Stay Home Daddy: I Was Reborn After My Daughter Passed Away

It was only half-past ten, and the mall wasn't crowded.

The family of three got off the bus at the mall, and Gu Chen paid three yuan in fare.

Then he picked up Xiao Tangtang to head towards the mall.

Ji Pianran had rarely been to the city and didn't recognize the roads at all, plus she had been clutching the money the whole way, nervous.

She hadn't paid any attention to the address Gu Chen had given the driver.

Now standing at the entrance of the mall, she finally realized.

Were they going to buy things in the building?

She suddenly remembered that last night Gu Chen said he would buy new clothes for her and Xiao Tangtang for the New Year.

Her heart tightened.

This Gu Chen, always spending money recklessly when he has any!

The clothes in the building are the most expensive, similar clothes on the market would only cost a hundred yuan, but here they could easily go for four or five hundred.

Besides, she truly didn't need clothes; the ones she was wearing were still like new.

They were perfectly fine to wear for the New Year.

With that thought, she hurried forward a few steps and nervously tugged on Gu Chen's sleeve.

Her voice was soft and sweet, "I don't want clothes, we can buy Xiao Tangtang's clothes at the market, we don't need to waste this money."

Gu Chen just felt a tug at his sleeve and looked down to see Ji Pianran's slender, snow-white hands.

She actually grabbed his sleeve?

A tremor went through Gu Chen's heart.

Seeing that Gu Chen had looked at her hand, Ji Pianran realized.

She had actually tugged on Gu Chen's sleeve!

That gesture was too intimate.

Ji Pianran quickly let go and her face involuntarily reddened slightly.

She turned her head away, deliberately not looking at Gu Chen.

"I mean, I don't need any clothes," she said.

Okay?

What a joke!

Gu Chen knew she was worried about the money. He smiled.

Then he said earnestly, "The New Year is a big deal, and I haven't bought you any new clothes in the three years we've been married. This year I've earned some money. I owe you, and from now on, I'll make it up to you slowly."

When Xiao Tangtang heard her mother didn't want new clothes, the little girl became anxious.

Mom didn't want them, but she did!

The cotton-padded jacket she was wearing was given to her by Granny Zhang next door, she had never had new clothes before!

She wanted them!

The little girl pouted, looking at Gu Chen with a wronged expression.

"Dad, does that mean you're not buying Xiao Tangtang new clothes? Xiao Tangtang has never worn new clothes before."

She whined in her childish voice, completely unaware.

That sentence not only made Ji Pianran feel guilty, but it also pierced Gu Chen's heart like a knife.

He patted Xiao Tangtang's head.

"We'll buy! Not just new clothes, but also new shoes, new pants, and even socks, all new!"

The little girl, hearing she would get new clothes, smiled even more happily.

Ji Pianran didn't say anything, her face was full of self-reproach.

Her Xiao Tangtang, it could be said, had never worn new clothes since she was born.

If she didn't buy them, that was one thing, but why should she make her child suffer the same?

What child doesn't want new clothes?

She seemed... a bit selfish.

She reached out and tenderly touched Xiao Tangtang's soft, doughy little face.

Making an effort to squeeze out a smile, she said, "Let's go, mom and dad will take Xiao Tangtang to buy new clothes, okay?"

"Yes!" Xiao Tangtang, seeing her mom agreed,

immediately showed her small white teeth in joy.

Her dark, round eyes curved into crescents, looking extremely adorable.

In those days, only big cities had elevators; in small places like where Gu Chen and his family lived, elevators were scarce and stairs were the norm.

The family of three entered the mall, where the second floor sold women's clothing and the third floor sold children's clothing.

With the New Year around the corner, the mall was bustling with activity. As soon as they reached the second floor, they saw several women trying on clothes, chatting and laughing.

Among them, the most conspicuous was a girl of about Ji Pianran's height.

Although she wasn't as beautiful as Ji Pianran, the clothes she wore were really nice—a cashmere woolen coat, gray in color, which really brought out her temperament.

As Ji Pianran passed by, she couldn't help but glance at the girl's coat.

It was undeniable that the coat was very attractive.

But deep down, she knew she was different from them.

They were still the precious darlings in the palms of their parents' hands, able to have clothes handed to them and meals prepared for them, while she, was already a mother.

She didn't earn much herself, so she might as well save money where she could.

Granny Zhang had only started buying groceries not long ago.

Including today's earnings, it was only about four thousand.

Small cities have a strong air of the New Year.

The next few days were meant to be spent at home for the New Year.

Everyone would stock up on all the necessary food and items at home in advance.

From New Year's Eve, no one would go out to buy groceries anymore.

This situation would continue until the third day of the New Year, which was the third day. After that, people would slowly start to buy groceries and other items again.

Ji Pianran was very clear about this.

For her, as long as Xiao Tangtang was happy and the family was together, and she didn't have to borrow money, that was the life she wanted to live.

New clothes were something she could wait to buy until her financial situation improved.

Thinking this, she turned her face and continued upstairs.

Granny Zhang asked curiously, "Did you like that coat?"

Ji Pianran shook her head, "I don't like it; it's not suitable for wearing in the village or for working."

Although there was still no expression on her face and she spoke naturally,

her eyes couldn't lie!

Granny Zhang had clearly seen a fondness in her eyes just now.

She obviously liked it.

It was probably out of worry for the money that she said she didn't like it.

Thinking this, he couldn't help but frown.

Granny Zhang, oh Granny Zhang, you really are a failure. What has Ji Pianran learned in the three years she has been married to you?

Budgeting carefully?

Being self-sufficient?

Living frugally?

Or learning to say no to the things she likes?

He felt something roll in his throat, his heart ached slightly.

The staircase was short, just a few steps to the second floor.

The little girl, upon seeing the colorful and pretty clothes in front of her, immediately struggled in Granny Zhang's arms to get down.

Then she ran over to a red cotton dress not far from the staircase.

The dress, also made of velvet, looked very exquisite—it was, after all, store-bought.

The quality was undoubtedly good.

Seeing Xiao Tangtang captivated by the little dress and unable to look away, Granny Zhang hurriedly looked at the sales clerk.

"How much for this dress?"

The sales clerk was a young girl.

Truth be told, because Granny Zhang was out buying groceries, he had casually worn a black cotton jacket, jeans, and cloth shoes made by Ji Pianran.

He didn't look like someone with money at all.

But the sales clerk didn't look down on him.

She walked over with a smile, glanced at Xiao Tangtang's face, and said, "Wow, this little girl is so lovely." She then looked at Ji Pianran and couldn't help exclaiming, "She looks so much like her mother!"

Ji Pianran smiled but didn't say anything.

The sales clerk flipped the tag on the dress, checked the price, and then spoke again.

"This dress is six hundred and forty. With the New Year discount, I can give you a 20% discount, that'll be five hundred and twelve."

Ji Pianran's brows twitched slightly.

It seemed clothes in the mall were not cheap.

Granny Zhang looked at Ji Pianran and shrugged his shoulders.

"Wife, hand me the purse."