Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

”No... no.” Jiang Wanwan hadn’t finished speaking when she let out a painful scream. Immediately, the sound from the TV was turned up, quickly drowning out her cries.

”I’m telling you, after eating so much of my food, you have to behave. Otherwise, you should pay up!”

”I have no money...”

”Then don’t eat anymore if you’re broke. Your poor parents can’t earn money, and your grandparents are like medicine pots—money for medicine but not for food. If I hadn’t been giving your family stuff all day long, who knows how many times your grandparents would have starved to death.” The store owner said gruffly, threatening.

”Wuwuwu...” Jiang Wanwan cried stifled, with tears streaming through her fingers.

Ning Chenguang felt distressed listening to this. He gritted his teeth, raised his hand, and knocked on the door, shouting loudly, ”Grandpa Shi, I want to buy chocolate.”

Hearing Ning Chenguang knocking again, the store owner muttered some threats to Jiang Wanwan, telling her to keep quiet.

The door opened, and the store owner still had that kind, gentle look, smiling as he said, ”So you’ve come back with the money so quickly?”

Ning Chenguang shook his head, ”No, Grandpa Shi, didn’t you say you would give it to me? I’ll just take it and eat it first, and talk about it when Yueyue brings the money.”

”No need, no need, just take it.” The store owner was concerned about Jiang Wanwan inside the house, worried she might run out carelessly. At this moment, he just wanted to send Ning Chenguang away.

”Well... okay.” Ning Chenguang thought for a moment with his little head and said, ”Then I’ll take it back first. But I guess He Mu and Yueyue are already on their way here, and I bet my uncle will also come to buy wine! Grandpa Shi, don’t leave, I’ll be back in five minutes.”

He was trying to get Jiang Wanwan a chance to leave.

If he hadn’t said that, Jiang Wanwan probably wouldn’t be able to leave. This seemingly benevolent grandpa at the store was no good; he was a big bad wolf bullying kids.

He would hurt kids, make them cry...

Mom said anyone who makes kids feel uncomfortable is not a good person.

”Alright, go on quickly.” The store owner said.

”Goodbye.” Ning Chenguang turned and left.

The store owner walked out of his small store. It was night, the sky was heavy, with a few stars occasionally starting to twinkle.

The smoke from every household’s kitchen had already extinguished; it was time for families to have their meals.

The store owner glanced around, seeing Ning Chenguang’s little figure disappear at the end of the road, only then did he breathe a sigh of relief and dragged Jiang Wanwan out of the room.

”Go home!”

Jiang Wanwan wiped her tears and ran home without looking back, covering her face.

The store owner couldn’t keep her any longer. Once dinner started, many people would come to the little store to buy things, and when there were too many people, it would be inconvenient for him to act.

Jiang Wanwan silently shed tears in the dark, not even daring to make a sound.

She was terribly scared, quickly running away. The path was dark at night, and a stone on the ground tripped her with a loud smack, sending a sharp pain through her knees.

Jiang Wanwan could no longer hold it in and burst into tears, lying on the ground.

It hurts so much, it really hurts so much...

”Don’t cry, I’ll help you up!” In the darkness, a pair of small feet stopped in front of her. Through the blur of her tears, Jiang Wanwan saw a little boy standing before her.

He reached out his hand to her, waiting quietly.