txolops Chapter 127 The Clay Bunny
Chapter 127 The Clay Bunny
7:30 p.m.
The streetlights and shop signs in Yintai Plaza are all lit up, and people are walking around in the night after get off work.
There were only a few customers left queuing at the stalls by the flower bed.
Lin Chen scraped the bottom of the pot with the iron spoon in his hand, scooping the last bit of rice into a takeout box.
He put down the iron spoon and turned off the valve of the gas cylinder.
"The food is gone."
Lin Chen turned to Wang Hai and said.
Wang Haishou packed the last two portions of fried rice into plastic bags and handed them to the customers in front of him.
He then straightened up and bowed to the three remaining people in line behind him.
"Gentlemen, I am truly sorry!"
The rice was completely gone, and so was the soup.
Wang Hai smiled and apologized, "You guys should get up early tomorrow!"
"Oh no, I missed it again."
The customers at the back of the line sighed, waved, and dispersed.
After seeing off the last few customers, the stall became completely quiet.
Wang Hai breathed a sigh of relief, picked up the towel draped around his neck to wipe his sweat, and turned around to start folding up the tables and chairs that were placed outside.
Lin Chen picked up the bucket next to him and poured some water into the still-warm iron pot.
With a "sizzle," water vapor rose up.
He picked up a brush and began cleaning the grease from the bottom of the pot.
Just then, a tall figure walked towards the direction of the plaza hall.
Su Qingxue, carrying a bag, walked towards the stall.
She didn't bring Secretary Chen with her, and she no longer had that tense, professional demeanor from the daytime. She looked like an ordinary office worker who had just finished a day's work.
Tangtang, who was squatting on the ground arranging disposable spoons, was the first to spot her.
The little girl's eyes lit up, and she immediately dropped the small basket in her hand and ran over with her short legs.
"Pretty auntie!"
Tangtang's clear voice rang out in front of the stall.
Su Qingxue stopped and looked down at the little girl who had rushed to her side.
The coldness on her face melted a little, and a gentle smile appeared in her eyes.
"Candy."
Su Qingxue bent down slightly and reached out to pat her little head.
Hearing the sound, Lin Chen stopped washing the pot and looked up.
"Mr. Su, it's time to go home."
Lin Chen nodded slightly in greeting.
Wang Hai was carrying two folding chairs when he saw Su Qingxue and greeted her with a smile: "President Su, you just got off work!"
What bad luck today, the food just sold out.
"But did you eat the portion that Secretary Chen packed this afternoon?"
"I ate it. Secretary Chen brought it up this afternoon."
Su Qingxue straightened up, looked at the two of them and said, "I just got off work and stopped by to see Tangtang."
"Beautiful auntie, you're here!"
Tangtang tugged at the hem of Su Qingxue's trench coat, tilting her little face upturned with big, happy eyes, "We made a pinky promise, and you really came today!"
"Auntie will definitely keep her promise to you."
Su Qingxue answered with a smile.
Tangtang turned around, ran to the stall, moved the small stool she had been sitting on, placed it in front of Su Qingxue, and patted it with her little hand.
"Pretty auntie, please sit here!"
Tangtang raised her chin and said very seriously, "I said I would save my little chair for you to sit on."
Su Qingxue looked at the small stool in front of her without any hesitation.
She gathered her clothes and sat down on the small stool.
Seeing Su Qingxue sit down, Tangtang ran to get another small stool and sat down next to Su Qingxue.
With her two little hands supporting her cheeks, she looked like a little adult ready to tell a story.
"Pretty auntie, are you tired from work today?"
Tangtang tilted her head and asked.
"I'm a little tired, but seeing Tangtang makes me feel better."
Su Qingxue tidied the little girl's stray hairs behind her ears, "What did Tangtang do at kindergarten today?"
Are you happy?
When kindergarten is mentioned, Tangtang's eyes immediately light up, as if she has started talking non-stop.
"Happy! At lunchtime today, a boy named Zhuangzhuang was a picky eater. He didn't eat vegetables and secretly threw them under the table."
Teacher Liu criticized him, and he even cried!
Tangtang puffed out her little chest, her tone filled with pride, "But Tangtang isn't a picky eater!"
I ate every last bit of the greens in my bowl, not a single one was left!
"Really? Tangtang is amazing."
Su Qingxue listened patiently and responded cooperatively.
"Um!"
Tangtang nodded vigorously, then turned around and pulled the small backpack she had been carrying on her back over to her.
She unzipped her backpack and pointed to the bright red sticker on the strap: "Auntie, look, this is a little red flower that Teacher Liu gave me as a reward!"
Only children who finish all their food get this!
Su Qingxue glanced at it and praised with a smile, "So beautiful."
"Tangtang, you must eat well from now on and grow tall."
"I need to show something to that pretty auntie!"
Tangtang reached into the innermost part of her schoolbag like she was presenting a treasure, carefully took out a small object made of colorful clay, and handed it to Su Qingxue.
"What is this?"
Su Qingxue took it and placed it in her palm.
It was a small animal made of white and pink clay. Although the shape was a bit crooked, the outline of a rabbit could still be vaguely discerned.
"It's a little rabbit!"
Tangtang explained earnestly, "In the afternoon, we have a craft class where the teacher teaches us how to sculpt clay."
The other children made puppies and kittens, but I made a little rabbit.
Teacher Liu even complimented me, saying the ears I pinched were really cute!
Su Qingxue looked at the roughly shaped but childlike clay rabbit in her hand with a gentle gaze.
"Tangtang sculpted it so well."
Su Qingxue said softly.
"Pretty auntie, this is for you!"
Tangtang waved her little hand, "Daddy said that receiving a gift will make me happy."
Auntie works so hard every day, having the little bunny to keep her company will make her happy!
Su Qingxue was stunned for a moment.
Looking into Tangtang's clear and innocent eyes, a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
"Thank you, Tangtang, Auntie really likes this gift."
Su Qingxue carefully placed the little rabbit into the pocket of her trench coat.
Lin Chen placed the washed iron pot upside down on the stove and dried his hands with a towel.
He turned his head and glanced at his daughter, who was chattering incessantly with Su Qingxue.
"Tangtang, Auntie just got off work. Let her rest for a while and stop bothering her with all this talking."
Lin Chen reminded him.
Upon hearing her father's words, Tangtang obediently shut her mouth and placed her two little hands neatly on her knees.
Su Qingxue looked up at Lin Chen: "It's okay, it's good for kids to be lively. I find it interesting too."
Seeing this, Lin Chen didn't say anything more and turned around to help Wang Hai carry the soup bucket onto the bread cart.
While working, Wang Hai smiled and chatted, "President Su, don't let our Brother Chen's quiet nature fool you. He's usually a man of few words, barely able to utter three sentences in a long time."
This girl is nothing like her father. She's so talkative; once she gets to know you, she can chat with you for ages.
Su Qingxue listened to Wang Hai's teasing, glanced at Lin Chen who was silent not far away, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
She turned her head and continued looking at Tangtang.
"Tangtang, besides making little bunnies, what else did you play with this afternoon?"
Su Qingxue took the initiative to start the conversation.
Tangtang perked up immediately when she saw that her aunt wanted to listen.
"We also went to play on the slide in the yard!"
Tangtang gestured excitedly, saying, "The slide is so high, some kids are too scared to slide down it."
I'm not afraid, I just slid down in a flash...
The night breeze was slightly cool.
Around the stall, the sounds of Wang Hai moving tables and chairs, Lin Chen cleaning the stove and washing dishes, and Tangtang's childish voice mingled together.
Su Qingxue sat quietly on the small stool, listening to the little girl share her daily life at kindergarten.
She didn't urge him, but just nodded occasionally and responded with a light laugh.