Chapter 129.2

Su Xiaoxiao brought the cubs to Han Cheng’s office.

Han Cheng just finished the meeting and was sorting out the key points of the meeting. After going back for lunch, he didn’t pay much attention to the time. It was only when Su Xiaoxiao arrived that he realized it was already lunchtime.

“You guys sit there and wait for me for a moment, I will be done with this in a bit.” Han Cheng picked up his pen and started writing the key points.

They say a man who works earnestly is the most handsome. Su Xiaoxiao loved watching Han Cheng when he was immersed in his work, his thin lips pressed into a line, his brow occasionally furrowing and then relaxing—a combination of rigor and charm.

Since Han Cheng transferred to the research work group, he has a new office. This was the first time Su Xiaoxiao and the three little ones had come here.

This office is much more spacious than before, with an entire wall filled with bookshelves holding numerous books and various documents.

“Dad, can I read the books here?” Fantuan asked.

Han Cheng glanced at his son, lifting his eyes. “You won’t understand these books yet. I’ll be done soon. You guys take the ration book and go to the cafeteria to get lunch. I’ll join you in a bit.”

Han Cheng opened the drawer and handed the ration book to Su Xiaoxiao. He said softly, “Let’s take the children there first. I’ll be fine in a while.”

Su Xiaoxiao took the book. “Is there anything specific you want to eat?”

Han Cheng smiled and said, “Anything is fine. You guys are lucky; I heard from Dr. Chen that they have braised pork today. It might run out if you go late, so hurry and go, remember to take lunch boxes.”

Su Xiaoxiao smiled at him and said, “Well, we haven’t eaten braised pork belly for a long time. I’ll order a bit more.”

Han Cheng nodded and said, “Go ahead.”

Su Xiaoxiao took the children to the cafeteria, and Han Cheng quickly focused on his work.

The military cafeteria was vast—really vast. Considering that Su Xiaoxiao and the little ones were here for the first time in all these years, a family of four was indeed eye-catching, drawing everyone’s attention.

With so many people and such a spacious cafeteria, the little ones were truly amazed.

Su Xiaoxiao seized every opportunity to train the children, like now when she handed the ration book to “young man” Fantuan, letting him and Xiao Zhuzi get lunch. They had to decide how much food the family of four needed, ensuring they ate enough without wasting, and they needed to borrow lunch boxes from the uncles and aunties at the serving window because there weren’t enough utensils.

This may seem like a small matter, but adults usually don’t entrust this job to two children under ten years old. Adults will subconsciously distribute food and won’t let their children do this errand. 

Su Xiaoxiao and Han Cheng were different. When the little ones were very young, they had already involved themselves in decision-making and sought their opinions before making choices. While it might seem trivial, the kids raised this way would be more capable of independent thinking and have more initiative. It could be said that Su Xiaoxiao’s children were a group of independent thinkers, each capable of holding their own ground.

Xiao Doubao held his mom’s hand, his big round eyes wide open. “Mom, are we going to have dinner with so many uncles and aunties?”

“Xiao Doubao doesn’t like it?” Su Xiaoxiao asked.

Xiao Doubao shook his head and said, “It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just that I find it strange. I’m not used to it.”

Xiao Doubao had always been a quiet and focused child. He was the kind who could sit in a corner of the classroom and quietly do his own thing.

Su Xiaoxiao found a seat that could accommodate five people and reassured the child. “It’s okay, we’ll eat our own food. Xiao Doubao, just treat everyone else as wooden stakes. Just focus on Mom and Dad and your older brothers, and eat your own food.”

Xiao Doubao nodded earnestly. “Okay.”

After the two older siblings finished queuing, Han Cheng arrived.

Xiao Zhuzi came over with a box of vegetables and a box of tofu and said, “There’s more; we couldn’t carry it all at once. Fantuan is waiting over there.”

After Xiao Zhuzi finished speaking, he turned around and went back to pick up Mote.

On the second trip, Xiao Fantuan and Xiao Zhuzi came with braised pork belly and rice.

Five portions of rice, a generous serving of braised pork, a full box of tofu, and a full box of vegetables—it was quite a lavish meal.

Han Cheng asked, “So much? How many portions did you order?”

Xiao Fantuan handed out chopsticks to everyone. “Two portions. When we asked Auntie, considering there were many of us, we asked if she could add an extra box of vegetables. Auntie not only gave us that but also gave us a box of tofu.”

Han Cheng: “…”

Han Cheng stared. The auntie in the cafeteria was known for her skill in professionally serving dishes; she would shake the ladle three times and nothing would spill. He had never heard of her giving this much before. Even the braised pork—usually, she doesn’t give this much. He wondered how these two kids managed it.

Zhuzi couldn’t help but complain, “No way, Fantuan asked Auntie about her son, what grade he’s in, his class, and his academic performance. After figuring out that her grandson was in the same class as us in first grade, Fantuan ‘casually’ mentioned his own name. That’s when Auntie gave us so much. Aunt Su, Fantuan even praised Auntie, saying she looks as young and beautiful as his mom. You can tell she’s already a grandma.”

Su Xiaoxiao sighed. This exceptional social skill belonged to their Fantuan, but why did he have to involve her?

Xiao Fantuan couldn’t help but hit Xiao Zhuzi. “Are you going to eat the braised pork or not?”

Xiao Zhuzi said, “Of course, I’ll eat. This is traded with the honor of my aunt Su. Later, she might go around telling everyone, ‘Fantuan said that I look as young and beautiful as his mom.’ Deal with it yourself.”

Xiao Zhuzi remembered the happy expression of the old aunt and didn’t know what to say.

Han Cheng was also speechless. “Let’s eat. Next time, don’t use your mom as an excuse.”

Xiao Fantuan casually said that not expecting anyone to take it seriously. “Mom, I’m sorry. I was wrong. I won’t make up stories just to eat a bit more braised pork!”

He realized that people who hadn’t seen his mom thought his dad had married someone like the old lady. It was embarrassing for his mom. He had miscalculated.

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t mind.

After the family finished eating their meal, they went to the publicity department to move their annual bonus.

Han Cheng felt something was wrong as he moved the things, so he got in the car and asked, “Why so many?”

Su Xiaoxiao said, “The cubs earned it on their own, and Minister Jiang gave them their annual bonus, and each person received a big red envelope.”

Speaking of the red envelope, Fantuan suddenly remembered to take out the red envelope and take a look. When he opened it, he was dumbfounded. Inside was actually ten yuan! 

Fantuan urged Xiao Zhuzi and Xiao Doubao, “Open your red envelopes and take a look.”

The two cubs opened and looked, and Xiao Zhuzi said, “It’s the same; I also got ten yuan.”

Xiao Doubao also said, “Mine is the same.”

Su Xiaoxiao thought that Director Jiang would just give each person one or two yuan as a gesture, but he never expected him to be so generous. Considering that these days, ten yuan is an average worker’s monthly salary,

Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but wonder, “You kids are amazing. You can earn a lot of money on your own at such a young age. What have you done to help Minister Jiang?”

The three cubs looked at each other and said in unison, “Secret!”

Alright, it’s always this answer every time. Su Xiaoxiao didn’t bother to press further.

Xiao Doubao gave the money to his mother, saying, “Mommy, use this to buy some meat.”

The other two cubs also handed it over and said, “Buy milk powder for my younger siblings.”

Su Xiaoxiao pushed back and said, “Save and use the money you earned yourselves. Don’t spend it recklessly, and avoid buying meaningless things.”

For the Chinese New Year red envelope, Su Xiaoxiao let the children hold onto it themselves. Xiao Roubao and Xiao Tangyuan were still too young, so Su Xiaoxiao held theirs for them, waiting until they were older to handle it themselves.

Xiao Doubao thought for a moment and asked, “Mom, can I buy fabric and have Grandma make me another little chicken backpack?”

Xiao Doubao has been carrying his little chick backpack every day from childhood to adulthood, and it has worn out. Although Li Yufeng made a slightly larger backup, it was also old. Su Xiaoxiao wanted to buy him a new backpack, but he insisted on having his little chicken backpack.

Su Xiaoxiao caressed the baby’s head and said, “Sure, Mom will take you to buy clothes another day and choose what you like. When you arrive at the Su family village, you can ask your grandmother to make it for you.”

Xiao Doubao smiled and said, “Mmm hmm!”

Xiao Fantuan also asked, “Mom, can I buy firecrackers?”

Su Xiaoxiao asked in response, “Do you plan to use all your money to buy firecrackers?”

Xiao Fantuan shook his head and said, “Of course not, at most, one yuan.”

Su Xiaoxiao said, “That’s acceptable. You can’t spend it all on firecrackers. In the future, you can use this money to buy stationery; choose what you like.”

Xiao Fantuan nodded and said, “Hmm, I want to buy delicious food for my younger brother and a skirt for my younger sister!”

Xiao Zhuzi also said, “I also want to buy a dress for my sister.”

Su Xiaoxiao said, “You should keep it. In the future, there will be many places to use money. Money should not be spent all at once when you have it, and you should also have a plan for how you want to spend your money. When you don’t need it, you can save it for times of need.”

After careful consideration, the three cubs nodded and said, “We understand, Mom/Aunt Su!”