Yuanbao was born prematurely.
Because of this, she developed slower than normal children in many aspects.
While most children learn to walk around one year old, Yuanbao didn’t start walking until she was two.
Moreover.
Now at three years old, Yuanbao still couldn’t speak.
She had been diagnosed as mute by the Military Region hospital.
Initially.
Lu Xiaoliang would tirelessly teach his sister to speak every day, but after half a year of instruction, his sister hadn’t uttered a single word.
So Lu Xiaoliang eventually accepted the hospital’s diagnosis.
He stopped insisting that his sister learn to speak.
In Lu Xiaoliang’s eyes, as long as his sister could eat her fill and be happy every day, that was enough. If anyone bullied his sister because she couldn’t speak, he would fight back – he would never allow anyone to bully his sister.
They could bully him instead.
But bullying his sister was unacceptable.
They could insult him.
But insulting his father was also forbidden.
Yuanbao walked all the way to their doorstep.
She felt too embarrassed to go straight in.
So she stood outside the door.
Staring eagerly at the person squatting on the ground doing laundry.
Nan Qingqing quickly noticed an intense gaze and suddenly turned her head.
Yuanbao had no time to hide.
She walked out with a flushed face.
Compared to the lying Lu Xiaoliang, Nan Qingqing much preferred this soft, adorable little dumpling.
Nan Qingqing smiled until her eyes curved, beckoning to Yuanbao.
Yuanbao ran over shyly yet expectantly.
Squatting down in front of Nan Qingqing.
Nan Qingqing asked, “Your name is Yuanbao, right?”
Yuanbao nodded vigorously.
Nan Qingqing smiled and asked, “Then do you know what yuanbao means?”
Yuanbao poked the ground with her small hands, quickly filling her fingernails with dirt.
She shook her head shyly.
Nan Qingqing found this little dumpling even more endearing.
In her previous life, she had no children and never expected to have any. She had only interacted with Nan Honghong’s children – Nan Honghong’s daughter was particularly arrogant and domineering, which she disliked.
She had always thought she didn’t like children.
But upon meeting Yuanbao.
Nan Qingqing realized she only disliked disobedient, ill-behaved brats.
She liked Yuanbao far too much.
After finishing the laundry, Nan Qingqing stood up to hang the clothes.
Yuanbao quickly scrambled to her feet too.
She looked up at Nan Qingqing.
Nan Qingqing noticed that when Yuanbao looked up, her little shirt rode up, revealing her round, plump belly.
Her clothes were quite dirty too.
In contrast, her brother’s clothes were cleaner.
Nan Qingqing’s obsessive-compulsive tendencies kicked in.
After hanging the clothes, she scooped Yuanbao up in her arms.
Yuanbao froze, suddenly lifted into the air.
Without a word, Nan Qingqing carried the child into the children’s room.
She saw many folded clothes in a cloth bag by the bedhead.
Probably dried and folded laundry.
Nan Qingqing randomly picked out an outfit.
Unfolding it.
She saw it was covered with stains,
Whether from falling in dirty water or Yuanbao wetting herself.
In any case, it wasn’t clean.
Nan Qingqing frowned and asked Yuanbao, “Yuanbao, do you know where your clean clothes are?”
Yuanbao extended her short little finger.
Pointing at the cloth bag.
Nan Qingqing was stunned, “These are the clean clothes after washing?”
Yuanbao nodded emphatically.
Nan Qingqing took a deep breath and asked, “Did your brother wash your clothes for you?”
Yuanbao nodded again.
Nan Qingqing snorted.
This Lu Xiaoliang.
He talks about how much he cares for his sister, yet he washes his own clothes spotless while doing a sloppy job on his sister’s clothes – truly not a good child.
Nan Qingqing found a slightly cleaner set of clothes.
She prepared to change Yuanbao’s clothes.
Yuanbao understood Nan Qingqing’s intention and quickly began undressing herself with remarkable obedience.
She freed one arm, then used all her might to tug at the other sleeve, which was stuck tight.
She looked like a child being swallowed by a jacket monster.
Amused, Nan Qingqing straightened Yuanbao’s arm, grabbed the corner of her clothes, and with a gentle pull, Yuanbao was stripped bare.
It was probably the first time in her life that undressing had been so easy, and Yuanbao was momentarily stunned.
Her little mouth slightly agape.
Her eyes wide and round.
Nan Qingqing then deftly dressed Yuanbao, who was even more astonished.
When she and her brother dressed, it took forever and ever.
This pretty sister was so capable!
Nan Qingqing tossed the remaining clothes into a basin of water.
The stains were deeply set, so they needed to soak for a while before washing.
With nothing else to do, Nan Qingqing decided she wanted to buy a bra for herself.
But she didn’t know the way.
She casually asked, “Yuanbao, do you know the way to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative?”
She didn’t hold out much hope.
After all, Yuanbao was only three years old.
To Nan Qingqing’s surprise, Yuanbao actually nodded.
Nan Qingqing: “…”
Following Yuanbao’s directions, Nan Qingqing carried Yuanbao to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
The Supply and Marketing Cooperative in Nancheng was much more bustling than the one in their town.
Holding the child, Nan Qingqing squeezed inside and asked, “Comrade, do you have bras for women?”
The saleswoman’s face suddenly flushed.
She stammered, “We don’t sell that kind of thing here. You should try the Department Store across the street.”
Hearing this.
Nan Qingqing thanked her and took Yuanbao to the Department Store.
She found the lingerie counter.
The salesperson was dozing off.
Nan Qingqing tapped on the counter.
The person immediately woke up, “Comrade, what do you need?”
Nan Qingqing said, “I’d like to look at bras.”
Hearing this.
The salesperson looked Nan Qingqing up and down, then spoke in a voice as soft as if sharing a secret code, “You really want one?”
Nan Qingqing: “Yes!”
The salesperson pulled out two items from the very bottom, mysteriously hiding them under a pair of long johns, and showed Nan Qingqing only the patterns. “Which one do you want?”
Nan Qingqing: “…”
Why did it feel like a spy exchange?
She set Yuanbao down on the floor.
Instructed Yuanbao not to wander too far.
Yuanbao was very well-behaved, just hugging Nan Qingqing’s thigh and standing still, not going anywhere.
Nan Qingqing said, “Let me see the styles.”
The salesperson said with difficulty, “They’re all pretty much the same.”
Nan Qingqing pulled them out.
The salesperson blushed deeply.
Nan Qingqing examined the bras of this era—no design to speak of, just two simple cloth pouches sewn together with a few pieces of fabric.
No sizes either.
Nan Qingqing measured with her fingers and said, “I’ll take two of these.”
After they were packed.
Nan Qingqing also asked for two pairs of panties.
After packing them for Nan Qingqing, the salesperson couldn’t help but ask, “Comrade, are these for you to wear?”
Nan Qingqing asked, “Yes, why do you ask?”
Only then did the salesperson say, “Nothing, it’s just that at this counter, I hardly sell anything for three to five days. You’re the first customer today. Most women comrades don’t like this kind of clothing.”
Nan Qingqing said with a smile, “They’re quite comfortable to wear. You should try one.”
The salesperson gave an awkward laugh, “I’d better not.”
Nan Qingqing finished buying her underwear.
Then, she went to the children’s clothing section and bought a set of clothes for Yuanbao.
Yuanbao quickly waved her little hands, indicating she didn’t want it.
Nan Qingqing said seriously, “This is your reward for helping me find the way. You earned it yourself, so you can’t refuse. If you don’t take it, I’ll owe you a favor.”
Although Yuanbao didn’t understand what a “favor” was, she knew what a reward meant.
Blushing, she accepted her reward.
The beautiful older sister’s reward was a set of pink clothes with lace trims and a bow. They were so pretty that Yuanbao couldn’t help stealing glances at them.
After buying the children’s clothes, Nan Qingqing went to get some snacks.
She bought them not just for Yuanbao but also for herself.
After all, the forty yuan she had was given by Lu Baiyang. Since Lu Baiyang said it was hers, she could spend it all without a second thought.
Nan Qingqing happily went on a shopping spree with Yuanbao.
Meanwhile, at the Military Compound, Lu Xiaoliang cried all the way from the compound to the Military Region. He found Gao Cheng, who was on break, and sobbed, “Uncle Gao, where’s my dad? The new wife he brought home sold my little sister, waaah…”