Time flies, Ruirui and Yaoyao were both almost half a year old now. The weather was gradually getting colder, and the Chinese New Year was just over a month away. Fang Pingying and Zeng Weiguo’s supermarket was all set up, and they planned to open in a few days. The half month before the New Year was the time when everyone was busy buying goods for the holidays, so naturally, they expected to make some good money. Fortunately, the supermarket was not too big, and they had hired thirty to forty employees, just enough to manage. Since everything was prepared, Fang Pingying could rest at home for these few days. Once the supermarket opened, they would all need to be there overseeing operations, which would likely be very busy, even requiring shifts during the New Year. Ruirui and Yaoyao no longer needed to feed on milk every meal, and could start eating some solid foods. They could now eat some homemade rice cereal; she placed them in the cradle and slowly fed them. Lately, the two little ones didn’t get to see their mother often, sometimes not even once a day. Fang Pingying would leave early and return late; in the morning when they woke up, the children were still asleep, and by the time she got home, they were already asleep. Discover more novels at NoveI★Fire.net But they were still close to their mother. Sitting in their walkers, they excitedly waved their hands and feet, babbling and trying to talk to Fang Pingying. Li Yuchun, holding Fang Xiu’s son, saw their joy and said with a smile, "It’s funny with kids, when Hong Lan and I look after them, they don’t bond with us as much. Yet, the moment they see their mother return, they’re overjoyed." Not sure if he understood Li Yuchun’s words, Ruirui glanced at Fang Pingying and softly called out, "Mom..." Fang Pingying was momentarily stunned, then looked at Ruirui excitedly, "Ruirui, what did you say? Say it again." Obediently, Ruirui repeated, "Mom..." After hearing it clearly, Fang Pingying’s eyes slightly teared up with emotion; even the biggest business deals had never made her feel this excited. She finally understood that the sense of achievement from being a mother was incomparable to anything else. She held Ruirui in her arms, kissed him on the head, and said with a smile, "Good son." Yaoyao in the walker felt left out, and after frowning at Fang Pingying holding her brother, she suddenly also called out "Mom." This truly delighted Fang Pingying, she picked up Ruirui and sat him on one knee, and pulled Yaoyao out of the walker to sit on the other knee, and kissed her as well. Both little ones giggled when kissed by their mom. Watching Fang Pingying’s happiness, Li Yuchun laughed, "You silly girl, children over six months often start to call ’mom’; why be so excited?" "Of course, I’m happy hearing them call ’mom’ for the first time," Luo Honglan said with a smile to Yaoyao, "Yaoyao, when will you learn to call ’aunt’? After all, it’s mostly been your aunt taking care of you, remember your aunt in the future." Luo Honglan finished speaking and went to the balcony to take care of the cured meat, spicy chicken, and such, as the weather here before New Year’s allowed for air-drying meat like chicken, duck, and fish. Fang Pingying glanced at Luo Honglan and asked, "Honglan, what are your plans for New Year, are you going back home?" "I don’t want to go back if you guys aren’t, and besides..." Luo Honglan hesitated for a moment before blushing and saying, "Chen Jie has invited me to spend New Year’s with his family; he has applied for leave to visit home for a few days." "You’re going to spend New Year’s with Chen Jie at his home?" It’s not very traditional for a woman to visit a man’s home during New Year’s before they are married. Luo Honglan knew this herself, and quickly shook her head, saying, "I haven’t agreed yet. I’m not sure if I should go; I was actually thinking about asking you and Big Brother." "How are things between you and Chen Jie, actually?" Fang Pingying asked her. "You’ll be eighteen after New Year’s; it’s time to settle down. You also need to discuss this with your parents, you can’t just inform them when it’s time for the wedding." "But my mom likes Li Shunbai, right? She mentioned that he has treated her well when she came to the city a few times, and I’m also afraid that even if she agrees, knowing Chen Jie’s family situation, she might make unreasonable demands." Luo Honglan was mainly worried that Zhou Yunmei might not agree, or might agree but demand a lot from Chen Jie’s family, making issues over the dowry. Fang Pingying was worried about this too, but it was something that eventually needed to be addressed and couldn’t be hidden, so she said, "About Li Shunbai, hasn’t your brother made things clear with him? He hasn’t been approaching you recently, has he?" "True, I guess he has figured it out," since Li Shunbai hadn’t recently sought out Luo Honglan, she wasn’t too worried. "Besides, a guy like Li Shunbai isn’t bad-looking and won’t have trouble finding a bride; back in his hometown, there are plenty of women willing to marry him." Fang Pingying nodded and comforted her, "Yeah, and besides, Chen Jie is no less than Li Shunbai, there’s no reason for your parents to disagree." Luo Honglan thought for a moment, then discussed further with Fang Pingying, "Then I won’t go to Chen Jie’s house this year. I’ll go back for the New Year and bring up the matter with my parents?" "Not going to Chen Jie’s house is also fine; you are only dating after all. Going with him might seem too forward," Fang Pingying reasoned. "But you don’t necessarily need to go back for New Year’s, you can stay here and celebrate with me, and just let your parents know over the phone." "That works too, in a few days when big sister and her husband go back, I’ll ask them to take some money home and also speak to big sister about the matter, and have her talk to mom," Luo Honglan nodded, "My dad certainly won’t object; it’s mainly my mom’s side." "Okay, just see what you think is best." At night, when Luo Zhiyong came back, Fang Pingying, like showing off a treasure, had their two children call out ’mom’ for Luo Zhiyong to hear. The two little ones really did as were hoped, and actually called out. This amazed Luo Zhiyong; previously, when Fang Pingying was busy outside, the two little ones were looked after by Luo Honglan, and no matter how they were taught to call people, they just wouldn’t. Yet, with Fang Pingying at home for just one day, the two immediately surrendered. He reached out to hold Yaoyao and pinched her little face, smiling, "You heartless little girl, I’ve taught you to call daddy who knows how many times and you wouldn’t." Yaoyao playfully smiled charmingly at Luo Zhiyong, then hugged her father’s neck, kicking around in her father’s arms. Fang Pingying watched their father-daughter interaction and sighed with a smile, no wonder people say daughters are their father’s lovers from a past life. In their own family, Yaoyao and Luo Zhiyong indeed seemed much closer than Ruirui. No matter whose arms Yaoyao was in before, as soon as her dad came home, she had to sit in her dad’s arms. Every day when Luo Zhiyong got off work and came through the door, he would always shout, "Yaoyao, Daddy’s home," and the first one he would pick up to hug was definitely Yaoyao.