The trigger for Little Lang's illness was paint consumption, which Zhou Xueqin knew about.
In this life, she had let Lv Erniu go; Erniu's ugliness had actually saved her from misfortune.
Later, both owners of the Sanbao Paint Factory developed leukemia due to the paint quality.
"Is this unrelated to Zhou Xueqin?" Yan Zhao asked again, his eyes intense.
Chen Meilan didn't answer directly, instead asking Yan Zhao: "About those children..."
"Zhou Xueqin has evidence; she'll hand it over to the police first thing tomorrow," Yan Zhao said.
It was pitiful to think about - Zhou Xueqin, who once cared so much about her appearance, now wore worn-out slippers and a faded sweater of indeterminate color, chain-smoking and as thin as a skeleton.
She was willing to pay thirty thousand in oil vouchers to work as a cleaner at the shooting range, not for profit, but simply to see Little Lang.
After all, she was the birth mother. If she told Yan Zhao the truth, he would likely never let Zhou Xueqin see the two children again. What could be done? Having mentally aged to her seventies and seen too many ups and downs, Chen Meilan thought for a moment before saying, "It's not really related to Zhou Xueqin. The child's constitution has improved now, so you needn't worry about it."
As a police officer, Yan Zhao had witnessed the ugliest side of the world.
Yet he preferred not to think the worst of people.
His instincts told him Little Lang's illness was connected to Zhou Xueqin, but Chen Meilan's assurance that it wasn't made him feel somewhat better.
"Thank you for staying with me, even knowing Little Wang would grow up as thin as a pole and Little Lang would become so ill," Yan Zhao said, suddenly smiling.
This man looked better without smiling - when he did smile, it was more painful to see than crying.
Chen Meilan hadn't actually seen Little Wang or Little Lang in her previous life; she had only heard about them.
The most recent mention was when she visited Yan Xishan in the hospital and heard Yuanyuan talk about a boy from Yanguan Village staying in the nephrology department.
But never mind - after all, Chen Meilan had raised them without prejudice, and they had indeed made her proud.
She accepted this honor.
As Yan Zhao got up to take a shower, hearing Little Wang and Yuanyuan playing outside, he added, "By the way, Zhou Xueqin mentioned Little Wang had a girlfriend in his previous life who was very kind-hearted and helped take care of Little Lang for a long time... Do you know who that girl is? Should we try to find her?"
Little Wang and Yuanyuan definitely couldn't be together.
Though Yan Xishan's mother's surname was Su, like Su Wen, and they were distant relatives from the same village, the bigger issue was that Yan Zhao's family and Yan Xishan's family shared the same surname - combining the same bloodline would be disastrous.
Since Little Wang had a girlfriend in his previous life, Yan Zhao didn't mind her background or conditions, as long as she was kind-hearted.
He thought about finding her, learning about her family background, and perhaps playing matchmaker if necessary.
The poor father was practically worried sick about his 16-year-old son's marriage prospects.
He'd heard the girl had been with Little Wang from their early teens until they were 28, the year Zhou Xueqin died.
Yan Zhao felt particularly sympathetic and believed that if Little Wang loved her in his previous life, he would surely love her in this one too.
Chen Meilan became interested as well: "What does she look like? Is she pretty? What's her name?"
"I thought you knew her," Yan Zhao said, surprised. After thinking about Zhou Xueqin's description and filtering out the harsh words, he said, "Apparently she was quite full-figured, had healthy skin, and was rather short."
So she was a plump, dark-skinned girl?
Wasn't that just like Yuanyuan in her previous life?
She had been dark and plump from stealing food and running around doing business.
Seeing how inseparable Little Wang and Yuanyuan seemed, Chen Meilan felt anxious, but she didn't know that girl.
She decided to ask Zhou Xueqin about it to find some clues about the girl.
In Chen Meilan's view, there were no badly educated children, only thoughtless parents.
Just like herself in her previous life, and like Zhou Xueqin.
Plump people always had potential, just like Yuanyuan - in this life, she hadn't experienced trauma or developed the habit of stealing food from her previous life. Chen Meilan had protected her well, kept her from running around outside, and look how adorable she had grown up to be.
Originally, Chen Meilan had planned to apply for a visit to see Zhou Xueqin in detention the next day.
But she couldn't get approval.
After a night of contemplation, Zhou Xueqin had decided to make a full confession.
After all, by revealing information about the black oil and the rapists, she could earn leniency and avoid prison time.
Little Lang and Little Wang wouldn't be implicated either.
Early in the morning, she submitted to the police the location of the black oil storage and evidence about Lu Dabao, Feng Ha, Wang Qi, and the boy called Hu Haihe - four boys who had gang-raped a girl.
The evidence was a videotape.
Since she ran a video hall with recording equipment, the tape had actually been secretly recorded by Lu Jingyu and his son to blackmail the other boys. Lu Jingyu thought he was the only one who knew where it was hidden.
But despite all his precautions, Zhou Xueqin knew about it too, and she handed it over without hesitation.
The revelation of this videotape caused a huge sensation throughout the Public Security Bureau.
In this profit-driven society, especially in coastal areas, the police were heavily entangled with nouveau riche and private entrepreneurs, making investigations and evidence collection extremely difficult. Usually, without sensational news, superior officers wouldn't take harsh measures for the sake of social harmony.
It was one thing for these fake "children of high officials" to abuse their power for personal gain, but gang-raping an underage girl and filming it for blackmail? How was this any different from the corrupt officials' sons in ancient times? If the country didn't crack down now, wouldn't the post-80s generation become like American youth in the 1960s - a lost generation?
And Wang Qi became the most prominent target.
"My uncle is Wang Xudong" - this phrase became famous nationwide.
In the Public Security Department's main conference room, an emergency meeting was held with police chiefs from all provinces in attendance. Minister Qi personally pinned photos to the wall - pictures of Feng Ha, Lu Dabao, and the others, containers marked with skull and crossbones containing nuclear waste, huge oil tanks, and photos of local police officials with private entrepreneurs at karaoke bars, embracing hostesses, eating, and drinking.
"Upper leadership has ordered us to form a special task force. I will lead it, with Comrade Yan Zhao as second-in-command. We will tackle everything from Party discipline to public security. Anyone who dares to pull strings or obstruct the central task force's investigation will face the same fate as Wang Xudong, regardless of who they are!"
With a sharp sound, the final thumbtack pierced Wang Xudong's portrait right in the forehead.
A veteran soldier who had fought countless battles on the Laoshan front now faced public execution - something the state had ordered to be used with extreme caution and only as a last resort since the 1990s began.
From now on, Minister Qi would personally lead and Yan Zhao would primarily handle the nationwide rectification of Party discipline, work style, bribery, and corruption.
Poor Officer Yan had already suffered greatly during his two years in Southeast Asia, and now he would have to be separated from his wife again for national inspection duties.
However, without fail, he would return to the capital once a week, insisting that Chen Meilan fulfill her "conjugal duties."
Regarding these duties, he was as meticulous as a landlord calculating workers' wages, absolutely refusing to miss a single occasion due to his business trips or Chen Meilan's busy schedule.
Soon it was October.
Starting this year, the country had implemented a three-day holiday system for major festivals. Since Yan Zhao was currently stationed in Xiping City, he persuaded Chen Meilan to visit.
"After Zhou Xueqin was released, she returned to Xiping City and is currently in a lawsuit with her brother. Since you wanted to ask her about Little Wang's girlfriend, you must come," was Yan Zhao's first official reason.
The second reason was that Yanguan Village and Dongfang Factory were in demolition negotiations.
Demolition and relocation had become one of the hottest issues of the 1990s.
Unlike other places where demolition is driven by developers wanting to build new buildings, Dongfang Factory is expanding its factory area to build new facilities. In Yan Zhao's view, the compensation is reasonable, but there are still some holdouts who refuse to move, and most people are waiting to see how things unfold.
Chen Meilan has a good reputation in the village. If she goes and signs the agreement first, others will likely sign more readily.
"No matter how busy you are, you must come back. Everything at home is already tidied up. The kang is dry, and the courtyard is clean. Let's spend a few days alone, just like having a private honeymoon," the dog man said on the phone, ending with: "Chen Meilan, this is an order!"
Chen Meilan hasn't been particularly busy lately and has also wanted to visit Yanguan Village.
Although the children are on vacation, Yuanyuan has to participate in a CCTV gala and can't go.
As for the two boys, Chen Meilan plans to take them along.
After all, she is their birth mother. According to Zhou Qiaofang, Zhou Xueqin's physical condition was already very poor while in detention.
After being released, her brother refused to return the embezzled rent, forcing Zhou Xueqin to file a lawsuit. This caused her mother to change her attitude, resorting to crying, shouting, and threatening to hang herself, while openly cursing Zhou Xueqin and mocking her, saying she deserved to be abandoned and should die soon.
Zhou Xueqin, already burdened with guilt over her children, was further disheartened by her mother's behavior when she had no money. Now, she smokes two packs a day, treating cigarettes as her meals, and her spirit is severely depressed.
It would be good for the boys to visit their birth mother and see if they can help Zhou Xueqin regain her spirits.
The most painful thing in the world is the guilt one feels towards their children.
Chen Meilan deeply understands this, as she nearly couldn't bear it when she realized that Yuanyuan had turned out the way she did because of her negligence.
And isn't Zhou Xueqin now, just like Chen Meilan from her previous life, who realized her mistakes too late?
Tonight, Yuanyuan has a rehearsal for the CCTV program, and Little Wang and Little Lang are accompanying her. Chen Meilan plans to leave work early to pack the boys' clothes.
Just as she finished packing her bag and was about to leave the office, she was suddenly met by Secretary Mao.
Secretary Mao's presence means that something came up with Yan Peiheng.
"Secretary Mao, is there something?" Chen Meilan asked.
Secretary Mao got straight to the point: "Gu Xiao returned from Southeast Asia this morning and officially signed the inheritance contract with the charity organization. Then he personally visited the first-class family compound and was invited to the Red Brick House by the commander."
In July, after obtaining the first-hand evidence, Gu Xiao returned to Southeast Asia with the accompaniment of Chinese peacekeeping police and a legal team from the Ministry of Public Security to sue shareholders, fight for equity, and reclaim his shares.
Afraid that he would worry, and also worried about his health, Chen Meilan didn't mention the small blanket at that time.
Now that he has signed the inheritance contract, he probably feels justified and has come to claim the item.
Chen Meilan was puzzled why Yan Peiheng placed Gu Xiao in the Red Brick House instead of receiving him in the high-rise building.
Then she thought it through.
Recently, Yan Wei brought Bei Bei to the capital for a visit and happened to be at home.
In his final days before retirement, Yan Peiheng has finally learned to handle family relationships.
He was afraid that Yan Wei would find out how important the small blanket was and would be upset again.
As they left the milk powder factory, Secretary Mao said with a smile, "As soon as he entered, Professor Gu took out a contract and told the commander that he was willing to transfer all the shares of 271. Currently, there is a surplus of about ten million in the account. He has houses in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Japan. You can name your price, but the blanket must be given to him. Otherwise, the liquid assets, which are in US dollars, will not be deposited in Chinese banks."
Foreign exchange reserves are the main concern, as they are what Chinese banks most desire.
Gu Xiao seems prepared for Yan Peiheng to extort him and is also holding back, wanting to make an exchange.
Chen Meilan noticed Secretary Mao's awkward smile and asked, "What did my father say?"
Secretary Mao replied, "The commander's meaning is that you should not ask Professor Gu for anything."
As they passed by a market, Chen Meilan said, "Secretary Mao, you can go back first. I'm going to buy some fruit."
Secretary Mao was about to leave but turned back and said, "Regarding this matter, the commander knows he has wronged you, but he still hopes that for the sake of national interests and his own face, you can bear with it and not accept anything."
So, Secretary Mao came to inform Chen Meilan because Gu Xiao wanted to give her the remaining half of the shares of 271, but Yan Peiheng didn't want her to accept them.
He even hoped that Chen Meilan would refuse them on her own.
This situation put Yan Peiheng in the wrong.
Because of that blanket, Chen Meilan gave Yan Wei a house. The housing prices in the capital have been fluctuating wildly.
Last year, it was 3,000 yuan per square meter, and this year, it has risen to 5,000 yuan per square meter. Now, Yan Wei's house is worth 7,000 yuan per square meter. If Chen Meilan had bought it herself and sold it, she would have made a net profit of 360,000 yuan.
For this reason, Yan Peiheng himself didn't have the face to ask Chen Meilan not to accept anything.
That's why he sent Secretary Mao to persuade her in this manner.
The old man, who had never been good at handling human relationships, was finally learning to yield to life in his old age.
A simple phrase, "bear with it," might make Chen Meilan feel a bit better, considering she gave Yan Wei a house.
Chen Meilan needed to buy some fruit and some tea.
Because they usually eat in the high-rise building, there were no fruits at home except for breakfast.
After buying some fruit, Chen Meilan passed by a flower shop. She was about to walk by when she saw a pot of "One Pinch of Snow," with its white petals fully bloomed. She stopped.
It was September, the time when chrysanthemums bloom all over the capital.
By the way, there was also a pot of "One Pinch of Snow" in the old house of Yan Zhao's family in Yanguan Village.
It should be in bloom now.
This flower is precious and expensive, usually used as a gift.
Chen Meilan asked and found that a pot with three flowers cost 150 yuan.
After hesitating, she still bought it. The flowers were beautiful and could be given to Gu Xiao.
She remembered that Su Wen liked the chrysanthemums at home and often praised them, inviting Chen Meilan to come and see. If Su Wen liked these flowers, perhaps Gu Xiao would too.
When she returned home, the Red Brick House was bathed in the setting sun, its red bricks turning golden under the warm yellow sky. The yellow leaves of September made the scene look very comfortable.
If nothing unexpected happened, this would be the place where Chen Meilan would spend her old age.
She couldn't help but feel more and more fond of this home and more and more regretful.
If Su Wen were still alive, she could have spent her old age here.
Unfortunately, she passed away so early.
Yan Peiheng wasn't inside but stood at the door with his hands behind his back.
Seeing Chen Meilan, he wanted to say something but hesitated and then opened the door for her.
The old man was still worried, afraid that she would accept something from Gu Xiao.
Entering the house, Gu Xiao was sitting on the sofa.
He wore an old cotton-linen singlet and black wide-legged pants. Due to his thinness, he had an ethereal air.
After several months, this summer must have treated him well. Compared to July, his mental state and complexion had improved significantly. Chen Meilan thought it was due to his reclaiming the company.
Power is a man's aphrodisiac.
Back in July, Gu Xiao was so dispirited.
But now that he has regained control of the company, he looks more spirited.
Yan Dongxue saw Chen Meilan come in and took the things from her hands, saying, "Sister-in-law, I'll wash the fruit. Oh, where did you get these flowers? They're so beautiful."
They cost her 150 yuan, and with just these three flowers, it would be strange if they weren't beautiful.
Giving the fruit to Yan Dongxue and placing the flowers on the coffee table, Yan Peiheng also came in, and Gu Xiao was staring at Chen Meilan, both hesitating to speak.
Finally, Gu Xiao pushed the contract on the table and was about to say something when Chen Meilan signaled him to pause. She went into the bedroom, took out a thick plastic vacuum-sealed package from the cabinet, and handed it to Gu Xiao.
The transparent plastic allowed him to see the contents clearly.
Gu Xiao's hand trembled slightly, and his heart stopped for a moment. He didn't take the item.
"I have washed and disinfected the blanket with ultraviolet light, and it's vacuum-sealed in plastic. If you don't plan to use it often, it's best not to open it, so it won't degrade as quickly," Chen Meilan said.
Gu Xiao finally reached out.
His fingers, yellowish and almost translucent, gently touched the plastic bag.
Inside was the object he had come here to obtain, trading foreign currency, equity, and property.
Chen Meilan then pushed a bouquet of flowers towards him, saying, "It's strange, I've never seen this flower sold on the street, but today I happened to come across a pot. I didn't intend to buy it, but as I walked by, a branch of the flower brushed against me, so I bought it. I feel it must have some connection with you."
In this courtyard, few could afford a pot of flowers worth over a hundred yuan, yet today it appeared. Chen Meilan believed this connection was meant for Gu Xiao.
Gu Xiao glanced at the flowers but said nothing, instead pushing a contract towards her.
Chen Meilan continued, "Actually, I should have given you this blanket in July, but I was busy then, and you were just collaborating with the Chinese police to return to Singapore. Since this is my mother's item, I felt a hasty handover was insufficiently respectful. I had planned to deliver it personally when I had more time. Now that you're here, I'll hand it over to you. Please don't offer anything in exchange. This blanket is not valuable to others, but to Yan Zhao, it's extremely precious. No amount of wealth can match its worth. Do you understand?"
Gu Xiao remained silent and withdrew the contract.
Yan Peiheng, who had been holding his breath since entering, finally exhaled.
Chen Meilan's words echoed his own thoughts, which he had been unable to express.
After a moment's contemplation, Gu Xiao stood up, cradling the flowers in one arm and holding the blanket in the other, ready to leave.
He had been wheelchair-bound for years, his legs practically useless. Yet, as he rose, even Yan Dongxue and the accompanying doctor were alarmed, rushing to unfold the wheelchair and follow him.
Gu Xiao navigated three sets of steps and even exited the courtyard.
Fortunately, outside, Yan Dongxue and the private doctor caught him and helped him back into the wheelchair.
With the flowers and blanket in hand, Gu Xiao sat upright and left without glancing back, even as he boarded the car.
He had no curiosity or attachment to this place.
Despite it being the home of Su Wen's son, it had no connection to Su Wen.
In Gu Xiao's eyes, everyone related to Su Wen, whether his son, grandson, or daughter-in-law, was on the opposite side.
He might reconcile with the country that raised him, but never with Yan Peiheng and his sons.
They would remain enemies for life.
Chen Meilan and Yan Peiheng followed him outside, watching the car drive away. Yan Peiheng remarked, "That flower, I seem to have seen it somewhere, white and quite pretty?"
"We have it in our courtyard," Chen Meilan smiled.
"In the old place, the courtyard of the first brigade?" Yan Peiheng asked.
Seeing Chen Meilan nod, he scoffed, "An intellectual temperament, liking flowers?" With that, he left.
Watching her father-in-law go, Chen Meilan sighed deeply.
Su Wen loved various flowers, a habit Yan Zhao also adopted.
Gu Xiao enjoyed poetry and prose, as well as flowers and birds, which was what drew him to Su Wen.
Yan Peiheng, however, was a rough, straightforward man who wouldn't care about what flowers bloom in which season, let alone remember what flowers his wife planted or which ones were beautiful and when they bloomed.
The "Yipao Xue" flower, Su Wen's favorite.
They had many at home, and in old age, she often invited people to see them.
Gu Xiao, in such poor health, could carry a pot of flowers because of Su Wen, knowing she loved them. But Yan Peiheng would never know what his wife liked.
Chen Meilan sincerely hoped that if Su Wen could be reborn, she wouldn't meet Yan Peiheng.
A man's life is short.
Even if a man loves a woman deeply, if he doesn't know her joys and sorrows, that love has no meaning or value.
Seeing Gu Xiao's healthy appearance, Chen Meilan had secretly wondered if, by regaining control of his company and following Yan Peiheng's path, Gu Xiao's health would improve. Such a wealthy man, with good medical conditions, could easily live another two or three decades.
For men, love isn't important; money and power are what sustain them.
But that wasn't the case. After returning to Singapore, about half a month later, he called Xiong Dapao to Singapore, and three months later, he passed away.
His company's equity was donated to charity, and the position of CEO was given to Xiong Dapao, a former Chinese soldier known for his integrity and principles, who had passed several tests.
Due to the international scrap company's involvement in multiple countries and equity issues, diplomatic frictions between China and Southeast Asia occurred. For a long time, the equity issues of the international scrap company were frequently reported in newspapers of both countries.
On the day Gu Xiao passed away, Xiong Dapao made the headlines.
The soldier who had once brushed past Chen Meilan, with his Shaanxi accent and broad smile, dressed in a suit, appeared on the front page of both countries' economic journals. His skin was still so fair, his lips so red, his smile so bright and triumphant.
A Hong Kong newspaper's headline was particularly vulgar: "Fair-skinned, rosy-lipped young man favored by a financial tycoon, rises to the top overnight, appointed head of the international scrap company."
In reality, there was no such overnight success.
Xiong Dapao's years of hard work, drinking sessions, market runs, and time spent with foreign technical experts at the Sanbao Paint Factory were unseen by others.
Now, the Shaanxi man, with his Shaanxi accent, was going to teach Southeast Asians a lesson.
Gu Xiao had donated to Lotus Temple and was a lay Buddhist in Southeast Asia, holding a layman's certificate.
Thus, his ashes were brought back by Xiong Dapao and placed in Lotus Temple.
Even Yan Peiheng's anger couldn't stop this.
In the mausoleum of Lotus Temple, where lay Buddhists' ashes are kept, Gu Xiao's ashes were placed opposite Su Wen's.
The old man had worked hard all his life. Chen Meilan speculated that in his previous life, he was probably killed by his shareholders.
He never returned home.
But in this life, although his end was bleak, it was ultimately fulfilling.
Yan Zhao couldn't return, so he hoped Chen Meilan would come to him.
He called three times in one night, urging her to return.
When the children came back, Chen Meilan told Little Wang and Little Lang that they must visit their mother this time. After all, she was their biological mother. She had supported their education, and provided evidence that led to the imprisonment of Feng Ha, Wang Qi, and Lu Dabao. The two boys had to visit her.
"Let Little Lang go. I'll stay with Yan Shengnan; she still has to perform in a show," Little Wang immediately said.
When it came to Zhou Xueqin, he didn't even want to mention love. Just thinking about her made Little Wang shudder and feel uncomfortable.
Even if she wanted to see him, Little Wang didn't want to see her.
Little Lang agreed, "Alright." But he smacked his lips and said, "I want to eat the mutton soup and stuffed bread from Uncle Yan's place at the village entrance. I miss it so much."
He was going home just because he missed the local flavors.
Yuanyuan had been a standout at Dongfang School, a little star. But in the capital, things were different.
The capital was full of talented people, and most children who performed in events had strong backing and exceptional abilities. Yuanyuan had to start over.
Chen Meilan had no connections in the arts, and Yan Peiheng didn't know how to make introductions to leaders of the art troupes. So, whether singing, dancing, or acting, Yuanyuan had to start from scratch.
This time, it was an eight-girl chorus. If they didn't perform diligently, they might not even get camera time.
As soon as Yuanyuan got home, she went straight to her room, practicing from stage walking to singing and facial expression management.
Of course, she was only responsible for singing, and she thought that as long as she sang well, everything would be fine.
But Little Wang still had to run an errand tonight.
There was a cameraman who had become quite close to Little Wang, almost like sworn brothers. The cameraman was recently learning to use a computer and practicing Wubi typing. Little Wang, knowing this, decided to give him a copy of "Wubi Typing for Beginners."
A small gift carries great intentions. Perhaps that book could get Yuanyuan a few more shots in the evening performance.
This is about relationships. While others work on directors, Little Wang can't reach the director, so he turns to the cameraman. Although the cameraman doesn't have as big a name as the director, he operates the camera, which is more direct, isn't it?
If Yan Xishan knew how clever Little Wang was, he'd definitely give him a thumbs up.
He's almost like a biological son, perfectly inheriting his knack for building relationships and getting through back doors.
Little Wang called the cameraman to arrange a meeting at 9:30 PM. With a bit of time left, he came to help Chen Meilan pack her luggage.
Although he hasn't grown much taller in the past half year, he has become more robust. Since Little Lang turned into a black wolf, there's been a comparison, and with his fair skin and handsome features, Little Wang has become the family's visual representative.
Seeing him bend over to fold clothes, he really looks like a slender pole.
Chen Meilan suddenly remembered something and asked Little Wang, "Yan Wangqi, mom wants to ask you something about adults, and you have to be honest with me, okay?"
"Go ahead, what is it?" Little Wang replied, his long fingers quickly and skillfully folding the clothes.
Chen Meilan asked, "When you decide to fall in love in the future, what do you look for first, physique, looks, or education?"
Little Wang looked alert and stopped folding. "Mom, what's wrong? Did the teacher say something to you again?"
The teachers in the capital shouldn't know about his relationship with Yuanyuan. Who's spreading rumors?
Besides, Little Wang didn't think he had done anything wrong in his behavior.
Chen Meilan quickly said, "No, you're grown up now, and if you want to fall in love, mom won't stop you. I'm just curious, what type do you like? Zhou Huimin, Lin Qingxia, or the popular Zhu Yin?"
"I don't like any of them," Little Wang immediately said.
"What if the girl is darker and a bit chubbier, would you like her?" Chen Meilan asked again.
It turned out that mom wasn't lecturing him because of some nonsense. Talking about this, Little Wang had something to say: "Darkness doesn't matter. When I first met Yuanyuan, she was red and dark, like a green bug, but I thought she was prettier then."
When Yuanyuan stayed in Chen Family Village, she often played outside. When she first met Little Wang, she was indeed red and dark.
"What if she's a bit chubbier?" Chen Meilan asked again.
"That's fine. Both you and Yuanyuan are too thin. Look at Meimei next door, Uncle Wang's daughter, she's round and chubby, just like Little Lang when he was young, so cute," Little Wang said with a smile.
Mother and son chatted quite happily, and Chen Meilan was quite pleased.
In fact, she had long noticed that Little Wang wasn't a superficial person. Next door, in the house of the old commander Wang, there was a chubby girl, not very pretty, but Little Wang often bought her sausages, candy, and rice crackers.
Since he started earning money to spend on Little Lang, he naturally enjoyed taking care of children and buying things to feed them, even happier than eating himself.
Thinking about this, Chen Meilan suddenly felt everything was going smoothly.
Little Wang wasn't superficial, so as long as she found the little girl he liked in his previous life.
If the girl's family was poor, she could find a way to take care of them.
Perhaps they could rekindle their past relationship.
Little Wang was still folding clothes. He was particularly good at packing luggage. He rolled easily wrinkled shirts and pants into small cylindrical shapes after pressing the seams. Clothes that looked like they would wrinkle more when rolled actually unfolded smoother without creases.
Chen Meilan looked at Little Wang's long hands and suddenly felt a pang in her heart.
She suddenly remembered something. In her previous life, Yan Xishan had liver cancer and stayed in Jindong District Hospital.
And Little Lang had always stayed in the district hospital.
She still remembered the only time she visited Yan Xishan, she had flipped through the clothes in the cabinet, which were also rolled up neatly.
Children's household skills are taught by adults, but Chen Meilan didn't know how to fold clothes like that.
She remembered praising Yuanyuan at the time, saying she was better at housework than herself. Yuanyuan just smiled and didn't say anything.
But she was sure Yuanyuan wouldn't fold clothes like that in two lifetimes.
So, those clothes, were they folded by Little Wang?
And the little dark girl, the chubby one, could it be Yuanyuan?
