Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Dabao Buys Fish

As expected, as soon as Dabao arrived at the grocery store, he headed straight for the meat counter. When he found out that buying meat required a ration ticket—which he didn’t have—he had no choice but to give up, disappointed.

Gu Qinghuan didn’t go with him, just followed behind, letting him shop on his own.

Ming Ruxue saw him worrying about the meat ticket and wanted to give him one from her own pocket, but Gu Qinghuan stopped her. She wanted to see what the child would do.

Dabao looked around, then went to ask about eggs and fish and shrimp. When he learned that buying fish didn’t require a ticket, his face finally lit up with a smile.

He carefully asked the uncle selling fish which kind was best for making pickled fish stew. He remembered his mom had made it once before, and it was delicious.

The uncle told him that grass carp, snakehead, and carp would all work.

Dabao picked through the big fish tank, finally choosing the one he was most satisfied with. The uncle scooped it out, weighed it, filled out a ticket, and told him to pay first and then come back for the fish.

Dabao could read numbers, so he checked the ticket several times to be sure. It said ninety cents. Only then did he happily go to pay.

The girl at the cashier’s counter wore her hair in two long braids, swinging as she moved. She had powder on her face—she was probably an unmarried young woman.

Seeing him come to pay by himself, she asked why he was buying fish alone. Dabao proudly said he was using his own money to buy fish for his family. The girl praised him, making Dabao blush.

Then he collected his fish, happily running over with the three-jin grass carp. “Mom, I bought us a fish! Can we have pickled fish stew for dinner?”

Gu Qinghuan beamed and gave him a thumbs-up. “No problem, it’s a deal!”

The last bit of nervousness in Dabao’s heart disappeared.

Smiling, he pulled out the rest of his money from his pocket. “Mom, I still have two yuan and ten cents left. If you want to buy anything else, I’ll pay.” His proud little face made Ming Ruxue and everyone around adore him. “Dabao, you’re just too cute!” Ming Ruxue pinched his cheek.

Dabao generously said, “Auntie Ruxue, if you want something, I’ll buy it for you too. But I only have two yuan and ten cents left, so could you pick something cheap...?”

Ming Ruxue was utterly charmed. This child was so grateful and kind-hearted—Sister Huan had definitely treated them well.

She’d only bought him chocolate a few times, and he was willing to spend all his money on her. He was truly a wonderful child.

“Auntie Ruxue doesn’t need anything. You keep your money, Dabao! Save it for candy next time.”

Dabao looked at Gu Qinghuan.

Gu Qinghuan shook her head too. “Mom can’t think of anything she wants right now. If I do, I’ll let you know. You can also choose to save your money—use it where it counts most.”

“Okay, Mom.” Dabao contentedly put the money back in his pocket.

Beibei watched with envy, even the chocolate in her hand suddenly not tasting as good.

Her brother’s three yuan seemed more useful than her chocolate—he’d bought such a big fish and still had money left to save.

Thinking it over, she realized she was just greedy and not as thoughtful as her brother. Her face turned red with embarrassment.

Gu Qinghuan quickly noticed her change in mood.

“Beibei, don’t be upset. You’re great too! Choosing what you like isn’t something to be ashamed of. As long as your choice doesn’t hurt anyone else, there’s no need to feel guilty.”

With Gu Qinghuan’s gentle words, Beibei finally found an outlet for her feelings and burst into tears.

“Mom, I shouldn’t have bought chocolate. I was just being greedy,” she sobbed.

“Your brother just chose a way to spend the money that made him happiest. Not everyone has to do the same thing to be right. Remember, sweetie, in life, it’s important to make yourself happy too. Don’t hurt yourself just to please others. You’re doing just fine.”

“Mom, what does it mean to make yourself happy?” Beibei looked up at her, eyes red like a little bunny.

“Making yourself happy means eating what you want, wearing what you like, buying what you wish for. As long as you’re happy, that’s what matters.”

“Really? I can do that?” Beibei snuggled into Gu Qinghuan’s arms, her voice stuffy with emotion.

“Of course! Only when we’re good to ourselves can we be good to others, right?”

Dabao chimed in, “That’s right! You ate chocolate and felt happy. I spent my money on something I wanted, and that made me even happier than eating chocolate. We’re both doing what makes us happy. Mom says being happy is the most important thing.”

With their comfort, Beibei finally stopped crying.

Ming Ruxue listened to the conversation between mother and children, deep in thought.

Yes, all our lives, we’re striving for one thing—the ability to make ourselves happy. So many people are born carrying the burden of serving their families, never able to do what they truly want.

To become the person you want to be, to please yourself instead of others—she wholeheartedly agreed with this way of raising children.

Dabao carried the fish home by himself, grinning the whole way.

At lunch, everyone just had a simple meal. The meaningful fish was saved for dinner, so everyone could enjoy it together.

Over at the villa, the two men were working together better and better, moving efficiently—they’d already finished installing curtains in one building.

Gu Qinghuan left the kids at home with Ruxue and brought lunch over for the two men.

She’d made simple steamed buns with mixed flour and pork with chili sauce for lunch, plenty to eat, plus some fruit for dessert.

Gu Lanting, who didn’t eat much, finished quickly and pulled Gu Qinghuan aside to talk in private.

He’d seen his sister spending so much lately and had a lot of questions, but didn’t want to ask and risk hurting her pride.

But now he couldn’t hold back.

“Jie, all this money you’ve been spending lately—is it from brother-in-law?”

He was puzzled how Xu Huaian, a country boy, could have so much money, but his sister definitely didn’t. Plus, Xu Huaian didn’t seem like an ordinary rural guy, so he’d just assumed the money came from him.

Gu Qinghuan was momentarily speechless—how was she supposed to answer that? She couldn’t very well say she’d earned all this herself. Gu Lanting might believe a couple hundred yuan, but she’d spent well over a couple thousand lately.

She could only stiffen her neck and say, “So what if I spend a little of your brother-in-law’s money?”"