My Happy Daily Life After Being Reborn
Chapter 188 - 18 Pride_2

Chapter 188: Chapter 18 Pride_2

"Then let’s pay for one year’s fees first," Lin Xiaoguai said, taking out money she had prepared earlier from her bag, handing over three hundred yuan to Wen Yu, and then asked, "When can I bring my child over?"

"Anytime," Wen Yu paused, "There isn’t a fixed time for commutes, you can bring your child whenever and it’s fine if you want to pick them up early, the rules are very relaxed. I have a phone here, if parents find it inconvenient to pick up or drop off, they can give me a call. It’s no issue for the child to stay with me, but I will have to charge separately for meals, three yuan per meal."

Lin Xiaoguai was very satisfied with this arrangement, as she had been worrying about not having enough time to spend with her son in the future. If she could pick up Little Niangao anytime, it would make things easier, and she could take him out to play when she wasn’t in class.

"Is there anything else we should be aware of, should we prepare anything?" Lin Xiaoguai asked.

"It’s best to leave a set of the child’s clothes here, in case they have an accident during nap time," Wen Yu instructed.

On the way home, Little Niangao looked unhappy, "Mommy, must I really go there?" From the adults’ conversation, he knew he would now have to attend kindergarten every day.

"Does Little Niangao not like the auntie we met today?" Lin Xiaoguai asked gently.

Shen Chi and Han Shouzhen also looked over.

"I like her, but I like Brother Junzi and Taotao more. Can’t I stay with them?" Little Niangao pursed his lips; he liked how warm the auntie’s gaze felt, but he didn’t want to be separated from his friends.

The Brother Junzi and Taotao Little Niangao mentioned were new friends he made at the Military District, along with several other children.

Indeed, the Military District also provided a sort of nursery where preschool children without caretakers could stay without any fees; several military wives from rural areas worked as teachers there, earning a salary of fifteen yuan a month—a way senior authorities looked after rural military wives.

Logically, it would have been a good place for Little Niangao, but after visiting a few times, Lin Xiaoguai decided against sending her son there.

It wasn’t because she looked down on the teachers’ lack of education, but rather because there were too many children there, the meals were poor, and nearly every moment children were fighting and arguing. The teachers couldn’t manage them all; they only intervened when things got out of hand. The atmosphere was chaotic, and she didn’t want Little Niangao to suffer.

Therefore, she coaxed her son, "There will also be new friends at the kindergarten. Doesn’t Little Niangao want to make new friends?"

She knew her son well; Little Niangao was curious about everything unknown, but fortunately, he also knew how to weigh pros and cons, and if he were blindly curious without considering consequences, she wouldn’t know how much worry it would bring her.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Little Niangao appeared hesitant, "Then I won’t be able to play with Brother Junzi and the others anymore?"

"Who said that? Mommy is off on Saturdays and Sundays, you can stay at home instead of going to kindergarten, and then you can play with them," Lin Xiaoguai said with a smile.

"Okay, then I’ll go to kindergarten," Little Niangao seemed to feel that he wasn’t really at a loss and smiled.

Once home, Lin Xiaoguai invited Han Shouzhen and Xu Ji to stay for dinner.

"Ping’an, how about Auntie makes you some red bean porridge?" Lin Xiaoguai said while stoking the stove, knowing that small red bean porridge was particularly suitable for those with heart conditions.

She was calculating that it was time to administer another Heart Nourishing Pill to Xu Ji since the effect of the last one was about to wear off.

"Thank you, Auntie," Xu Ji said with a slight smile.

He really enjoyed the meals his aunt prepared. She seemed to always capture the pure essence of the ingredients, neither too rich nor too bland, yet naturally delicious. His mother wasn’t talented in cooking; at home, the meals were prepared by his stepfather, whose skill was decent but sometimes mismatched his tastes. He hesitated to mention it, though, as his mother always prioritized him above all else and he felt a bit guilty toward his stepfather who treated him as his own.

The lunch was simple apart from the small pot of red bean porridge that took some effort to simmer over a gentle flame—the other dishes were straightforward: chilled cucumbers, blanched shrimp, steamed bass, braised pork, bok choy with mushrooms, and stewed bean sprouts with noodles.

"Ping’an, the braised pork is made for your little uncle; you can’t have any," Lin Xiaoguai specifically reminded before the meal.

Little Niangao immediately showed his displeasure and sulked, "That’s not true, the braised pork is also Little Niangao’s." This child, like his father, was a carnivore.

"Alright, alright, it’s also for our Little Niangao," Lin Xiaoguai said helplessly.

As it happened, during the meal, everyone was somewhat amazed watching Han Shouzhen eating one piece of pork after another.

Xu Ji blushed as he explained, "Actually, Mom, big uncle, cousin Nuonuo, and grandfather all like meat."

What he didn’t mention was that he also liked meat, but given his health, fatty foods weren’t suitable for him, and he hadn’t had a chance to truly enjoy them growing up.

Lin Xiaoguai fell silent—apparently, this love for meat was a family trait.

Shen Chi, however, was somewhat displeased, finding it unnecessary to connect eating meat with him...

After the meal, Xu Ji played with Little Niangao while the three adults worked and chatted.

"Sister, how far has Ping’an progressed in his school curriculum?" Lin Xiaoguai asked as she was drying the dishes Shen Chi had washed and put away.

"He has already finished the elementary school curriculum." Normally, this should make a parent proud and happy, but given her son’s health, Han Shouzhen only felt heartache.

As she wiped the gas stove, she said, "Originally, Ping’an had started attending school, but on the second day, he was hospitalized after becoming ill during a physical education class, as he insisted on participating in the race despite the teacher’s advice."

"That child appears modest, but he’s just as proud as his father and dislikes being inferior the most."

Han Shouzhen gave a wry smile. (To be continued. If you like this story, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)