It was another day of wailing and howling. Luo Yan listened to the cries of various children in her class, calling for their mothers and wanting to go home. She leaned on the windowsill, looked at the free-floating clouds in the sky, covered her ears, and sighed.
Everyone has worries, and children are no exception. Just hang in there.
"Yanyan..." Teacher Zhang called Luo Yan.
Luo Yan turned around, and Teacher Zhang smiled and waved to her.
"Your dad is here to pick you up. Go with Teacher Zhang."
Why is Luo Shicheng here to pick her up in the middle of the morning instead of being in the army training?
Retired cadre Luo Yan walked with her hands behind her back, following Teacher Zhang to the kindergarten gate.
Seeing Luo Shicheng in the distance, wearing a white long-sleeved shirt, black trousers, and carrying a crossbody bag, Luo Yan was full of questions.
Upon approaching, Teacher Zhang greeted Luo Shicheng and handed Luo Yan over to him.
Luo Shicheng picked up Luo Yan, and Luo Yan said goodbye to Teacher Zhang.
Where is Dad taking her? Luo Yan wondered, but as she leaped over Luo Shicheng's broad shoulders, she saw a small figure running towards her, being quickly grabbed by Teacher Zhang, struggling incessantly.
Luo Yan quickly patted Luo Shicheng, "Dad, brother, brother..."
Luo Shicheng turned around, and Xiao Xiu, who was being held back by Teacher Zhang, stared intently at them, nearly breaking free from Teacher Zhang and running away several times.
Luo Shicheng walked back quickly, squatted down, and hugged the panicked Xiao Xiu.
"Uncle Luo took Yan Yan out to run some errands. He'll be back this afternoon. Xiao Xiu, please be a good girl and wait for me at kindergarten, okay?"
Luo Shicheng never imagined that one day he would be so patient in coaxing a child; even he himself was surprised.
When Xiao Xiu heard Luo Shicheng say that Luo Yan would be back in the afternoon, he immediately quieted down, nodded obediently, and waved to Luo Shicheng and Luo Yan.
Luo Yan waved to Xiao Xiu, "Brother, wait a minute."
Xiao Xiu pursed her lips and watched helplessly as Luo Shicheng carried Luo Yan away.
Hua Li had just finished a busy period and picked up her water glass to take a sip when she saw Luo Shicheng holding Luo Yan waving at her from outside the window.
"Luo Shicheng, who gave you permission to pick up Yan Yan?" Hua Li put down her water glass and ran out, angrily berating Luo Shicheng.
Seeing Hua Li's face flushed red with anger, no longer as sallow as it had been a few days ago, and her dull eyes brightened, even becoming somewhat radiant, Luo Shicheng lowered his eyes and quietly accepted the scolding.
She said a lot, but Luo Shicheng didn't say a word, which made Hua Li even angrier.
"Luo Shicheng, what exactly do you want?"
Luo Shicheng: "I've already arranged leave for you. I'll bring you back after lunch."
Without any explanation, and even helped her get leave, Hua Li had a sour face.
"I won't go with you until you explain yourself clearly."
Luo Shicheng grabbed Hua Li's hand and pressed it against his shoulder bag, ignoring Hua Li's resistance.
The hard, square texture made Hua Li abruptly pull her hand back.
"Come with me to the bank. Liu Jingqiu has returned the 100 yuan I gave her every month..."
Hua Li snorted coldly, interrupting Luo Shicheng.
"I've already said I won't take your money. Also, you're not allowed to pick up Yan Yan from outside without my permission from now on."
Luo Shicheng had anticipated this outcome and revealed the reinforcements he had brought.
"If you don't want this money, you can give it to Yan Yan."
Luo Yan is his own daughter, and he can't refuse to give his money to her, even if it's Hua Li.
Hua Li, no wonder you brought Luo Yan to find her, it turns out you were waiting for her here.
"How could you even say that?"
In the past, Hua Li would have been moved to tears, but now, even if Luo Shicheng gave his life and fortune to Luo Yan, it wouldn't move her in the slightest.
No matter how bad Hua Li's attitude was, Luo Shicheng still coaxed Hua Li, "Let's go, it won't take too long."
Hua Li turned back to the supply and marketing cooperative and told Xiao Yanru that he had to go out for a while. Xiao Yanru waved her hand.
"Go quickly, I'll keep an eye on things for you."
Xiao Yanru was quick and efficient, and she handled both counters without any trouble. Hua Li was very relieved and walked out of the supply and marketing cooperative under the curious gazes of her colleagues.
Luo Shicheng and Hua Li first went home to retrieve their household registration books, and then went to the bank together.
The user register opened an account for Luo Yan, and Luo Shicheng took out a full 10,000 yuan from his backpack.
"How come there's so much?" After depositing the money, Hua Li asked Luo Shicheng in surprise, holding the passbook.
"The other 5,700 is the living expenses I owed you and your daughter."
Hua Li frowned. "That's too much."
Luo Shicheng coughed lightly, "No amount of money can make up for the suffering you and Yanyan have endured. It's only right."
That's right. Hua Li, unusually, didn't refute Luo Shicheng. She carefully put the passbook into her backpack, turned around, walked back to the window, took out her own passbook, withdrew three hundred yuan, and gave it to Luo Shicheng.
Luo Shicheng didn't answer, and looked at Hua Li with a dark face.
Hua Li used to be most afraid of displeasing Luo Shicheng, but now Hua Li doesn't care.
"This is the money for my bicycle. I don't have a receipt, so I'll give you three hundred in cash as payment. See if that's enough? If not, I'll add more..."
"Hua Li!" Luo Shicheng's eyes turned red. "I didn't buy the bicycle to make you angry."
"I didn't mean to upset you. It's only right to pay for things I buy."
Luo Shicheng took a deep breath. "I'm buying it for you voluntarily; you don't need to pay for it."
"But I can't take yours for free. If you don't want it, just take the bicycle away."
There was nothing he could do even if he didn't push her away; Luo Shicheng's silence was golden.
Hua Li said, "If you don't push it away, don't blame me for throwing the bicycle out. Don't blame me then."
Luo Shicheng's hands trembled, and his voice tightened as he said, "Deposit the money into Yanyan's savings account as well."
Oh, she didn't refuse, and Hua Li went to the window to deposit the money.
Teller, you three are really making a fuss, but could you please not take me with you?
After depositing the money, Luo Shicheng discussed with Hua Li, "Let's go to a restaurant for dinner before going back."
Hua Li didn't want to go, so Luo Shicheng played his trump card again, "I heard the restaurant sells ice cream, and Yan Yan hasn't tried it yet."
Hua Li headed straight for the state-run restaurant, and the triumphant Luo Shicheng immediately followed.
Luo Yan had no idea that ice cream existed in this era. When Luo Shicheng brought over a glass dish with ice cream on it that looked a bit like ice cream, it was missing the crispy base.
I picked up a spoon and took a bite. The pineapple-flavored smoothie was topped with a thick layer of frozen cream. It tasted icy cold and had a smoother texture than ice cream. It was surprisingly delicious.
Luo Yan took a sip, then scooped up a spoonful and brought it to Hua Li's lips.
Hua Li was so moved that her eyes welled up with tears as she saw her precious daughter being so filial at such a young age, and she pushed the spoon back to Luo Yan's lips.
“Yanyan eats, but Mommy doesn’t.”
Oh my god, this is such a large and affordable portion! Even an adult couldn't finish a whole serving, let alone a little baby like her. Luo Yan silently ate a quarter of it and then pushed the rest in front of Hua Li.
Now Hua Li had no choice but to eat, and after eating half of what was left, she couldn't eat anymore.
Luo Yan immediately pushed the plate back to Luo Shicheng.
Luo Shicheng didn't like eating such sweet and cloying things, but under Luo Yan's watchful gaze, he still picked up the spoon and ate the rest.
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