Chapter 18: Dongdong Doesn’t Want to Be Fat

Mother Qin carried Dongdong all the way. After lunch, she felt a bit tired, so she went to take a nap. Father Qin stayed at home reading the newspaper, looking at reports from all over the country.

But Dongdong had slept all the way, and after eating lunch he couldn’t sit still anymore. He wanted to go play.

There was a small park in the compound, a leisure place that both older and younger kids liked to play in on regular days. There were seesaws, swings, and other fun things. The women also liked to go there to chat, sunbathe in winter, and enjoy the shade in summer.

Dongdong was one of the children who liked playing there.

But Dongdong was only two years old, so he was brought there by Aunt Zhang.

Actually, in this family, Aunt Zhang was the one who spent the most time with Dongdong. Although Dongdong was mostly raised by Mother Qin, Mother Qin had to work, so in terms of time spent, Aunt Zhang spent more.

But Dongdong liked his grandma the most.

Mother Qin came from a scholarly family. Not only was she knowledgeable, but she also knew a lot. Not to mention astronomy and geography, she also had knowledge of literature from ancient to modern times, from China and abroad. She even read many magazines and publications. Every night, Dongdong liked to sleep with his grandma and listen to her tell stories.

Aunt Zhang followed Mother Qin when she married into the Qin family. Before the founding of the country, she was a maid beside Mother Qin. When she was young, her family sold her to Mother Qin’s household, and she has followed her ever since.

After the founding of the country, when everyone was considered equal and the old landlord-style practices were gone, she became a housekeeper for Mother Qin.

Aunt Zhang was a few years younger than Mother Qin. Because of her experience of being sold as a child, she married relatively late. Later, through Father Qin’s introduction, she married one of his soldiers. Her husband and child lived in the family housing at the stationed base. She would go back during holidays to tidy up. The reason she continued to stay here was, first, because she was used to it, and second, because there was nothing to do at home. If she left, someone else would have to be hired, so she simply stayed on.

“Dongdong, are you tired from walking? Do you want Grandma Zhang to carry you?” Aunt Zhang also liked children. Her own child was not yet at marriageable age, and she couldn’t hope for grandchildren anytime soon, so she could only admire Dongdong.

Seeing Dongdong walking like a white radish, she felt that no child in the compound was cuter than their Dongdong.

“No, Dongdong walks.” Ji Dong walked steadily in small steps. Today he wore black cotton pants, white running shoes, and a cotton short-sleeve shirt with a Western-style collar, looking like a spirited little boy.

Mother Qin was quite particular about Dongdong’s clothes. A child’s skin was tender, so she chose only soft cotton materials. She didn’t follow the belief of spoiling daughters and being strict with sons. When the children at home were young, she raised them all with great care. Once they reached primary school age, she would loosen up.

According to her belief, when the children were still little, adults should take charge. As they grew, adults could balance supervision with letting go.

Even though Aunt Zhang let Dongdong walk on his own, her eyes never left him, afraid he might fall. Children at this age still walked unsteadily, always making people nervous.

But every time you thought he was going to fall, he would balance like a roly-poly toy and not fall after all.

In short, watching him made people anxious.

There were already quite a few people in the small park. Some adults were chatting together, and children were playing.

Dongdong’s arrival attracted a lot of attention. Some people started whispering.

“Isn’t the third son of the Qin family twenty-five this year? Why hasn’t he talked about marriage yet? In a few more years, he’ll be grandpa-aged.” Someone saw Dongdong and thought of Qin Zhan.

“High standards, I guess. What’s the Third Brother Qin’s status? I heard he was promoted to deputy regiment commander this year. That’s a twenty-five-year-old deputy regiment commander. If there are no surprises, he’ll be a full commander before thirty. With that kind of status, marrying an ordinary person would be marrying up.” Someone replied.

“You said it yourself, he’s of high status. Of course his standards have to be high. With his background, who would want to marry beneath him?” Someone else felt Qin Zhan having high standards was reasonable. After all, his family background was solid and he himself was capable.

“No matter how good the conditions are, he’s already twenty-five. If he waits any longer, young girls will think he’s too old.” Someone disagreed.

“Pfft… With someone like him, even if he’s forty-five, there would still be young girls lining up for him.”

“Forget young girls lining up for him, even mothers of girls his age would be willing to marry their daughters to him.”

“Exactly.”

People talked about Qin Zhan’s private matters, and naturally they didn’t forget to talk about Ji Dong too.

“Look at the Third Brother Qin’s adopted son, raised like a little winter melon. The Qin family really spares no expense.” If this chubby child was their own, how wonderful that would be. Though their tone was sour, they were full of envy.

“I heard Mother Qin say that the Third Brother Qin’s adopted son is being raised on his own money. After his father died, his grandma back in his hometown had a stroke and couldn’t care for him, so she handed over the compensation money to the Third Brother Qin. So he’s using his own money.”

This was indeed something Mother Qin had spread around. It was to shut up people who gossiped about Dongdong being a freeloader. Also, the 1500 yuan left behind by Widow Ji was a fact. However, Mother Qin wouldn’t touch that money. According to Qin Zhan, they didn’t need to take it. But Mother Qin was a smart person. She knew that if she didn’t take the money, Widow Ji wouldn’t feel at ease or confident.

She accepted the money, and Widow Ji felt at ease and secure, no longer afraid her grandson would be accused of living off others.

Mother Qin’s plan was to save that money for Dongdong and give it back to Widow Ji when she came to ask for it, or when Ning Xin woke up. If neither of those happened, then she would give it to Dongdong when he grew up.

“Speaking of that, the child’s elder must be a good person.”

“Even if they didn’t give money, considering that his father died for the Third Brother Qin, the Qin family should raise him.” Someone said indignantly.

That might be true, but saying it out loud sounded unpleasant.

Dongdong didn’t know that as soon as he went out, he became the subject of gossip. He saw the little friend he usually played with and ran over with his chubby short legs, muttering, “Ping’an…”

Ping’an was a sturdy little boy. That was his nickname. When he was born, he was weak and skinny like a monkey. His family hoped he would grow up safe and sound, so they named him that.

Although he was still skinny now, he had become healthy like an ordinary child.

“Dongdong…” Ping’an was also happy to see Ji Dong and ran toward him.

When the two met, the little boys held hands. One fat and one thin made a sharp contrast, attracting even more attention.

“Dongdong, did your family eat meat again today?” someone asked. Originally they thought this chubby kid was cute, but standing next to Ping’an made him look extra plump, like a proper little fatty.

Ji Dong nodded, “Ate meat, it was delicious.”

The other person said, “Dongdong, you’re already fat enough, you can’t eat more meat. If you keep getting fatter, you’ll be just like a little pig.”

Ji Dong blinked and looked at his friend, “Dongdong, fat?” He pointed at himself.

Ping’an looked at his chubby little hand, then at himself. Though he didn’t quite understand, he honestly nodded, “Fat.” One word, very loud.

He had already forgotten what his Grandma said about chubby being cute. Hearing his good friend also say he was fat, he got anxious: “No… don’t want to be fat.”

“That’s easy. Next time your family eats meat, hide the meat and bring it to me. That way, you won’t get fat, understand?” The other child teased.

“Really?” Dongdong asked in his baby voice, but was already making plans in his heart. If he gave the meat to her, would he really not get fat?

“Dongdong, don’t listen to her nonsense. If you don’t want to get fat, just walk more.” Ping’an’s grandma said.

Someone agreed, “Have you seen the new daughter-in-law of the Lu family? When she just married in, she was chubby and looked blessed. Now she’s skinny like a corn stalk.”

“She does so much work every day. She washes clothes for the whole family, cleans the little house, cooks three meals a day. Even the old landlords in the past didn’t make people work like the Lu family does.”

Dongdong’s small ears twitched. If he walked more and worked more, would he not be fat?