Chapter 57: Chapter 57: I Want Five Packs

When Xu Shuhua walked out of the hospital carrying Yu Nuannuan, it was already past five o’clock.

Even at five in the summer, the sun still hung high in the sky, its scorching rays baking the earth. Only when they walked under the shade of the trees did it feel a little cooler.

Yu Hai and Chen Qiaoqin walked on either side of Xu Shuhua. “Mom, should we head home now?”

Xu Shuhua glanced at the curious Nuannuan in her arms. After hesitating for a moment, she shook her head. “No rush. Let’s take Nuannuan to the department store first.”

It had been two years since the start of the economic reforms, and all sorts of small vendors and shops had sprung up like mushrooms after the rain.

But in their county, the department store still had the widest selection of goods.

Yu Nuannuan had long wanted to visit the county, but never had the chance.

She’d thought she’d have to wait until she could walk and talk before coming to town. She hadn’t expected to come so soon, and by such a twist of fate.

She’d heard a lot about the department store and was eager to see it for herself. Hearing Xu Shuhua’s words, she couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

She had to let Xu Shuhua know how happy she was!

Hearing Nuannuan’s laughter, Xu Shuhua laughed too. “See? Nuannuan wants to go too! She’s so happy!”

The three of them walked for over ten minutes before arriving at the department store.

It was called a department store, but it was only three stories tall—nothing like the towering malls Yu Nuannuan had seen in her previous life.

But it had its own unique charm, and Yu Nuannuan couldn’t take her eyes off it.

Once inside, Xu Shuhua headed straight for the biscuit counter with Nuannuan in her arms. “Comrade, I heard you have those biscuits for teething babies...”

“You mean teething biscuits?”

“Yes, yes! Teething biscuits! Do you have any?”

“We do. Twenty cents a pack. How many do you want?”

As the shop assistant spoke, her eyes swept over the three of them, clearly doubting whether they could afford it.

Xu Shuhua ignored the look, handed Nuannuan to Chen Qiaoqin, and freed her hands to pull out a thick wad of cash.

There were ten-yuan bills, five-yuan bills, two-yuan bills, one-yuan bills, and even fifty-, twenty-, and ten-cent notes—enough to make the shop assistant stare in shock.

Xu Shuhua spread out the money and counted out ten ten-cent notes, slapping them on the counter. “I want five packs!”

The shop assistant was still staring blankly at Xu Shuhua, but snapped to attention at her words, her body giving a little jolt. “Five packs? Oh! Okay, okay!”

Just as the shop assistant reached for the money, Yu Nuannuan—who had been sitting quietly in Chen Qiaoqin’s arms—suddenly lunged onto the counter, pressing her body down on the ten ten-cent notes.

The move was so sudden that Chen Qiaoqin’s heart nearly leapt out of her chest.

It wasn’t until she saw that Nuannuan was safe and sound that she scooped her up in relief. “Nuannuan! Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

Chen Qiaoqin was worried Nuannuan might cry, but when she saw the look on Nuannuan’s face, she was stunned.

Nuannuan’s two chubby little hands were tightly clutching the ten ten-cent notes, her face beaming with joy.

In that instant, Chen Qiaoqin was reminded of the time Nuannuan had stuffed money into her own little bellyband.

(Even though I’m tired, I still finished updating! See how hardworking I am? Hurry up and vote for me!)"

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