Chapter 122 Mao Mao's whole body radiates golden light
After the snow, it got colder day by day.
The weather was extremely cold, even rivers were frozen, waterways were cut off, cruise ships stopped sailing, and dozens of merchant ships docked in the port were also frozen and blocked.
One day I woke up to find that the tap wouldn't turn on and the water pipes were frozen. I checked the temperature and it was minus thirteen degrees Celsius.
Haicheng is like a frozen city; under the natural disaster, everyone is in danger.
If we are caught off guard by this cold wave, the sea routes will be blocked, the trains will be underpowered due to the cold, supplies will not be able to be transported in, and the supply will fall short of demand. The price of rice and grain will skyrocket. At that time, Haicheng will be like a living hell, and countless people will starve to death or freeze to death because of the lack of food.
But this winter, which was colder than ever before, was much better than anyone had imagined.
It's rare to see positive comments in the newspapers.
The pen was in the hands of the writers, who usually had many grievances against the military and often used strong words to criticize Commander Lou for his brutal methods and arrogant style.
Initially, when Lou Dashuai issued a cold wave warning, no one took it seriously. But when the cold wave actually arrived, they were able to buy enough rice and grain in the shops, the prices of daily necessities did not rise, homeless beggars had places to shelter from the cold, and even farmers avoided their livestock freezing to death because of their advance precautions. Compared to the disaster-stricken areas outside Haicheng, they truly felt the benefits themselves.
If it weren't for Commander Lou's autocratic and domineering orders to prepare for the cold and disaster, Haicheng would have suffered even more from this cold wave!
For several days in a row, the cold wind blew, but it made General Lou's face glow and he walked with a brisk pace.
Although he didn't care about what others said, who wouldn't want to hear nice things?
Besides, he really did put in a lot of effort!
That sounds nice, give me more compliments!
Then, the first wife led the women of the household in organizing charity events to aid the disaster victims. Reporters extensively covered these events, encouraging the people of Haicheng not to be defeated by the natural disaster. Every word in the reports was deeply moving.
Lou Yansui collected the relevant newspapers and read them aloud to her younger sister.
"...Look, Mao Mao's name is still here." Lou Yansui ran her fingers over the blurry black and white photos on the newspaper, showing the pale and thin faces of the children. She said, "The money Mao Mao donated turned into rice and grain, allowing many orphans to have enough to eat. They don't have to worry about going hungry this winter."
Mao Mao leaned against the big white cat, happily swinging her little feet: "Won't Mao Mao go hungry anymore?"
"Of course, Maomao also met some kind people, so she won't have to worry about anything all winter."
"Will Mao Mao get to eat roast chicken?"
"It's not impossible."
Because Mao Mao really donated a lot of money.
She was just a three-year-old child, yet her little savings surpassed those of many adults. In Mao Mao's eyes, all that gold and silver couldn't compare to a fragrant roast chicken. When she donated it, she didn't even blink, showing no remorse whatsoever.
So much money could not only feed and clothe orphans like Maomao and help them get through this harsh winter, but also allow disaster victims to have a New Year without hunger and let hospital patients receive treatment with peace of mind... It was a huge sum of money, and the First Madam used it more carefully than she had ever done any charity before, personally overseeing every step, for fear that it would not be put to good use.
It's not just about donating money.
When Mao Mao reminded everyone that this winter would be particularly cold, she had already saved countless lives.
If saving lives is a good deed, then Mao Mao is now radiating golden light, even brighter than those big yellow croakers.
But Mao Mao was completely oblivious, still swinging her legs and asking Lou Yansui, "Brother, does Mao Mao celebrate the New Year too?"
"Of course, although he has no family, he lives with his cat."
"Does Mao Mao want to eat fish? Mother said it means abundance every year."
"Eat, let's eat big carp!"
"Mao Mao wants to eat a big carp too!"
Meow~
Lou Yansui: "That's very simple, just have the kitchen make it tonight."
Lou Hongjian was also reading a newspaper nearby.
The Haicheng newspapers have been reporting mostly on the cold wave lately, with some side stories, such as the latest news about the top singers in nightclubs, which rich and poor people are having relationship troubles, or what new happenings in some corner of the world.
The neat, square ink-colored lead type made him itch with desire.
It's because he hasn't left the house in a long time.
It's been a long time since we've seen the dashing and dissolute Lou San Shao in Haicheng's entertainment scene.
The singers that Night Paris is promoting have all changed, and he hasn't listened to the new top singer's songs yet.
Lou Hongjian flipped through the newspaper with a loud rustling sound.
When he heard his younger siblings mention the big carp, his eyes lit up and he immediately said, "Ah Sui, Mao Mao, I'll take you fishing!"
Mao Mao blinked: "Fishing?"
Lou Yansui frowned: "It's so cold?"
"It's only interesting when it's cold."
Lou Hongjian spread out the newspaper in his hand, pointed to one of the reports and said, "You see, it's only when the weather is cold that it's fun."
The two of them curiously leaned closer.
The sign stated that due to the cold wave, the temperature had dropped to below -10 degrees Celsius, and even the river surface was frozen solid, several centimeters thick. The lake in Haicheng Park had been transformed into an ice skating rink, attracting crowds of people who enjoyed the ice skating.
"Besides ice skating, you can also go fishing, and some people even go winter swimming." Lou Hongjian was eager to try it out: "Mao Mao, Asui, let's go play!"
"Third Brother, aren't you cold?"
Lou Hongjian chuckled and said, "I think the weather is nice today, and there's no wind outside. It might even be warmer than inside."
That's a good point.
If it weren't for the fireplace, the temperature inside and outside the house in Haicheng would be the same. On sunny days, the outside would be warmer than the inside.
"But in this cold weather, it's better to stay indoors and warm yourself by the fire."
"Such opportunities don't come often. How often does Haicheng experience a winter like this? Once spring arrives, this solid ice will melt away, and we won't be able to skate anymore."
"but……"
Lou Hongjian then turned to the little girl with a smile and asked, "Mao Mao, would you like to go ice skating? I'll teach you, okay?"
Mao Mao's eyes had been sparkling with excitement for a while, and now she eagerly raised her little hand: "Mao Mao wants to go ice skating!"
Lou Yansui's hesitation immediately backfired.
Before leaving the house, the three of them huddled together.
Knowing they were going out, Xia Xiaoxiang put one layer of clothes on Mao Mao, then put on a hat, earmuffs, a scarf, and gloves, wrapping her up from head to toe, leaving only her big, dark eyes showing as she blinked.
Mao Mao struggled to lift her little feet: "Mother, I can't walk anymore."
"The ice is so slippery, you can't even walk steadily," Xia Xiaoxiang said firmly. "Wear more clothes so you don't fall and break your butt into four pieces."
Mao Mao obediently replied, "Oh."
Lou Hongjian, meanwhile, was in his room, holding up two pairs of trousers and hesitating.
One pair of cotton-padded trousers was bulky and thick, while the other was crisp and stylish, though a little thin.
Going ice skating means encountering many people, and his idol image comes into play again.
He gritted his teeth.
Don't worry, he's wearing more than one pair of pants.
With everything ready, the three siblings set off for Haicheng Park, carrying a picnic basket full of food.
When I went out, the large snow cat that I had piled up a few days ago was still sitting upright in the yard, not fallen over.
The car's tires were fitted with snow chains, and when the car drove out, the road was full of muddy ice and debris.
This was the first time Mao Mao had gone out since winter began. She leaned against the car window, looking at the snow-white street scene with a sense of unfamiliarity. The rooftops and treetops were covered with snow. When she passed by the Western restaurant she used to frequent, she didn't even recognize it.
Lou Hongjian drove cautiously; the road was too slippery, and he dared not accelerate.
“I also brought a camera,” he said. “I can take lots of pictures of Mao Mao and put them in her album.”
The photos we took last time have been developed, and the whole family has taken turns looking at them several times; they love them.
The first wife even prepared a large photo album to put the photos in, waiting to fill it with Mao Mao's photos later.
Lou Yansui immediately said, "I can take photos too, I'll take the photos."
“Perfect timing, Asui, since you’re not ice skating, you can take a few more photos of us together.”
The car slowly drove across the muddy road and stopped at the entrance of Haicheng Park.
They didn't arrive early; there were already quite a few people in the park, just as the newspapers had reported, with many people out enjoying themselves.
There's a lake in Haicheng Park. In spring, the willows along the banks sway gently, and the water glistens. Visitors can boat on the lake, making for a beautiful scene. But now, the lake is completely frozen, smooth as a mirror, and many people are standing on it.
People in Haicheng don't have the habit of ice skating; most of those who skate there are blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigners.
A young foreign lady was jumping on the ice in ice skates. Her movements were graceful and her landings were light and elegant, like a fairy dancing, attracting the attention of passersby.
The three of them were engrossed in watching. As Mao Mao clapped her little hands excitedly, a gentle, smiling voice came from the side.
"What a coincidence, Miss Mao Mao."
Lou Hongjian: "..."
Lou Yansui: "..."
"Huh?"
Mao Mao turned her little head, and exclaimed with delight, "Uncle? What are you doing here?"
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