Chapter 22: Tricking the Child

Su Ai and Lele didn’t eat first; they brought all the food to the bed.

The three of them sat around a small table, eating.

Su Ai expected Ji Yang to scold her for the game console’s price, especially since they needed money, but he only asked and didn’t say anything else.

She served Ji Yang a bowl of pig’s feet soup and casually asked:

“Don’t you think the game console is expensive?  Aren’t you upset that I spent so much on a toy for the child?”

Ji Yang put two pieces of pig’s feet from his bowl into Su Ai’s bowl.

He gave two pieces to Lele too.

“It is a bit expensive; 150 yuan is a lot.”

“But you bought it for Lele, not yourself. You’re so busy taking care of me and Lele; I have no reason to blame you.”

He would just work harder and earn more to provide for his wife and child.

Su Ai was delighted.  Her husband was a treasure. In this era, anyone from a poor family spending 150 yuan on a child’s game console would be called a spendthrift.

But her husband praised her for being good to Lele. He was the perfect husband.

“So, you think it’s okay to spend money on Lele, but if I spent 150 yuan, you’d think it’s expensive?”

Su Ai knew Ji Yang didn’t mean that; she was teasing him.

It was Su Ai’s mischievous nature; she liked seeing her husband blush and get flustered.

“That’s not what I meant.”

Ji Yang quickly waved his hand.

“I mean, you’re already so tired taking care of the child and me.  No matter who spent the money or what was bought, as long as it’s something you wanted, it’s fine.”

He added, fearing Su Ai might misunderstand or be unhappy:

“I earn money to spend on you and Lele.”

“When we get back, I’ll give you my savings.”

“Although my leg is injured, I can still earn money when we return.”

It might be inconvenient, but he wasn’t completely immobile; he was a doctor, not a laborer.

Su Ai was amused by Ji Yang’s nervousness.

But his sincerity and his desire to provide a good life for her and their child warmed her heart.

She was incredibly lucky to have Ji Yang.

Perhaps all her luck in this life was used up marrying such a good husband.

She had been a terrible person in her past life, not appreciating him.

“Let’s just eat. The pig’s feet are for you to recover, not for me and Lele.”

“You make soup for me every day, and it’s always meat. It’s too much.”

“I can’t finish it all; you and Lele should share some.”

“I’ll just drink more soup.”

Seeing Ji Yang still had some pig’s feet in his bowl, Su Ai didn’t take them back.  It was just a few pieces; she could buy more tomorrow.

Su Ai ignored his claim of not being able to finish it.

Ji Yang was tall; even if he didn’t move, his body needed energy.  Eating too little wouldn’t do.

But the feeling of a family caring for each other was really good.

Those two pieces of pig’s feet tasted better than any delicacies she’d had in her past life.

The family’s happiness was heartwarming.

“Dad, Mommy took me to see a movie, *Black Cat Sheriff*. Do you know it? Mommy said we’ll buy a big TV, a color TV.”

“So I can watch TV every day.”

“Daddy, I can watch Black Cat Sheriff every day, and we can watch it together.”

Ji Yang scooped up some minced meat and egg custard for his son, then added some vegetables for a balanced meal, a smile unconsciously spreading across his face.

“Okay.”

Since Ji Yang had suggested Su Ai join them for meals, she had been eating with them.  But during dinner, Lele looked at Su Ai with a strange expression.

“What? Do I have something on my face?”

“No, Mommy.  Daddy said before that you don’t like vegetables, but now you’re eating a lot.”

Lele wasn’t telling Su Ai not to eat too much; he was just surprised by the contrast between her current behavior and her previous refusal to eat vegetables.

“Daddy said I don’t like vegetables?”

Su Ai looked at Ji Yang questioningly, and Ji Yang froze.

Sure enough, words spoken in the past will eventually come back to haunt you.  A boomerang effect.

“Yes, it was that time…”

Before Lele could finish, Ji Yang fed him a large spoonful of egg custard, filling his mouth.

Lele looked at his father, puzzled, chewing his food.

He didn’t dare to speak, afraid food would fall out of his mouth.

He used his large, expressive eyes to accuse his father.

He didn’t understand what his father was doing.

“It was when you put the carrot and pork stir-fry on our bed. Lele asked why you weren’t eating vegetables and meat, and I said you didn’t like them.”

Children speak without thinking, often with their own interpretations.  It was better for Ji Yang to explain honestly.

Su Ai remembered the situation.  Ji Yang had been angry with her then, so he’d said she didn’t like vegetables when Lele asked.

“Mm, I didn’t like them.”

Lele finally swallowed his food.

“But Mommy, you’re eating them now?”

Su Ai calmly helped her husband cover up the lie.

“I don’t like the vegetables I serve myself, but I like the ones you and Daddy serve me.”

“I think the vegetables I serve myself are tasteless.”

“Ah, really?” Lele was amazed.

“Do you and Daddy’s chopsticks have magic?”

“What do the vegetables you and Daddy serve taste like?”

Ji Yang looked at Su Ai, wondering how she would answer.

Su Ai calmly picked up a piece of pig’s foot and put it in her mouth.

She looked delighted, her eyes narrowed.

“It’s the taste of love.”

Ji Yang blushed. Lele looked puzzled.

He asked Su Ai to serve him vegetables, but he didn’t taste the love, so he sighed.

“Adults are really hard to understand sometimes.”

“I don’t know if they’re telling the truth or just fooling children.”

“Big Fatty said, ‘Adults’ mouths are like ghosts, always lying.’ Mommy, you’re lying to me.”

“Daddy, you’re lying to me too.” Lele looked at his parents resentfully. They were lying to a child.

Su Ai burst into laughter.