Chapter 64: Tuantuan’s Daily Life

Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Tuantuan’s Daily Life

"Mr. Meng, thank you for your kindness, but I don’t need it," Deng Yuyuan said, taking a few steps back and bypassing him to head into the kitchen.

That damn Meng Deyin made her not even want to go to Beijing anymore.

Tuantuan was a little afraid of Meng Deyin. Hiding behind Zhang Ci Hao, she softly asked him to take her away to play.

Meng Deyin didn’t like Tuantuan. To be exact, he hated any thing or person that occupied Deng Yuyuan’s attention.

During his first year at the Knowledge Youth Institute, he had pretended to be normal while secretly stalking Deng Yuyuan for a month before trying to force himself on her. As a result, Deng Yuyuan gave him a thorough beating in the mountains—which cost her a bottle of Power Potion.

It was obvious that the Meng Family was very protective of this mentally unstable madman. They had taught him a lot so he wouldn’t suffer losses in the outside world. Every move he made was that of a trained martial artist. His bulging muscles showed through his clothes, and his body heat could be felt upon physical contact.

Meng Deyin, who had initially thought he had victory in the bag, finally settled down and behaved. The two of them returned to a peaceful state. It was just that... if one had to use a word to describe Meng Deyin, he was like a venomous snake waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Therefore, Deng Yuyuan couldn’t show any weakness. The moment she revealed a flaw, Meng Deyin would swallow her alive.

Deng Yuyuan didn’t understand what exactly had caught his eye. Whatever it was, she couldn’t change it; Meng Deyin would just have to gouge his own eyes out. Fortunately, he knew that Tuantuan was her lifeblood, so he had never laid a hand on the little girl.

Meng Deyin stood frozen in place, watching Deng Yuyuan’s departing back. Once she was out of sight, he began chopping wood in the courtyard. His strikes were ruthless, as if he were hacking at an enemy rather than a piece of timber.

The other educated youths scattered. Although Meng Deyin had never revealed his true colors in front of them, it didn’t stop them from fearing him. Aside from his extreme stubbornness regarding Deng Yuyuan, Meng Deyin was actually a diligent worker who knew what needed to be done.

A male educated youth who had recently received some good news from him couldn’t help but return the favor upon seeing his depressed state. "If you really want to pursue Deng Zhiqing, don’t always be so fierce. Smile more. Besides, Comrade Deng Yuyuan obviously values Tuantuan a lot. Look at Zhang Ci Hao—he only managed to get his foot in the door because he took such good care of Tuantuan."

Meng Deyin’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down before he spat out a few words. "Kids are annoying." He furrowed his brows, showing a trace of distress typical of a young man.

The male educated youth, who dreamed of becoming Tuantuan’s godfather, strongly disagreed with the claim that she was annoying. "Tuantuan is very well-behaved. Just give her some food and take her out to play, and she’ll warm up to you."

Meng Deyin still disapproved. "Then she’d be dead meat." He remembered everything Deng Yuyuan had said. Previously, when people constantly fed Tuantuan snacks, it caused the little girl to lose her appetite for proper meals.

The male educated youth snickered. "You say she’s annoying, yet you’re already managing her diet like a father. Wait until you have an official status to manage her. The most important thing right now is to get Tuantuan on your side."

Meng Deyin still didn’t understand. "What does the matter between me and Deng Yuyuan have to do with Tuantuan?"

The male educated youth sighed and shook his head. "Just keep doing what you’re doing. I’ll be waiting for my wedding invitation." He thought, "This guy is hopeless. Whatever."

Meanwhile, two-year-old Tuantuan was being dragged off by Gou Ya to take a bath and change clothes. She had brought the preserved fruit back into the room with her. "Gou Ya, let’s eat the preserved fruit."

"Raise your arms," Gou Ya directed.

Tuantuan obediently raised both hands. "The preserved fruit is on the table. Let’s eat it."

Mommy had said she couldn’t eat it, but she had said that to the Tuantuan in the courtyard. The Tuantuan in the room wasn’t bound by those rules!

A drop of water landed on Gou Ya’s hand. She sighed helplessly. "Wipe your drool. You’re already a big two-year-old baby. You can’t keep drooling."

Tuantuan’s eyes darted around as she schemed. "Tuantuan will eat one piece, and the rest is for you. You can take it back to eat."

"Take it back? Back where?" Gou Ya noticed something was wrong.

"Back to uncle’s house." Tuantuan was also a bit confused. "Does Tuantuan have to go back too? What’s an uncle? That mister talked about a household register, but Tuantuan doesn’t have a household register."

"Does Tuantuan still remember what that mister looked like?"

Tuantuan nodded.

"He’s a bad person. Tuantuan isn’t allowed to talk to him anymore."

Tuantuan let out an "oh." A moment later, she tugged at the hem of Gou Ya’s shirt. "Tuantuan only talked to him because she didn’t know before. Tuantuan won’t talk to him anymore. Please don’t cry, Gou Ya."

Tuantuan put her shoes on, grabbed a handkerchief, and clumsily wiped Gou Ya’s tears. "Tuantuan is a good girl."

Gou Ya washed her face and made up her mind. "Tuantuan, tomorrow you need to play obediently in the courtyard by yourself. I have to go out and look for the village chief tomorrow. Without me to take you, you can’t leave the house." She couldn’t trouble Aunt Deng anymore; she had to seek help and solve this herself.

Tuantuan suddenly remembered something. "Uncle Zhang said he’d take Tuantuan to the supply and marketing cooperative tomorrow to buy toys! Tuantuan has money. I’ll treat you!"

Tuantuan’s pocket money was entirely earned by helping the adults with chores. Feeding the chickens and collecting eggs were her regular duties, so they didn’t pay, but running other errands did. Tuantuan had already saved up a whole twenty cents!

The adults always thought Tuantuan was small and ignorant, but in reality, her mind was as clear as a mirror. Mommy didn’t go to work every day, which meant she earned no work points. As a result, they could only eat the small animals Mommy hunted down, and they had no money. The only reason they could eat eggs was because Tuantuan worked hard to collect them every day.

Tuantuan had considered going to work in Mommy’s place, but unfortunately, the elderly folks said she was too small and that little kids weren’t allowed to work. She could only do what Gou Ya did: household chores and chores for the neighbors, saving up money to provide for Mommy.

Mommy wasn’t sensible enough, but that was okay. Tuantuan could support the family!

As for why Mommy had money to go to the supply and marketing cooperative? Tuantuan’s two-year-old brain wasn’t developed enough to process that yet.

Tuantuan had solid evidence to believe that their little two-person family was struggling. Tonight, her dinner was once again a lump of an unidentified substance.

"...Tuantuan wants to go give Fubao some fried little fish first." Tuantuan didn’t really want to eat her food. She felt that even dirt looked more appetizing than this.

"Mommy has already set some aside. Once you finish eating, I’ll heat up the oil and fry them for you," Deng Yuyuan said, signaling for her to eat first.

Tuantuan was still small. Aside from getting a single fried little fish, her main meal consisted of a specially concocted baby food puree. It was packed with multiple nutrients and actually tasted quite good; its appearance, however, was utterly appalling.

Zhang Ci Hao brought his food over and sat at the same table as the male educated youths. Everyone’s gaze kept drifting toward Tuantuan’s meal.

It had to be said that Deng Yuyuan’s cooking was getting more perfunctory by the day. In the very beginning, Tuantuan’s meals had actually looked edible.

Tuantuan’s tears were about to fall. She was already a big two-year-old baby who could count to ten. "Last time, there were three fried little fish."

"Mommy saved four. When you bring them to Fubao, you can eat them together."

"Okay~" Tuantuan replied. She picked up her spoon and looked at the white rice and green vegetables in the bowls of her mommy, the aunties, and Gou Ya.

PLOP. A teardrop fell into her bowl.

"Tuantuan, Mommy already added salt to it. It’s salty enough. You don’t need to add your tears."

PFFT. It was unclear who laughed first, but in the end, all the adults burst into a fit of laughter.