As Erbao approached home, he began shouting before even reaching the door, “Mom, I’m back! Mom!”

His loud voice, as usual, not only brought Ning Shu, Yibao, and Sanbao out of the house, but it also alerted all the neighbors who were at home.

Normally, people wouldn’t rush out just because Erbao was yelling, but things were different now.

Erbao was a world champion!

Even though many people in the compound hadn’t watched the competition, kids like Yu Chengci kept talking about it.

Over time, no one in the compound was unaware of the news.

“Wow, the world champion is back,” someone teased when they saw Erbao.

“World champion, what’s the difference between foreign countries and ours?” Another curious neighbor asked about his experiences abroad.

Erbao grinned. “I’m back! Foreign countries are great, But the food is terrible, and I got a stomachache. I couldn’t understand their language either. I think ours is better. And the people there are super tall—my neck hurt from looking up at them!”

His words were very lively, and it was clear that he was excited in the experience.

Someone else, hearing that Erbao had suffered from a stomachache, asked, “Did you have a stomachache during the competition?”

“Yes! I had a stomachache and still went to compete. I don’t like Foreign food!” Erbao’s thin face wrinkled up in disgust as he recalled the awful food he had to endure abroad.

He had never eaten anything so unpleasant.

There was nothing they could do about it—when they went abroad, they had to adapt to local customs, which meant eating the local food.

The tastes of the two countries were just too different.

“Erbao…” Ning Shu called from the doorway.

“Mom!” Erbao stopped chatting with the neighbors and ran into the house.

“You’ve lost a lot of weight,” Yibao observed before Ning Shu could say anything.

Ning Shu looked closely at Erbao.

He really had gotten thinner.

Although he had been training hard, he had stayed at home for a few days before leaving, so it had only been about two weeks since they last saw each other.

How had he lost so much weight in such a short time?

His cheeks were even a bit sunken.

Erbao pouted, “The food abroad was awful.”

After thinking for a moment, he added, “Mom, I spent some of the money you gave me. I asked the coach to help me exchange it for foreign currency.”

Ning Shu had given Erbao money for his trip, fully expecting him to spend it.

However, she was curious about what he could possibly have bought abroad. “What did you buy?”

Yibao and Sanbao were also curious.

Even the normally calm Sanbao urged him, “Second Brother, hurry up and show us what you got!”

“Alright, I’ll take it out.” Erbao squatted down and opened his suitcase.

The suitcase had been bought for him when Ning Shu took him shopping before he went abroad.

It was a type of rolling suitcase, though back then, they were much heavier than the ones people use today.

Fortunately, Erbao was strong, otherwise lugging it around would have been difficult.

He opened the suitcase and began taking out his clothes—none of which had been washed yet.

Ning Shu had told him not to worry about doing laundry abroad and to focus on resting.

She said he could bring the dirty clothes home for her to wash.

Erbao, being obedient, had done just that.

After taking out all his clothes, there was finally a tin can at the bottom of the suitcase.

It was the same can he used to store snacks, but since he had finished all his food abroad, the can now held something else.

Before opening the tin can, Erbao hesitated for a moment, then flashed a grin and asked, “Do you think it’s snacks, like cookies or White Rabbit candy?”

Yibao raised an eyebrow. “Just open it already.”

Erbao smiled even wider. “Alright, congratulations—you guessed right.” He opened the can to reveal its contents.

The tin was packed full of various items, but it wasn’t immediately clear what they all were.

Among them, there seemed to be quite a few snacks.

“Mom, these are for you.” Erbao pulled out two items.

Ning Shu’s eyes widened. “Erbao, how did you know to buy these?” Tears welled up in her eyes.

She thought only Yibao was thoughtful, but it turned out Erbao was just as considerate.

Erbao looked a little embarrassed. “The translator who came with us was an auntie. When I was buying something for you, she helped. She asked what your job was, and I said you were a fashion designer. She said you’d probably like these. Mom, do you like them?” He asked nervously, worried she might not like the gifts.

“I love them, thank you so much, Erbao.” Of course, Ning Shu was thrilled.

Erbao had bought her lipstick and perfume.

Although it was the translator auntie’s suggestion, Erbao had still bought them for her.

She couldn’t help but think the translator must be a fashionable woman to suggest these gifts.

Erbao’s gift had truly touched her heart.

Yibao and Sanbao watched their mother with anticipation.

Since Erbao had given her something she liked, they wondered if he had gotten them something they’d like too.

Although, to be honest, they weren’t even sure what they liked.

Next, Erbao took out a pen from a tin box. “Brother, this is for you.”

Yibao accepted the pen. “Thank you, Erbao.”

He was happy because, not knowing what he liked, anything Erbao gave him would have made him glad.

And since it was a pen, he was even happier.

This was the first gift Erbao had given him, and it had traveled all the way from abroad.

The significance was immense.

Finally, Erbao looked at Sanbao. “Wait a moment, Sanbao…”

He opened his large backpack and pulled out a painting. “Sanbao, this is for you. I picked this one myself.”

While most of the gifts were suggested by the translator, Erbao had chosen the painting himself because he knew Sanbao loved drawing.

That’s why he bought it.

When Sanbao saw the painting, his eyes lit up.

He noticed a new technique and could feel the emotion of the artist, becoming completely immersed in it.

“Sanbao, do you like it?” Erbao asked.

“Yes, thank you, Erbao.” Sanbao carefully accepted the painting, afraid to damage it.

His eyes never left the painting, so captivated was he.

Ning Shu, Yibao, and Erbao could all see how much Sanbao loved the painting.

Proudly, Erbao boasted, “I bought that painting on the street!”

On the street?

Sanbao blinked and asked, “Second Brother, why did you buy it on the street?” He had thought it was from a bookstore.

Ning Shu was curious too. “Erbao, you bought a painting on the street?”

Erbao explained, “After our competition ended, the translator auntie showed us around. I saw someone selling paintings on the street and thought Sanbao probably hadn’t seen foreign art before, so I bought it.”

Hearing this, Ning Shu’s imagination ran wild. “Sanbao, you should keep this painting safe. It might increase in value one day.”

What Ning Shu didn’t realize was that she had made a lucky guess.

Even Erbao didn’t know that the painter of this work was not famous at the time.

The painting he bought for a few dozen yuan would later be worth millions.

Many years later, Sanbao would bring this up again.

At that time, Erbao would proudly boast like a peacock, praising his own foresight.

With the three of them having received gifts from Erbao, Ning Shu wondered if their father, Lin Guodong, had also gotten something.

She asked, “Erbao, did you buy something for your dad?”

“Of course,” Erbao replied, treating everyone equally. “When Dad gets home, I’ll give it to him, but you can’t see it yet!” He added mysteriously.

His words only piqued Ning Shu, Yibao, and Sanbao’s curiosity even more.

Seeing how secretive Erbao was, Ning Shu didn’t push further.

Instead, she said, “Erbao, you can go rest in your room now. Yibao and Sanbao, help with Erbao’s laundry.”

Yibao and Sanbao had no objections.

After all, they had received gifts, so they were happy to help Erbao.

“I’m not going yet! I also brought gifts for Damao and Tiedan.” Erbao said as he grabbed his bag and headed to the backyard.

In the glasshouse at the back, Damao and Tiedan, their family’s military dogs, were sleeping.

Hearing the noise, they lazily opened their eyes.

When they saw Erbao, they quickly got up and ran toward him.

Erbao laughed. “Damao, Tiedan, sit! I’ve brought gifts for you.”

Hearing the command, both dogs obediently sat down.

“Look, I brought you some treats to make you stronger.” Erbao pulled out two big bags from his backpack.

It was dog food.

Whether or not dog food existed in China at that time was unknown, but it was already available abroad.

When the translator auntie heard that Erbao wanted to bring gifts for the family’s dogs, she took him to a pet store.

Upon learning the food was good for dogs, Erbao had bought it without hesitation. “One bag for each of you. Let me pour it out. Where are your bowls?”

Damao and Tiedan quickly fetched their enamel bowls and placed them in front of Erbao.

As Erbao opened one of the bags, a delicious aroma wafted out.

He licked his lips and looked around.

Not seeing his mom, brother, or Sanbao, he quickly grabbed a piece of dog food and took a bite.

But he was disappointed. It smelled so good, but tasted awful.

Damao and Tiedan watched Erbao, patiently waiting, even though he had eaten some of their food.

Erbao didn’t make them wait long. After eating one piece, he quickly poured half a bowl for each dog. “Alright, Damao, Tiedan, enjoy! I’m off to check on Xiaoba.”

Xiaoba was a turtle Erbao had caught while fishing the previous year!