"Second Aunt, I don’t want to talk about He Qing’s matter for now, and I can’t explain it clearly just yet," Xia Lan said with a forced smile. "By the way, Second Aunt, why are you living here alone? Where’s Chuyi?"
Hearing Xia Lan’s question, Mother Xia sighed and said, "After all, she is not my own flesh and blood; there’s no blood tie, and that’s why she naturally isn’t close to me!"
"Oh..." Xia Lan’s eyes rolled as she said, "Right, Second Aunt, Chuyi doesn’t know about this, does she?"
Mother Xia opened her mouth in surprise and then said, "Impossible!"
"I haven’t mistreated the child; I’ve always been nice to her, so how could she suspect that I’m not her biological mother?"
Mother Xia shook her head and said, "Impossible, the child couldn’t possibly."
"What child would randomly doubt their own mother?"
Hearing Mother Xia’s words, Xia Lan secretly rolled her eyes and sarcastically thought: Second Aunt isn’t stupid indeed; very few children would truly doubt they were not born to their parents.
And these children, even when they say "I suspect I am not your biological child," in their hearts, they are just harboring resentment and looking to vent.
Xia Lan’s eyes rolled again as she asked with a smile, "Then Second Aunt, have you noticed any unusual behavior from her?"
After thinking it over, Mother Xia shook her head and said, "I don’t think so. She has always had the same temperament since she was little, stubborn as a mule at the slightest displeasure."
After that, Xia Lan tried to gather a few more pieces of information from Mother Xia but didn’t get anything useful.
This could only mean one thing: Mother Xia didn’t really care about Xia Chuyi at all.
Xia Lan felt an even stronger disdain for Mother Xia in her heart.
It seemed she would need to find an opportunity to meet with Xia Chuyi herself.
Meanwhile, in the town, Xia Chuyi knew that she was already on someone’s mind.
On New Year’s Eve, Zhao Xiaogui, brimming with excitement, took two kids with him to set off firecrackers outside.
Xia Chuyi also followed them out to enjoy the excitement.
The smell of gunpowder from the firecrackers was pervasive, choking a bit but unable to suppress the joy in people’s hearts.
The crackling sound of firecrackers, the lively cheers, and the noise of the children were incessant.
Seeing this scene, Xia Chuyi’s lips curled upward, her eyes shaped like crescents, beaming with joy.
Although the noise of the firecrackers was a bit deafening and the smell of gunpowder and sulfur wasn’t pleasant, she couldn’t help but revel in the festive atmosphere – an atmosphere that wouldn’t be around much longer.
Because in the future, in most places, firecrackers would be banned for environmental protection and safety reasons.
Just as Xia Chuyi was watching with great interest, Aunt Xia came out to call her.
"Chuyi, you have a phone call," Aunt Xia said with a smile on her face, calling out loud, "It’s from Huo Commander!"
"Huo Shiqian?" Xia Chuyi was a bit surprised but quickly ran back to take the call.
"Hello?" Xia Chuyi cupped one hand over her ear and leaned closer to the receiver, speaking to the person on the other end, "Brother Shi Qian?"
"Yeah, Chuyi, it’s me," Huo Shiqian’s deep voice came from the receiver.
For some reason, hearing his voice, Xia Chuyi couldn’t help but smile, saying, "Uncle Liberation Army, happy New Year!"
Xia Chuyi giggled, her eyes forming crescents, and said, "Brother Shi Qian, happy New Year! Did you prepare any New Year’s money for me?"