Chapter 179: Bai Shuruo Returns to Fengcheng

Bai Shuruo received two phone calls today; one was from Bai Shunan, and after chatting for a few sentences, Bai Shunan asked to let Xiaofeng listen to the call.

Ever since Xiaofeng ate Bai Shunan's fried chicken and received gifts, she had been nagging about her aunt every day, looking forward to her aunt's arrival every day.

Xiaofeng and Bai Shunan chatted very congenially and happily. Bai Shunan asked Xiaofeng if she was studying hard at kindergarten, saying that since she was almost three years old, she should know how to count, should know the 26 English letters, and should be able to recite at least 20 ancient poems.

Facing Bai Shunan's quiz, Xiaofeng answered very seriously.

She had been diligently memorizing ancient poems recently and was also working hard to read and learn characters, because her aunt said that after mastering these, there would be more gifts sent to her.

Bai Shuruo sighed helplessly from the side.

Fortunately, this was her aunt; if it were her own mother, the pressure would be immense. Bai Shunan was trying to raise a "genius kid"—it was too intense.

……

There was another phone call, which was from Lin Wanfen.

Having not spoken to Lin Wanfen on the phone for too long, Bai Shuruo felt a trace of guilt.

Lin Wanfen did not blame her either, only saying: "Ruoruo, Nannan has told me everything about your situation. You really shouldn't have too much psychological burden. I have already forgiven Han Yangting for that matter with your father back then. Come back to Fengcheng when you have time; we all hope to see you."

As she spoke, Lin Wanfen cried again: "You, you clearly didn't commit any wrong, why did you have to punish yourself in such a place? If your father knew in the afterlife, he would probably blame me; it was clearly a good marriage..."

Bai Shuruo didn't know what to say for a moment, only promising: "Aunt Fen, then I will bring Xiaofeng back to see you all when I have time."

Lin Wanfen said: "Don't talk about waiting until you have time; you should come back as soon as possible, preferably before the New Year."

"This..."

"If you don't come back, Aunt Fen won't feel at ease. Shuhua will also be back for the New Year this year; the few of us should get together."

Bai Shuruo calculated the days and then said: "Then... alright, I will definitely go back."

……

It was currently the off-season, there were not many guests, and keeping the homestay open wouldn't earn much money, so Bai Shuruo decided to make a trip back to Fengcheng.

Before making this decision, she first asked Meng Ze: "Meng Ze, do you want to come back with me?"

Meng Ze said directly: "I won't go back. Fengcheng is your hometown; what would I go back for?"

That was true; Meng Ze's hometown was in Beishi, but he had no relatives in Beishi. His only grandfather had stopped paying attention to him after receiving that 30 million in child support.

The reason Meng Ze followed her all the way and took care of her like a relative was likely because he was truly too lonely; he needed someone to stay by his side for a long time to keep each other warm.

It was only at this moment that Bai Shuruo realized this point.

Therefore, she could not abandon him.

"Meng Ze, I'm going back for ten days or so and will be back after the New Year. You will have to spend the New Year alone this year," Bai Shuruo said apologetically.

"Just go back, don't be so long-winded; it's not like I don't know how to take care of myself," Meng Ze said.

Bai Shuruo went to pack her luggage and also brought Xiaofeng along.

Hearing that she was going to see her aunt, Xiaofeng was so excited that she kept clapping.

Meng Ze teased her: "Xiaofeng, how about you just stay at your aunt's house and don't come back, how about that?"

Xiaofeng was unhappy: "No, I still have to come back. If I don't come back, Uncle, you will be all by yourself."

Meng Ze squatted down and pinched her little face: "I suppose you still have a conscience."

Xiaofeng asked: "Uncle, why aren't you coming with us? Isn't Mom's sister your sister too?"

"Uncle has to watch the shop. If I don't watch the shop, where will guests stay when they arrive?" Meng Ze asked.

Xiaofeng understood. She had always known the importance of this shop. If there were no shop and no guests, she wouldn't be able to eat, wouldn't have money for kindergarten, and even less money to eat fried chicken.

Bai Shuruo led Xiaofeng, said goodbye to Meng Ze, and then took Xiaofeng onto the train back to Fengcheng.

This was her first time riding a train using her own ID card.

Although it was the off-season, the train was full of people.

Bringing Xiaofeng, she transferred three times and finally arrived in Fengcheng.

The moment she got off the train, she stared blankly at the three characters "Fengcheng Station," experiencing what it meant to be nervous about returning home.

This was the city she had grown up in!

"Mom, is this your hometown? The buildings over there are so tall." Xiaofeng looked timidly at the dense high-rise buildings not far away.

Bai Shuruo glanced at her daughter.

Because she had lived in a high-altitude place since she was young, her cheeks had a patch of plateau red, the clothes on her body were bought at a wholesale market, and her attire was not as exquisite as the young girls getting off the station.

Thinking of the things Bai Shunan said about the future, she couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt.

"Yes, Xiaofeng, this is Mom's hometown, and it is also your hometown."

She couldn't bear to take a taxi, so she took the bus instead.

As night fell, Xiaofeng leaned against the bus window, curiously watching the city along the way. What attracted her most, of course, were those high-rise buildings and the colorful neon lights.

"Mom, that building is so tall."

"Mom, is that a shopping mall? The auntie on the advertisement looks just like the auntie near our house."

"Mom, I see a double-decker bus."

"..."

Things that Bai Shuruo usually took for granted were all so fresh in Xiaofeng's eyes.

Actually, Dali City was quite developed, but she had never taken Xiaofeng to explore it. Xiaofeng had always grown up around the homestay, and what she saw most were Cangshan, Erhai, and various low but artistic homestays.

Bai Shuruo led Xiaofeng to the entrance of Bai Shunan's company first.

Bai Shunan's company had moved to a new address, inside a very new office building.

After arriving, she called Bai Shunan: "Sister, Xiaofeng and I have arrived."

Before long, Bai Shunan hurried out. Seeing Bai Shuruo and Xiaofeng, she couldn't help but say: "Why didn't you call me in advance so I could go to the station to pick you up?"

Bai Shuruo said: "It's no trouble, Xiaofeng likes riding the bus."

Xiaofeng also said happily: "That's right, Auntie, the bus is so fun; it's big and spacious, and you can see so many tall buildings."

Bai Shunan couldn't help but pick up Xiaofeng, then said, "You child, you like looking at tall buildings; in a while, we'll go stay at your aunt's house, your aunt's house is high up."

"Yay." Xiaofeng clapped her hands happily again.

……

Bai Shunan had already bought a new house, in a high-end residential complex, bought on a high floor, a large flat, 400 square meters.

Bai Shuruo had lived in large flats herself, and even lived in a large Manor, so she felt nothing for these things, but after Xiaofeng arrived, she looked left and right, full of curiosity about everything, even full of curiosity about the robot vacuum.

Inside were all kinds of smart home appliances, from disinfection and shoe changing upon entering the door, to the opening of curtains, the smart kitchen, and the voice-controlled television.

Bai Shunan watched Xiaofeng's curious expression, she couldn't help but sigh, then looked toward Bai Shuruo.