CHAPTER 293: CHAPTER 293: SNEAKING POPCORN STRIPS

Xu Xiuxiu and Song Yuanming had just arrived at Soup City when she realized that there were truly an extraordinary number of things to deal with. Problems with construction materials and other issues kept cropping up. How much chestnut flour was needed, what type of marble flooring should be used for the hot spring resort’s lobby, and whether several main supporting columns needed to be carved, were all decisions she needed to make.

Xu Xiuxiu was unafraid of trouble. When real issues arose, she could handle more than she had imagined. Her slim shoulders could bear quite a bit of pressure, making decisions decisively and swiftly. With Fei Han’s reminders and help, things progressed rather smoothly. Within a day, she resolved the majority of the big and small troublesome matters.

While Xu Xiuxiu was kept on her toes in Soup City, back at the hospital, Mrs. Song, who was caring for her injured, hospitalized son and her grandchildren, was quite content. She didn’t feel busy at all, because back home in the countryside, Mrs. Song had plenty to manage every day. Despite her age, she was skilled in a variety of tasks, from farming to milling to cooking, and since Wang Qinghua’s pregnancy, the past half-year had been particularly exhausting for her.

Yet, here in the hospital, tending to her son and grandchildren felt like less of a burden. Aunt Luo would even deliver lunch to the hospital, and Mrs. Song felt it wasn’t tiring at all. She enjoyed looking after her grandchildren and willingly bore any tiredness. Tending to her son and occasionally summoning the doctor or watching the nurses apply medicine was almost child’s play for her.

Father Song, on the other hand, found himself free of obligations and quite enjoyed having his grandchildren around. When he grew bored in the afternoon after lunch, he followed a rough address given to him by Song Yuanhuan and strolled out to familiarize himself with the area, finally managing to find the daycare where his eldest grandson, Song Chengguang, was enrolled. Watching the children play from outside the daycare, Father Song got the gist of it and cheerfully made his way back to the hospital.

Once back at the hospital, Father Song hung around for a bit. It was still shy of five in the evening when he began to think about stepping out. "Look, it’s past four. I’m going to pick up the kids from school," Father Song said, watching the time edge past four o’clock, he hurriedly got up to leave, worried about being late.

"Dad, it’s still early! It takes less than half an hour to walk there. If you go now, you’ll just have to wait outside!" Song Yuanhuan saw Father Song’s anxious demeanor and kindly reminded him.

"What’s wrong with waiting a bit? If I go late and Cheng Guang gets anxious, what are we going to do?" Father Song glared at Song Yuanhuan, with a look of ’how can you be so carefree as a father.’

Song Yuanhuan, reprimanded by his dad, innocently touched his nose and wisely kept silent. His intentions were good, but to his dad, it seemed like indifference, and he didn’t want to make it worse by saying the wrong thing.

Father Song snorted a few times, stood up, and went to the hospital’s restroom to check himself in the mirror and tidy up his clothes before setting off in a good mood.

On his way to the daycare, he saw someone selling popcorn sticks by the roadside. Thinking the children would surely love them, he dug out 50 cents from his pocket and bought a big bag, then went to pick up his eldest grandson, Song Chengguang.

It wasn’t yet time to pick up the children at the daycare, but there were already a few old men standing outside, clearly having nothing better to do than pick up their grandchildren. They stood in unspoken agreement outside the daycare, craning their necks to get a glimpse of the lively playground and watch the children engaged in their games.

Father Song watched the children play with a happy grin on his face. Although he didn’t see his eldest grandson among them, he waited contentedly, occasionally looking at the popcorn and filled with anticipation at the thought of his grandson’s smile after coming out.

Soon, the joyful sound of the end-of-day bell rang out from the daycare. The classroom that had been playing in the small playground was the first to be dismissed. The substitute teacher gently organized the children into a line and led them to the daycare’s entrance. Calling out their names one by one, the children were collected by their families.

Song Chengguang’s class was soon released, and Father Song, holding a bag of rice puff sticks, waited with a beaming smile, immediately waving to his eldest grandson when he saw him.

"Grandpa..." Song Chengguang, with his little backpack, stood up straight and called out in response when he saw Father Song waving to him.

Following behind Song Chengguang was little friend Xingxing, who, because of her height, stood behind him. The girl was very cute, and upon hearing Song Chengguang call out to his grandpa, she carefully peeked out from behind him, "Chengguang, which one is your grandpa?" she asked, her large eyes scanning the crowd of old men and women picking up children.

"That one." Song Chengguang remained aloof with Hao Xingxing, but he answered all of her questions.

"That one ah!" Hao Xingxing followed the direction Song Chengguang pointed to, then raised a big smile, although, she still didn’t actually know which one among the group of old men was Chengguang’s grandpa. Having the chance to talk with Song Chengguang just pleased the little girl greatly, and she smiled sweetly.

Soon after, Father Song collected Song Chengguang. Initially, the daycare teachers were somewhat anxious as it was Father Song’s first time picking up the child, but since Song Chengguang recognized him and Father Song explained that he was Chengguang’s biological grandfather, the teachers were reassured and let the child go.

"Goodbye, Chengguang." Hao Xingxing, still picked up by the family nanny and driver, waved goodbye to Song Chengguang reluctantly.

"Goodbye." Song Chengguang waved back perfunctorily and then walked off hand in hand with his grandpa.

"Chengguang, have you ever had rice puff sticks?" Father Song, holding Song Chengguang’s little hand, proudly presented a bag of rice puff sticks he’d brought.

"Rice puff sticks?" Song Chengguang had tried them once before; his little uncle bought them for him when he came to pick him up, and he hadn’t had them since. Song Chengguang didn’t dare to tell his doting younger aunt or uncle that he wanted them, so he was always hoping his little uncle would come to pick him up from school so that he could have the rice puff sticks again.

To his surprise, Father Song fulfilled his wish that he had been longing for some days, and the little guy was ecstatic.

"Thank you, Grandpa." Taking a rice puff stick, Song Chengguang stuffed it into his mouth. Not being selfish, he held another in his hand, offering it to Father Song, "Grandpa, you eat too." Song Chengguang, standing on his tiptoes, stretched out his chubby hand generously.

"You eat, Chengguang! Grandpa doesn’t like these things," Father Song waved off.

"Grandpa, eat with me. We can finish them together before going home, or else Mom will be unhappy. Mom said that if Chengguang has snacks and then doesn’t eat dinner, she will spank Chengguang’s bottom," Song Chengguang said with a sad look, still on his tiptoes, hoping Father Song would help eat some of the rice puff sticks.

The thought of his daughter-in-law spanking his eldest grandson was unacceptable; he couldn’t let his grandson get punished! Father Song thought and immediately took the rice puff stick Song Chengguang offered. The grandfather and grandson ate the bag of rice puff sticks in complete harmony before heading home.