NOVEL NEXT Chapter 366: The Idea of Buying a Car
Yuan Shixiang was a very unconventional woman. Looking at Shi Yan Ting's gentlemanly and refined demeanor, she played a major role in raising Shi Yan Ting to be a mischievous and ambitious son. Both mothers got to know each other because of their children, and at a military academy in this era, Xu Xiuxiu expressed genuine happiness to have met a friend.
One more thing that brought Yuan Shixiang and Xu Xiuxiu together was that Yuan Shixiang was also a feminist. In Imperial City, where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold, she managed to open a fairly large clothing store through her efforts. Her clothes were mid to low-end, and the profits were not high, but Yuan Shixiang ran it herself. She was an excellent conversationalist, cheerful in character, and her sales figures were exceptionally high.
"Isn't it Little Baby Little Moon's birthday in a few more days? And you'll be going home for the New Year by that time. I saw a piece of children's clothing that I thought was lovely when I went to stock up, so I brought it with me as a birthday gift for the kid." That evening, the two families gathered together again for dinner, with Xu Xiuxiu in charge of cooking. Yuan Shixiang herself was not great in the kitchen, and after getting to know Xu Xiuxiu well, she would often bring her family over to freeload meals.
Yuan Shixiang was generous, too, often buying the children fun presents: "I know you're not short on cash, especially when I see how your three kids dress; I know their clothes aren't cheap. These two pieces of clothing aren't expensive either; they're just something to add to the celebratory mood, so you better not refuse them," Yuan Shixiang said, bringing out the clothes.
On seeing the clothes, Xu Xiuxiu became overjoyed. They were two tiger outfits with tiger ears meticulously designed on the caps. Imagining the boy and girl twins wearing them and looking irresistibly cute, Xu Xiuxiu was delighted: "I love them. Thank you, Shixiang, for spending the money."
"Don't mention it! I often have to restock for my shop, and I'm very familiar with the suppliers. Occasionally bringing back a couple of pieces of children's clothing doesn't cost much since they give me the stock price," Yuan Shixiang said, waving her hand with an air of nonchalance, then she walked over to the sofa and picked up Little Baby, showering her with kisses.
"Ah, I love your Little Baby so much! I wanted a daughter myself, but I ended up with a mischievous little scamp." Yuan Shixiang spoke with a mix of regret in her voice: "How about I trade Shi Yu for her?" Her eyes shone with hopeful expectation, and Xu Xiuxiu understood that her joke wasn't really just a joke—this woman genuinely wanted to trade her son for Xu Xiuxiu's daughter!
"Listen to you talking nonsense. Your Shi Yu would be heartbroken if he heard that!" Xu Xiuxiu chimed in, and after getting to know each other well over the course of half a month, she could see just how much Yuan Shixiang adored Little Baby. Yuan Shixiang was a woman who genuinely loved little girls, and she wasn't just making polite conversation.
"Auntie, I'm already used to it." Shi Yu, who was playing with jigsaw puzzles with Song Cheng Guang nearby, replied with a tone full of resigned vexation: "My dad said that while my mom was expecting, she was hoping for a girl and had even decided on a name early on—Shi Wenya. Ugh, it sounds awful. I'm glad I'm not a girl." After his disgruntled complaint, he looked down and continued with his puzzle, only to discover that Song Cheng Guang had at some point taken apart the puzzle he had put together: "Cheng Guang, why did you take apart what I put together!"
"You pieced it together wrong," Song Cheng Guang replied coolly.
"That's not true; you're tricking me!" Shi Yu protested, full of annoyance.
Song Cheng Guang ignored him, continuing to focus intently on the jigsaw puzzle. Seeing this, Shi Yu immediately started playfully causing trouble, trying to interfere. Song Cheng Guang had gotten used to him and his obnoxious ways and paid no mind to the interruption, continuing to lose himself in assembling the puzzle.
"See? This is why I want a daughter. Look at this child, not cute at all." Yuan Shixiang eyed Shi Yu with an expression that seemed like she wanted to stuff him back into her womb and switch his gender, "Daughters are so much better, a mama's little cotton-padded jacket, oh, auntie likes you so much." She held onto Little Baby, unwilling to let go.
Xu Xiuxiu chuckled at this.
"Right, how long do you plan to stay when you go back to your hometown for the New Year?" Yuan Shixiang asked again, holding Little Baby. The thought of not seeing Little Baby for several days saddened her.
"Hmm! We'll stay for as many days as the military academy gives us off!" After the New Year, she might have to go to Z city for a few days. Soup City was now on the right track, and there were many things she could not just ignore as a hands-off boss. Proper supervision was necessary, but she didn't plan on going into details.
"That long, huh!" Yuan Shixiang felt a lump in her throat at the response, lowering her head to kiss Little Baby several more times, "Little Baby, when you go home, auntie won't see you for a good while, I'll miss you. Don't you forget about auntie, okay?"
"Ah... forget." Little Baby had started to learn to speak by now, the nearly one-year-old boy and girl twins were clearly learning much faster than what Song Chengguang did back then. Occasionally, they would blurt out a few classic phrases. Yuan Shixiang was joking with her, and the little girl giggled happily, then immediately repeated the last word with a smile.
Yuan Shixiang's face was full of black lines upon hearing that, "Your girl is bullying people." She looked up and complained to Xu Xiuxiu.
Seeing this, Xu Xiuxiu couldn't help but laugh uncontrollably. There was no denying that watching Yuan Shixiang hold onto Little Baby, unwilling to let go, was incredibly satisfying for the mother who had given birth to Little Baby.
Meanwhile, Song Yuanhuan and Shi Yan Ting, who were sitting together, drinking and chatting, also had a great time. Although one was an instructor and the other a student, Song Yuanhuan's experiences were something most soldiers and instructors could not match, and Shi Yan Ting though teaching psychology, still yearned for the special forces.
Song Yuanhuan adhered to the principle of saying what should be said and keeping silent on what should not. He tantalized Shi Yan Ting's curiosity intensely, and Shi Yan Ting kept complaining that Song Yuanhuan was not playing fair.
Time flew by quickly, and Xu Xiuxiu, although she hadn't done much each day except simply taking care of the children, couldn't help but marvel at how fast time passed because it was already the end of the year. After Song Yuanming came to Imperial City, Xu Xiuxiu had enrolled him in a short-term English course. The family was busy every day, and as the weather turned colder and the end of the year approached, Xu Xiuxiu also prepared a massive quantity of luggage and goods. She had learned from past experiences and, fearing too much luggage, had mailed the New Year's goods home early. Now, they were just waiting for Song Yuanhuan's military academy to start the vacation, and the family could easily head back to their hometown for the New Year.
"Song Yuanhuan, let's buy a car!" That evening, after Yuan Shixiang's family left, Xu Xiuxiu, having finished washing up, lay in bed talking about everyday matters with her husband. As they talked, she suddenly remembered her full piggy bank and brought up the idea of buying a car to Song Yuanhuan.
"A car?" Song Yuanhuan was surprised, holding his wife close to his chest, his chest vibrating with his words as he responded with a touch of amazement.