Chapter 510 Feeling Down for Nothing

Chapter 510: Whitey’s in a Funk

Before setting off, everyone worried that Whitey might suffer heatstroke again and be unceremoniously sent back to the courtyard house.

Seeing its pitiful scratching at the door, Su Taotao just took it along with her.

"Stop scratching. If Chenchen won’t take you, I will."

Whitey gave a half-hearted glance at Su Taotao before lowering its head to scratch the wall again, letting out a grumble.

Su Taotao: "..." Was the dog snubbing her?

Fu Zhengtu borrowed a car from Old Man Hu and returned to find Su Taotao holding the dog.

"Wasn’t this supposed to be our time alone? Why bring it along?"

"Woof woof woof..." Whitey, who had seemed reluctant earlier, barked at Fu Zhengtu, quickly jumping into the driver's seat and scrambling to the back, staking its claim on the back seat first.

Su Taotao: "..." I thought you didn’t want to come?

"This guy wanted to go out with Chenchen and wasn’t thrilled about coming with us."

Fu Zhengtu: "Then let’s not take it."

Whitey: "Woof woof woof..."

Whitey protested.

Su Taotao got into the passenger seat and glanced back at it: "Buckle up. Maybe we’ll run into Chenchen on the way."

Whitey: "Woof woof woof..."

Its barks grew more excited now. Having grown up with Chenchen since puppyhood, Whitey shared a special bond with him.

……

The couple rarely had such downtime, but since coming to the capital, they occasionally managed to steal a day or half a day for themselves.

As luck would have it, the boys had wandered around the nearby area and were dying from the heat. Li Xiangyang decided to treat everyone to ice cream.

Ice cream in those days wasn’t just expensive—it cost an arm and a leg. Even though they all had pocket money, they usually made do with popsicles, with a red bean or mung bean tip being a rare treat. A creamy popsicle was living large.

Li Xiangyang, with twenty yuan burning a hole in his pocket, insisted on treating everyone.

Naturally, the others refused. In the end, Fu Yuanhang decided to put it on the group tab.

Not only did Li Xiangyang fail to pay, but he also ended up scoring a free ice cream, which had him laughing at himself.

"I never knew spending money could be this hard!"

As they sheltered under a large banyan tree enjoying their ice cream, a man carrying two huge watermelons passed by.

Li Xiangyang, eagle-eyed as usual, inhaled his ice cream cone in a few bites and rushed over to ask the price. Skipping the haggling entirely, he paid whatever was asked and came back victorious with two massive watermelons.

Carrying the melons back, he grinned like he’d won the lottery: "Finally got a chance to spend some money!"

Fu Yuanhang gave him a look: "Did you even think about how we’re going to get these monster melons home?"

Just as Li Xiangyang was about to suggest digging in right here, a car suddenly pulled up beside them.

Su Taotao leaned halfway out from the passenger seat: "No way! You guys are here too?"

"Mom! Dad!" Chenchen ran over.

"Ruff ruff ruff..."

Su Taotao: "Chenchen, open the back door. We brought Bai Bai with us. I just told him we might run into Chenchen on the way, and here we are."

"You happy now?" This was directed at Bai Bai.

Of course he was! He pounced on his little owner, wagging his tail so hard it nearly fell off.

Chenchen held his ice cream high: "You can't eat this—it'll make you sick!"

Chenchen ran to the driver's side and offered the remaining bit of ice cream to Fu Zhengtu: "Dad, quick, eat this for me before Bai Bai steals it!"

Bai Bai feared nothing—except Fu Zhengtu. It was probably just natural respect, even though Fu Zhengtu had never been harsh with him.

Fu Zhengtu didn’t mind the slobbery remains and finished the last bite of the ice cream cone from Chenchen’s hand.

Chenchen spread his hands: "See, Bai Bai? It's all gone!"

Bai Bai: "Whine... whine..."

The other teens gathered around, chattering and asking Su Taotao where they were headed.

Su Taotao answered each in turn. The sight of four classic Phoenix bikes and eight energetic young guys forming a Beijing tour crew was seriously impressive.

One couldn’t help but sigh: Man, being young is awesome!

"Where’d those huge melons come from? Where else are you going?" Su Taotao asked.

Li Xiangyang said, "Picked 'em up back there. It’s way too hot—we’re bailing!"

Su Taotao: "Are there more watermelons there?"

Li Xiangyang: "Probably. The vendor had like four-five left in his basket."

Su Taotao handed Fu Yuanhang ten yuan: "Ah Hang, go check. Grab whatever's left."

In this brutal heat, putting out fruit plates for shop customers or making watermelon juice with some ice would be great.

Watermelons cost just a few cents per jin back then—ten yuan could buy a hundred or two hundred pounds.

Mumu and Kang Zi went with Fu Yuanhang and soon returned, each carrying two watermelons.

They tossed the melons in the car, and Fu Yuanhang handed the remaining money to Su Taotao: "We bought all six that were left."

Su Taotao nodded: "Good. Keep the money to buy popsicles. It’s too hot—don’t overheat."

Li Xiangyang also placed his two watermelons in the car: "We can’t carry them easily. Mind taking these back, sis?"

Fu Zhengtu had originally planned to take Su Taotao to a movie, but since she’d brought Bai Bai along, he had to scrap those plans.

This weather's too hot for just outdoor activities with Baibai, but this weather really isn't suitable.

Su Taotao: "Fu, how about we take Baibai and the watermelons back to the store first, then take them all to watch a movie together?"

Fu Zhengtu knew the moment he met them that their plans for alone time were ruined—honestly, they were doomed the moment they brought Baibai along:

"Whatever you say."

Su Taotao turned to ask the kids: "I heard there’s a new Hong Kong movie playing recently. Do you want to go see it?"

Most films released these days were patriotic war films about revolutionary times.

It was rare to have just-for-fun commercial movies, and coincidentally, one had just been imported from Hong Kong this year.

Su Taotao rarely attended outdoor movie showings before, and this was her first time buying tickets for a real movie since arriving here.

With entertainment options being so limited here, who wouldn’t love going to the movies?

Everyone agreed to first take Baibai and the watermelons back before heading to the cinema together.

Baibai got sulky, clutching the car door and refusing to move!

After finally getting out, seeing his little owner, and now being sent back again.

Baibai had to be coaxed extensively, and was even promised an extra piece of watermelon today, before Baibai reluctantly agreed to return.

……

……

Happy Children’s Day to all!

The joy of children in Guangdong might be put a damper on, as it rained heavily all day. My poor little niece, who was supposed to go to the amusement park, couldn’t even step out the door.