"Auntie~" As soon as they got out of the car, the mother and her two children saw a woman on the roadside, dressed like a ball, and Luo Qianqian rushed over to her.
"Qianqian has grown so much." An Zihua patted Luo Qianqian’s head: "Sister, really, why buy so many things? It’s good that I thought to co and pick you up."
"Zihua, co help load the car. Aren’t you afraid that big sister and the others will freeze in such cold weather?" Li Sheng said with a smile as he hurried them along, with two thick cotton-padded coats still sitting on the tricycle.
"Uncle, hello, thank you for your hard work~" Luo Qianqian was indeed an outgoing child. Shufan, though not as gloomy and depressed as in his previous life, was still an introverted child and quietly went about his tasks after asking how things were.
"Qianqian has really grown a lot," Li Sheng said, smiling as he touched Luo Qianqian’s hat-covered head: "Your little sister is waiting for you at ho."
Thinking of the little atball who would smile sweetly and call her ’big sister,’ Luo Qianqian’s mood greatly lifted.
"There’s too much stuff; I’ll take Qianqian first, and co back for you later," Li Sheng said with a bitter smile as he looked at the fully loaded tricycle.
"No need, it’s not far. We’ll just walk back; don’t bother anymore. Just take Qianqian back," An Zilan waved her hand, her feet clad in the new boots her daughter had bought—how could she not walk a few more steps in them?
"Then the eldest nephew can co up too. I’ll take you two back and let these two sisters stroll a bit," Li Sheng called out to Shufan.
Shufan, seeing his sister sitting carelessly on the side, also worried she might fall out, nodded his head and hugged his sister tightly on the cramped seat.
"Your two kids really get along well," An Zihua remarked enviously as she watched Shufan quietly take care of his sister.
"You’re telling ! My Qianqian even predicted she’d have another sister. You should try harder," An Zilan said as she watched the car drive away, covering her mouth with a light laugh.
"Really?" An Zihua exclaid in surprise, covering her mouth. Back when no one knew she was pregnant, it was during the National Day holiday vacation when Qianqian and Shufan ca back. Qianqian seriously touched her belly and said that there was a little sister inside. She took it as a child’s joke, but one month later, she went to the hospital due to morning sickness and found out she had been pregnant for three months. This story had been a running joke in the An family for a year.
"Really, Qianqian said once your eldest starts primary school, the younger one will co out," An Zilan chuckled behind her hand.
"If it turns out she’s right again, I might just have to bring Qianqian ho to worship," An Zihua remarked, not really taking it too seriously—who could know sothing so uncertain?
"Qianqian!" Zhang Aihua had just seen an additional figure in her son-in-law’s car from afar and hurriedly ca out to greet them. When she got closer, she realized it was her grandson holding his granddaughter.
"Grandma~~~" Luo Qianqian saw the car slowing down and made a motion to jump down. Shufan quickly held on tight, and Li Sheng also got a shock.
"What if you fall? We’re not short of these few steps," Li Sheng scolded with a stern face.
Luo Qianqian stuck out her tongue and said nothing, but upon seeing the little atball behind Zhang Aihua, who was leaning against the wall, she grew even happier: "Brother, look! It’s my sister. That’s my sister!"
"Yes, I know. Just sit tight first," Shufan said, holding down his sister’s kicking legs.
When the car stopped, Luo Qianqian quickly jumped off: "Grandma, Qianqian missed you so much~" She gave a quick hug and then dashed off. Zhang Aihua was a bit stunned—why was her granddaughter so perfunctory? Then she watched Luo Qianqian cheerfully run up to Li nglin and smile warmly at the little atball:
"Call sister."
"Jiejie," Li nglin said, looking at the girl in front of her with a smile and not shy at all, reaching out for a hug.
Luo Qianqian didn’t hesitate to pick her up, startling Zhang Aihua—despite her granddaughter’s small size, she was not light.
"Doesn’t it look like a kitten carrying a big rat?" An Aiguo watched his two granddaughters, laughing happily.
"Hello, Grandpa~" Luo Qianqian grinned, showing her teeth.
"It’s strange, Linlin is usually shy, and even if dad wants to hold her, he has to coax her for a long ti, but here she is, smiling and calling ’sister.’ Why is the bonding so good?" Li Sheng, carrying items into the house, couldn’t help but ntion it as he observed his daughter happily playing with her cousin.
"Of course, this is my sister," Luo Qianqian said, feeling the warmth of her little sister in her arms, smiling broadly.
"Say ’brother.’" Shufan joked emotionlessly with his sister, embracing an even smaller sister in her arms.
Luo Qianqian stared as the little atball turned her head to the other side, ignoring Shufan. Shufan looked at his sister with a face that seed like a puppy that had been abandoned: "Why won’t she call ?"
"Probably because she likes more," Luo Qianqian declared confidently, nodding emphatically.
"..." Luo Shufan stopped looking at his sister and went to help move things from the car into the house.
"This must be Linlin, co call Big Auntie~" An Zilan, admiring the tiny bundle of joy in her niece’s arms, moved closer to play with her.
As usual, the little bundle twisted her head to one side.
"Pfft~" Luo Qianqian, watching her sister, couldn’t help but laugh joyfully and said, "Say sister."
"Jiejie," the little bundle chuckled.
"Give a kiss," Luo Qianqian moved her face close to the little bundle.
’Smack’—a wet kiss landed on Luo Qianqian’s face.
Luo Qianqian looked at Luo’s Mom and smiled triumphantly.
An Zihua, watching her daughter, who might as well have been wagging a tail, asked Li Sheng in surprise, "Is this really my child?"
"What do you think?" Li Sheng was sowhat jealous. He had to wash up and coax his daughter for a long ti just to get a kiss, but his niece does it just like that. The favoritism was too obvious.
"She has the potential to be a bootlicker," An Zihua judged her own precious girl.
"Lanlan, why did you buy so much stuff?" An Aiguo frowned as he watched the endless stream of items being moved into the house, "If you have extra money, spend it on so food for the children. We don’t lack anything."
"It’s not all my purchase; half of these were gifts the kids brought back from a contest," Luo’s Mom protested innocently. She too found it tough to carry them, but her daughter earnestly told her; trees want calm, but the wind keeps blowing, and children want to support their parents, but sotis parents aren’t there.
"Contest?" An Zihua’s eyes widened, "What contest? Is Qianqian in school?"
"Auntie, I’m already in the fourth grade," Luo Qianqian, settling her sister on a nearby stool. The little bundle, reluctant, stretched out her hands wanting to be held, pouting almost to the point of tears.
"No crying, sister will find a gift for you." The little bundle then stifled her cries and sat obediently.
"Fourth grade?" An Zihua counted on her fingers and asked, "Sister, did I miscalculate? Qianqian turned seven after the new year, right?"
"That’s right, it’s called skipping grades," Luo Shufan said nodding seriously.
"Then aren’t Qianqian and Shufan only a grade apart?" Li Sheng marveled secretly.
"Shufan is in junior high this year," An Zilan said, raising an eyebrow with pride.
"Sister, what exactly are your kids eating?" An Zihua could hardly sit still anymore, her nephew and niece were too incredible.
"Rice." An Zilan covered her mouth, "What if I told you Qianqian won a Silver Award at the national competition? Are you going to put her on a pedestal again?"
"Silver Award?" An Aiguo, along with An Zihua and Li Sheng, exclaid in unison.
"Yes, I even brought back the dal. Qianqian said she wants to give it to her sister for good luck," An Zilan opened her handbag and took out the dal that had been polished countless tis.
"Give it here," An Aiguo looked at his little daughter, who had no clue and was happily looking at the dal, completely oblivious to her father waiting.
"It’s going to be Linlin’s anyway, so feel free to look at it," Li Sheng hurriedly handed the dal to his father-in-law, comforting his wife.
"Look, do you like the gifts sister bought for you?~" Luo Qianqian took out the presents she had brought back from Capital City, from undergarnts to outerwear to shoes, buying a full set.
An Zihua, looking at the clothes in her niece’s hands, said, "Such a waste of money, buy bigger sizes so they can wear them next year too, kids grow so fast."
"Auntie, that’s why the clothes my mom bought last year are still too big for now, when can I wear clothes that actually fit and are new?" Luo Qianqian laughed happily seeing the dimples on her sister’s face. "If Linlin outgrows them, we can keep them for a future little sister."
"Well, it’s all opened now, look at all this stuff Qianqian bought; a fleece for Mom, wool kneepads and waistbands for Dad, a coat for Zihua, and a jacket for Li Sheng, which Qianqian says this style is called ’couple outfits,’ and there are even things for Laoer’s family." An Zilan, holding the items, was proud; seeing how sensible her daughter was.
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