Chapter 149 : Birthday

Zheng Lanhua, while peeling eggs, said, “Well, today’s meal ticket is something I treasure, and I usually don’t like to spend it.”

As she spoke, she placed the peeled, tender eggs into Fang Xiaoluo’s bowl and added, “Here.”

Fang Xiaoluo blinked, “I’m really being treated well today.”

She took the egg and ate it bite by bite.

Zheng Lanhua smiled, “You’ve always been treated well.”

Fang Xiaoluo thought about it and agreed.

The breakfast was rich and delicious.

The three children ate quietly and didn’t say much.

Shen Zheng had left for work early, so he didn’t even have breakfast at home.

After finishing the meal, Shen Haifeng quickly cleaned up the dishes.

Zheng Lanhua said, “We won’t light the fire at home today, so we don’t have to cook at noon.”

Fang Xiaoluo was surprised. “It’s not a festival, so why not cook?”

Zheng Lanhua brought over a small basket filled with various snacks, including melon seeds, peanuts, walnuts, candies, and small desserts.

“It’s nice not to cook. If you’re not doing anything, just munch on these.”

Fang Xiaoluo took the basket and nodded, a little confused.

As noon approached, Zheng Lanhua said, “Xiaoluo, let’s go out for lunch.”

Fang Xiaoluo didn’t ask any further questions. Maybe today was some important day for the Shen family in the past.

When they went out, she noticed that Shen Haifeng and Shen Haiping were both carrying schoolbags, obviously filled with something.

They arrived at the state-owned hotel in Qingshi Town and headed straight to a large private room at the back of the hotel.

Fang Xiaoluo glanced at the large round table that could seat more than a dozen people.

Zheng Lanhua pulled out a chair and smiled at Fang Xiaoluo, “Come, sit down.”

Fang Xiaoluo sat down, and after a while, the door opened, and the rest of her family came in.

No wonder they needed such a big table, there were so many people.

Zhang Xinyan asked, “Is Shen Zheng still at work?”

Zheng Lanhua replied, “Don’t worry about him, he never keeps track of time. Let’s eat when the food arrives.”

As they were talking, Shen Zheng entered.

He was holding a big bag in his left hand and a large cake in his right.

It was the kind of cake Fang Xiaoluo had seen online before, in a pink transparent plastic box.

This one, however, was a much larger version.

“Is this a cake?” Fang Xiaoluo asked. “Who’s having a birthday today? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Zhang Xinyan took the cake and placed it in the middle of the table, feeling a little emotional. It seemed that her daughter had never celebrated her birthday while living with the Xu family.

Though their family was poor, they would always save up money for Xu Yaqiu’s birthday, preparing longevity noodles, boiling eggs, and buying small gifts like red hairbands, handkerchiefs, socks, etc.

Although they couldn’t spend much due to Fang Shijun’s illness, they still made an effort to mark the occasion. At least it would show their daughter that the family cared about her.

“Silly child,” Zhang Xinyan said with a smile. “Whose birthday could it be? Of course, it’s yours. How could you forget your own birthday?”

Fang Xiaoluo stood there in a daze. ‘Is it my birthday?’

The original owner had never experienced this before, and it seemed she had no memory of celebrating any birthdays. “Today is… the sixth, right? Is it my birthday on the sixth?”

Shen Zheng smiled and said, “It’s the twenty-sixth day of the sixth lunar month, your birthday.”

Fang Xiaoluo was surprised and then started laughing. “That’s what I said. Why is everyone acting so differently today? It turns out they wanted to celebrate my birthday. I even had a super hearty breakfast this morning.”

Shen Zheng took out a small candle and placed it on the cake.

“Come on, I heard that people make wishes on their birthdays, so go ahead and make one.”

Fang Xiaoluo clasped her hands together and closed her eyes. Her wish was that everyone present today would be healthy, happy, and safe.

She opened her eyes and said, “Okay, I’ve made my wish.” Then, she blew out the candle.

This was the first time she could remember making a birthday wish and blowing out the candles, and it felt really nice.

Shen Zheng took something out of the bag he had just brought in.

Fang Xiaoluo glanced at it and saw it was a long, camel-colored wool coat that looked very beautiful.

“For you, a birthday present.”

Fang Xiaoluo stood up and tried it on. The size was perfect. The design of the belt made her look taller, and it enhanced her overall demeanor.

Shen Jinxia, holding her little face in her hands, said, “Wow, mommy is so beautiful.”

Zhang Xinyan and Fang Shijun’s eyes grew red as they looked at their daughter.

Zhang Xinyan choked up and nodded, “It looks good, it really does.”

Fang Xiaoluo took off her coat and put it back on, “Well, it’s you who look great.”

Fang Shijun then took out a red envelope from his pocket and handed it to her. “This is what we prepared for you. Happy birthday, Xiaoluo.”

Fang Xiaoluo smiled and accepted the red envelope without hesitation.

She felt it and noticed it was quite thick, so there was surely a lot of money inside. This must be the money they had saved with great difficulty, and they wanted to give more to her.

Zhang Xinyan then took out a new shirt. The shirt was red, looking bright and prosperous, and it was also freshly ironed.

“This is something new that I made for you. I followed Jiangcheng’s new style. Do you like it?”

Fang Xiaoluo took the shirt and smiled. “I like it, I really do, it’s beautiful.”

Next, Fang Qiang also handed her a red envelope.

Fang Jie gave her a new notebook, Fang Yamei gave her a small comb, and Fang Yating gave her a pair of red socks.

Zheng Lanhua took out a pair of new cloth shoes, made of red velvet with clips. The soles were thick and looked very nice.

“I couldn’t do much, so I made you a pair of shoes. Do they fit well?”

Fang Xiaoluo tried them on and gave Zheng Lanhua a thumbs-up. “They fit perfectly and are very comfortable.”

It was obvious that the soles were sewn by Zheng Lanhua herself. If these were ever found in the future, such handmade items would be very rare.

Then, Shen Jinxia brought out a small doll made of plasticine. Though not perfectly made, it was obvious it had been crafted with a lot of care.

Fang Xiaoluo pinched Shen Jinxia’s little face. “Isn’t this you, Xiaxia?”

Shen Jinxia’s eyes rolled around. “Mom, you figured it out. I’m pretty good at kneading it.”

“Superb.” Fang Xiaoluo pointed to the little doll. “Look, this little doll is smiling, wearing a red skirt, with two braids and two small red hairpins. The one smiling so beautifully must be our Xiaxia.”

Shen Jinxia giggled and immediately jumped into Fang Xiaoluo’s arms. “Happy Birthday mom.”

As she said that, she climbed up and gave Fang Xiaoluo a loud kiss on the face.