txolops Chapter 79 Group Photo Under the Windmill
Chapter 79 Group Photo Under the Windmill
Su Qingxue's figure gradually disappeared at the end of the wooden boardwalk, and the willow grove by the lake regained the tranquility that belonged to the father and daughter.
Lin Chen bent down, picked up the red and white checkered picnic mat, and vigorously shook off the grass clippings.
He folded the pad in half, rolled it up tightly, and then tucked it into the straps on the side of the backpack to secure it.
"Daddy, let's go quickly!"
The windmill is turning!
Tangtang was already waiting impatiently outside in the shade of the tree.
The little girl, wearing white socks and sandals, was so anxious that she kept stamping her feet, pointing with her little finger at the huge white building on the other side of the lake.
"You're here, don't wander off."
Lin Chen slung his backpack over his shoulder, strode over, and took his daughter's hand.
The father and daughter followed the gravel path along the lake, circled half of the bay, and finally arrived directly beneath the large windmill.
From a distance, it only seemed tall, but when you actually stood at its feet, the visual oppressive feeling brought by its enormous size left Tangtang completely stunned.
The huge white leaves made a low, rhythmic "whoosh" sound as they were carried by the breeze.
"Wow--"
Tangtang tilted her little head back, and because the angle was too steep, her fisherman's hat fell right off onto the grass.
She didn't even bother to pick up the hat. With her little mouth open, she made an exaggerated big circle with her two little hands: "Daddy, it's so much bigger than our building!"
"It's spinning so fast, won't it fly up into the sky?"
Lin Chen bent down to pick up the hat from the ground, patted off the dust, and put it back on his daughter's head, then flipped the brim up so she could see it clearly.
"It won't fly away; its base is firmly embedded in the ground."
Lin Chen stood behind his daughter, like a steadfast mountain.
"Is it fanning the fairy?"
Tangtang turned around and asked innocently.
"It's working. It converts wind into electricity and transmits it so that our lights can turn on at night."
Lin Chen explained to Tangtang.
"Oh—so the windmill is a hardworking little worker."
Tangtang nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
However, her attention was quickly drawn to the commotion around her.
The lawn under the windmill is very spacious and is where most of the children in the park gather.
Several toy vendors were holding large, fully automatic bubble guns and repeatedly pulling the triggers in mid-air.
In an instant, thousands upon thousands of transparent bubbles of all sizes danced and swirled beneath the windmill, carried by the wind.
Under the reflection of the early summer sunlight, these bubbles shimmered with seven colors.
"Bubbles! Poop, there are so many bubbles!"
Tangtang cheered happily, looked up at Lin Chen, her big eyes filled with longing.
"Go have fun, but watch where you're going."
Lin Chen released his grip.
With permission granted, Tangtang, like a carefree little rabbit, dashed straight into the bubble array ahead.
The grass was filled with the sound of cheerful laughter as dozens of children of similar age chased after the elusive bubbles.
Some children waved bubble wands, while others opened their mouths and reached out their hands to try and catch them.
Tangtang ran the hardest.
She took short strides, her little hands flailing wildly in the air, her cheeks flushed from running.
"I caught it! I caught a colorful little hat!"
Tangtang pointed to a bubble that landed on her fingertip and burst instantly, then turned around excitedly and shouted to Lin Chen.
Lin Chen did not sit on the rest chairs nearby; he maintained a safe distance of three to five steps, following his daughter at a moderate distance.
His gaze never left Tangtang.
Whenever Tangtang ran too fast and stumbled over the protruding grass, Lin Chen would always appear beside her.
He reached out and gently scooped up Tangtang's little arm, helping her to maintain her balance.
Once the little girl is standing still, he quickly lets go of her hand, steps back a few paces, and gives the child back the freedom to play.
"Slow down and watch your step."
Lin Chen shouted.
"But the bubbles will float away!"
Tangtang replied, then turned and rushed into a group of little boys who were shooting bubble guns at each other.
Several little boys were having a great time playing, running around recklessly and not looking at anyone.
Seeing this, Lin Chen strode over, turned sideways, and stood between Tangtang and the group of boys who were rushing around.
He used his body to create a relatively safe space so that Tangtang could catch her "colorful bubbles".
Before we knew it, the sun began to slowly set in the west.
The golden afterglow shone on the white blades of the windmill and on the two figures, one large and one small, on the grass.
Lin Chen watched as his daughter played until she was covered in sweat, and he slowed down.
He took a soft, clean towel out of his backpack and waved to Tangtang.
"Tangtang, come here and wipe your sweat, have some water."
Although Tangtang hadn't had enough fun yet, she obediently ran back.
She plopped down on Lin Chen's outstretched legs, letting her father wipe the sweat from her face with a towel.
"Daddy, I'm so happy today!"
Tangtang took her children's water bottle and gulped down several mouthfuls of warm water, her little voice revealing a slight panting from exercise.
Lin Chen took the towel and carefully wiped the back of her neck: "As long as you're happy."
"I wish I could take Daddy out to play every day."
Tangtang grabbed Lin Chen's finger, tilted her head back, and said with a grin.
Lin Chen paused, as if the softest part of his heart had been gently touched.
He had been so busy making a living, so preoccupied with the kitchen, that he seemed to have really neglected to spend as much time with the child as possible.
Lin Chen put away the towel and glanced around.
Many parents are taking photos of their children running on the grass with their mobile phones, capturing the weekend.
Lin Chen took out his phone.
He opened the photo album and found that apart from a few occasional photos of Tangtang eating at kindergarten, he didn't have a single formal photo of himself with his daughter.
"Tangtang, look here."
Lin Chen turned on the front-facing camera and held up his phone.
"Would you like to take a picture?"
Sugar reacts extremely quickly.
She immediately sat up straight in Lin Chen's arms, put her two little hands next to her cheeks, and made a big "V" sign.
The little girl smiled so hard her eyes curved into crescent moons, revealing a baby tooth that was missing one.
Lin Chen doesn't usually take photos, so he awkwardly adjusted the camera angle.
On the screen, the huge silhouette of the windmill serves as the background, with the setting sun shining brightly.
On the left is Tangtang's radiant smile, as bright as a flower, while on the right is Lin Chen's usually cold and aloof face, which is now incredibly gentle.
"Click."
The shutter clicked, and the image was captured.
Lin Chen looked at the photos on his phone.
In the photo, I have a smile on my lips, while Tangtang in my arms has bright, carefree eyes, full of the unique joy of that age.
This is the first proper photo of the father and daughter together.
"Let me see! Let me see! Doesn't the photo make me look pretty?"
Tangtang leaned her little head over and clung to the phone screen.
"pretty."
Lin Chen nodded, tapped the screen a few times, and set the photo as his phone's lock screen wallpaper.
"Daddy's handsome too!"
Tangtang giggled contentedly.
Lin Chen put his phone back in his pocket, stood up, brushed the grass clippings off his trousers, and once again extended his large hand to his daughter.
"Let's go, it's getting dark, let's call a car home."
"Will you come again tomorrow?"
Tangtang held hands and walked towards the park gate, frequently turning back to look at the spinning windmill.
"I'm not going to the park tomorrow."
Lin Chen took her hand and said, "Tomorrow, Dad will take you to the supermarket and buy your favorite pork ribs."
"Yay! I want sweet and sour pork ribs!"
"Okay, I'll make it for you."
As Lin Chen walked to the main gate of the park, a car he had called using his phone was already waiting by the roadside.
Lin Chen opened the car door, gently shielding Tangtang's head so she could get in first, before getting in himself and closing the door.
The special vehicle drove away from the wetland park.
The windmill continued to turn slowly behind them, as if drawing a perfect conclusion to this ordinary yet precious weekend.