Chapter 112 : Wearing Gold and Silver  

Zheng Lanhua was startled when she saw Fang Xiaoluo rushing to open the door. “What’s going on?”  

Fang Xiaoluo was ecstatic. “Haiping is awake! Mom, Haiping is truly awake!”  

Earlier in the morning, Shen Zheng had reassured Zheng Lanhua that Haiping’s fever had subsided, which was a relief. Deep down, she realized that Fang Xiaoluo cared for the boy even more than she did.  

She had always pitied her daughter for her unfortunate circumstances, losing her daughter so young and leaving behind three children.  

The three children had suffered greatly. They were so young and subjected to hardships after their mother passed away.  

But now, Zheng Lanhua felt the children’s fortune was finally changing because they had met Fang Xiaoluo.  

“ I’ve kept porridge and eggs warm in the pot. I’ll bring them over. Eat something, and I’ll take care of Haiping afterward. You should get some rest,” Zheng Lanhua said as she headed to the kitchen.  

Fang Xiaoluo quickly followed. “Mom, I don’t mean just physically awake. Haiping is truly awake! Do you understand what I’m saying?”  

Zheng Lanhua assumed Fang Xiaoluo was exaggerating. “You’re awake, too, so take care of yourself. There’s hot water in the kettle, wash your face. I’ll bring the porridge.”  

Fang Xiaoluo realized her words weren’t getting through, so she decided to let Zheng Lanhua see for herself. That would surely leave her speechless.  

She quietly washed her face and refilled the kettle with water.  

—

Meanwhile, Shen Jinxia heard the commotion and came running over. “Second Brother, Second Brother, how are you?”  

Shen Haiping, though still hungry, appeared bright and alert.  

This delicate child, always so gentle in appearance, now had a radiant clarity in his eyes. They no longer wandered aimlessly. His complexion was fair, and thanks to Fang Xiaoluo’s care, he looked so sweet and well-behaved that anyone would feel compelled to scoop him into a hug.  

Shen Jinxia, accustomed to being ignored by him, was stunned when Shen Haiping looked at her and softly said, “I’m much better now.”  

Her big eyes blinked in astonishment, and she froze in place.  

After a moment, she waved the doll she was holding in front of him. “Second Brother, did you just talk to me?”  

Shen Haiping smiled and scratched his head. “Did I scare you?”  

Shen Jinxia dropped the doll on the bed and bolted out of the room. “Grandma! Grandma!”  

Zheng Lanhua, holding a bowl of porridge, asked, “What’s gotten into you? Why are you in such a hurry?”  

Shen Jinxia’s soft, childlike voice with excitement. “Grandma, my Second Brother spoke to me! He talked to me for a long time!”  

The bowl in Zheng Lanhua’s hands crashed to the floor with a thud. “What did you just say? Did your Second Brother talk to you?”  

Before Shen Jinxia could answer, Zheng Lanhua had already dashed into Fang Xiaoluo’s room.  

Inside, she saw Shen Haiping sitting on the edge of the bed as Fang Xiaoluo gently wiped his face and hands.  

And there it was, the unmistakable brightness in Shen Haiping’s eyes.  

“Haiping?” Zheng Lanhua called out hesitantly.  

Shen Haiping turned toward her and shyly said, “Grandma.”  

Tears streamed down Zheng Lanhua’s face as she walked over and hugged him tightly, unable to speak.  

When Shen Zheng had brought the three children back, she had thought Haiping’s future was bleak. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined this miraculous change.  

Now, she understood why Fang Xiaoluo had been so excited, Haiping wasn’t just physically awake. He was truly awake.  

—

Fang Xiaoluo quietly carried the basin away, giving the grandparents and grandson some time together. Seeing their reunion stirred a bittersweet feeling in her heart.  

Shen Jinxia, waiting at the door, saw Fang Xiaoluo come out and immediately followed her.  

Fang Xiaoluo noticed the broken bowls on the dining table and squatted down to clean up the mess.  

Shen Jinxia also squatted beside her to help.  

Fang Xiaoluo quickly stopped her. “Don’t do it, you’ll get pricked. If your little hand gets hurt, it’ll bleed.”  

Obediently, Shen Jinxia stopped moving but tilted her head, watching Fang Xiaoluo intently.  

When Fang Xiaoluo finished cleaning, she noticed Shen Jinxia still staring at her.  

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.  

Shen Jinxia replied, “Because Mom is so pretty.”  

Fang Xiaoluo smiled warmly. “My Xiaxia is even prettier. In my heart, Xiaxia is the most beautiful of all.”  

Shen Jinxia giggled, hugging Fang Xiaoluo’s arm tightly. “Mom is the best. I love you!”  

Fang Xiaoluo filled a fresh bowl of porridge, peeled a few boiled eggs, and set them on the dining table.  

“Xiaxia, go check on your second brother. See how he’s doing and ask him to come eat.”  

A little while later, Zheng Lanhua and Shen Haiping came out of the room.  

Fang Xiaoluo noticed Zheng Lanhua’s red, swollen eyes, though Shen Haiping looked fine, apart from slightly reddened eyes.  

“Haiping, sit down and eat something,” Fang Xiaoluo urged.  

As they ate, Shen Jinxia ran back to retrieve her doll, sitting nearby to keep it company.  

Meanwhile, Zheng Lanhua returned to her room. A few moments later, she came out holding a cloth bag.  

Zheng Lanhua sat down beside Fang Xiaoluo and carefully began to unfold the cloth bag layer by layer.  

Suddenly, there were footsteps outside. Fang Xiaoluo turned to see Yu Xiaopang running toward them, panting heavily.  

When he reached the door, he hesitated as if worried about disturbing anyone. He tiptoed in quietly and, spotting Shen Jinxia, lit up with excitement. He followed her to the dining table.  

Yu Xiaopang had initially planned to ask how Shen Haiping was doing and whether Shen Jinxia wanted to go out to play. However, his attention was drawn to Zheng Lanhua’s actions.  

The room fell silent, even Yu Xiaopang stopped speaking.  

At last, Zheng Lanhua finished unwrapping the cloth bag, revealing a pair of silver bracelets.  

She took them out and placed them in Fang Xiaoluo’s hand. “I don’t have much of value, just this pair of silver bracelets. Shen Zheng’s father gave them to me when we first met. Life was hard after that, and I never dared to take these out. I’ve kept them safe all these years.”  

“Now, there’s no use in me holding on to them. You’re young, so I’ll give them to you. If you want to turn them into earrings or a different style of bracelet, that’s fine too.”  

Fang Xiaoluo could tell these bracelets were Zheng Lanhua’s most treasured possession.  

Elderly people often carefully wrap valuable items in handkerchiefs or cloth. The layers upon layers, folded so meticulously, showed how much this meant to her.  

Fang Xiaoluo gently placed the bracelets back into the cloth bag. “Mom, you should keep these. I don’t want them. Lately, I’ve been so scatterbrained I might lose them.”  

Zheng Lanhua shook her head. “I’ve given them to you, and that’s final. I can’t take such small things with me to the grave.”  

Fang Xiaoluo exclaimed. “Don’t talk nonsense! You’re still young. I’m telling you, you have to live at least another fifty years! You’ve kept these bracelets safe all this time, what’s another few decades?”  

“You still get your survivor’s allowance, don’t you? Save it up. I like gold! Save for a few more years and buy me a pair of gold bracelets instead.”  

Fang Xiaoluo started counting on her fingers. “Let’s calculate, fifty more years. By then, I’ll be almost seventy. Mom, whether I get to wear gold and silver when I’m old depends entirely on you!”