Chapter 120: Chapter 120: News of Zhong Luoning, and Chocolate

Mrs. Xu? She remembered that Luoning’s boyfriend was called Xu Jianguo.

That matched up.

Back when Xu Jianguo was pursuing her cousin Luoning, he was really over the top.

He’d often stand under the Zhong family’s building, reciting love poems to her cousin.

Stuff like: “When the mountains crumble, the rivers run dry, thunder rumbles in winter, snow falls in summer, heaven and earth unite, only then would I dare part from you.”

Or “Hold your hand, and grow old together.”

Or “I will not leave the green hills, but follow you always.”

Zhong Luoning was a gentle, shy girl—how could she withstand such an onslaught? She was quickly won over by Xu Jianguo. That guy was a smooth talker, good at putting on a show, and even managed to fool several of the Zhong family elders into trusting him.

Later, the original owner had attended Luoning’s wedding and met Xu Jianguo’s parents. She remembered it vividly—Xu’s mother had even declared in public that she would treat Luoning as her own daughter.

As if.

Now that things had gone south, it seemed Luoning wasn’t having an easy time in the Xu family. She was the type to only share good news, not bad, so who knew how much she’d suffered in private.

That Mrs. Xu looked like trouble, with her sharp, mean face.

Since coming back, she hadn’t contacted her cousin Zhong Luoning yet. She was grateful for the tip about Lanting, but had been so busy lately that she’d forgotten about it.

Today, running into her cousin’s mother-in-law, Gu Qinghuan felt a vague sense of unease after hearing her odd words, but now wasn’t the time to investigate.

Tomorrow, she’d go check on her cousin.

The group of middle-aged women wandered around, didn’t buy anything, and drifted off to another counter.

Xu Jianguo’s mother kept circling the area but never recognized Gu Qinghuan—maybe because Gu Qinghuan’s temperament had changed so much, or maybe because she simply didn’t remember her son’s in-laws at all.

The sales clerk finally brought over the two watches.

She noticed Gu Qinghuan’s gaze lingering on the retreating ladies and whispered, “Do you know them?”

Gu Qinghuan shook her head. “No, just curious.”

The clerk, reassured, said disdainfully, “They’re regulars at the Friendship Store—always looking, never buying. They put on airs and make us bring out the best products for them to see.

At first, we all fell for it, talking ourselves hoarse, but they never bought a thing. Now everyone knows what they’re like.

Tell me, what do people like that even want?” The clerk shook her head.

Gu Qinghuan understood immediately. It was just like the fake socialites and wannabe rich ladies of later years—no money to spend, but love to hang around luxury stores, trying everything and running the clerks ragged, only to leave without buying a thing.

What they craved was a sense of satisfaction that ordinary people couldn’t understand—feeling like they frequented high-end places, gaining face, something to brag about.

In short, pointless and embarrassing.

Gu Qinghuan smiled, checked the goods, and left with Ming Ruxue and the two kids.

The children had been well-behaved all day. At checkout, Gu Qinghuan bought them two boxes of imported chocolate as a reward.

Imported chocolate was expensive, and she couldn’t always let Ming Ruxue pay for it. She could afford it herself, but not often—besides needing foreign currency coupons, too much chocolate wasn’t good for kids.

Dabao had learned numbers and was starting to understand money. When he heard the clerk say the chocolate was three yuan a box, he was shocked.

There were only a few small pieces in the box, but it cost three yuan! Three yuan could buy lots of White Rabbit candies, or several jin of fruit drops.

Usually Auntie Ruxue bought them several boxes at a time—she must have spent a lot!

Dabao tugged at Gu Qinghuan, his clear eyes full of resistance. “Mom, I don’t want the chocolate anymore.”

Beibei didn’t understand why her brother didn’t want such delicious chocolate and pouted unhappily.

Gu Qinghuan understood—he was probably worried about the money. What a thoughtful child. But she didn’t want them to be too sensible. Life would be hard enough when they grew up; as children, they should enjoy themselves.

“Why don’t you want it? Is it because it’s too expensive?” Gu Qinghuan bent down to ask.

Dabao looked at her, then at Ming Ruxue, fiddled with his shirt buttons, and said softly, “Mm.”

He was afraid his mom would think he was embarrassing.

But he really didn’t want it. Mom and Dad worked hard to support them.

He’d heard Mom say that hiring Auntie Xiaowei to clean two villas cost four yuan.

He’d thought that was a lot of money, but now realized that a box of chocolate cost three yuan. He felt he’d been wasteful and extravagant.

Auntie Xiaowei had to clean two villas to earn enough for one box of chocolate. Thinking about it that way, he just couldn’t bring himself to eat it anymore.

Gu Qinghuan didn’t say much. She smiled and ruffled his hair. “Our Dabao is growing up, thinking about saving money for Mom.

Alright, I was going to reward you and your sister with a box of chocolate each. Since you don’t want yours, I’ll give you the money instead.

You can save it, spend it, whatever you like—it’s up to you, okay?”

Dabao hadn’t expected this. He thought his mom would be upset, but instead she let him decide what to do with the money. He was stunned.

Beibei was still too young to understand money, and couldn’t resist the lure of chocolate. Gu Qinghuan bought her a box, and she happily hugged it in her arms.

All the way home, Dabao clutched his three yuan tightly, already planning to use it for something more meaningful.

Beibei broke off a piece of chocolate, munching as she asked her brother, “Brother, do you want some? I’ll share mine with you.”

Dabao shook his head. He’d already taken the money, and chocolate no longer tempted him.

“You eat it. I have this.” He raised his little fist.

Beibei looked at him, puzzled, as if he were silly. “Brother, you can’t eat money. You’re so silly!”

“You’re the silly one!” Dabao huffed and turned away.

But soon, the two were friends again.

Ming Ruxue watched the two adorable kids ahead and looked at Gu Qinghuan with admiration. “Sis, you really know how to raise kids! You don’t brush them off, you don’t kill their enthusiasm, you treat them as equals and respect their wishes. I can’t imagine how happy your kids must be!

You and my brother-in-law should hurry up and have a child!”

Gu Qinghuan couldn’t agree with that last part. She and Xu Huaian were still just roommates—how did it get to having kids?

She didn’t actually know much about raising children, and didn’t dare call herself a good mother. She was always afraid of not doing enough, of neglecting their needs and hurting their little hearts.

Raising these two kids, she just tried to give them what she herself had missed in childhood, hoping they’d be happier and freer.

They say raising children is like raising yourself all over again, and it’s true.

Often, she saw shadows of her own childhood in Dabao and Beibei, and worried they’d face the same hardships and heartbreak she had.

Some wounds are invisible, but they’re always there, sometimes never healing for a lifetime.

If a child isn’t cherished when young, chances are they won’t cherish themselves as adults.

That’s why she tried her best to be good to these two, to give them enough confidence to face whatever ups and downs life might bring."