Chapter 179 : Not Having a Daughter Because You Don’t Like Her?

On the other side, Yu Xiaopang and Shen Jinxia were walking to the kindergarten together.

As they walked, Shen Jinxia said to Xiaopang, “Today is my eldest brother’s birthday. My mom specially made braised beef noodles this morning. They were so delicious.”

“Also, my mom used a carrot to write the words ‘Happy Birthday’ for my big brother. It looked so pretty.”

“Mom also gave my eldest brother a red envelope. She said that she would celebrate our birthdays every year in the future.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaopang was envious. “Ah? That’s so nice.”

“Yes, my mom is so nice,” Shen Jinxia smiled, feeling extremely happy. She rubbed her belly and added, “The beef noodles were delicious. I ate a whole bowl, and my belly is still round now.”

Because of this, when school ended at noon, Yu Xiaopang ran home and went straight to the kitchen.

“Mom, can you celebrate my birthday next year?”

Han Weiping had just come home from work and was busy cooking. When she heard Yu Xiaopang’s request, she said unhappily, “You’re just a little brat. Why should we celebrate your birthday?”

Yu Xiaopang pouted. “But Brother Haifeng is celebrating his birthday today, and my aunt celebrated it for him. My aunt also said she will celebrate it for Xiaxia next year. If Xiaxia can have a birthday, why can’t I?”

Han Weiping glared at him. “Xiaxia’s last name is Shen. Who told you to have the last name Yu? If you want to have the last name Shen on your birthday, then you should have the last name Shen too.”

“Besides, if Xiaxia were my daughter, I would celebrate her birthday too. What’s the point of celebrating for a little brat like you?”

When Yu Feixu came back, he saw Yu Xiaopang squatting at the gate, looking unhappy.

He leaned over. “What’s going on, Xiaopang?”

Yu Xiaopang crossed his arms and said, “I asked mom if she could celebrate my birthday next year, but she said there’s no reason to celebrate for a little kid like me.”

Yu Feixu touched his nose. “Ah? That’s what mom said.”

Yu Xiaopang puffed his cheeks. “Well, mom also said that if Xiaxia were her daughter, she would have celebrated for her. Brother, tell me, is it my fault that mom can’t have a daughter? It’s not like I didn’t let her have one.”

“Yu Feiyue, what are you talking about? Don’t even think about lunch. Get out of here.” Han Weiping shouted, and Yu Xiaopang quickly shrank his neck.

Looking back, he saw Han Weiping holding a broom in her hand, so Yu Xiaopang ran off.

Yu Feixu patted his chest, relieved. He had wanted to wish him a happy birthday too, but it seemed better not to say that.

Yu Xiaopang ran to Shen Jinxia in a flash.

Fang Xiaoluo went to Jiangcheng and didn’t come back at noon.

Shen Zheng didn’t come home last night. He finished his work at noon, then got some food from the cafeteria.

“Uncle, my mom kicked me out. Can I eat here?”

Shen Zheng put the food on the table and handed Yu Xiaopang some chopsticks. “Why did your mom kick you out?”

Yu Xiaopang said, “I told her that she can’t blame me if she can’t have a daughter. It’s not me who’s stopping her from having one.”

Zheng Lanhua handed a steamed bun to Yu Xiaopang. “Your mother was kind enough not to slap you twice.”

Shen Jinxia didn’t understand. “Why? I thought my aunt didn’t have a daughter because she didn’t like her.”

Yu Xiaopang nodded. “That’s right. If she wanted a daughter, she could have one. I’m not stopping her.”

Shen Zheng sat down and said, “If you say this when you get home, you’ll definitely get a beating.”

Yu Xiaopang stuck out his tongue, stopped talking, and buried his head in eating.

After dinner, Shen Zheng went to chop firewood. Zheng Lanhua walked over and said, “Today is Haifeng’s birthday, and Xiaoluo remembered it. She got up early and made beef noodles for him. She said she was going to Jiangcheng to apply for a business license and would pick up the cake while she was there. Xiaoluo is really thoughtful.”

“Xiaoluo ordered a cake for Haifeng?” Shen Zheng hadn’t heard Fang Xiaoluo mention this. He had been so busy lately and hadn’t even returned home last night.

Zheng Lanhua rolled her eyes at him and said, “What’s the point of having you around? You don’t know anything.”

Shen Zheng smiled and replied, “Without me, you wouldn’t have such a good daughter-in-law.”

Zheng Lanhua snorted. “If Xiaoluo was my daughter, I wouldn’t want her to marry you. What’s the benefit of marrying you? I’d have to work all the time.”

Shen Zheng also felt that he was often busy and couldn’t always be at home.

What he could do now was to try his best to take care of the housework whenever he was home to reduce the burden on his family. Otherwise, he didn’t know what else to do.

He’s a soldier, and he has his duties, but it really made life hard for his family.

Zheng Lanhua continued, “Xiaoluo is busy all day long. There are several children in the family, and they’re happy just to see her. This family feels like a home with her here. Are you busy this afternoon and evening? If not, come back early to help. I think Xiaoluo plans to make something delicious for Haifeng tonight.”

Shen Zheng nodded. “I’ll try to come back as soon as possible.”

Fang Xiaoluo handed over the ingredients, bought some fish and meat, took the cake, and rushed home.

She was thinking that she would take the driving test next spring.

Although she could drive, she couldn’t drive on the road without a license.

But it would definitely not be as easy for her to get a driver’s license as it was for Fang Qiang, because she also needed to learn mechanical maintenance and other things. Fang Qiang had worked as a car mechanic, so he already knew these things, which made it relatively easy for him.

For an ordinary person, though, it would take a long time to learn.

She could first ask Fang Qiang for the book, and then ask him when he was free. She could study more during the winter so it would be much easier to take the test next spring.

When she got home, Fang Xiaoluo started cleaning the fish.

Zheng Lanhua came over and said, “Let me take care of this, or you won’t like the fish I stew.”

Fang Xiaoluo suddenly felt happy. “Mom, there are only two of us in the room now, so I’m going to interview you. Please tell me the truth: Do you like the fish you stew?”

Zheng Lanhua took the large scissors and scraped the fish scales. “There’s no use saying that. You can’t make it taste as good anyway.”

“Yeah, mom, yours is unique,” Fang Xiaoluo said. “Wait another 30 years. When you cook, I’ll start a live stream for you, and we’ll get famous.”

“What’s a live stream?” Zheng Lanhua had never heard of it.

“Have you seen the movies and TV shows on TV? When the time comes, I’ll make you the leading lady and I’ll film it for you,” Fang Xiaoluo explained.

Zheng Lanhua quickly replied, “I won’t do it. It’d be embarrassing for an old lady like me.”

“What else is there to do after cleaning the fish?” Zheng Lanhua changed the subject.

Fang Xiaoluo pointed at the vegetables in the basin. “Wash and cut them.”

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were busy in the kitchen, chatting and laughing. It was very lively.

Shen Haifeng and his friends were on duty today, so they came out a little late. Shen Haiping waited for them at the school gate and didn’t leave.

While waiting, Shen Haiping squatted at the school gate and finished most of his homework.

When they returned to the military compound and were walking home, a group of three or four-year-old children pointed at a big poplar tree on the side of the road and shouted with their necks tilted high.

“Be careful!”

“Don’t miss a step.”

“Hey, Qi Yongchang, don’t go get the balloons, don’t take them!”

Shen Haifeng, Yu Feixu, and the others also saw Shen Jinxia and Yu Xiaopang.