Chapter 31: Daddy, Tells A Story (1)
“Huo Xiaoxiao, come here quickly. I reserved a seat for you!”
As soon as she stepped into the classroom, Huo Xiaoxiao saw Zhouzhou, whose hands were placed on his hips in front of the building block area. He was calling her, with two children standing on both sides on guard, not allowing other children to come near.
As Huo Xiaoxiao leisurely walked over, Zhouzhuo hurriedly gave her a seat. “This is especially for you.”
Huo Xiaoxiao had not spoken yet when their homeroom teacher looked at Zhouzhou and said, “Zhouzhou, didn’t Teacher tell you not to bully other children?”
Zhouzhou retorted, “I didn’t bully other children.”
“No? Why did you occupy this place then? What if other children want to come and play with you?”
Zhouzhou pursed his lips and did not speak.
“Didn’t Teacher tell you that everyone can play with all the things in the classroom together, and not hogging is allowed?”
Zhouzhou reluctantly nodded.
“For Zhouzhou and Xiaoxiao to become such good friends, Teacher is very happy, but Zhouzhou should also try to play with other children. We have to know how to share, understand?”
“Got it.”
""
The teacher patted Zhouzhou’s head with a smile, looked at Huo Xiaoxiao, and said, “You can continue to play.”
At once, Zhouzhou excitedly pulled Huo Xiaoxiao to sit down and play with building blocks.
Huo Xiaoxiao didn’t know if her vision was blurred, but the moment she sat down, she seemed to see a hairy little head bobbing past at the window.
It seemed to be Lu Jingyi, who had stood up for her yesterday.
The window was so high. How did he jump up?
With some doubt, Huo Xiaoxiao walked towards the classroom door and quietly poked her head out.
Outside the door were Xiang Chen and Jiang Yue. They were squatting and trying to hold Lu Jingyi’s waist to push him up, while Lu Jingyi was climbing the window sill with his two small hands. His two legs were kicking the wall at a distance of five or six centimeters from the ground, clenching his teeth to prop up.
Yi Qian was behind the three kids and stood on tiptoes to see the scene in the classroom through the window.
The window was more than one meter high, the exact height unknown. However, measuring it by Huo Xiaoxiao’s height, it was a bit taller than her.
Therefore, even if Xiang Chen and Jiang Yue tried their best to hold Lu Jingyi up, Lu Jingyi’s eyes could not see beyond the window sill. His head could only level with the window.
“Lu Jingyi, you… did you see it?”
“A little further up, I can’t see!”
“Lu Jingyi, you are so heavy! Have you put on weight lately?”
The two children who held him were covered with sweat.
“I can see inside! Don’t move.”
Xiang Chen and Jiang Yue trembled while holding Lu Jingyi in place.
“You… did you see?”
“Don’t worry, I’m looking… strange, why can’t I see it?”
“What are you doing?” Huo Xiaoxiao looked at them strangely and simply stepped forward.
The four kids looked over together as Xiang Chen and Jiang Yue’s hands loosened. “Huo Xiaoxiao, you are here!”
The poor Lu Jingyi was caught off guard, his whole person hanging on the windowsill. His hands grabbed the windowsill, and he struggled fearlessly. “Ah, ah, I’m going… I’m going to fall!”
As soon as his voice fell, Lu Jingyi lost his grip, and he fell on his butt.
“Lu Jingyi, are you okay?”
Lu Jingyi stood up from the ground and patted the dust on his hands. “It’s alright. We just came to see if you were in the classroom.”
Huo Xiaoxiao looked at the height of the windowsill and wondered about what they were thinking.
There was a door, but why did they insist on climbing the window?
“Why are you looking for me?”
“Yi Qian has something to give you.”
“To me?”
Yi Qian came to her with a gift box and said, “For You.”
Huo Xiaoxiao didn’t answer.
Why would he give her a gift for no rhyme or reason?
Was it a thank you gift for speaking up yesterday?
“What is this for?”
Yi Qian pursed his lips and seemed a little embarrassed in front of so many people. He closed his eyes and shouted, “I’m sorry!”
Huo Xiaoxiao was full of question marks. “Why say sorry to me?”
“That time, you taught me to play Rubik’s cube, but I… I misunderstood you, so I want to say sorry to you. I’m giving you my favorite car as a gift. You forgive me!”
Huo Xiaoxiao recalled when she had first met Yi Qian a long time ago.
The time she taught him to play Rubik’s cube was at grandfather Yi’s birthday party?
It was so long ago, but he still remembered?
“I wanted to apologize to you on my birthday, but you didn’t come.”
Yi Qian’s expression was serious at the start, but as he spoke, his little face turned red.
Huo Xiaoxiao had no interest in his car. “I accept your apology, but I don’t want the car.”
Yi Qian was obviously at a loss. “But… but I only have a car.”
Lu Jingyi looked at the duo and said anxiously, “Huo Xiaoxiao, if you don’t like cars, what do you like?”
“Yes, what do you like? Let’s find a way.”
“I don’t want anything.”
“Huo Xiaoxiao, did you… not forgive Yi Qian?”
“I forgave him.”
“Then why don’t you want his stuff?” Lu Jingyi said, “If you don’t want his things, you certainly have not forgiven him!”
The two children, Xiang Chen and Jiang Yue, solemnly agreed. “Yes, you certainly did not forgive him!”
…So stubborn.
“Okay, I want sweets.”
“Sweets?” Lu Jingyi emptied his pockets and asked left and right, “Do you have any?”
“How can we have something for these girls to eat?”
“Yi Qian, do you have any?”
Yi Qian shook his head.
“Huo Xiaoxiao, you wait. We’ll go and buy candies for you right away!”
With that, the three little friends pulled Yi Qian to get some candies.
When they came back, Yi Qian had bought a big bag full of candies and breathlessly handed it to Huo Xiaoxiao. “I bought all the candies in the store for you!”
“…” Huo Xiaoxiao felt that her new teeth were crying out in pain.
But in order to not disappoint the bright-eyed children in front of her, she happily accepted all the candies.
“By taking Yi Qian’s candies, you can’t be angry with him anymore.”
“Yes, we’ve all seen it. You can’t be angry with him again.”
Huo Xiaoxiao could only reassure the children. “Okay, I won’t be angry with Yi Qian anymore.”
“Hehe, we’ll find you to play together next time! Let’s go!”
“Goodbye.”
Huo Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief after finally coaxing the four children away, struggling to carry a bag of candy into the classroom. All the children circled around her, looking envious.
“Wow, Xiaoxiao, you have a lot of sweets.”
“Who bought it for you? Can I have some?”
“I want to eat it too. Can I have one?”
Children of this age had growing teeth and couldn’t eat too much sugar. Their parents kept them under strict control, so they seldom ate candy at ordinary times.
Huo Xiaoxiao just wanted to say yes, but when she looked back, she saw that the four of them had not left yet. They were keeping watch one by one at the door.
“No, it’s a gift. It can’t be given to you. But if you want sweets, I’ll bring them tomorrow.”
“Pinky swear, it’s a deal!”
“It’s a deal.”
After promising the few children, she looked back. The four little kids at the door were gone.
“All right, children, don’t surround Huo Xiaoxiao. Sit down quickly. Teacher will tell you a story.”
The children sat around and listened to the stories.
Zhouzhou, sitting beside Huo Xiaoxiao, leaned over and said in a small voice, “Huo Xiaoxiao, I saw everything just now. Your candies were given to you by that person. Why did he give you so many candies?”
“I don’t know.”
“Huo Xiaoxiao, my mother says not to take candies from people you don’t know.”
“But I know him. He stood up for me yesterday, remember?”
“You remember him because he fought for you?”
Huo Xiaoxiao did not speak.
Zhouzhou looked at her eagerly. “Can you give me sweets?”
Huo Xiaoxiao glanced at him, took out one from the bag, and quietly handed it to him. “Don’t let others know.”
Zhouzhou accepted the candy and held it in the palm of his hand. Listening to Huo Xiaoxiao’s words, he immediately hid it carefully and solemnly assured her. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone know!”
After she finished storytelling, the teacher suddenly asked all the students, “Children, do your parents tell you stories when you are at home?”
“Speak!”
“At night… at night, Dad tells me a story.”
“Mom tells me a story, too.”
“Today, Teacher is giving you a task. When you go home, let your parents tell you a story. Tomorrow, Teacher will ask some of you to share the story told by your parents. Teacher will reward the one who speaks great, OK?”
“Yes!”
Tell a story?
Huo Xiaoxiao thought for a while. Her father didn’t seem to have told her stories. Aunt Zhao was the one who did it.
Could her dad tell a story?
Huo Xiaoxiao was skeptical.
In the afternoon, Aunt Zhao came to pick her up at school.
“Aunt Zhao! Where’s Grandpa?”
“Old Master is waiting for you at home.” Aunt Zhao noticed that her small school bag was full and bulging, so she took it and shook it. “Xiaoxiao, what’s in the school bag that it’s so heavy?”
“Candies! Yi Qian gave them to me.” Huo Xiaoxiao unzipped her school bag and showed the bag full of candies to Aunt Zhao.
“Aunt won’t eat it. Xiaoxiao must not eat too much either, understand? Otherwise, the new teeth will go bad. Give it to Aunt Zhao for safekeeping.”
“Okay!”
“Good.”
“Huo Xiaoxiao, is this your mom?” A sharp and clear voice came.
Zhouzhou was holding the hand of a beautiful young woman while coming towards her. The beautiful young woman laughed at Aunt Zhao.
“Little kid, I’m not Xiaoxiao’s mom; I’m her nanny…”
“Not a nanny, but an aunt!”
Aunt Zhao was stunned before she said with a smile, “Yes, auntie.”
“Auntie? What about your mom?”
“I don’t know.”
Listening to his son’s words, Zhouzhou’s mother gave Aunt Zhao an apologetic smile. Then she looked at Zhouzhou. “Zhouzhou, didn’t Mommy say that you’re not allowed to ask questions about others?”
“Why not?”
Zhouzhou’s mother helplessly said with a smile, “I’m sorry. This child is spoiled by me.”
“It’s alright. Children don’t understand.”
“Then I’ll go first.” After saying that, the woman pulled Zhouzhou away.
“Huo Xiaoxiao, see you tomorrow!”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Xiaoxiao, let’s go. We’re also going back.”
“Alright!” Huo Xiaoxiao nodded and left with Aunt Zhao.
At the gate of the kindergarten, Yi Qian looked at the direction of Huo Xiaoxiao and asked in a puzzled way, “Grandpa, where is Huo Xiaoxiao’s mother?”
“Xiaoxiao’s mother is not with her,” Grandpa Chen replied.
“Where did she go?”
Grandpa Chen didn’t know what to say to tactfully tell Yi Qian that Huo Xiao’s mother didn’t want her anymore.
“Did her mother not want her?”
Grandfather Chen was surprised. “Chenchen, who did you listen to?”
“I heard Dad and Mom talking. Huo Xiaoxiao’s mother left when she was just born.”
“In the future, you’re not allowed to mention her mother in front of Xiaoxiao, let alone telling her that she didn’t want her. Otherwise, Xiaoxiao will be sad, understand?” Grandpa Chen solemnly told him.
Yi Qian nodded. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’ll keep it in mind and won’t mention it!”
————
After returning home, Huo Xiaoxiao couldn’t wait to enter Old Master Huo’s room and tell him all the exciting things that happened today.
“Yi Qian gave you a big bag of candies? Show it to Grandpa?”
Aunt Zhao opened her school bag to him.
“With so many candies, it seems that this Yi Qian little kid likes you very much. Xiaoxiao is so awesome and has made so many friends on your second day at school.”
“So, Grandpa, don’t worry about me getting bullied at school. I have a lot of friends. No one dares to bully me!”
“Yes, Grandpa won’t worry anymore.”
“Did Grandpa have a good rest today?”
“Yes. Look, Grandpa is still in bed.”
“Then, Grandpa, you take a good rest. I’ll call Grandpa to eat dinner together.”
“Good. Go and play.”
Huo Xiaoxiao bounced out of the room.
Huo Suicheng seemed to be busy again recently. After dinner at night, it was Huo Xiaoxiao’s bedtime, but Huo Suicheng had not come back.
She lay on the bed with a storybook in her arms, listening to the movements in the corridor of the room. She did not know how long had passed before she heard the sound of footsteps. Her spirits awakened instantly, and she climbed out of bed, walking towards Huo Suicheng’s room.
""
Huo Suicheng had been quite busy recently. The Luming Mountain’s problem had put a lot of pressure on him. The project was suspended, and the loss was increasing every day.
After he took a bath and came out, his daughter was already on his bed. He went to lift the quilt and looked at Xiaoxiao, who was staring at him. “Why haven’t you slept? It’s already so late.”
“Waiting for Daddy to come back and tell me a story.”
“Tell a story? Isn’t it Aunt Zhao who usually tells you?”
“But this is the homework assigned by the teacher. I want Daddy to tell me.” Huo Xiaoxiao handed him a candy. “Here, Daddy, eat candy.”
“Grandpa bought it for you?”
“No, Yi Qian gave them to me. He bought a lot of them, a whole bag.”
Huo Suicheng put the candy on the side table. “Little kids should eat fewer candies.”
Then, he got into bed and asked her, “What story do you want to hear?”
Huo Xiaoxiao crawled over to Huo Suicheng and nestled up to him. “As long as Daddy tells it.”
Huo Suicheng took Huo Xiaoxiao’s storybook and flipped through it. Huo Xiaoxiao leaned on his arm and curiously peeked at the storybook.
“Once upon a time, at the bottom of a very, very deep sea, there was a majestic castle where six mermaid princesses lived. The youngest princess fell in love with a prince, and to be with him, she asked a witch to turn her fishtail into legs…”
Huo Suicheng’s voice was low and magnetic, pleasant to ears, but Huo Xiaoxiao was still yawning.
Her ears had grown callus from hearing these stories. It was strange that she didn’t want to sleep.
“Later, the little mermaid turned into a bubble and sank to the bottom of the sea.”
After telling “The Little Mermaid”, Huo Suicheng frowned, apparently not quite agreeing with the moral of this story.
“Do you know what this story tells us?”
It was just the little mermaid’s good and pure character, strong perseverance, and spirit of sacrifice.
Huo Suicheng said, “The little mermaid lost her voice for the prince, lost her fishtail, and eventually became a bubble, disappearing forever. So, this story tells us not to hurt ourselves for anyone, especially men, understand?”
“…?”
Huo Suicheng put the storybook aside before glancing at it with disgust.
“Huo Xiaoxiao, did you hear what Daddy said?”
For a while, Huo Xiaoxiao didn’t know how to describe the shock in her heart.
Her father was really cold-blooded.
At an age when other parents were telling their children about the goodness and beauty of the world, her father was giving her a lecture on the horrors of men.
“If you grow up and dare to hurt yourself for a man like a mermaid, I’ll break your legs. Do you hear me?”
“…” Huo Xiaoxiao took this chance and said, “Daddy, let me also tell you a story. Teacher told me today.”
“What story?”
“A long time ago, a rich man’s wife fell ill. Later, the rich man’s wife died, leaving only a filial, kind-hearted, and beautiful daughter. Soon after, the rich man married another wife, but the new wife was very bad to this kind and beautiful stepdaughter. She beat her, scolded her, and made her sleep in the kitchen. She asked her to carry water, make a fire, cook, and wash clothes, mistreating her every day. The little girl worked hard every day, but her father ignored her and let her be bullied by her stepmother. And then… later, the little girl ran away from home. The little girl’s father was very sorry and regretful, but he couldn’t find the little girl again!”
“…” Huo Suicheng turned silent.
Although he had never heard any fairy tales, he wasn’t oblivious to this Cinderella story.
It seemed… a bit different?
Chapter 31: Daddy, Tells A Story (1)
“Huo Xiaoxiao, come here quickly. I reserved a seat for you!”
As soon as she stepped into the classroom, Huo Xiaoxiao saw Zhouzhou, whose hands were placed on his hips in front of the building block area. He was calling her, with two children standing on both sides on guard, not allowing other children to come near.
As Huo Xiaoxiao leisurely walked over, Zhouzhuo hurriedly gave her a seat. “This is especially for you.”
Huo Xiaoxiao had not spoken yet when their homeroom teacher looked at Zhouzhou and said, “Zhouzhou, didn’t Teacher tell you not to bully other children?”
Zhouzhou retorted, “I didn’t bully other children.”
“No? Why did you occupy this place then? What if other children want to come and play with you?”
Zhouzhou pursed his lips and did not speak.
“Didn’t Teacher tell you that everyone can play with all the things in the classroom together, and not hogging is allowed?”
Zhouzhou reluctantly nodded.
“For Zhouzhou and Xiaoxiao to become such good friends, Teacher is very happy, but Zhouzhou should also try to play with other children. We have to know how to share, understand?”
“Got it.”
""
The teacher patted Zhouzhou’s head with a smile, looked at Huo Xiaoxiao, and said, “You can continue to play.”
At once, Zhouzhou excitedly pulled Huo Xiaoxiao to sit down and play with building blocks.
Huo Xiaoxiao didn’t know if her vision was blurred, but the moment she sat down, she seemed to see a hairy little head bobbing past at the window.
It seemed to be Lu Jingyi, who had stood up for her yesterday.
The window was so high. How did he jump up?
With some doubt, Huo Xiaoxiao walked towards the classroom door and quietly poked her head out.
Outside the door were Xiang Chen and Jiang Yue. They were squatting and trying to hold Lu Jingyi’s waist to push him up, while Lu Jingyi was climbing the window sill with his two small hands. His two legs were kicking the wall at a distance of five or six centimeters from the ground, clenching his teeth to prop up.
Yi Qian was behind the three kids and stood on tiptoes to see the scene in the classroom through the window.
The window was more than one meter high, the exact height unknown. However, measuring it by Huo Xiaoxiao’s height, it was a bit taller than her.
Therefore, even if Xiang Chen and Jiang Yue tried their best to hold Lu Jingyi up, Lu Jingyi’s eyes could not see beyond the window sill. His head could only level with the window.
“Lu Jingyi, you… did you see it?”
“A little further up, I can’t see!”
“Lu Jingyi, you are so heavy! Have you put on weight lately?”
The two children who held him were covered with sweat.
“I can see inside! Don’t move.”
Xiang Chen and Jiang Yue trembled while holding Lu Jingyi in place.
“You… did you see?”
“Don’t worry, I’m looking… strange, why can’t I see it?”
“What are you doing?” Huo Xiaoxiao looked at them strangely and simply stepped forward.
The four kids looked over together as Xiang Chen and Jiang Yue’s hands loosened. “Huo Xiaoxiao, you are here!”
The poor Lu Jingyi was caught off guard, his whole person hanging on the windowsill. His hands grabbed the windowsill, and he struggled fearlessly. “Ah, ah, I’m going… I’m going to fall!”
As soon as his voice fell, Lu Jingyi lost his grip, and he fell on his butt.
“Lu Jingyi, are you okay?”
Lu Jingyi stood up from the ground and patted the dust on his hands. “It’s alright. We just came to see if you were in the classroom.”
Huo Xiaoxiao looked at the height of the windowsill and wondered about what they were thinking.
There was a door, but why did they insist on climbing the window?
“Why are you looking for me?”
“Yi Qian has something to give you.”
“To me?”
Yi Qian came to her with a gift box and said, “For You.”
Huo Xiaoxiao didn’t answer.
Why would he give her a gift for no rhyme or reason?
Was it a thank you gift for speaking up yesterday?
“What is this for?”
Yi Qian pursed his lips and seemed a little embarrassed in front of so many people. He closed his eyes and shouted, “I’m sorry!”
Huo Xiaoxiao was full of question marks. “Why say sorry to me?”
“That time, you taught me to play Rubik’s cube, but I… I misunderstood you, so I want to say sorry to you. I’m giving you my favorite car as a gift. You forgive me!”
Huo Xiaoxiao recalled when she had first met Yi Qian a long time ago.
The time she taught him to play Rubik’s cube was at grandfather Yi’s birthday party?
It was so long ago, but he still remembered?
“I wanted to apologize to you on my birthday, but you didn’t come.”
Yi Qian’s expression was serious at the start, but as he spoke, his little face turned red.
Huo Xiaoxiao had no interest in his car. “I accept your apology, but I don’t want the car.”
Yi Qian was obviously at a loss. “But… but I only have a car.”
Lu Jingyi looked at the duo and said anxiously, “Huo Xiaoxiao, if you don’t like cars, what do you like?”
“Yes, what do you like? Let’s find a way.”
“I don’t want anything.”
“Huo Xiaoxiao, did you… not forgive Yi Qian?”
“I forgave him.”
“Then why don’t you want his stuff?” Lu Jingyi said, “If you don’t want his things, you certainly have not forgiven him!”
The two children, Xiang Chen and Jiang Yue, solemnly agreed. “Yes, you certainly did not forgive him!”
…So stubborn.
“Okay, I want sweets.”
“Sweets?” Lu Jingyi emptied his pockets and asked left and right, “Do you have any?”
“How can we have something for these girls to eat?”
“Yi Qian, do you have any?”
Yi Qian shook his head.
“Huo Xiaoxiao, you wait. We’ll go and buy candies for you right away!”
With that, the three little friends pulled Yi Qian to get some candies.
When they came back, Yi Qian had bought a big bag full of candies and breathlessly handed it to Huo Xiaoxiao. “I bought all the candies in the store for you!”
“…” Huo Xiaoxiao felt that her new teeth were crying out in pain.
But in order to not disappoint the bright-eyed children in front of her, she happily accepted all the candies.
“By taking Yi Qian’s candies, you can’t be angry with him anymore.”
“Yes, we’ve all seen it. You can’t be angry with him again.”
Huo Xiaoxiao could only reassure the children. “Okay, I won’t be angry with Yi Qian anymore.”
“Hehe, we’ll find you to play together next time! Let’s go!”
“Goodbye.”
Huo Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief after finally coaxing the four children away, struggling to carry a bag of candy into the classroom. All the children circled around her, looking envious.
“Wow, Xiaoxiao, you have a lot of sweets.”
“Who bought it for you? Can I have some?”
“I want to eat it too. Can I have one?”
Children of this age had growing teeth and couldn’t eat too much sugar. Their parents kept them under strict control, so they seldom ate candy at ordinary times.
Huo Xiaoxiao just wanted to say yes, but when she looked back, she saw that the four of them had not left yet. They were keeping watch one by one at the door.
“No, it’s a gift. It can’t be given to you. But if you want sweets, I’ll bring them tomorrow.”
“Pinky swear, it’s a deal!”
“It’s a deal.”
After promising the few children, she looked back. The four little kids at the door were gone.
“All right, children, don’t surround Huo Xiaoxiao. Sit down quickly. Teacher will tell you a story.”
The children sat around and listened to the stories.
Zhouzhou, sitting beside Huo Xiaoxiao, leaned over and said in a small voice, “Huo Xiaoxiao, I saw everything just now. Your candies were given to you by that person. Why did he give you so many candies?”
“I don’t know.”
“Huo Xiaoxiao, my mother says not to take candies from people you don’t know.”
“But I know him. He stood up for me yesterday, remember?”
“You remember him because he fought for you?”
Huo Xiaoxiao did not speak.
Zhouzhou looked at her eagerly. “Can you give me sweets?”
Huo Xiaoxiao glanced at him, took out one from the bag, and quietly handed it to him. “Don’t let others know.”
Zhouzhou accepted the candy and held it in the palm of his hand. Listening to Huo Xiaoxiao’s words, he immediately hid it carefully and solemnly assured her. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone know!”
After she finished storytelling, the teacher suddenly asked all the students, “Children, do your parents tell you stories when you are at home?”
“Speak!”
“At night… at night, Dad tells me a story.”
“Mom tells me a story, too.”
“Today, Teacher is giving you a task. When you go home, let your parents tell you a story. Tomorrow, Teacher will ask some of you to share the story told by your parents. Teacher will reward the one who speaks great, OK?”
“Yes!”
Tell a story?
Huo Xiaoxiao thought for a while. Her father didn’t seem to have told her stories. Aunt Zhao was the one who did it.
Could her dad tell a story?
Huo Xiaoxiao was skeptical.
In the afternoon, Aunt Zhao came to pick her up at school.
“Aunt Zhao! Where’s Grandpa?”
“Old Master is waiting for you at home.” Aunt Zhao noticed that her small school bag was full and bulging, so she took it and shook it. “Xiaoxiao, what’s in the school bag that it’s so heavy?”
“Candies! Yi Qian gave them to me.” Huo Xiaoxiao unzipped her school bag and showed the bag full of candies to Aunt Zhao.
“Aunt won’t eat it. Xiaoxiao must not eat too much either, understand? Otherwise, the new teeth will go bad. Give it to Aunt Zhao for safekeeping.”
“Okay!”
“Good.”
“Huo Xiaoxiao, is this your mom?” A sharp and clear voice came.
Zhouzhou was holding the hand of a beautiful young woman while coming towards her. The beautiful young woman laughed at Aunt Zhao.
“Little kid, I’m not Xiaoxiao’s mom; I’m her nanny…”
“Not a nanny, but an aunt!”
Aunt Zhao was stunned before she said with a smile, “Yes, auntie.”
“Auntie? What about your mom?”
“I don’t know.”
Listening to his son’s words, Zhouzhou’s mother gave Aunt Zhao an apologetic smile. Then she looked at Zhouzhou. “Zhouzhou, didn’t Mommy say that you’re not allowed to ask questions about others?”
“Why not?”
Zhouzhou’s mother helplessly said with a smile, “I’m sorry. This child is spoiled by me.”
“It’s alright. Children don’t understand.”
“Then I’ll go first.” After saying that, the woman pulled Zhouzhou away.
“Huo Xiaoxiao, see you tomorrow!”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Xiaoxiao, let’s go. We’re also going back.”
“Alright!” Huo Xiaoxiao nodded and left with Aunt Zhao.
At the gate of the kindergarten, Yi Qian looked at the direction of Huo Xiaoxiao and asked in a puzzled way, “Grandpa, where is Huo Xiaoxiao’s mother?”
“Xiaoxiao’s mother is not with her,” Grandpa Chen replied.
“Where did she go?”
Grandpa Chen didn’t know what to say to tactfully tell Yi Qian that Huo Xiao’s mother didn’t want her anymore.
“Did her mother not want her?”
Grandfather Chen was surprised. “Chenchen, who did you listen to?”
“I heard Dad and Mom talking. Huo Xiaoxiao’s mother left when she was just born.”
“In the future, you’re not allowed to mention her mother in front of Xiaoxiao, let alone telling her that she didn’t want her. Otherwise, Xiaoxiao will be sad, understand?” Grandpa Chen solemnly told him.
Yi Qian nodded. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’ll keep it in mind and won’t mention it!”
————
After returning home, Huo Xiaoxiao couldn’t wait to enter Old Master Huo’s room and tell him all the exciting things that happened today.
“Yi Qian gave you a big bag of candies? Show it to Grandpa?”
Aunt Zhao opened her school bag to him.
“With so many candies, it seems that this Yi Qian little kid likes you very much. Xiaoxiao is so awesome and has made so many friends on your second day at school.”
“So, Grandpa, don’t worry about me getting bullied at school. I have a lot of friends. No one dares to bully me!”
“Yes, Grandpa won’t worry anymore.”
“Did Grandpa have a good rest today?”
“Yes. Look, Grandpa is still in bed.”
“Then, Grandpa, you take a good rest. I’ll call Grandpa to eat dinner together.”
“Good. Go and play.”
Huo Xiaoxiao bounced out of the room.
Huo Suicheng seemed to be busy again recently. After dinner at night, it was Huo Xiaoxiao’s bedtime, but Huo Suicheng had not come back.
She lay on the bed with a storybook in her arms, listening to the movements in the corridor of the room. She did not know how long had passed before she heard the sound of footsteps. Her spirits awakened instantly, and she climbed out of bed, walking towards Huo Suicheng’s room.
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Huo Suicheng had been quite busy recently. The Luming Mountain’s problem had put a lot of pressure on him. The project was suspended, and the loss was increasing every day.
After he took a bath and came out, his daughter was already on his bed. He went to lift the quilt and looked at Xiaoxiao, who was staring at him. “Why haven’t you slept? It’s already so late.”
“Waiting for Daddy to come back and tell me a story.”
“Tell a story? Isn’t it Aunt Zhao who usually tells you?”
“But this is the homework assigned by the teacher. I want Daddy to tell me.” Huo Xiaoxiao handed him a candy. “Here, Daddy, eat candy.”
“Grandpa bought it for you?”
“No, Yi Qian gave them to me. He bought a lot of them, a whole bag.”
Huo Suicheng put the candy on the side table. “Little kids should eat fewer candies.”
Then, he got into bed and asked her, “What story do you want to hear?”
Huo Xiaoxiao crawled over to Huo Suicheng and nestled up to him. “As long as Daddy tells it.”
Huo Suicheng took Huo Xiaoxiao’s storybook and flipped through it. Huo Xiaoxiao leaned on his arm and curiously peeked at the storybook.
“Once upon a time, at the bottom of a very, very deep sea, there was a majestic castle where six mermaid princesses lived. The youngest princess fell in love with a prince, and to be with him, she asked a witch to turn her fishtail into legs…”
Huo Suicheng’s voice was low and magnetic, pleasant to ears, but Huo Xiaoxiao was still yawning.
Her ears had grown callus from hearing these stories. It was strange that she didn’t want to sleep.
“Later, the little mermaid turned into a bubble and sank to the bottom of the sea.”
After telling “The Little Mermaid”, Huo Suicheng frowned, apparently not quite agreeing with the moral of this story.
“Do you know what this story tells us?”
It was just the little mermaid’s good and pure character, strong perseverance, and spirit of sacrifice.
Huo Suicheng said, “The little mermaid lost her voice for the prince, lost her fishtail, and eventually became a bubble, disappearing forever. So, this story tells us not to hurt ourselves for anyone, especially men, understand?”
“…?”
Huo Suicheng put the storybook aside before glancing at it with disgust.
“Huo Xiaoxiao, did you hear what Daddy said?”
For a while, Huo Xiaoxiao didn’t know how to describe the shock in her heart.
Her father was really cold-blooded.
At an age when other parents were telling their children about the goodness and beauty of the world, her father was giving her a lecture on the horrors of men.
“If you grow up and dare to hurt yourself for a man like a mermaid, I’ll break your legs. Do you hear me?”
“…” Huo Xiaoxiao took this chance and said, “Daddy, let me also tell you a story. Teacher told me today.”
“What story?”
“A long time ago, a rich man’s wife fell ill. Later, the rich man’s wife died, leaving only a filial, kind-hearted, and beautiful daughter. Soon after, the rich man married another wife, but the new wife was very bad to this kind and beautiful stepdaughter. She beat her, scolded her, and made her sleep in the kitchen. She asked her to carry water, make a fire, cook, and wash clothes, mistreating her every day. The little girl worked hard every day, but her father ignored her and let her be bullied by her stepmother. And then… later, the little girl ran away from home. The little girl’s father was very sorry and regretful, but he couldn’t find the little girl again!”
“…” Huo Suicheng turned silent.
Although he had never heard any fairy tales, he wasn’t oblivious to this Cinderella story.
It seemed… a bit different?
