Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Mother He’s Hobby

”Mom.” Before reaching the stairs, Luo Qianqian saw Luo’s Mom carrying a stack of books on her way home. Luo Qianqian skipped toward her and hugged Luo’s Mom.

”Why is your little face so dirty? Did you go coal mining? And what’s that sticky stuff around your mouth? Did you trick your brother into buying you a popsicle? Considering your good behavior today, I won’t scold you.” Seeing Luo Qianqian’s face slowly scrunch up, Luo’s Mom ultimately couldn’t bring herself to say any more, instead playfully flicking Luo Qianqian on the forehead.

”You must be Qianqian’s mother, right? I am this child’s father.” He Jun, with He Wenyu and a somewhat reluctant Luo Shufan, greeted her and pushed He Wenyu forward.

”Auntie hello, you must be Qianqian’s mother, and you’re so pretty, not like Qianqian who’s so dark... Hahaha.” He Wenyu got halfway through his greeting before a mortified Luo Qianqian forced him to stop with a pinch.

”Mom, this is Xiao Yu, He Wenyu, Qianqian’s good friend, and this is Xiao Yu’s dad, a Taekwondo instructor. He’s also the coach for my brother, me, and Xiao Yu during the holidays.” Luo Qianqian, understanding the situation as she eyed Luo Shufan stealthily hiding behind He Jun, continued, ”This is my brother, who was hit by a soccer ball and is now too scared to meet with parents.” After introducing everyone, she decisively betrayed her brother, who was standing behind her holding a bag of medicine. Seeing her brother’s resentful eyes filled Luo Qianqian’s heart with immense satisfaction,

”Hit by a soccer ball?” Luo’s Mom, looking anxious, pulled Luo Shufan over and gave him a thorough check from head to toe before finally sighing with relief.

”Hello, I am Luo Qianqian and Luo Shufan’s mother, An Zilan. Thank you for taking care of my kids and for bringing them home.” Luo’s Mom transferred the books and papers she was carrying to Luo Shufan’s arms to free her hands for a handshake with He Jun.

”Hello, hello, I am He Wenyu’s father, He Jun. Take care? I didn’t do much. It’s actually my kid who might trouble you in the future.” He Jun smiled with an honest and straightforward expression.

”In the future? Trouble?” Luo’s Mom let go of the handshake, turned back, and looked at her two children, with her son holding the books and looking down at his toes while her daughter played happily with two little girls nearby.

”Mom, here’s the deal. Uncle He teaches us Taekwondo for self-defense and doesn’t charge us a penny. Xiao Yu and I just have to practice together. But I felt like we were taking advantage too much. So, I suggested my brother tutor Xiao Yu and me, so we could study together. We’d be pursuing both fitness and studies; plus, I’d get a good friend in Xiao Yu. Isn’t that a great idea?” Luo Qianqian widened her eyes and blinked innocently, pretending to be naive and clueless while swinging Luo’s Mom’s hands from side to side.

”Taking advantage is not good, especially with friends.” But when did her own daughter start studying? Now, she was almost as good as her own son, wasn’t she?

”You just got back and haven’t made dinner, right? Come eat at my place. It’s a good opportunity to get familiar with each other’s houses and family members.” He Jun intervened, breaking the playful exchange between mother and daughter.

”That wouldn’t be appropriate, would it?” Luo’s Mom hesitated, looking at her daughter and He Wenyu holding hands and staring back at her.

”There’s nothing inappropriate about it. My wife injured her leg and is resting at home, and it’s been a long time since our house was lively. Why not wait until your husband comes back and then we can all go together?” He Jun looked at the papers on top of Luo Shufan’s head and felt more convinced by his decision. It was unbelievable that his precious daughter had picked up such an outstanding child off the street.

”Uncle, I don’t have a dad.” Seeing Luo’s Mom’s expression dim slightly upon hearing those words, she quickly continued, ”My dad has passed away. We only have our mom at home, no dad.” So please don’t say any more. My brother is still young and it might upset him.

”Ah, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Let’s not talk about it anymore, let’s go to my place instead. We’ll buy some ribs and pig’s feet, a couple of bottles of soda, and a watermelon. We can discuss the children’s matters in more detail.” He Jun’s expression turned awkward, and he quickly changed the subject, ”Young man, put your books and medicine at home. You can’t bring those when visiting, Uncle’s house.”

”Oh, no trouble at all.” Luo’s Mom saw He Jun’s resolved demeanor and consented, ”Otherwise, I’ll buy the groceries to avoid troubling you with the expense.”

”Oh no, no need for that. If I let you buy groceries, my wife will say I’ve lost my manhood. Imagine letting you carry groceries!” He Jun looked embarrassed, then had a thought and said, ”Besides, since all the kids are playing together, who knows how long your two can last? They’re all like scholars, thin as sticks.”

Luo Qianqian automatically ignored He Jun’s comment about being ”skin and bones,” being thin is an asset, okay? It saves on dieting. ”Mom, just let Uncle He pay, it’s gentlemanly for men to pick up the tab when going out shopping. If a woman pays, it makes people think the man is henpecked.”

”Bronchitis? My dad only had appendicitis, which was removed during the New Year. What’s bronchitis? Is it serious? Do we need to go to the hospital?” He Wenyu anxiously chimed in beside them; appendicitis had sent He’s father to the hospital for a week after all.

”Like you know so much.” Mrs. Luo, after hearing He Wenyu’s words, gave Luo Qianqian a stern chestnut on the forehead and glared at her fiercely.

Luo Qianqian instinctively shrank her neck, even though she’d never been hit, her mother’s dignity was still there. ”Xiao Yu, being henpecked isn’t an illness, don’t worry.”

Luo Shufan came downstairs and brought Luo Qianqian a damp handkerchief on his way. ”Quick, wipe your little black face. Eh? Why is your forehead red? Did you bump into something?” He took hold of a grinning Luo Qianqian and began wiping her face covered in grime and sweat.

”...” Mrs. Luo showed no desire to respond to her silly son, but looked at her daughter with worry. Had she really struck too hard?

The party of five shopped groggily and then ascended to the He’s apartment on the seventh floor. With her right leg in a cast, Mother He opened the door for them using crutches. ”He Dajun, where have you been taking Xiao Yu off to goof around again??? Eh? Ah haha, there are guests here, haha, please come in. Old He, I mean really, you could’ve let me know we had visitors ahead of time.” Her furious expression instantly softened.

He Wenyu stuck out her tongue at Luo Qianqian to express her embarrassment. ”Mom, this is my good friend Luo Qianqian, and this is Qianqian’s brother and Qianqian’s mother.”

Mother He, who had just made way for everyone to enter the house, suddenly blocked the doorway again. ”Xiao Yu’s good friend? Why haven’t I heard about her before? My my, such a cute little girl, though a bit dark. Come in quick! I’ve made so many little dresses for Xiao Yu before, but this child just doesn’t like wearing them. Hurry in and try them on to see if you like any.” Seeing Luo Qianqian, who was half a head shorter than He Wenyu, Mother He instantly took a liking to her, seeing her as the perfect dresser for clothes, demure and quiet.

”Hehe, don’t just stand there, come on in. It’s a small place, don’t mind it, okay? The kid’s mom works at a garment factory and always manages to get some fabric scraps to make a bunch of clothes for the kid, who just doesn’t like them. Most of the other kids Xiao Yu played with were even naughtier boys, but now that she’s seen another little girl, she just couldn’t help herself.” Seeing his wife relinquish her crutches to their daughter and pulling Luo Qianqian into the house with a wavering gait, He Jun felt a mixture of awkwardness and concern. However, he felt envious seeing Luo Qianqian circle around to Mother He’s injured side and steady her by pushing against Mother He’s hand with her head so she wouldn’t wobble too much. Why couldn’t his own child be so sensible? Especially since Luo Qianqian seemed even younger than Xiao Yu.

”Mom, how can you compete with me for Qianqian? Dad bought pork hocks and ribs, and he’s waiting for you to cook them.” He Wenyu watched anxiously as her good friend and her mother wobbled into the back room, afraid that Mother He, gripped by her creative urges, might forget to cook and today’s meal was a special treat. She hurriedly kicked off her shoes and followed them into the back room with the crutches.

Luo’s Mom and Luo Shufan leisurely took off their shoes and changed into the slippers prepared by He Jun.

He Jun glanced at his mother and daughter, who’d disappeared from view, and then at the unflustered Luo mother and son duo, and thought about Luo Qianqian’s thoughtfulness. It became clear to him; parents truly are a child’s first teachers.

If Luo Qianqian heard this, she would have scoffed at the idea. In her previous life, she was anything but thoughtful; even in college, her clothes were still washed by Luo’s Mom and Luo Shufan. She was self-centered, spoiled, and unreasonable, and only He Wenyu, who grew up with her, could put up with her. But in her previous life, she had met He Wenyu only in elementary school.

”You go ahead and try these on, Auntie will start cooking. Xiao Yu, take care of your little sister here, just like you change clothes for your dolls, it’s much more fun with a little sister who can talk and eat with you.” Luo Qianqian watched as He Wenyu pushed Mother He out of the room and He Wenyu’s eyes sparkled at her mother’s words. Then she faced the half-person-high pile of clothes and dresses, smiling bitterly.

”Mom, you go cook, I’ll take care of Qianqian. Hehe little sister, hehe doll.” He Wenyu, with a silly grin on her face, crouched in front of the pile of clothes sorting through them. ”This one, let’s try this one first. Mom made it based on a pattern; it’s a Snow White dress.”

Hey, hey, hey, how am I supposed to wear a Snow White dress looking this dark? It’ll only make me look darker, okay? Although she was doing a bit better now compared to last month, after all, she had been drinking soy milk every day. Luo Qianqian looked at her arm and thought as much.