No wonder Ji Pianran did not trust him.
Over the years, he remained indifferent to this family, treating himself and his daughter like air.
Now, all of a sudden, he's cooking for them and wants to take the child to the city.
It's hard for anyone to discern whether all this was genuine remorse.
Or if it was a larger plot brewing.
As she spoke, her whole body involuntarily tensed.
Like a mother beast protecting her child.
Gu Chen did not expect her reaction to be so intense.
He froze for a moment, then hurried to explain.
"I just thought you were going to work, and taking the child might be inconvenient, and I was planning to go to the city today to see if there was anything I could do."
"By the way, I thought I'd take the child to play, that's all, don't worry."
"If you're not comfortable, then you can take Tang Tang with you, trust me, I have no bad intentions."
His eyes were sincere, without a hint of deceit.
Ji Pianran pursed her crimson lips.
Her beautiful apricot eyes were filled with confusion.
Tang Tang was still a child. Hearing her father say he would take her to the city to play, she became instantly overjoyed.
She let go of Ji Pianran's hand immediately and padded her little feet over to Gu Chen.
"Daddy, Tang Tang wants to go play."
Gu Chen bent down, holding the child in his arms, and gently patted her head.
"Tang Tang, be good. Daddy will take you next time, alright?"
He then stood up and smiled at Ji Pianran.
"Then thanks to you."
After speaking, he turned around and went back inside the house to pack.
Ji Pianran watched his back.
Her delicately shaped eyebrows furrowed slightly.
An indescribable emotion welled up in her heart.
Was she being overly sensitive?
...
Gu Chen locked the door and entered the space.
In just a little while, the cauliflower had grown larger than it was in the morning.
Bright green, looking very fresh.
He picked one to keep as a seed and pulled out the rest.
A total of over a dozen, each one three to four times the size of those on the market.
Just one weighed five to six pounds.
He packed these cauliflowers in a nylon bag and decided to keep them in the space to avoid being seen by Ji Pianran when leaving.
He could take them out once he reached the destination.
After exiting the space, Gu Chen opened the door and walked out.
As soon as he stepped out, he saw Ji Pianran standing in the yard, along with Tang Tang, who wore her hair in two little braids, neatly dressed.
Seeing Gu Chen come out, Ji Pianran's face flashed with some unease, licking her lips instinctively.
Then she pursed them again before speaking.
"Um, Tang Tang said she wants to go with you."
After speaking, she took a small cloth bag from her pocket and handed it to Gu Chen.
"There's ten yuan in here, use it sparingly."
What she didn't say was, this was the last of the family's money.
Gu Chen wasn't oblivious; he knew.
This little cloth bag had been used by Ji Pianran since she got married.
All her money was in it.
In his previous life, when he lost money, it was from this money bag that he took the funds.
Honestly, Gu Chen didn't want it.
But he didn't have a penny on him, and he needed a bus ticket to get into the city, which was a problem.
He extended his hand, taking the money bag with mixed feelings.
"Thank you. I will earn it back, trust me!"
Ji Pianran smiled awkwardly, "The money isn't much, use it wisely."
Truth be told, she didn't expect Gu Chen to be able to earn money.
She just hoped he wouldn't cause trouble.
Tang Tang happily grabbed Gu Chen's hand and looked up, beaming at him.
"Daddy, let's go, let's go!"
The little girl was already eager to see what the outside world looked like.
Gu Chen held the child in his arms.
"Alright, daddy will take you now."
After speaking, he glanced at Ji Pianran.
Ji Pianran happened to be looking at him too, and as he looked over, she nodded silently.
"Take care."
...
There's a bus station at the entrance of the village, the only road leading to the city.
Whenever someone from the village goes to the city, they usually wait for the bus here.
Now, with the new year approaching.
Everyone carried large nylon bags filled with fresh vegetables from their greenhouses, big and small, to sell in the city.
Preparing for a good year.
Gu Chen initially pondered how to find the city's market.
Seeing the scene, he wasn't worried anymore.
He could just follow along.
Tang Tang's first trip to the city was with Ji Pianran. The mother and daughter saved money by riding Zhang Ershu's tractor.
This was her first time in a car.
Her mood was excited and happy.
Her apricot eyes, just like Ji Pianran's, wandered restlessly.
She was completely a curious baby.
Gu Chen carried Tang Tang onto the bus.
The bus had neither too many nor too few people; there were two seats available.
Gu Chen picked a window seat.
Throughout the journey, Tang Tang leaned against the window, watching the passing branches.
Her little mouth constantly questioned everything.
"Daddy, since it's winter, where did all the birds go?"
Gu Chen chuckled.
"They followed their mommy to a warmer place."
The little girl seemed dissatisfied with Gu Chen's answer.
She pouted.
In her sweet childish voice, she asked, "Why didn't they follow their daddy? Where did their daddies go?"
Gu Chen rubbed his brow.
Helpless yet amused.
"They can follow daddy too, a family of three can go to warm places together."
Upon hearing this, the little girl seemed to receive the confirmation she wanted, beaming with joy.
"When can we go to a warm place? The house is always cold."
Looking into his daughter's innocent eyes.
Gu Chen felt a pang of heartache. The house was cold because Ji Pianran was saving coal.
After all, he, as the father, hadn't fulfilled his responsibility.
To give them a warm home.
Gu Chen ruffled Tang Tang's hair.
"Be good, Tang Tang, daddy will soon make our home warm. Daddy will work hard to earn money and buy you candied haws, okay?"
The little girl laughed sweetly, her voice full of innocence.
"Will it be as warm as the birds' homes?"
Gu Chen nodded forcefully.
"It will be, daddy promises, very soon."
As he spoke, the bus had already arrived.
Gu Chen carried his daughter off the bus.
He followed an elderly man carrying a large bag of potatoes ahead.
The city indeed had more people than the village, each clad in jackets and down coats, and many women had their hair styled.
They looked very lively.
After passing through several streets, Gu Chen, carrying Tang Tang, finally reached the market.
The market had even more people, a vast sea of bustling activity, looking very lively.
Buying and selling.
Bargaining with one another.
Gu Chen walked around the market briefly, found a restroom, and had Tang Tang watch him for a minute at the door.
Then he took out his large nylon bag from the space.
He also found the market manager and bought some plastic bags and a scale.
Then he took Tang Tang to find an empty spot.
He displayed all his cauliflower, preparing to start selling.