"Okay, grandma won't disturb you from sleeping. Go to sleep obediently. Grandma will come to see you tomorrow." She reminded Shen Mo to have a good rest, and then, supported by Aunt Liu, she slowly walked back to the courtyard where she lived next door.
Not long after Mrs. Fang left, Mr. Fang came up with his hands behind his back, looking around the door like a scout.
Seeing Aunt Liu also coming, he coughed lightly and walked in with deliberately light steps.
"My great-grandson's wife," Mr. Fang walked to the cradle and spoke in a low voice, fearing that he would wake the child.
Looking at the two babies sleeping side by side in the cradle, their chests rising and falling gently with their breathing, the lines on their serious faces softened and their eyes were filled with unmeltable kindness.
"Seeing these two children... Grandpa is so happy, even happier than when he won the battle!"
As he spoke, he took out a box from his inner pocket, which contained two jade pendants.
The jade pendant is made of excellent quality, delicate and smooth, and under the light it looks like the luster of flowing oil.
One is a slightly larger round peace locket style with simple and smooth lines and a round hole in the middle, symbolizing peace and perfection.
The other is in the shape of a slightly larger Ruyi lock, with auspicious cloud patterns lightly embossed on it, symbolizing good luck and good fortune.
"These two jade pendants," Master Fang picked up the peace locket and looked at Shitou's face as he slept soundly, "were obtained by your grandmother and I in our early years... by chance. I have kept them all along. This peace locket is for Shitou."
He picked up the Ruyi lock again and turned his eyes to 付鱼儿, "This Ruyi lock is for 付鱼儿. It's not a valuable thing, it's just a thought. Let them wear it to keep them safe and happy."
Unable to refuse, Shen Mo had no choice but to accept it.
"Shitou, fish, look, this is what your great grandfather gave you."
Aunt Liu was also happy when she saw it, "Oh, they are so precious. Both children are the treasures of the Fang family."
Shen Mo finished the last mouthful of the delicious crucian carp soup and breathed a sigh of relief with satisfaction: "Aunt Liu, your cooking skills are getting better and better. This soup is thick and white, without any fishy smell. It's really delicious!"
Aunt Liu was gently rocking Xiao Yu'er's cradle. When she heard this, she turned around and smiled widely:
"As long as you like it! Drink more, it will keep your milk flowing! This crucian carp must be fresh and cooked well."
She looked at Chen Mo's rosy complexion and felt happy. Thinking of the morning grocery shopping, she mentioned it casually, "By the way, Mo girl, I met a very nice person when I was buying vegetables at the morning market today."
She recounted the encounter with Teacher Chen in detail, focusing on Teacher Chen's demeanor, his identity as a retired teacher, and her willingness to help without asking for any compensation.
"…She looks really nice, neat and tidy, speaks softly, and has a positive look in her eyes. She said she just likes children. She is alone at home and has nothing to do, so she wants to find something to do. I really think it's good. If she can come and help, I will be much more relaxed during the day."
Shen Mo listened carefully, and when Aunt Liu finished speaking, she nodded:
"It sounds good. He's well-educated, patient, and likes children. These conditions are hard to find. If he's really reliable, it would be a great help."
She paused, remembering the lesson from last time, and her tone became cautious:
"However, Aunt Liu, you are right. You can't judge a person by his appearance. It's never too much to be concerned about a child. The last incident was really scary. This time we really have to find out the details."
She looked at Aunt Liu: "Aunt Liu, do you know which courtyard Teacher Chen lives in?"
"I know, I know!" Aunt Liu said quickly, "Teachers' Family Quarters, Building 3, Unit 301! Teacher Chen told me personally."
"Okay," Shen Mo thought to herself, "When Qingyang comes back in the evening, I'll tell him to find out something."
In the evening, when Lu Qingyang came back from work, he first went to see the two babies sleeping soundly in the cradle, then walked to the bedside, leaned over and kissed Shen Mo's forehead: "How do you feel today? Did the children bother you?"
"Very good, eat well and sleep well."
Shen Mo pulled him to sit down and told Lu Qingyang everything about what happened to Aunt Liu during the day, as well as Aunt Liu and her own concerns. "...Aunt Liu really thinks that Teacher Chen is a good person and is willing to let her help, but the last incident left a shadow on her and she didn't dare to agree easily. I also think that we must be cautious about children's affairs."
After listening to this, Lu Qingyang nodded seriously.
"I understand." Lu Qingyang held Shen Mo's hand, "Don't worry, leave it to me. Teachers' Family Quarters... well, I can find out."
He didn't delay. After dinner, he said goodbye to Shen Mo and Aunt Liu, and then rode his bicycle out.
He did not knock on Teacher Chen's door directly, but went to the Dao Office first.
At this time, there were usually no people on duty in the street office to handle miscellaneous matters. Lu Qingyang saw that Wang Ren was still there.
"Hello, Wang Ren. Sorry to bother you. I want to ask you about someone. A retired teacher named Chen Huifang lives in Unit 301 of Building 3 of our family compound, right?"
Wang Ren pushed up his glasses and said, "Teacher Chen? Are you looking for trouble with her?"
"Yes, I heard from my family that she is a good person, right?"
"Teacher Chen has been teaching for her whole life. She used to be the third in the city and had a great reputation! She is not arrogant even after retirement and is very kind-hearted! Whenever the neighborhood organizes an activity, such as giving free tutoring lessons to children or teaching the elderly to read, she will definitely come if you call her! She is very patient and speaks softly. All the children in the courtyard like her and call her 'Grandma Chen' when they see her!"
Wang Ren lowered his voice and said with emotion: "It's just that her life is a bit hard. Her husband passed away early, and her son and daughter all worked and settled in big cities in the south. They seldom come back once a year. She is alone at home, and it's quiet and lonely. She always says that she is bored and wants to find something to do, especially she likes children."
Coming out of the subdistrict office, Lu Qingyang felt more relieved.
But he didn't go back immediately. Instead, he went to that area, chatted with a few middle-aged women, and came back when it was almost time for dinner.
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