Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: The Relationship Between Baozi and Skipping Classes

However, He’s father hadn’t yet left the house, he was just opening the door when he saw Luo Qianqian and Luo’s Mom coming upstairs, their hands filled with soy milk, doughnuts, steamed buns, and tofu brain; carrying a huge load.

”You kids, look who’s outside!” He’s father, seeing his dear niece with a sweet face, was even happier and opened the door wide, calling out to the two noisy kids upstairs who were getting dressed to come down.

”Qianqian, boo-hoo-hoo.” He Wenyu, being closer, ran out first and immediately pulled Luo Qianqian into a hug, tears flowing down: ”You’re not allowed to wander off again; I was so scared I’d never see you again. If you get lost again, take me with you, we’ll get lost together.” Luo Qianqian was frustrated, Xiao Yu, maybe check your dad’s unhappy face before continuing, okay?

”Qianqian, if you go out on your own again, I’ll lock you inside the house and never let you go out and play!” Luo Shufan looked at his sister’s beaming face, really felt like kicking her a couple of times, yet after thinking it over, he still laid down the harsh words, deciding that if his sister didn’t take what he said seriously and went out to play on her own, he’d have to be a stern brother. But thinking of the hardships his sister endured, his eyes welled up.

”Xiao Yu, don’t cry, look, I brought your favorite big meat bun, we’re going to eat a lot, okay?” Luo Qianqian handed the plastic bag to Xiao Yu, then threw herself into Luo Shufan’s arms: ”Brother, Qianqian missed you.”

”Hmph.” Luo Shufan hugged his sister’s tiny body tight, snorting through his nose without moving his lips, yet a suspicious blush crept onto his face.

Luo Qianqian giggled to herself, brother will always be brother, always swayed by softness rather than hardness.

Six people sat around the round table, eating the breakfast Luo’s Mom brought, radiating happiness.

”Qianqian, how did you think to write a note?” Mother He couldn’t help but ask, knowing that yesterday there were more than one or two people who had gone to He’s father’s office—there were five or six.

”Er, er, er...” Was she supposed to say it was so someone could follow the direction in which she threw her note to find her? That light and floating thing might not necessarily land anywhere. Was it so that if someone found it, they would call the police, and they would go to He’s father’s office to tell him she was in trouble? She was only five years old—how could she think so far... Luo Qianqian was momentarily speechless.

”It must have been from the fairy tales I’ve read to her,” Luo Shufan said, looking at his sister’s shy actions as she scooped the bun in her bowl, and couldn’t help but speak up to help.

”Oh yes, I’ve heard it too, it’s like that story with the breadcrumbs, right? With the old witch and the stepmother, the hunter, and the king, I remember it well,” He Wenyu said.

”Oh right, the fairy tale books I bought to keep these two kids from getting bored, which Shufan read to them when he was free, seem to be the right purchase,” Luo’s Mom suddenly recalled the dusty fairy tale books at home, cherished by Xiao Yu but scoffed at by her own children.

”As the saying goes, ’In books there are houses of gold, in books there are maidens as fair as jade’; ancient wisdom did not deceive me, reading really is beneficial.” Luo Qianqian saw the opportunity her brother and Xiao Yu had given her and swiftly took it, eager to divert attention from this subject.

”Speaking of yesterday, big sister...”

”Godmother, Qianqian was so tired yesterday, she doesn’t want to think about it again, boo-hoo, it was really scary.” As soon as Luo Qianqian heard Mother He addressing Luo’s Mom, she quickly interjected, as a daughter, she was very aware how crucial it was not to touch on that painful memory stored in her mom’s heart.

”Honey!” He Jun also felt this topic shouldn’t have been brought up by his wife and quickly stuffed a baozi into Mother He’s bowl, ”Eat more, so you can make something delicious for Qianqian at noon.”

”Right, Qianqian has also been discharged from the hospital, isn’t it time to go see Elder Zhang? It wouldn’t be nice to pretend we don’t know after finishing all the food.” Mother He, seeing her husband and the goddaughter trying to stop her from bringing up yesterday, also smoothly changed the topic to something more important: their daughter’s education.

”That old man hasn’t even come over, why the rush to seek death, not seeking death means not dying, I still need to promote ’Luo Shenyao’ and ’Fragrance Comes,’ Mom, please don’t agree to this kind of suggestion that blocks my big money-making plan.” In her heart, Luo Qianqian made a gesture of clasping her hands together in prayer, her eyes filled with a pleading look at Luo’s Mom.

However, it might have been too early and the deities were still asleep, as they didn’t hear Luo Qianqian’s prayers. Luo’s Mom looked at her son, who really should be focusing on his studies, nodded, and said, ”I’ll ask Officer Zhang on my way to work how to get to Old Zhang’s House and take Shufan and the rest to recognize the place. It’s also a good time to ask Officer Zhang how he’s handling Qianqian’s issue.”

”Okay, I’ll head to the market first this morning, buy some food the kids love, and then go to work, re-energize at noon. Honey, you heat some water at home; I’ll see if there are any pomelos for sale, use pomelo leaves in the water to drive away the bad luck from the kids, it was too late yesterday but we will make up for it today.” He Jun put down his chopsticks, looked at the three children with varying eating manners, and said with a face full of affection.

”Alright, I’ve just made a few sets of clothes, throwing away those worn during fights and being taken away. Wear the new clothes, Zilan, I made a skirt for you too, the size is approximate, try it on if you don’t mind?” Mother He put down her utensils, wiped her hands and mouth clean, and brought out a stack of clothes from the house, saying somewhat shyly.

”Eh? Mine too? Sister-in-law, how could I mind? I’ll try it on too then?” Luo’s Mom, flattered, took the clothes from Mother He’s hands—a pure white sleeveless long dress with a grass-green strap below the chest, which was jauntily tied into a bow. The bow was at the perfect spot at the back on the zipper, completely secured so no need to worry about it shifting out of place.

Luo’s Mom, thrilled, looked at the plain-colored long dress, washed her hands, and walked into the inner room with the dress. Moments later, she emerged from the house, her face radiant with surprise. The suitable slim fit highlighted Luo’s Mom’s advantages well, showing off her slender waist and upright chest, the simple hem also effectively covered her shortcomings, like wide hips: ”Sister-in-law, if you start a clothing store, it’s bound to be bustling with guests!”

”That’s right, and do you not see who her godmother is? Could Luo Qianqian’s godmother possibly be bad? I’m so cute, so naturally, my mom looks good in everything,” Luo Qianqian said, marveling at Luo’s mom, who in her previous life had suffered from early back and waist bending due to labor and illness and never enjoyed wearing new dresses due to financial issues.

”Are you praising yourself or others here? Why does it sound like godmother making pretty clothes and mom wearing beautiful clothes is all thanks to you?” Luo Shufan, seeing the adults beaming, could not help but tease his little sister a bit.

”Of course, brother, if you grow taller and reach one meter eighty, it will be because I didn’t fight with you for the meat.” Luo Qianqian, not willing to be outdone by her brother’s teasing, retorted spiritedly, knowing well how tall her brother could grow, but since she had the god-like buff of rebirth, why not let her family have a better life?

”Alright kids, finish up your meal, we have to head out soon.” Luo’s Mom returned to the inner room wearing a blush, carrying her usual clothes.

”Oh...” Luo Qianqian, already full, upon hearing Luo’s Mom’s words, nonetheless slowly picked up another baozi into her bowl and dawdled.

Although she was a reborn child, she still had a significant aversion to studying, especially learning English, which she absolutely did not want to do. Thinking of English reminded her of Li Lei and Han Meimei and a franchise store called ’Han Meimei Plum,’ which was quite tasty. Yet, that wouldn’t dispel her dislike of learning English and her unwillingness to go learn, despite knowing it was inevitable.

Just the same, not finishing the baozi wouldn’t stop Luo’s Mom from taking her, because baozi had absolutely nothing to do with skipping or attending classes, right?