Chapter 168
“Grandma~~~ Grandma, Grandma~~~ I brought back a new pattern for you~~”
“Oh my, my precious, you’re so amazing! You’re truly amazing~~”
The chubby after-school bunny pounced into the arms of the elderly woman who opened the door.
The elderly woman, chuckling, scooped up the chubby bunny, flipped her over, and started petting her expertly, like stroking a cat.
Even though this scene had played out at least once every day for the past week, Zhang Shilan, watching it again, still marveled at Chen Sujuan’s strength. This little chubby bunny… even she, as her mom, couldn’t lift her so effortlessly.
They said holding a piglet every day from birth would build up her strength, and when the piglet grew into a big, fat pig, she could still lift it easily? Hmph, stories were all lies.
The old and the young entered the house hand in hand, looking like true grandmother and granddaughter.
Of course, the loyal little chubby bunny wouldn’t forget the person always in her heart.
“Yan Yan~~” The chubby bunny looked back and beckoned with her paw. “Come here quickly.”
Cheng Tingyan: “…”
It had to be said, the Experimental Kindergarten truly lived up to its name, it was full of surprises. The first two weeks of homemade meals were just appetizers for the children’s kindergarten work-life. In the fourth week, the next dish was served.
Shuttle tatting.
A small shuttle, easy to hold, a few rolls of thin thread, weaving and weaving, they could create flowers, strings…
A few days ago, after school, Cheng Tingyan received her first tatted flower from the little chubby bunny. Watching the little chubby bunny demonstrate how to weave the flower with the shuttle, she was truly amazed.
Those small, white, and chubby paws, they didn’t even seem to be able to hold the shuttle, which was almost as big as her hand. Cheng Tingyan watched nervously, but not only did the shuttle not fall, it was wielded with such dexterity and grace by those little chubby paws, a flower petal was woven in no time.
It was truly… amazing!
She was already very capable during the variety show filming, shelling beans so quickly, her bracelet-making skills were top-notch, she could even braid hair in various styles. And now, at kindergarten, she could cook, she could weave, she was truly a multi-talented little chubby bunny!
Just like with the takeout food, the tatted flowers the little chubby bunny brought back later were also one per person. Sometimes, when she was “too busy with work” at kindergarten and didn’t have time to make enough, she would even work overtime after school, making sure everyone received one before bedtime.
But the little chubby bunny hadn’t even worked overtime for two days when she gained two apprentices…
Cheng Tingyan took a few quick steps and held the eagerly outstretched bunny paw, she looked up at her grandma… the little chubby bunny’s first apprentice…
As for the second apprentice… Cheng Tingyan, following the old and the young, walked to the sofa and looked at Liu Qiongfang, who was already holding the shuttle and thread, sitting in her wheelchair.
“Yan Yan, have some fruit before doing your homework.” Chen Sujuan said, pointing at the fruit platter on the coffee table, then, unable to wait any longer, she petted the little bunny’s head. “Maomao, what kind of flower did you learn today? Quickly weave one and show Grandma. Oh, right, the flower you taught me yesterday, something seems wrong with the ending, can you take a look?”
Liu Qiongfang, who was sorting the thread, looked up slightly. “I told you, you got the number of loops wrong.”
“Yours doesn’t look right either, I can’t trust you.” Chen Sujuan said, taking a finished flower from her small bag on the coffee table, she handed it to the bunny teacher and looked at Liu Qiongfang. “Show Maomao the one you made this morning too.”
Cheng Tingyan fed the little chubby bunny two pieces of orange, then ate a jujube herself, before quietly retreating from the increasingly heated tatting scene. As she passed by Zhang Shilan in the kitchen, who was reheating the dumplings Little Maomao brought back today, they exchanged a glance, both feeling a bit… like they were skipping work.
Zhang Shilan never thought that a tatting factory would be established in her living room. Just a few days ago, this living room was still the two little ones’ cartoon-watching zone…
Unlike Zhang Shilan, Cheng Tingyan thought this change of activity was quite good.
After all… cartoons for three-year-olds were truly too boring and sleep-inducing.
She didn’t know if she was bad at choosing cartoons, but most of the ones she found, based on age, were educational, with songs and basic knowledge, no real plot.
When she was bored and sleepy, Cheng Tingyan even asked the little chubby bunny if she wanted to rewatch “Tutu Adventures,” the cartoon she was even willing to stay up late to watch.
After the variety show ended, Cheng Tingyan watched some clips of the live broadcast, learning about the possible origins of those “My dad said…” remarks, she specifically searched for and watched “Tutu Adventures.” Although the art style was bizarre, the plot was much more interesting than those educational cartoons.
Sadly, the little chubby bunny refused.
Cheng Tingyan even considered watching some slightly more complex cartoons for older children. But then she remembered Zhang Shilan’s words that night. Although she didn’t never go upstairs, compared to the little chubby bunny’s seventy-something visits, the difference was huge. And looking at the little chubby bunny next to her, her face flushed, her eyes sparkling as she watched that cartoon about a flying puppy, Cheng Tingyan felt that as long as the little chubby bunny liked it, she could keep watching it every day.
But in the end, it wasn’t every day.
A week later, their after-school activity changed from watching cartoons to tatting.
Cheng Tingyan also tried it for a couple of days, but she wasn’t really interested, pretending to be interested in tatting was much harder than pretending to be interested in cartoons. She was quickly exposed by the little chubby bunny and sent off to do her homework.
But Chen Sujuan was very enthusiastic, her bond with the little chubby bunny growing stronger every day, to the point where she would greet her with open arms at the door.
But what surprised Cheng Tingyan the most was Liu Qiongfang, who, after being told off by Chen Sujuan a few times, actually started tatting with them…
Blood ties seemed to be truly effective, at least their home life had been peaceful these past few days, even a bit joyful.
Cheng Tingyan, as she took out her textbooks and notebooks from her backpack, thought… She hoped this wasn’t just a temporary phase, it would be good for everyone if things could stay this way.
One event, several people, a hundred different thoughts.
In the living room, Wei Maomao, after unraveling her grandma’s morning creation, re-weaving it, and fixing the shape, picked up Liu Qiongfang’s flower, she glanced at the closed door of Yan Yan’s room and smiled slightly.
Silly Yan Yan, clearly not liking cartoons, yet enduring a whole week of watching a silly flying dog…
And she herself, after being caught drawing Tutu late that night and being mistaken for watching cartoons, didn’t dare to say she didn’t want to watch it anymore.
Watching cartoons together was nice, if it wasn’t some sleep-inducing, plotless animation.
Of course, Wei Maomao refused to watch “Tutu Adventures” with Yan Yan, watching her own bizarre cartoon bunny with Yan Yan, the embarrassment would be unbearable.
Wei Maomao had planned to wait a few more days, then find an opportunity to request an upgrade in cartoon content, but with the appearance of tatting, their after-school activity changed.
It wasn’t bad either, at least Yan Yan didn’t have to force herself to watch cartoons she didn’t like.
Hmph, silly Yan Yan.
Wei Maomao, after correcting her two “apprentices’” morning creations, her chubby little hands holding the shuttle and thread, slowed down her movements and started teaching today’s lesson.
Zhang Shilan, carrying a plate of freshly cut cantaloupe, waited for a while, until the lesson ended, she walked over and placed the fruit platter on the coffee table. “The fruit vendor at the complex entrance brought these, they’re very sweet, have some before you continue.”
“I’ll eat after I finish making this for Dad.” Wei Maomao said, putting down the teaching shuttle and picking up another one, she shook the half-finished flower.
“Just save a bite of the food you make for Dad. You’ve already made him several of these little flowers, there’s no need to make one for him every time, he’s a boy, it’s not convenient for him to wear them outside.” Zhang Shilan said, pinching the little chubby paw, feeling a bit心疼.
Unlike cooking, where she could just fry or bake a few pieces, weaving these little flowers was quite time-consuming…
And this little chubby baby was so fair, everyone upstairs and downstairs received one whenever she made something new.
But… Zhang Shilan glanced at the two diligently weaving next to her, her workload was reduced by two now.
Wei Maomao’s paw, being held by her mom, she couldn’t pull it free, she had to take off her smart watch, flipped to her chat history with Wei Chengli, and handed it to her mom.
“What’s this?” Zhang Shilan asked, confused.
“On Monday, Dad received last week’s package, he noticed there was one flower missing, these are the voice messages he sent.” Wei Maomao said, putting the watch in Zhang Shilan’s hand.
Zhang Shilan scrolled through the messages, then scrolled again, she randomly selected a few voice messages and converted them to text, unable to believe her eyes.
Love the little flowers.
Want the little flowers baby made.
Love every single one.
Why is the curly one missing?
Doesn’t love Dad anymore…
Zhang Shilan was shocked, twenty-three voice messages, totaling sixty seconds… Just because she forgot to send one?
Didn’t… Didn’t he already call and ask about it? Why was he still whining to their baby…
“Your dad seems… to be playing the victim? Mmm, I mean, pretending to be pitiful!” Zhang Shilan said, humming.
Wei Maomao nodded in agreement, swiftly weaving the other half of the flower.
Sigh, life was beating her, a little bunny.
Wei Chengli returned the day before National Day, a string of tatted lace flowers hanging from his bag. With the long holiday, the tourist attractions were crowded, and Qin Sichao’s film crew had to move to another location, so they gave them a few days off. Wei Chengli came back just in time to watch the first episode of the edited version of “Where’s Baby Going” Season 3 with his family.
Revisiting the past, watching their younger selves with loved ones, it was truly an interesting experience.
On the day of the official broadcast, Wei Chengli woke up early, unable to sleep from excitement.
But his excitement was met with two little ones, frowning and looking unhappy early in the morning.
“What’s wrong?” Wei Chengli asked, ruffling the little chubby dumpling’s hair, he bent down and teased, “They probably won’t show your bed-wetting incident in the first episode, you can save your unhappiness for next week.”
“…“ Zhang Shilan, passing by, couldn’t help but smack Wei Chengli.
Seriously, when he was away, he wanted the snacks made by his baby, saved and frozen, he didn’t want to miss a single one of the little flowers she made. And now that he was back, he was just asking for trouble. With his words, wouldn’t the little one be unhappy for the whole week…?
Wei Maomao wasn’t concerned about the bed-wetting incident right now.
The past couldn’t be changed; her current frustration was about the present and the future.
Mmm, not her own, of course.
“Yan Yan, what’s wrong? Did something happen?” Zhang Shilan also noticed that both little ones were unhappy early in the morning. She initially thought they had a fight last night while sleeping together, but after observing them for a while, it didn’t seem like it. They were fine when talking to each other, but they kept checking their smart watches, as if waiting for a message.
“Uncle Wen’s tour went to Zhizhi’s city; he went to Zhizhi’s house with Wen Dongyu last night.” Cheng Tingyan said, she felt the Wang family was truly troublesome, troublesome in her previous life, and it seemed they were still troublesome in this life, she swallowed her sigh and continued, “Wen Dongyu told Wang Zhizhi he was going a few days ago, then…”
“Yan Yan, I’ll do it!” Wei Maomao said, pulling Cheng Tingyan, who was struggling to summarize the situation, then played Wen Dongyu’s voice messages on her smartwatch.
They weren’t there, relaying it wouldn’t capture Wen Dongyu’s tone.
“I’m so angry! My sworn siblings! Uncle Wang is even worse than before!”
“My dad is taking me to Zhizhi’s house for dinner tonight. We went to pick Zhizhi up from school, Zhizhi said he asked his family to make sweet and sour pork, he saw me say I wanted to eat it on my social media feed yesterday.”
“There was no sweet and sour pork on the table tonight, so I asked Zhizhi where it was.”
“Then Uncle Wang started scolding Zhizhi! He asked why Zhizhi didn’t say I was the one who wanted to eat it! He thought Zhizhi was the one who wanted it…”
“I don’t understand, why was it there when I wanted to eat it, but not when Zhizhi wanted it…”
“My dad asked. Uncle Wang said it was a family matter, they could make it any day, Zhizhi should have said I was the one who wanted to eat it, then they would have made it today.”
“My clever self thought this was wrong! So I asked Zhizhi if Uncle Wang ever made him anything he wanted to eat. Zhizhi said he hasn’t asked since coming back from the show, I thought it was even more wrong! Don’t you guys think it’s wrong?!”
“I’m going back to the hotel! Before I left, I asked Zhizhi to tell his dad that he wanted to drink porridge tomorrow morning!”
“Oh, right, I also took Wang Zhizhi’s puppy! Uncle Wang said Zhizhi’s sister was still young, the puppy’s barking disturbed her sleep, he was going to give it away. Zhizhi and Uncle Wang had a fight, Uncle Wang insisted on giving it away, so I took it, Zhizhi can still come and visit it. Look at this cute puppy!”
…
After playing all of Wen Dongyu’s voice messages, Wei Chengli scratched his head, confused. “Ah, mmm… this… Not being able to eat what you want today, having to wait until tomorrow, isn’t that quite normal? The snacks Maomao made, I also had to wait a week to eat them.”
“So you were waiting for Wang Zhizhi to tell you if he got to drink porridge this morning?” Zhang Shilan asked, although she didn’t participate in the filming, she watched the live broadcast whenever she had time, she quickly guessed the reason behind the two babies’ earlier gloominess.
“Sweet and sour pork is a bit troublesome, but who wouldn’t make porridge for their child? Just a handful of rice in a pot, I can even do it.” Wei Chengli said, glancing at the kitchen. “Should I make some for you?”
“Next time, we just had breakfast.” Zhang Shilan said, looking at the eager Wei Chengli. “Do you think Wang Zhizhi got to drink porridge today?”
“Yes.” Wei Chengli said, then, recalling the events during filming, he added hesitantly, “…Right?”
Zhang Shilan touched Little Maomao, who was looking at her smart watch again. Children were sensitive, she didn’t think he would.
The number of people waiting increased from two to four.
The answer came when Wen Dongyu’s voice came from the smartwatch again: “Zhizhi’s breakfast was milk and bread!”
Their wait was over, then the two little ones, huddled together, talking on their smartwatches, walked away.
“Seriously, is Wang Qingchuan learning all the wrong things? Not even letting him drink porridge? Did they run out of rice? Does he think porridge isn’t nutritious? Just happened to have milk and bread?” Wei Chengli said, tapping the table hesitantly.
“Stop making excuses for him.” Zhang Shilan said, patting Wei Chengli, she gestured towards the two little ones in the corner of the living room with her chin. “They’re still testing. If it happens every time, it’s not a coincidence, not a ‘we’re family, we can eat it any day’ situation. It’s…”
Wei Chengli asked curiously, “It’s what? It can’t be that he’s retaliating against Zhizhi because he didn’t buy anything for his sister, right? Hahahahaha… Haha? Ha??? Mmm… Mmm?”
Zhang Shilan didn’t laugh, her rare seriousness made Wei Chengli stop laughing as well, he was surprised that his casual remark might have hit the mark.
“Hopefully, it’s just a coincidence.” Zhang Shilan said, looking at Cheng Tingyan, who was talking seriously on her smartwatch. This one, they could still manage, but Wang Zhizhi, he was too far away, they couldn’t reach him.
She hoped… it was just a misunderstanding, not that family truly having issues.
Wei Maomao, sitting cross-legged next to Cheng Tingyan, her chubby paw supporting her chin, she looked at Yan Yan, who was talking seriously, then at the new voice messages popping up on her smartwatch.
Last night, when this [No Zhizhi Group] suddenly appeared, Wei Maomao initially thought someone had a falling out with Zhizhi, the six of them having over a dozen group chats, the drama was starting even in their kindergarten group. But it wasn’t a falling out, it was protection…
They had discussed strategies in the group chat until late last night, waiting for today’s result, now that they had the result, the next test and plan could begin.
Sigh, human children, they were truly adorable sometimes.
Unlike Wei Chengli’s naivete, just from Wen Dongyu’s description of Wang Qingchuan getting angry and scolding Zhizhi, Wei Maomao felt his excuse about it being a family matter and they could eat it any day was a lie.
Wang Qingchuan probably wouldn’t let Wang Zhizhi starve, the most likely scenario was that he was trying to control his child by withholding things he wanted. But from what Wen Dongyu said, Wang Zhizhi had become quite indifferent after the show, it seemed Wang Qingchuan hadn’t succeeded yet.
If that was the case, should they stop testing Wang Zhizhi?
What if… He was better off being indifferent, what if seeing it clearly only made him sadder?
No, Wang Zhizhi was just a few years old, was it really okay for him to be so apathetic?
Ah, it was brain-burning.
Wei Maomao slumped onto the sofa.
But at this moment, Wei Maomao didn’t know that the mental exhaustion was temporary, while the wealth would be permanent.
A month after “Where’s Baby Going” Season 3 ended, Wen Dongyu, restless like a patrol dog, first visited Cheng Tingyan and Wei Maomao on Qin Sichao’s film set, then spent a few days at the Shen family villa with Wen Xixi, then visited Wen Jiangyue during Wen Xiang’s concert tour, and finally, at the Wang family’s house, he opened a new chapter.
A new chapter of financial freedom for the six of them, including Wang Zhizhi.
