Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Regret
Xiao Li and Qin Xiao were not in a hurry either. They finished their meal and waited patiently, waited for Mianmian to reluctantly finish her small bites, and only after she was done did Xiao Li order a sweet milkshake for her.
Having just finished the bitter Black Forest cake, when Mianmian took a sip of the milkshake, she found it absolutely delightful.
Once Mianmian had finished the milkshake too, Xiao Li and Qin Xiao took her back to the car.
After getting in the car, Qin Xiao went to drive, while Xiao Li gently asked Mianmian, "Mianmian, was the cake tasty just now?"
Mianmian shook her head, "Not tasty. It’s black and bitter!"
Xiao Li nodded, "But Mom made you eat it forcibly, were you happy?"
Mianmian shook her head, "Not happy."
Xiao Li patted Mianmian’s head, "You see, you don’t like black food, nor do you like bitter things.
Mom forced you to eat them, so you were unhappy, right?
Did you ask your brother, Shao Yang, if they wanted to wear hair clips before you gave it to them?
You put a hair clip on Shao Yang, he avoided it, it’s clear he didn’t want to wear it, and you were forcing him to do something he doesn’t like.
Now that Shao Yang fell down, do you think you’re at fault?"
Mianmian was silent for a long time, then lightly nodded her little head, "Mom, I was wrong."
Xiao Li gently touched Mianmian’s little face, "So what should you do in the future?"
Mianmian thought for a moment, "In the future, I’ll first ask if others want me to put hair clips on them. If they want, I’ll do it; if they don’t want, I won’t.
Anyway, I can go home and put them on my brother."
Xiao Li initially felt happy hearing Mianmian’s earlier words, but the next sentence she said directly closed off that happiness.
Forget it, forget it!
She’s still young...
Slowly teach!
At least she knows not to bully others now, only wants to bully her brother!
The car quickly returned to the villa area, Xiao Li and Mianmian got off directly at Qin Mother’s villa, while Qin Xiao drove the car back and brought Xiao Li along.
As soon as they entered the villa, Mianmian ran over to tell Qin Mother about her tragic experience today, "Grandma, Mianmian just ate a cake that was black and bitter, it was really awful!"
Qin Mother heard this and laughed, "Aren’t you the one who detests black and bitter stuff the most? Why did you eat a black bitter cake today?"
Mianmian pouted, "Because Mom said not to waste things, she made me eat it."
Qin Mother knew once hearing that Xiao Li told Mianmian to eat it, it must be because Mianmian did something that Xiao Li wanted her to learn a lesson from.
"Xiao Li, why didn’t Mianmian go to the kindergarten today?"
Xiao Li sat down, "She did, we just picked her up from kindergarten."
Qin Mother was puzzled, "Did something happen?"
Xiao Li explained the situation at kindergarten, and after Qin Mother heard, she spoke to Mianmian, "Mianmian, do you know where you were wrong now?"
Mianmian nodded, "I know."
Qin Mother smiled, "Good girl, go and play!"
Mianmian ran off to play, Qin Mother looked at Xiao Li, "Xiao Li, since Mianmian loves styling hair so much, has you and Ah Xiao considered having another sister for Mianmian?"
Xiao Li nodded, "I also want another one, but the uncle hasn’t agreed yet."
Qin Mother laughed, "Ah Xiao doesn’t want kids, is he scared from last time when you gave birth to Xiao Li?"
Xiao Li nodded.
Qin Mother laughed, "Don’t worry, if you want it, there’s definitely a way to convince him."
Xiao Li covered her mouth and laughed.
While the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were chatting, Qin Xiao came over with Xiao Li. Qin Mother, seeing them arrive, called He Jie to bring the little dumpling over to play as well; Little Stone was at kindergarten and not at home.
In no time, He Jie arrived with the child, and once Little Dumpling arrived, it was apparent the personalities between him and Xiao Li were so contrasting, one was overly active while the other extremely quiet.
As soon as Qin Father returned from playing chess, he heard Mianmian’s voice and laughed, "It’s not the weekend, how come Mianmian is home?"
Xiao Li had to recount Mianmian’s antics once again, this being the third time today.
Qin Mother saw Qin Father and jokingly asked, "How’s Old Jiang’s health recently? Why did you come back so soon?"
The neighbor, Old Jiang, had been feeling a bit unwell lately, and Qin Father hung out with him these past few days, playing chess and drinking tea to cheer him up.
Usually, he would stay the entire morning, but today he returned before lunchtime, earlier by an hour than usual.
Qin Father replied, "His son and daughter-in-law just arrived, seeing the kids were back, I decided to leave first."
Qin Mother nodded lightly at these words, "Old Jiang must be delighted now; his son and daughter-in-law rarely return."
Qin Father nodded, over the years, he frequently played chess with Old Jiang, who often mentioned his envy—his two sons lived nearby, sons, daughters-in-law, and grandkids regularly seen.
Unlike him, with his son, daughter-in-law, and grandkids all abroad, even seeing them once a year was considered lucky.
"But it’s a pity Old Jiang’s son didn’t bring his kids, who knows if Old Jiang will see his grandsons and granddaughters for a final time."
Qin Mother, hearing this, abruptly sat upright on the sofa, "Old Qin, what do you mean by that?
Isn’t Old Jiang just slightly unwell, why do you speak as if he’s about to...?"
Qin Father shook his head, "Why do you think I’ve been visiting him daily? It’s because his health is failing fast.
Earlier, I thought he had already informed his kids to return, but when his son arrived today, Old Jiang looked as shocked as you can imagine.
His son saw Old Jiang’s complexion, and was also alarmed.
I realized then, despite knowing his health is waning, Old Jiang hadn’t even informed his kids to come back.
His son coincidentally returned with his wife for an academic research conference, hence they’re back.
Had it not been for this coincidence, they might have only learned of Old Jiang’s passing from the household maid.
Qin Mother replied, "Can’t they now inform his grandchildren to come back? Surely Old Jiang’s health can wait a mere few days!"
Qin Father shook his head, "Who knows, that’s why I said it’s uncertain if Old Jiang will see them one last time. If he can wait, he will see them; if not then..."
Qin Father suddenly turned to Qin Mother, "Ah Zhi, while we’re still young and healthy, let’s travel a bit!
When we were younger, I promised to take you traveling after retirement, yet all these years we haven’t gone anywhere?
Let’s go out and explore!"
Qin Father felt provoked by Old Jiang’s situation, as he previously thought he was still young, with death far away.
But Old Jiang isn’t more than two years older, yet he may now be at life’s end, and Qin Father felt scared.
It wasn’t death he feared, it was the regret left before dying.
His life has been good, with sons and grandchildren causing him no worry, but regret may lie with Qin Mother, having not spent enough time with her due to busyness when younger.