"I was wrong, I was wrong, I'll never dare again!" Liu Chen was forced to turn her head, murmuring pleas for mercy, though her ear actually didn't hurt at all.
"Wrong? I don't think you're wrong at all! Huh? You, with your little arms and legs, you rushed into such a dark place to fight and save someone?! I think you don't want me to live! If anything happened to you, I'd close my business and go back to the countryside to take care of you for the rest of my life!"
As Liu Fang spoke, she observed Chen Chen's expression. Seeing a hint of guilt on her face, she softened her tone and said,
"This time it was purely your luck. Next time something happens, find an adult to handle it. If that's not possible, what do you think the phone I bought you is for?"
Hearing her mother's gentler tone, Liu Chen quickly vowed that she would pay more attention to safety next time.
After the mother and daughter finished their conversation, Ren Yuanying finally said with emotion,
"I never expected that you saved me back then, and now your daughter has saved my son. Our two families are truly fated."
Liu Fang, however, blushed uncharacterishly at this. She waved her hand, saying, "What saving and being saved, it was all due to youthful recklessness. If I encountered this situation now, I wouldn't dare. If something had happened, Chen Chen would be an orphan."
"Chen Chen is so much more well-behaved than my little rascal. She's quiet and looks so obedient. When I was pregnant with my second child, I wished I could have a daughter as obedient as Chen Chen. It would be so much more presentable to take her shopping and dining!"
"Sister Yuanying, you flatter her. Your son is so handsome! And he's very well-behaved. He's been here for so long and only listened to us talk without showing any impatience!"
The two women chattered more and more enthusiastically, engaging in mutual praise as if their children were reincarnated celestial beings. Liu Chen, being a bit thicker-skinned, took it in stride, but Ren Mo, sitting beside them, turned as red as a monkey's backside.
With a guest arriving, Liu Chen quickly stepped forward to solicit business, wanting her mother to have a good chat with her long-lost Aunt Yuanying. Sister Liu was responsible for handling the goods. Regardless of anything else, customers would usually linger for a few extra seconds when a sweet and obedient young girl spoke to them, even if they didn't buy anything.
Ren Yuanying observed this. Although Chen Chen was young, she was confident and enthusiastic in her dealings, and crucially, she was not at all intimidated by her son's appearance. Instead, she acted more like an older sister.
Alas, if only such a child were her own!
The thought sparked in Ren Yuanying's mind, and she began to scheme.
To be honest, over the years, not to mention her family background, just the dozens of hot pot chain restaurants she had opened in S Province had attracted a considerable number of people eager to become godparents.
But with a glance, she found none suitable – either foolish or greedy, making her eyes sore just looking at them.
Yet, looking at Chen Chen, she grew more and more fond of her. Moreover, this child had clearly seen their car, yet she hadn't fawned over them, but had simply accepted a ride as if it were a matter of course…
With this thought, Ren Yuanying made up her mind. She clasped Liu Fang's hands and said with emotion,
"Liu Fang, my life has been difficult these years. I divorced my first husband early and raised the elder and younger sons alone. Two boys, they've given me no end of worry."
Of course, the main worry was the second one, the troublemaker. The elder child had practically raised himself.
Liu Fang immediately offered comfort upon hearing this, "Oh, Sister Yuanying, it's okay, you've gotten through it. Look, the children are all doing well now."
"Liu Fang, sister, I won't speak in platitudes. The moment I saw Chen Chen, I felt a special connection. Later, I found out she was your child, and I was even more delighted. I want to take this child as my goddaughter!"
"What?"
Liu Fang's eyes widened as she looked at Sister Yuanying. Adopting a godchild?
In C City, adopting a godchild wasn't uncommon. Sometimes, after a meal and some drinks, people would become godparents. But even though they were old acquaintances, they had only reconnected a few hours ago. Wasn't this a bit too hasty?
And judging by Sister Yuanying's chauffeur-driven demeanor, her family background was exceptionally well-off. While their Chen Chen was adorable, she…
"Don't 'what' me. It's settled! If you're worried I'm a human trafficker, you're closing up shop today, so come to my place for dinner and catch up! I'll pick you up at six!"
Perhaps fearing Liu Fang would refuse, Ren Yuanying left with Ren Mo, whose face was flushed red.
Liu Fang remained in the shop, bewildered.
Liu Chen, who had been sitting at the right side of the shop, walked over curiously to glance at the business card Aunt Yuanying had given her mother.
It was a pure red card, with a copper pot printed on the front. The texture was several levels above that of small restaurants. On the reverse, in large characters in the center, it read: Chairman of Old Hot Pot.
Below were a landline number and a mobile number.
The name sounded familiar…
"Oh, Chen Chen, this Old Hot Pot, isn't it that Old Hot Pot chain? The one on the food show that everyone queues for half an hour to eat?"
Hearing her mother say this, Liu Chen realized why the name sounded familiar. It had been quite a significant event in the frozen food industry back then.
The Old Hot Pot chain was so popular that local power brokers tried to acquire it at a low price. The owner refused, and then his youngest son was stabbed to death by some thugs. With some maneuvering, the power brokers ensured the thugs didn't even receive the death penalty.
Seeing the outcome, the owner's wife went to the capital for help. The ensuing investigation led to a massive purge of several departments in C City.
Some local chain stores, who had relied on their official connections to delay payments or only pay three out of ten thousand for goods, were directly shut down. While people sighed, they were also relieved.
From then on, chain stores in C City became much more regulated. Even the most powerful connections had been brought down.
After these closures, people no longer had to endure the mistreatment and could conduct business properly.
Liu Chen looked at the business card in her hand, stunned.
Since her rebirth, this was the first time she had altered someone's fate.
Dimly, Liu Chen felt as if she had grasped something.
"Chen Chen?"
Her mother's voice broke through. Five thick fingers waved before her eyes. Seeing Liu Chen snap back to attention, Liu Fang continued in a hushed voice,
"What are you thinking about so intently? Do you think your Aunt Yuanying might suddenly be joking? Us becoming godparents with her family… the two families are too far apart."
Liu Chen wasn't deterred by Aunt Yuanying's wealth. What she was thinking about was how to subtly remind Yuanying that she could avoid the fate of her previous life.
After all, no one could guard against a thief forever!