Chapter 78: Do You Have a Swimsuit?

Er Dan stared at the little kid in front of him, momentarily at a loss for words.

He couldn’t argue back, so the look he gave the little bean was a bit unfriendly. Where did this little thing pop up from? Whose kid was this? And why did he look so unmanly!

The little bean, Qian Duoshu, looked at Er Dan and called out crisply, “Big brother.”

Er Dan felt stifled. Right now, he didn’t want to be a big brother—he wanted to be the younger one...

“Auntie,” Qian Duoshu walked forward, naturally grabbing Su Qinghu’s hand, and pointed at Da Dan. “Is this one also my brother?”

The chubby, soft little hand in hers made Su Qinghu’s eyes curve into crescent moons with delight. She squatted down and looked at his obedient, adorable face, nodding, “Yes, that’s your big brother.”

“Hello, big brother,” little Qian Duoshu looked at the serious Da Dan, flashing a few tiny baby teeth as he smiled, then introduced himself, “My name is Qian Duoshu, and I’m four years old.”

Da Dan replied coolly, “You should’ve heard my name just now, but you’re not allowed to call me by it. From now on, whenever you see me, you have to call me ‘big brother’.”

Qian Duoshu nodded sweetly, “Okay, big brother.”

Then he turned to look at Er Dan, his eyes shining, waiting for him to introduce himself.

Er Dan pouted, not wanting to answer, not wanting to be called “big brother.”

He glanced at Su Qinghu, who was watching them with a smile, and struggled internally. If he didn’t answer, she’d probably think he was less polite than a little kid!

“My name is Gao Haisheng,” Er Dan said, “I’m your brother.”

Qian Duoshu looked at him, then at himself. Hmm, he was taller than him, so he should call him “brother.”

But—

“Mama, should I call him second brother or third brother?” Qian Duoshu was clever. Since Er Dan didn’t say his age, he just asked Chen Yan directly, “Is he older than Brother Hang?”

Chen Yan was stumped.

She knew that her second brother’s son, Chen Chenghang, was five this year. But as for Er Dan’s age… she really wasn’t sure...

“He’s six by Western age,” Su Qinghu caught Chen Yan’s eye and smiled, “Er Dan is seven by Chinese counting.”

Er Dan nearly choked. Six is six, why add the extra year? With the Chinese way of counting, he was now three years older than this little bean!

“I’m six!” Er Dan protested, “My birthday hasn’t come yet. If it hasn’t come, I’m still six. Only after my birthday can you say I’m seven...”

Qian Duoshu nodded, calculating carefully, “Mm, so you’re two years older than me.”

Er Dan: “...” Might as well have said nothing.

Su Qinghu looked at Er Dan’s expression and almost burst out laughing. Then she glanced at the innocent Qian Duoshu and wanted to shout “brilliant!” three times.

“Second brother,” Qian Duoshu called to Er Dan, “Have you sold all your baskets?”

Er Dan: “...”

He couldn’t take it anymore—he wanted to find a stinky sock to stuff into this annoying little bean’s mouth!

Su Qinghu clenched her fingers, shifting her gaze slightly to distract herself, afraid she’d lose control and laugh out loud right there.

This was just too funny!

Kids really are the cutest creatures in the world at times!

Er Dan stared at little Qian Duoshu, starting to suspect this kid was full of mischief. Otherwise, how could every word hit right where it hurt?

“You’re just a little kid, don’t worry about grown-ups!” Er Dan put on a stern face. “Can’t you see I’m still selling?”

Qian Duoshu tilted his little face up at Er Dan, “Second brother, do you need me to help?”

“You?” Er Dan scoffed, “Do you even go to school? Can you do math? Can you speak a foreign language?”

Su Qinghu almost applauded Er Dan—what a great set of questions! The slap in the face was going to be loud and clear!

Even Chen Yan, who was usually annoyed at Su Qinghu for embarrassing the family, now looked a little proud.

Qian Duoshu tilted his head, thought for a moment, and then rattled off a string of foreign words, answering Er Dan’s three questions perfectly.

Er Dan: “!!!”

Uh-oh, he didn’t quite understand that!

He sneaked a look at Su Qinghu, and seeing she wasn’t paying attention to his reaction, he turned his shocked gaze back to the little bean in front of him.

Four years old and already speaking a foreign language? And so adorably, too?

“Duoduo’s dad has been teaching him bilingually since he started talking,” Chen Yan said, her pride obvious. “Later, he also interacted with his dad’s teachers and classmates, so he picked up even more.”

Qian Duoshu didn’t understand the adults’ showing off. He explained seriously, “I’m too little, so I haven’t started school yet. When I’m a year older, Daddy says I can skip kindergarten and go straight to second grade.”

This time, he spoke in Mandarin.

Er Dan understood.

But because he understood, it stung even more.

This little kid hasn’t even started school and already knows so much. Isn’t he afraid his brain will get tired?

“You’re not growing taller because you’re learning too much—your brain’s too heavy, it’s weighing you down!” Er Dan, feeling defeated, offered advice. “You should study less and exercise more. That way, you’ll grow taller.”

Chen Yan didn’t like that. “He’s smart, learning isn’t hard for him, and he has plenty of playtime—probably more than you guys.”

“What does he play?” Er Dan was sure Qian Duoshu didn’t like sports, so he relaxed, big brother mode on, and said loftily, “I mean real exercise, like running and jumping, not just sitting and drawing or doing crafts.”

Chen Yan was momentarily speechless, wanting to say something but not wanting to lose her dignity as an elder, so she let it go.

Qian Duoshu nodded, “Second brother is right, I should exercise more.”

“See? Kids are more honest than adults,” Er Dan said proudly, lifting his chin and, without realizing it, taking a jab at Chen Yan. “Most kids are more honest than you grown-ups.”

Chen Yan’s face darkened.

Su Qinghu’s eyes sparkled. Here it comes, the good part!

Sure enough, Qian Duoshu’s soft little voice piped up, “I really need more exercise. Auntie invited me to go swimming tomorrow, and I agreed.”

He needed to exercise more and grow taller, so he could go to school and meet new teachers and learn new things.

After he finished, he smiled sweetly at Su Qinghu and shook her hand, “Auntie, you have to keep your word. We’ll go swimming together.”

Da Dan fell silent.

Er Dan’s dissatisfaction was written all over his face. He puffed out his cheeks and glared at Su Qinghu. Wasn’t this supposed to be a family weekend? Why bring an outsider?

“Of course! Auntie almost never lies to kids,” Su Qinghu said with a smile, holding out her pinky. “Come on, pinky promise.”

Qian Duoshu cheered, stuck out his chubby little finger, and hooked it with hers.

Standing off to the side, Er Dan was about to die of jealousy. A pinky promise!

When she held out her finger just now, he thought she was going to pinky promise with him and make up! He was just about to reach out—but in the end, it wasn’t for him...

“Do you have a swimsuit?” Er Dan’s little face could no longer hide his feelings. “Do you even know how to swim?”"