A group of children played until it was completely dark before their parents reluctantly dragged them home by the ears.
As the leader of the kids, Luo Yan rubbed her ears as she followed Hua Li home. The children were really loud when they were playing wildly, and it was enough to make your ears go deaf.
When Luo Yan got home, she saw that Luo Shicheng and Chen Yuanshan seemed to have just arrived home as well.
Why did you go to the Qian family to do some ideological work and come back so late?
Hua Li took the two little ones upstairs to wash up. After washing up, Luo Yan and Xiao Xiu changed into their pajamas and prepared to go back to their room to sleep.
Luo Shicheng came up from downstairs and said to Hua Li, "Tomorrow, take some things and bring Yan Yan and Xiao Xiu to see Qian Zhaodi."
It's not appropriate for him, a man, to visit the little girl. It would be more convenient for Hua Li to take the child.
Hua Li responded, "There's still some milk powder that Mom bought for Yan Yan and Xiao Xiu at home. Take two cans for that child, along with a few apples, a pound of sugar, and two bags of ham sausages. Is that alright?"
Hearing Hua Li's generosity, Luo Shicheng couldn't help but laugh.
"There's too much. It's not that we're unwilling to give it to the child, but that there's simply not enough for him to eat."
After a moment's thought, Luo Shicheng said, "There's still a can of malted milk powder at home, and a pound of sugar and four apples will do."
Luo Yan and Xiao Xiu's palates have been completely spoiled by Shen Suyin. They refuse to drink malted milk powder and only consume milk powder produced by designated dairy factories, so the malted milk powder can only be given away.
Hua Li nodded, "Okay."
After they finished talking, they each took their children back to their rooms. Their eyes met as they closed the door, but they silently looked away.
Luo Yan asked Hua Li curiously, "Mom, what's wrong?"
This was the first time Hua Li had heard Luo Yan say "what's wrong?" The two words, spoken in a cute, childlike voice, were particularly amusing, but the question she asked was somewhat upsetting.
"Qian Zhaodi, um... she's injured, so we'll go see her on behalf of the whole family tomorrow."
Luo Yan frowned, raised her lotus root-like arm, and gestured with her other hand towards her arm, "Hit, hit, hit?"
"No, Qian Zhaodi wasn't beaten, she was, she was..."
How could Hua Li explain to the child that Qian Zhaodi had hanged herself in her own storeroom and was saved by Luo Shicheng and Chen Yuanshan, who were looking for Qian Song? Hua Li scratched her head.
"She is sick."
Why would they go to such lengths to visit someone who is merely ill? Could it be...?
Grandma Kong did not die, but Qian Zhaodi, who had witnessed Grandma Kong's miserable state, did not know this. Therefore, Qian Zhaodi could not bear the abuse, and coupled with the psychological pressure of believing that she had killed Grandma Kong, she did something foolish.
Luo Yan felt that she was probably right.
"For my sister..." Luo Yan pulled out a pair of butterfly hair clips that she had only worn twice from her treasure box and asked Hua Li if it was okay.
Hua Li certainly didn't object, "She should like it."
The following day, the family of four went to the space for jogging, standing meditation, and sparring as usual.
This was still Luo Yan's decision.
Shen Suyin is too high-profile, attracting countless eyes to them. If Luo Shicheng continues to train with his whole family, it will draw too much attention. It would be better to enter the space, where they can do whatever they want without worrying about causing trouble.
After finishing her workout and leaving the space, Luo Yan took a nap and didn't get up until after nine o'clock. Hua Li stayed in bed with her. The mother and daughter got up and went to wash up. The door opposite opened, and Luo Shicheng and Xiao Xiu came out with messy hair.
There's no one else who can be so meticulous about staying in bed.
Hua Li and Luo Yan politely went back to their room and lay down for a while, only getting up when Luo Shicheng knocked on the door.
After washing up and having dinner, Hua Li took the prepared gifts and went out with the two little ones.
Shen Suyin, who was walking her chickens in the yard, saw this and asked Hua Li what she was doing.
The two chicks followed closely behind Shen Suyin, chirping as they went, and looked a little bigger than before.
Hua Li mentioned going to see Qian Zhaodi, and Shen Suyin said Hua Li.
Instead of giving her the things she can't eat, why not give that child some of the clothes that Yan Yan can't wear?
In families that favor sons over daughters, girls' clothes are hand-me-downs from older children, unlike Luo Yan, whose grandparents and maternal grandparents constantly buy her clothes. There are no fewer than ten packages mailed from Beijing alone, and her three great-uncles overseas keep sending her clothes. They say they are second-hand clothes, but they are just left unworn.
Hua Li hadn't expected this, and said, "I'll take a few items right away."
With that, Hua Li walked to the room on the first floor where the mail was kept.
Luo Yan felt that eating and drinking were secondary to Qian Zhaodi, so she walked to the coffee table, took out paper and pen, and drew a picture.
Just as Hua Li came out carrying her bundle, Luo Yan finished her drawing.
An adult and two children came to visit Qian Zhaodi. Sun Huizhen was very welcoming, but said that Qian Zhaodi had gone out to play and was not at home.
Luo Yan didn't believe that a child who had just attempted suicide would be so carefree as to go out and play. Taking advantage of her small size, she sneaked into the yard and searched around. She found Qian Zhaodi, who was barely alive, in the storeroom.
Sun Huizhen reached out to take the things Hua Li was carrying, but Luo Yan, who had returned to find Hua Li, pushed her away.
Luo Yan led Hua Li by the hand straight to the warehouse. Sun Huizhen wanted to stop them but didn't dare, and stood in front of the warehouse door, her face flushed with anxiety.
Luo Yan pointed to the storeroom, "Mom, sister..."
Hua Li asked coldly, "Is Qian Zhaodi inside?"
Sun Huizhen hesitated.
Hua Li pushed Sun Huizhen aside and barged in.
In the dark and damp warehouse, there was only a bed made of wooden planks in the corner, covered with a thin quilt. Qian Zhaodi was huddled on the bed with a pale face, her eyes, which should have been full of childlike innocence, were lifeless. Hua Li could hardly believe his eyes.
Hua Li put the bundle and bag in his hand at the foot of the bed and asked Sun Huizhen.
"Why didn't you report the overcrowding in your house to your superiors?"
In those days, the one-child policy had just been implemented, and it was considered rare for a family to have two or three children. Therefore, the houses in the compound had at least three rooms.
As for the Qian family, Qian Song and his wife shared a room, Qian's eldest daughter shared a room, and Qian Erpang shared a room. The least favored second daughter was only given a room in the storeroom. But such things were done in secret, and if done in public, they would be criticized.
Sun Huizhen couldn't answer, so she frantically gave money to Zhao Di and winked at her.
Qian Zhaodi explained in a hoarse voice, "Auntie, I... I like living in the storage room."
Hua Li laughed in exasperation, "What else do you like? You like sleeping in soft, warm bedding, you like wearing pretty clothes, you like never going hungry again. Did your mother fulfill those wishes for you?"
Qian Zhaodi lowered her head, tears streaming down her face.
Seeing that she couldn't explain herself, Sun Huizhen simply resorted to lying.
“We are very happy that you came to visit Zhao Di, but where Zhao Di lives is none of your business.”
Hua Li had no time for wasting words with Sun Huizhen.
“I’ll give you two choices: either find a way to get Qian Zhaodi a normal room to stay in, or I’ll help your Deputy Battalion Commander Qian reapply for housing.”
Sun Huizhen dared not let Hua Li help her apply for housing; if Hua Li really went, Qian Song's path to promotion would be cut short.
"Let Zhaodi stay in Daya's room; no need to apply separately."
"Then hurry up and go."
Hua Li left no room for argument, and Sun Huizhen dared not say another word. She packed up Qian Zhaodi's bedding and carried it to Qian Daya's room.
Qian Daya is the eldest child and is already in the first grade of elementary school. The heated kang bed in the house is more than enough for the two children. However, Qian Daya is intolerant and does not allow Qian Zhaodi to move in.
Hua Li picked up Qian Zhaodi and followed Sun Huizhen into the house.
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