Chapter 76: Wealthy and imposing

An'an lunged into Su Ruo's arms, hugging her and saying, "An'an, I love Mommy the most."

Actually, what An'an really wanted to say was that she only likes Mommy.

But if currying favor with that aunt could make those people dare not bully Mommy anymore, she is willing to do it; she will absolutely not let anyone hurt Mommy.

Su Ruo held An'an, her heart instantly softening; she knew An'an didn't want to say, so she didn't press further.

When Bai Xinya came again the next day, she brought many gifts—clothes, shoes, food, everything you could want.

She cautiously walked up to Su Ruo and asked, "May I give these things to An'an?"

Someone who used to be so arrogant now acting like this inevitably makes people feel heartache.

Su Ruo's face showed no expression: "If An'an likes it, I have no objection."

Bai Xinya seemed to have received a great blessing; she immediately went to An'an's side, took out the items one by one, and placed them on the table in front of An'an.

Then, looking at An'an with hopeful eyes, she hoped An'an would like these things.

Until, An'an smiled and said, "Thank you, Auntie."

Only then did Bai Xinya, as if pardoned, break into a smile, taking out the items one by one to show them to An'an.

Su Ruo glanced briefly and saw indeed a Terylene dress, little leather shoes, a Hai Shi crystal hairpin, Da Bai Tu milk candy… these things probably cost several months' wages for an ordinary person.

Only now did Su Ruo gain a new understanding of the Bai and Zhou families' strength; she knew Zhou Feng was absolutely not just an ordinary county magistrate.

Of course, if Zhou Feng were really just a county magistrate, he wouldn't hesitate to give her a thousand dollars and a courtyard.

Bai Xinya gazed at An'an with fervent eyes, but she kept her distance, merely looking without any other action, and left after half an hour.

As soon as she left, the smile on An'an's face vanished instantly; she no longer glanced at those things, leaning into Su Ruo's arms and saying, "Mommy, An'an is tired."

Su Ruo patted her back and carried her to the inner room to sleep.

After that, Bai Xinya came every day, and each time she brought many things for An'an, filling the whole vehicle.

She seemed to want to compensate all her love to An'an.

Su Ruo initially let her have her way, until Li Zhaodi finally couldn't hold back, dissatisfiedly saying, "Master, if that woman keeps bringing things, our room won't be able to hold them."

Actually, Li Zhaodi wasn't opposed to Bai Xinya buying things for An'an; after all, having one more person dote on An'an is a good thing.

But she was used to thrift; the clothes Bai Xinya bought for An'an, even if worn without repetition every day, would not be finished by next year.

Moreover, the clothes Bai Xinya bought for An'an fit perfectly, but An'an grows so fast that some clothes might become too small before she even gets a chance to wear them.

Li Zhaodi could tell from the fabric that these clothes weren't cheap; wasting them like this pained her immensely, so she couldn't help complaining to Su Ruo.

Su Ruo lifted her head from the medical book, saw the clothes piled up like a mountain, knew this couldn't go on, and said, "When she comes, I'll talk to her."

At noon, Bai Xinya indeed appeared on time; Su Ruo watched the driver bring down a large bundle of things and couldn't help feeling a headache.

Seeing Bai Xinya again go to show An'an her spoils, Su Ruo walked up to Zhou Feng and, with a headache, said, "If she keeps buying like this, our two small rooms won't be able to hold them."

Zhou Feng also found his wife's crazy shopping behavior a bit headache-inducing, but seeing her smile made him feel it was all worthwhile.

This amount of money is nothing the Zhou family can't afford.

Zhou Feng spread his hands, indicating he couldn't manage this either.

Li Zhaodi could no longer bear it, saying, "Miss Bai, if you keep sending things over, our room won't be able to hold them."

Only then did Bai Xinya come to her senses, seeing the small room filled with things, and realized something was wrong.

She said, "Oh! Sorry, I didn't consider that. Zhou Feng, otherwise let's buy the neighboring courtyard! Then we can use it specially for An'an's things."

Her casual tone made it seem as if buying a courtyard was as easy for her as buying a cabbage.

Zhou Feng's eyes were full of helplessness, but to not dampen his wife's spirits, he indulgingly said, "Buying a courtyard in the countryside shouldn't be easy; I'll go ask the battalion commander to see if we can rent one."

Bai Xinya thought for a moment and said, "That works."

Actually, if possible, she wanted to move over and live here, but she could see that Su Ruo was very averse to her; she didn't want to upset Su Ruo, so she could only endure.

Li Zhaodi was practically furious to the point of vomiting blood—"Is that what you mean?!" To avoid being angered to death, she immediately turned and went back into the room, out of sight, out of mind.

An'an raised her head and said to Bai Xinya, "There are too many clothes for me to wear; I want to donate these clothes to the orphans' children, okay?"

Bai Xinya now loved An'an to the core; she couldn't refuse An'an's request, yet she hesitated: "But if we give these clothes to the orphans' little friends, won't An'an feel sad?"

An'an didn't like these clothes; giving them away naturally wouldn't make her sad; she sweetly smiled and said:

"I already have so many clothes I can't wear them all; the orphans' children are pitiful, I want to share with them."

Bai Xinya immediately said, "Good! Let's send these to the orphans' children right now."

In Bai Xinya's heart, An'an was practically a kind little angel; what she didn't know was that An'an said this merely to avoid causing trouble for Su Ruo.

Several people said, "Let's act," and immediately sent all these clothes and the uneaten food to the orphanage.

However, with so much stuff, a small car definitely couldn't hold it all; after learning this, the battalion commander immediately said, "Let's transport them by oxcart—after all, donating supplies to the orphanage is also a good deed."

After several months, Su Ruo stepped into the orphanage again, and actually felt as if she had entered another world.