As soon as Mi Zhuzhu’s Weibo post was sent out, netizens who saw the post and had watched the movie "2012" immediately felt a sense of empathy and left comments:
‘I want to confess to the person I've liked for three years.’
‘I want to tell my mom I love her, she will always be my most beloved mother!’
‘I want to marry the person I love!’
‘……’
By the time Liu Chen and the others arrived at Many Coffee, Mi Zhuzhu’s Weibo comments had already surged to three thousand, and this was in less than an hour.
The same Weibo post seen by different people would elicit different reactions, but this question was directly trending. At the same time, Mi Zhuzhu’s Weibo followers also increased from 100,000 to 300,000 in just one week.
She had almost become one of the first major influencers on Weibo.
Meanwhile, the money Liu Chen had spent on pork was returned by Old Master Chen, along with some good news.
“Your Meimei sausage has passed the inspection and can begin production. I thought you didn’t have enough money before and was planning to lend you some. Now that I know you have several million, I wanted to ask you, for the first order, how many Meimei sausages are you planning to produce for stocking?
Given this is your first investment, my advice as an old man is to do just a thousand pieces, with costs controlled at fifty yuan per piece. A batch will tie up fifty thousand yuan. Once you transfer the money, I will start production.
We agreed that this brand is yours, and I won’t start without payment. Don’t think of taking advantage of me.”
Hearing Old Master Chen’s talk of strict impartiality, Liu Chen couldn’t help but smile as she held the phone.
“Grandpa, you’re opening a dedicated production line. Even thirty million wouldn't be enough for me to start one. If you talk about taking advantage, I’m the one getting the biggest advantage.”
“You clever kid, you know everything! Alright, alright, then I’ll make a thousand pieces for you first. Once they’re done, I’ll have Chen Long, that brat, help you run the channels and promote them.
I must say, your Meimei sausage tastes really good. Although I knew the meat content wasn't high with the first bite, it’s just delicious! Your Shuimu University really has something!
Take the money I’m returning for the pork and don’t just hoard it. If you have time, go buy a house or a car near the school. Alright, alright, I won’t chat anymore.
You’re in Beijing by yourself, stay warm, don’t catch a cold. If anything happens, just call me. If the sky falls, Chen Long will hold it up. The winter break is just over a month away, remember to buy your tickets in advance. Don’t be stingy and buy economy class; you’re the only girl in our family, and we can afford first class…”
He said he wouldn’t chat anymore, but he continued to ramble for another ten minutes before hanging up. After hanging up, Liu Chen stood by the window of the master bedroom, watching the light rain outside, and called her mother.
“Hello? Chenchen, *gag*!”
Before she could finish, a dry retch interrupted her mother’s greeting, followed by a rustling sound accompanied by more gagging.
Liu Chen remembered the hidden escape mission she had experienced and immediately became worried about her mother’s safety. Many illnesses flashed through her mind, and she asked nervously, “Hello? Mom? Are you okay? Is Uncle Chen Long there?”
Liu Fang’s sigh came from the other end of the line: “Hoo… Chenchen, what do you want with your Uncle Chen? He’s not home. He’s been busy running around to get the permits for your Meimei sausage.
He said he’s opening the production line tonight, and I offered to go, but he insisted I couldn’t stay up late and asked me to record a video for him.”
Listening to her mother’s rambling on the phone, Liu Chen’s anxious heart finally settled down a little.
“It’s nothing, just asking about the Meimei sausage. Mom, you’re coughing so much, go to the hospital tomorrow. What if it’s gastritis or something, and it turns into an ulcer if you delay it?”
“Aiya! I just coughed a few times. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? Are you trying to scare me?”
Liu Chen pursed her lips and stood by the window. After saying a few more words and seeing that her mother had no intention of going to the hospital, she could only say goodnight helplessly.
After hanging up the phone, Liu Chen’s first action was to call Chen Long.
Upon hearing about her mother’s illness, Chen Long’s tone changed instantly.
“Chenchen, don’t worry, I’ll go back right now and take Sister Liu to the emergency room!”
Hearing Chen Long’s words, Liu Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Uncle Chen. My mom is a bit stubborn, so it might be a bit difficult to persuade her to go to the hospital.”
“Your mom is also my wife. What’s there to be bothered about? I won’t talk anymore, I’m driving. I’ll send you a message after the examination.”
“Okay!”
After hanging up, Liu Chen thought for a moment and attached a lucky charm to herself. Less than five minutes later, Liu Chen couldn’t help but attach another one.
The light rain outside had stopped at some point, but the asphalt road outside was already wet. Liu Chen began to doubt whether it was necessary for her to study so far away at Shuimu.
Did her mother perhaps slack off and not drink the system-produced milk she often sent home?
Her mother was getting older. Had she overworked herself recently with the new store, causing health problems? Her earnings were something her mother’s shop could never earn in a lifetime. Should she persuade her mother to retire?
Seeing a text message on her phone, Liu Chen quickly opened it.
‘Sister Liu is pregnant. It’s mine. Sister Liu wants to keep it, but the risk for Sister Liu to have a child at her age is too great. Please help me persuade her.’ – Chen Long
Liu Chen stared at the message for a full minute, then immediately booked a flight to C City for Saturday at 9:30 AM.
After booking, she first called her mother. The phone rang many times, but no one answered. Helpless, Liu Chen switched to Chen Long’s number.
“Hello? Chenchen? Come and persuade Sister Liu. We really don’t need this child.”
Then, Liu Fang’s slightly guilty voice came from the other end:
“Hello? Chenchen… Mom, Mom, I see the baby in my belly is four months old and has taken shape. The doctor also said the fetus is developing well and my body can handle it. I, I can’t bear to abort her. Don’t worry, Mom promises…”
Before Liu Fang could finish, Liu Chen interrupted her directly.
“Mom, when did I say you couldn’t have a second child?”
“Um… I don’t think so.”
“I’ll be back in C City tomorrow morning. Let’s see what the doctor says. Mom, don’t have any psychological burden. I can earn money myself, I have six or seven million. You don’t need to worry.”
This time, before Liu Chen could finish, Liu Fang interrupted her directly.
“Six or seven million! Chenchen, where did you get that money? Did you start dating a rich second-generation heir and get dumped with a check from his mom?”
Hearing her mother’s words on the phone, Liu Chen burst into laughter.
“Mom, you watch too much of that ‘Meteor Garden’! You’ve definitely watched it again, haven’t you? Let’s not talk about it. Mom, since you want a second child, you need to be careful…”
The mother and daughter chatted on the phone for a full half hour before Liu Fang hung up, satisfied.
After hanging up, Liu Chen stood by the window. If it were her past self, she would definitely not want to share her mother’s love with anyone else. However, life is unpredictable. If she hadn’t completed the hidden escape mission in the park, her mother would have become a childless widow in her middle age.
Having a second child meant that no matter what happened to her, her mother would have something to live for and wouldn’t follow her.
Having made up her mind, Liu Chen glanced at the number of draws suspended above the draw wheel: 3203.
‘Draw!’
‘Obtained cash, two thousand yuan.’
‘……’
‘Obtained a Lucky Charm, applying it increases luck by one, valid for twenty-four hours.’
‘……’
‘Obtained a Pork Jerky (Superior) Recipe.’
‘Obtained a Chicken Sausage (Superior) Recipe.’
‘Obtained a Spicy Pure Meat Sausage (Superior) Recipe.’
‘Obtained cash, two thousand yuan.’
‘Obtained a Lucky Charm, applying it increases luck by one, valid for twenty-four hours.’
After using over three thousand draw tickets, Liu Chen counted that she now had a total of two hundred and sixty-two Lucky Charms, eight food recipes, thirty-eight Unlucky Charms, and countless miscellaneous daily necessities, nutritional supplements, and furniture and clothing. Liu Chen couldn’t even count them all.
“One of these days, when I have time, I really should find an opportunity to wear all the clothes I’ve gotten, otherwise they’ll go out of season.”
…
The next morning, Liu Chen informed the other four in the small group and flew back to C City with just her ID card.
Upon landing at the airport, she was picked up by Chen Long, who was already waiting, and they drove towards the new wholesale market.
“Chenchen, the risk of Sister Liu giving birth at her age is too great. As Sister Liu’s daughter, I hope you can persuade her.”
Hearing Chen Long say this while driving, Liu Chen glanced at him suspiciously. Chen Long was nearly forty, and logically, having a child should be a joyous occasion. Why was he constantly urging her to persuade her mother to abort the baby?
Unless…
Liu Chen thought of the reason Old Master Chen had paved the way for her so thoroughly.
“Uncle Chen, you don’t think this child belongs to someone else, do you?”
“Screech!”
The car braked sharply, leaving a black skid mark on the road. Liu Chen lurched forward and was pulled back by her seatbelt.
Liu Chen looked at Chen Long, who was silent beside her, shook her head, and asked speechlessly:
“Do you really think my mom would cheat on another man? Think about it, the baby is four months old. That was when you two were in the peak of your romance, you had just held your wedding in Sanya. Think back, were you and Mom apart for that entire month?”
Chen Long thought for a moment. “No, back then I used to drive Sister Liu to work every day, then linger at the shop, and pick her up after work in the evening.”
“So, Uncle Chen, why would you think this child was conceived through my mom cheating? And also, if my mom really cheated, and you had the baby aborted as you intended, would you just pretend nothing happened and continue living like this?”
“I can,” Chen Long said, gripping the steering wheel with both hands, his eyes firm. “As long as Sister Liu is willing to maintain this marriage with me, I can do anything!”
Although Chen Long’s object of affection was her mother, Liu Chen still felt a bit speechless.
“Uncle Chen, I think your insistence on not having the child yesterday must have hurt Mom. She might not have reacted immediately, but once her mind clears, she should guess why you object. You’d better support her before Mom figures it out.”
Hearing Liu Chen’s words, Chen Long’s brow furrowed tightly.
“But Sister Liu is already over forty, and the risk of having a second child is too great. I don’t dare to let Sister Liu take that risk. I’d rather spend the rest of my life with your mom.”
Liu Chen felt her teeth ache from Chen Long’s words.
“Uncle Chen, we need to believe in science. We’ll ask the doctor about any problems. Uncle Chen, don’t just guess here?”
“Okay!”
Although he said he believed the doctor, when they arrived at the new wholesale market, Liu Chen saw her mother, whose face had become a little chubbier. She immediately rushed forward to embrace her, and at the same time, applied all one hundred and fifty Lucky Charms she had stored in the system onto her mother.
“Mom, I support you!”