never returned.
The brother and sister didn't stop until the sky was ablaze with orange-red clouds.
"Would you like to have dinner before you leave?" Shen Zhaolin warmly invited, "Mao Mao, I'll ask the kitchen to cook your favorite dishes. Oh, and I've also prepared fireworks; we'll be watching them tonight."
What else is impossible?
Mao Mao readily agreed.
That evening, she sat at the main table with Shen Zhaolin as usual.
Perhaps because he had run into a snag at lunch, when Uncle Shen saw her, he stroked his beard and let out a cold snort, but did not nitpick again.
The table was still full of dishes, all of which were Mao Mao's favorites. She ate without looking up, her face almost buried in her small bowl.
When her father sat next to her at night, he could see her eating habits more clearly, and his eyes couldn't help but wander to her.
After watching it many times, Mao Mao looked up from her rice bowl and met his gaze with a puzzled expression.
Father Shen: "..."
Maomao: "..."
Father Shen: "..."
Mao Mao suddenly realized, picked up a braised shrimp from the plate in front of her with a spoon, and tremblingly placed it into his bowl, revealing a sweet dimple on her cheek: "Grandpa, you eat too."
Father Shen: "..."
Even Shen Zhaolin was stunned: "Mao Mao?!"
Shen's father was the head of the family and held considerable authority. Before the emperor's downfall, he was still an official in the court and the absolute head of the Shen family. His words carried great weight, and even his grown sons were intimidated by him.
Not to mention the younger generation, even Shen Zhaolin and his brothers didn't dare to serve him food.
But Mao Mao wasn't afraid at all.
A deep furrow between Shen's brows gave him an imposing presence, and the gray in his temples added to his aura, making him seem unapproachable. He bore a resemblance to Old Madam Lou when she first arrived in Haicheng.
Now, Madam Lou has become Mao Mao's biological grandmother, and she always takes out her own money to buy Mao Mao delicious food and fun toys.
At noon, Grandpa Shen even spoke up for Mao Mao.
Father Shen stared sternly at the little girl's swaying little tuft of hair for a while, then silently picked up a shrimp from his bowl.
Shen Zhaolin and his older brother at the same table looked at each other in bewilderment. The dining table fell silent for a brief moment, and even the sound of clinking bowls and chopsticks seemed suddenly clear.
After a long while, Shen Zhaolin came to his senses and continued to put food into Mao Mao's bowl: "Mao Mao, eat more."
"Mmm!"
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