Chen Li Shu ignored the woman and took out a Da Tuan Jie note from her pocket, handing it to the three children. "If we break it, we'll buy more. All three of you, go together and buy more."
The Wang brothers' eyes lit up when they heard her words. "Aunt Gu, how many bottles can we buy?"
"As many as you can get with the money."
The three children were so stunned their mouths fell open.
One yuan per bottle, ten yuan meant ten bottles!
Seeing Chen Li Shu's actions, the woman's face immediately turned ugly. Liu Da Fu wished he could find a crack in the ground to disappear into.
The three children quickly went to the service center. Canned goods were a luxury item, and only a few bottles were sold each month. The store had only five bottles left, all of which the three children bought.
"Rui Rui can't eat that much, so you two brothers can each have two bottles."
Upon hearing they would each get two bottles of canned goods, the brothers cheered. "Oh, great! Aunt Gu, you're the best."
"Aunt Gu, I wish you were my mom." Wang Yan Hui, carried away by excitement, blurted out his thoughts in front of his mother, earning him a scolding from Zhao Gui Ying.
"You look a little unwell, are you sick?" Gu Xing Dong asked as he entered the house, reaching out to feel Chen Li Shu's forehead. Finding she had no fever, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Mom said she was tired while we were in the car," Rui Rui said.
Seeing Chen Li Shu about to head to the kitchen, Gu Xing Dong stopped her. "Since you're tired, go back to your room and rest. I'll take care of dinner."
"Alright, I'll go lie down for a while." She felt weak and didn't want to move, so she didn't object and went straight to the bedroom.
"Dad, did I upset Mom by fighting today?" Rui Rui asked guiltily as he watched Chen Li Shu close the door.
"No, your mom knows you're a good kid and wouldn't fight without reason. Otherwise, would she buy you canned goods? She's probably just tired. Go back to your room and play. Dad will make dinner." Gu Xing Dong rolled up his sleeves and entered the kitchen.
His cooking skills were no match for Chen Li Shu's, and he didn't cook often, so he could barely manage to cook the food.
While he was stir-frying, there was a knock at the door. Gu Xing Dong quickly put down the spatula and went to open it.
Zhao Gui Ying saw him wearing an apron and knew he was cooking. Her gaze involuntarily drifted inside. Not seeing Chen Li Shu, she handed him a plate. "I fried some turnip balls. Here, have a taste."
Gu Xing Dong took it. "Thank you."
Since there was still a dish on the stove, Gu Xing Dong didn't talk to her much. After closing the door, he hurried back to stir-fry.
Zhao Gui Ying returned home and looked at Wang Jian She, who was sitting on a stool with his legs crossed, waiting for dinner. She found him increasingly irritating.
"Look at Deputy Regiment Commander Gu. His official position is higher than yours, but he doesn't put on airs like you. When he gets home, he either washes clothes or cooks. I've seen it several times. And you? You can't even watch the kids, you can't even help with meals. Am I the only one in this household?"
Wang Jian She immediately sat up straight. "Look at what you're saying. I'll watch the kids then."
Zhao Gui Ying got even more annoyed. "The kids are playing happily right there. What do you need to watch them for?"
Wang Jian She looked a bit wronged. "But I don't know how to cook either."
"Then learn. Go and do it now."
...
Gu Xing Dong finished cooking and went into the room to call Chen Li Shu.
"Xing Dong," Chen Li Shu called softly.
Gu Xing Dong sat by the bed. "Is something wrong?"
Chen Li Shu nodded and told him about the events of the past few days.
"If it's confirmed that Rui Rui is their lost child, they will definitely take Rui Rui away. I can't bear to let him go..." Chen Li Shu's voice trembled slightly.
Gu Xing Dong was stunned by this sudden news.
After all, he had raised Rui Rui for so long and had developed feelings for him. Moreover, Chen Li Shu had been with Rui Rui all the time, and they hadn't been separated for almost two years, so she would surely be more upset.
Gu Xing Dong thought for a moment, then took her hand, which was resting on his chest, and rubbed it in his palm. He said, "You should be happy for the child. After all, if he can find his biological parents, it's a good thing for Rui Rui."
"But I can't bear it."
"Children grow up and will eventually leave their parents. It's just a matter of time."
Chen Li Shu sat up anxiously. "But this is too soon."
"So if he leaves, he won't be our son anymore?"
Chen Li Shu fell silent. No matter when, she would always consider Rui Rui her own son.
"According to you, the two families aren't too far apart. We can visit him often. Rui Rui is a sensible and good child. If you act like this, he won't be at ease even if he leaves."
Chen Li Shu said stubbornly, "I can't be happy."
Gu Xing Dong smiled and pinched her cheek. "No one is forcing you. How about you use my shoulder? I'll allow you to cry in my arms. After you've cried, we'll talk to the child properly."
"Gu Xing Dong!" Chen Li Shu's eyes were watery, and she said with a hint of playfulness, "You're pinching me too hard."
Gu Xing Dong's eyes darkened for a moment, then he said nonchalantly, "What should we do? Or do you want to come back and vent your anger?"
"You have thick skin, I can't be bothered with you. Aren't we having dinner soon? Hurry up, or the food will get cold."
Chen Li Shu said this, got out of bed, and walked towards the door.
Looking at her retreating figure, Gu Xing Dong sighed inwardly. He was also upset about Rui Rui's situation, but it was enough for one of them to be sad.
The couple had never deliberately hidden the fact that they had adopted Rui Rui. So, after dinner, when Chen Li Shu told Rui Rui that his biological parents would be coming, the child was only stunned for a moment and did not show any extreme emotions.
Rui Rui lowered his head, picking at his clothes with his fingers. After a while, he looked up and asked cautiously, "Mom, can I not go? I promise I won't fight again. Please don't abandon me."
He didn't even know what his biological parents looked like. He only knew that the two people in front of him were his mom and dad.
In his understanding, Chen Li Shu's sudden mention of sending him away must have been because he had made a mistake by fighting today.
Seeing the pleading in his eyes, Chen Li Shu couldn't hold back any longer. She covered her mouth and turned away, crying silently.
Gu Xing Dong beckoned him closer, patted his little head, and said softly, "Mom and Dad will always be your mom and dad, and we would never abandon you. Your biological parents will surely love you as much as we do."
"Think about it, you have more parents who love you than other children. If you miss us, we'll visit you, or you can come to stay with us during winter or summer breaks. Everything will be the same as it is now."
Rui Rui nodded as if he understood, but he still seemed unhappy about the separation and even cried himself to sleep under the covers for a long time.
Time flew by until the agreed-upon meeting day. Chen Li Shu took leave from school in advance, and Gu Xing Dong drove from the army base early in the morning.