Chapter 25: Scratching His Head

Children’s likes and dislikes are pure and sensitive. Whether they like or dislike something, whether they hate or love someone—when there’s no outside interference, it’s all very straightforward.

When Erdan talked about Su Qinghu, he was absolutely unstoppable.

From the simple instructions she gave them before rushing into the hospital, to generously giving them money for food inside, to making that “Liu Guifang” apologize—and even getting her to do chores for them—and then all the things that happened after Dad came home…

Every little detail, just like the height of spring, was lovable and charming.

Whenever Erdan saw her, he felt as if a beautiful golden oriole was singing a joyful song in his heart.

In his eyes and in his heart, Su Qinghu was wonderful. And when he talked about her to others, it was easy for people to empathize—even if his words weren’t always precise, his expression made up for it.

That’s the power of genuine emotion—nothing moves people more.

Because of this, as they looked at the tightly closed study door, Erdan and Father Chen and Mother Chen all started to let their imaginations run wild.

Father and Mother Chen were thinking: when kids bring up problems, it’s usually about the family—was their son telling them something about Su Qinghu?

As for Erdan, ever since he asked what was wrong with his brother who had stormed out and got no answer, he was almost 80% sure his brother was in there telling Dad bad things about Su Qinghu.

But between his brother and his new stepmom, he still sided with his brother.

So when Chen Lie came out, what he saw was the three of them with almost identical expressions and body language.

After Mother Chen finished answering, Father Chen nodded. “From Erdan’s description, this Comrade Xiao Su sounds like a well-mannered person.”

As soon as Father Chen praised Su Qinghu, Dadan snapped out of the “moved by you” mood that Chen Lie had pointed out, instantly perking up and looking at them with bright eyes.

She’s well-mannered, doesn’t hit or scold, and isn’t passive-aggressive—but she doesn’t know how to run a household!

“An Yan,” Mother Chen beckoned, her eyes full of affection. “Come here, let me take a look at you.”

After learning what their former daughter-in-law had done, Mother Chen felt both guilty and heartbroken—heartbroken for how hard things had been for the two kids, and for how Dadan, at such a young age, had to take on the responsibility of caring for his little brother.

These past years, because of higher-ups’ demands for streamlining and efficiency, their work had changed, and they’d barely spent any time in the capital.

It wasn’t until late last year, almost New Year’s, that they were allowed to transfer back to the capital for health and age reasons. But by the time they actually returned, it was already after the New Year.

Now, they’d only been back in the capital for a little over three months.

When it came to their children’s families, as parents, their principle was not to nitpick and to treat everyone with tolerance.

But the results… were less than ideal.

“Grandma.” Dadan walked over to Mother Chen. “Are you still in good health?”

Dad had told him that Grandpa and Grandma had gone to a sanatorium, and he’d always remembered.

“I’m healthy,” Mother Chen patted his head, her love and guilt clear in her eyes. “But it’s been hard on our An Yan.”

“It hasn’t been hard,” Dadan stood straight as a little poplar tree. “Grandpa, Grandma, and Dad are the ones who’ve had it tough.”

Other people work hard for themselves, but Grandpa, Grandma, and Dad work hard for the people—that’s different.

“From now on, Grandpa and Grandma will be living in the capital long-term,” Mother Chen looked at the children, her concern obvious. “Would you like to live with us?”

Dadan paused, his eyes opening a little wider. He hadn’t thought about that.

He glanced at Erdan, who was also stunned. Weren’t they here to see Dad? Did Dad not want them anymore?

“Dad—” Erdan opened and closed his mouth a few times before finally getting the words out, “Are you starting your own family now?”

A lot of people said that after Dad’s divorce, if he remarried, he’d definitely learn from experience and wouldn’t bring the two of them—his burdens—into a new family.

Now that Dad was starting a new family, did that mean he didn’t want them anymore?

Dadan had once thought about living with Grandpa and Grandma, but ever since he learned they were serving the country, he didn’t want to anymore.

If he had to choose between living with Grandpa and Grandma or with Su Qinghu, if you’d asked him just a couple of days ago, he would have chosen Grandpa and Grandma without hesitation.

But now, no—Su Qinghu spends money with no plan at all. He needs to keep an eye on her and teach her how to manage a household properly.

“I want to live with Dad,” Dadan gave Father and Mother Chen a direct answer. “I’ll bring my brother to visit you on weekends.”

Erdan glanced at his brother and quickly echoed, “I want to live with Dad too!”

Living with Dad meant living with Su Qinghu—that was the same thing in Erdan’s mind.

Chen Lie found it funny and shook his head slightly. “Mom, Dad, just take care of yourselves. Dadan and Erdan are part of my little family, so we’ll handle their upbringing.”

By “we,” he meant himself and Su Qinghu.

“You two—ai, that’s not what I meant,” Mother Chen sighed. “I just thought, since I have experience raising children, maybe I could take better care of them.”

She really hadn’t thought about it from Erdan’s perspective.

Erdan blinked, his lashes wet, all the swagger of a movie villain or playboy from Hong Kong films gone. He clung to Chen Lie’s sleeve, pitifully seeking reassurance that Dad really wasn’t planning to abandon them and live his own life.

“She’s agreed and is willing to accept both kids,” Chen Lie smiled, placing his big hand on Erdan’s fluffy head, and said to his parents, “I got home a bit late that day, after dinner, and happened to catch the kids taking a bath. The water was warm.”

“She’d just gotten out of the hospital that day, so the water wasn’t sun-heated,” Chen Lie added, noticing Dadan’s gaze and chuckling. “She had the kids heat up the water themselves.”

It was summer, and the bathwater was warm—showing she cared about the kids’ health.

“She’s a good person,” this time it was Father Chen who spoke first. “You should treat her well.”

Erdan hadn’t mentioned this, probably because it was hot and he was full of energy, so hot or cold water didn’t matter much, and he didn’t bring it up.

Mother Chen hadn’t expected that such a young woman could be so thoughtful.

“She wanted us to use coal briquettes, but my brother wouldn’t let her,” Erdan frowned. “He said we should save them for winter.”

Lighting the stove was something they could handle—it wasn’t child abuse!

But his brother wasn’t wrong either. “We don’t have ration tickets, and we’re running out of money. Dad’s tickets won’t come until next month. My brother’s right—we should save them so we don’t freeze our hands in winter.”

Father and Mother Chen were stunned. When their son first said he’d gotten nothing in the divorce, they thought it was only right—he was taking care of the kids, after all. They’d supported his decision, but hadn’t realized the tough spot he might be in.

Mother Chen couldn’t hold back her tears. She turned and hurried to the bedroom. “We haven’t used up all our ration tickets—most of them we mailed to…”

She stopped herself before mentioning that unpleasant experience. “Your dad and I still have some saved up. I’ll go find them for you!”

Chen Lie quickly tried to stop her: “Mom, I have enough! We really just hauled back a whole cart of coal briquettes this morning.”

But it was too late—Mother Chen didn’t believe him!

Erdan scratched his head. He really couldn’t figure out what was going on anymore!"