"Baby, come here, come to Mama."
"Come to Daddy."
"Come to Grandma, Grandma has something delicious for you."
"A-loo-loo."
"Dad, are you calling chickens?" Liu Nanfeng said speechlessly.
The crowd burst into laughter.
Su Huamei, standing beside them, quietly shook the small rattle in her hand.
At this moment, the family was gathered under a large tree. Little Jin Hua, wearing a small bib, sat on a picnic mat in the center, with everyone around her like stars cradling the moon.
Indeed, Su Huamei was the most cunning. Little Jin Hua, upon hearing the rattle, immediately crawled towards her.
The chubby little one crawled surprisingly fast, though her posture was amusing and brought an involuntary smile to everyone's lips.
The little meatball crawled to Su Huamei, tilting her small head, raising her chubby little arms, and looking at Su Huamei with anticipation.
"Ma~ma~"
"Wow, haha..." Su Huamei burst into hearty laughter.
Then she quickly stuffed the small rattle into the little meatball's hand.
"Wrong, wrong, this is Auntie, Mama is here."
Su Jinxiu was anxious. How could this happen? The baby called out "Mama" and it was Su Huamei she called. This made her feel quite jealous.
Little Jin Hua seemed to dismiss her words. She simply flipped over, using all four limbs to wave the rattle in her hands. The rattling sound excited her, and she moved her hands and feet more rapidly, then quickly shoved the rattle into her mouth.
Because a child's visual nerves are not yet developed, their perception of the outside world is largely through hearing and touch, making them very sensitive to sounds. This is why Su Huamei's gentle shake of the rattle immediately attracted her.
And shoving things into their mouths is how they learn to recognize them. If it's not edible, many adults, deeming it unhygienic, often try to stop children from doing this. When children persist, they are called dirty children, which is incorrect.
Just as you use your eyes to see the world, children perceive things through touch and taste. There is no right or wrong. As long as cleanliness and hygiene are maintained, and there is no risk of choking, it is best not to stop them.
Su Jinxiu was still not giving up, constantly saying "Auntie, you should call Auntie" from the side.
Little Jin Hua finally heard her and immediately gave her a silly smile, opening her arms for a hug.
"Yi~yi~"
Su Jinxiu: ...
"Haha." Everyone laughed heartily, especially Su Huamei.
"You little stinky doggy."
Su Jinxiu, both amused and exasperated, gently patted her little bottom.
The little meatball was unaware she was being scolded, continuing to smile at Su Jinxiu. Su Jinxiu felt her heart melt and reached out to pick her up.
"Yi~yi~"
"It's Mama."
"Ma~ma~"
"Here."
This made Su Jinxiu beam with joy, and she triumphantly raised her eyebrows at Su Huamei.
Su Huamei immediately turned her head away, acting like a childish brat who refused to acknowledge her.
One wondered who had been so smug moments ago, deliberately trying to provoke Su Jinxiu.
"Come, let Grandma hold you."
Yu Huilan, standing nearby, couldn't resist the little meatball's adorable appearance and took her from Su Jinxiu's arms.
Then, as usual, she straightened the clothes that had been pushed up, and noticed the runes around her navel, which reminded her of something.
"Right, Nanfeng, I almost forgot to ask you, what are these around Jin Hua's navel? Are they birthmarks? Is it serious?"
"They're like birthmarks, it's fine."
Liu Nanfeng said, gently patting his daughter's bulging little belly. Little Jin Hua discontentedly kicked him with her little feet, which made everyone laugh again.
However, since the matter had been brought up, Liu Nanfeng’s gaze shifted to Su Huamei.
Su Huamei's face first lit up with joy, but then her expression became a little hesitant, which puzzled Liu Nanfeng. However, with Liu Zonghe and Yu Huilan present, he couldn't ask about it directly.
"Goo... Good..."
Just then, a gurgling sound was heard. Everyone turned their heads and saw Gu Gu holding a small blue puppy plush toy, a smiling expression on her face, standing in the flower bed.
"Gu Gu, hurry over here."
Liu Nanfeng was also delighted to see her. He had originally planned to pick her up tomorrow, but since she was here now, it was perfect to clarify things with her in advance.
Gu Gu heard him and immediately ran over with her short little legs.
Yu Huilan and her husband knew something about Gu Gu's situation and felt immense pity for the little one. Seeing her approach, Liu Zonghe opened the snack bag beside him, indicating she could eat as much as she wanted.
In fact, Gu Gu's complexion had improved greatly since she returned home. Whether it was due to their love for her or a sense of guilt, Gu Gu got whatever she wanted, and even what she didn't want, as long as they thought she liked it, they bought it for her.
She was doted on so much that even their own grandson, Duan Zihan, felt jealous. The last time he tried to bully her, relying on his taller stature, he was beaten up by Gu Gu before he behaved himself.
"Na~"
Gu Gu ran to Little Jin Hua and held up the blue puppy in her hand.
Little Jin Hua, upon seeing Gu Gu, also appeared extremely excited, wriggling in Yu Huilan's arms like a twisted ribbon. Yu Huilan couldn't hold her and had to put her back on the mat.
"Gu~ Gu~"
Little Jin Hua, sitting on the mat, immediately opened her arms towards Gu Gu.
Everyone exchanged glances, then burst into laughter.
Whether she called her father or mother, the little one's pronunciation was a bit unclear, but the word "Gu Gu" was spoken with perfect clarity.
However, after Gu Gu handed the blue puppy to Little Jin Hua, she grabbed it and was about to put it in her mouth.
"This one won't do. It's covered in fluff. If sister eats it, her tummy will hurt." Su Jinxiu quickly stopped her from the side.
Gu Gu looked a little disappointed at this.
"You can give it to Little Carp. I think Little Carp will be very happy," Liu Nanfeng said to comfort her.
Upon hearing this, Gu Gu's eyes lit up with excitement, and she began looking around for Little Carp.
"Little Carp went home, she's not here," Liu Nanfeng said.
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Gu's body began to fade as if losing color, disappearing from everyone's sight.
Little Jin Hua, who had been reaching out to grab her, missed when she suddenly disappeared. With a "duang," she fell headfirst onto the mat and then burst into tears.
Su Jinxiu and Liu Nanfeng didn't think much of it, but Yu Huilan was heartbroken. She quickly picked her up.
"Oh, my little darling, let Grandma see," she exclaimed.
"Mom, it's okay. The mat is soft, and she's so short and sturdy. Where could she have hit herself?"
"What do you know? A child's head is precious. What if she ends up becoming a笨蛋 like you?"
"Hey, Mom, if you say that, did you bump my head when I was little?" Liu Nanfeng asked.
"It's genetic," Yu Huilan said without hesitation.
"Then am I inheriting it from you, or from Dad?" Liu Nanfeng asked with a mischievous smile.
Yu Huilan paused, then realized what he meant.
"You little brat, how dare you set a trap for your mother?" Yu Huilan playfully "punched" Liu Nanfeng.
Everyone chuckled.
At this moment, Gu Gu and Little Carp, hand in hand, suddenly reappeared before everyone.
"Gu~ Gu~"
Seeing Gu Gu, Little Jin Hua immediately extended her little arms again, completely forgetting what had just happened.
Not far away, Yang Ruoyun and Hu Mengyao were whispering, discussing something.