Chapter 112: Su Taotao Spoils the Child Too Much

Chapter 112: Su Taotao Spoils the Child Too Much

Su Taotao had mostly finished her tasks for the day. Since it was still early, she took Chenchen to the market first to buy ingredients for dinner.

The child still wanted shrimp today. However, buying shrimp now and keeping it until the afternoon without a fridge would usually spoil it. Therefore, Su Taotao usually cooked seafood at noon and rarely made it for dinner.

Su Taotao bargained with the child: "How about we eat shrimp at the canteen later? It will spoil if we keep it until evening."

Suddenly, Chenchen let out a "Wow~~" and excitedly pointed with his chubby little legs, "Mama~~ big shrimp~~"

Following his chubby little hand, Su Taotao looked over and blinked. Today, there were actually lobsters, which she hadn't seen since coming to the island.

Su Taotao wheeled the child over: "Hello, how much are these lobsters?"

The vendor said, "The smaller ones are two yuan apiece, and the bigger ones are three yuan apiece."

The prices... Su Taotao wished she could buy all the lobsters!

Back then, buying a chicken would cost two or three yuan, but a lobster weighing at least a pound cost only two or three yuan.

In the end, Su Taotao didn't want to be too flashy and said to Chenchen, "Chenchen, these are called lobsters. We can keep them until the afternoon. Pick one you want."

Chenchen looked at one, then another, tilting his head to look at his mom: "I like them all~~"

Su Taotao: "..." He's definitely her child. She liked them all too, but unfortunately, she couldn't buy so many.

Since it was a rare treat and not something they ate often, Su Taotao thought for a moment and said, "Then let's pick two."

A kind-hearted woman nearby couldn't help but chime in, "Buying this isn't worth it. The shell looks big, but there's hardly any meat. Eating this isn't as good as eating chicken. Small shrimp are a better deal, only four or five mao a pound, with thin shells and more meat."

Su Taotao thought to herself, if you knew what lobsters cost in the 21st century, you wouldn't say that.

But all she could say now was, "The kid likes it, and it's fine to buy it once in a while."

The woman waved her hand, "You young folks just don't know how to manage a household, spoiling the kid too much."

In fact, during the planned economy era, materials were scarce, and most people had money but no coupons to buy things. A few years later, with the reform and opening up, the economy would soar, prices would skyrocket, and the money in hand would quickly depreciate.

Su Taotao believed that it was harmless to treat oneself and one's family well within one's means while the money was still valuable.

But her consumption concept was not accepted by most people in this era of hardship and simplicity.

She wouldn't be overly ostentatious and would find ways to live her small life well, but she wouldn't force others to agree or change their minds.

The woman was just speaking offhandedly without really seeing who they were. Only then did she glance at Chenchen and gasp, "Oh, your child is really handsome."

Then, seeing Chenchen's unique "ride," the woman realized, "You're Fu's child, aren't you?"

Chenchen blinked, looking at her innocently and helplessly.

The woman suddenly looked up at Su Taotao and gasped again, "Oh my, Su, Director Su..."

Su Taotao: "..." Not yet, everyone!

Su Taotao could only smile politely, "Hello."

The woman swallowed, "I, I was just speaking casually. Lobsters are good, lobsters are good. You buy, you buy..."

Su Taotao smiled at her again and said to Chenchen, "Chenchen, pick the lobsters."

Chenchen, smiling, picked out the two biggest lobsters, his little chubby hand squeezing their feelers. When the lobster moved, he quickly retracted his hand in fright.

He looked up at Su Taotao with a pitiful expression, "Mommy~~"

Su Taotao held up the lobster's head for Chenchen to see, saying, "Don't worry, Chenchen. Those are just the lobster's feelers. If you hold it by the head like this, it won't bite."

She then gently touched the lobster's large claw and told Chenchen, "The claw won't hurt you when it's tied up like this, but you mustn't touch it when it's loose. It can pinch really hard."

Chenchen listened carefully, nodding his head eagerly, "Okay, Mommy~~"

The seafood vendor, overhearing, was quietly amazed. He'd never seen a parent so indulgent yet so patient with their child, nor had he seen such an obedient child.

People said Fu's kid was really smart, able to memorize the Three Character Classic after just one car ride. The vendor thought it was all down to good parenting.

Even so, word spread fast in the family area that Su Taotao had spoiled Chenchen by buying two big lobsters.

When they got to the cafeteria, Auntie Zhong and Xia Zhiqiu had just wrapped up their Q&A.

Dongdong was overjoyed to see Chenchen and babbled excitedly to his buddy about the good news that they would go to school together the next day.

But Chenchen replied, "No school tomorrow~~"

Dongdong was stunned and asked, "Why?"

Chenchen said, "It's Sunday~~"

No one knew how the clever kid figured it out, but he just did.

Dongdong looked crestfallen, "What do we do now? I wanted to go to class with you."

Chenchen pulled out his new toy, a big conch shell, and showed it to his friend, saying in a childish voice, "Monday~~ then we can~~"

Dongdong asked again, "When is Monday?"

Chenchen said, "After Sunday~~ is Monday~~"

Chenchen placed the conch shell over Dongdong's ear, "Listen~~ it's the sound of the sea~~"

Dongdong looked amazed, "Wow, it's real!"

Xia Zhiqiu, overhearing, was amazed and asked Su Taotao, "How did you teach Chenchen all this? He seems to know everything!"

Su Taotao smiled and said, "Yuanhang told him, and he remembered it himself."

Every night before bed, the uncle and nephew would chat and recite texts, talking for a long time before falling asleep. Fu Yuanhang shared everything with him.

Xia Zhiqiu said, "Speaking of the beach, I've never been. I'll take Dongdong to collect conch shells someday."

Su Taotao said, "Fu Zhengtu took him for a morning swim and they found the conch shells. He treasures them."

Xia Zhiqiu sighed, comparing people can be disheartening, "Old Zhang always cuts it close, almost missing the shuttle more than once, let alone going to the beach."

Auntie Zhong said, "Our Old Mo is the same. Their jobs are exhausting. It seems only Zhengtu exercises every day. When the base wasn't by the sea, he would run every day. His discipline shows in how fit he is."

Su Taotao thought to herself, Fu's in amazing shape. Sigh, it's not appropriate to think about that during the day.

"By the way, I have a candidate for the guard post. If it's confirmed, we won't need to recruit."

Auntie Zhong said, "A few people were interested in the position this morning, one of them is a retired soldier."

Su Taotao mentioned, "The candidate I have in mind is a veteran who is missing an arm and was awarded a first-class merit award. I want to give him first dibs. If he doesn't want to come, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

As soon as Su Taotao mentioned this, Auntie Zhong, the island's walking encyclopedia, knew exactly who she was talking about.

"The person you're referring to is Dong Shengping, right? He's new to the island. He's a tall, muscular guy with a buzz cut, sharp and full of life, though he's pretty quiet. He's as solid as they come. I once saw him helping Uncle Chen, the jianbing guy, push his cart up a hill. It's a real shame such a good guy is missing an arm."

Su Taotao thought for a moment and asked Auntie Zhong, "Any clue where he lives?"

Auntie Zhong looked at her in surprise, "You haven't run into him? He lives in your alley. The last house down your row is his. By the way, the elementary school guard is his uncle. They share a place."

Su Taotao: "..." Auntie Zhong, you really know everything about this island. Is there anything you don't know about this island?