ushernet Chapter 5 Chen Xu's Birth
Chapter 5 Chen Xu's Birth
At this moment, Chen Yunqiu did not show any intention of leaving. Everything in this family was developing in a good direction, thriving and full of vitality, and a better life was within reach! Chen Yu felt that things had already come to this point, and if he still chose to leave, then let him go.
However, Chen Yu believed that Chen Yunqiu's choice of Sun Suying stemmed from some genuine affection between them. In the drama, Chen Yunqiu's divorce was likely due to his prolonged absence from home, causing their relationship to gradually fade. He then discovered new opportunities elsewhere, which led him to harbor ulterior motives.
Chen Yu's attitude towards Chen Yunqiu was to try to keep him if possible, but if he couldn't, he'd let him go. After all, having a man in the house should make life easier. Without him, the first few years would be tough. All this was actually for Sun Suying; she was a good woman, a good mother, and deserved a happy life.
Chen Xu was born when Chen Yu was about four and a half years old. As her due date approached, Sun Suying stopped running her stall, leaving Chen Yunqiu to maintain it alone. Around six o'clock that morning, Sun Suying felt some discomfort and realized her water had broken. She rushed to the hospital and, without much trouble, gave birth to Chen Xu smoothly.
Chen Xu's arrival brought even more chaos to the household. Unlike Chen Yu, who would proactively remind adults to eat, drink, and relieve himself, Chen Xu was passive; he would only cry when hungry or after urinating. This left Sun Suying and Chen Yunqiu feeling completely helpless, as if they were caring for a baby for the first time. Sun Suying, in her postpartum confinement, would give haphazard instructions from bed, leaving Chen Yunqiu bewildered. Diapers, swaddles, and toilet paper flew everywhere, turning the house into a chaotic mess.
Chen Yu couldn't stand it anymore. Through observation, he mentally calculated how long it would take for Chen Xu to get hungry again after feeding, and how long it would take for him to poop and pee. After three or four days, Chen Yu had a general idea of how long it would take. Then, Chen Yu started reminding Chen Yunqiu that it was time to change Chen Xu's diaper or to take Chen Xu to nurse.
Chen Yunqiu was also surprised that four-year-old Chen Yu could so accurately guess the reason for Chen Xu's crying and often make arrangements in advance. Only then did she realize Chen Yu's extraordinary nature and she liked Chen Yu even more.
Chen Yunqiu only resumed her stall after Chen Xu turned one month old. The long delay had noticeably reduced foot traffic. Chen Yu secretly took a provincial newspaper with a news report about a breakfast shop opening so popular that the door was broken off due to overcrowding, and placed it on Chen Yunqiu's bedside table. Although Sun Suying could read, she didn't like reading newspapers; this was only for Chen Yunqiu.
The news story about the shop's doors being broken by customers opening was adapted by Chen Yu. The original story was about a steamed bun shop whose door was so dilapidated that it would break if a customer pushed it. Chen Yu used this story as a basis, made some minor revisions, adapted it, and sent it to the newspaper, which actually published it! It's just a pity that he didn't get paid for the article.
After closing his stall, Chen Yunqiu read the newspaper and discovered Huadian. He studied it carefully and thought it was indeed feasible, so he started thinking about it. Ignoring Chen Yu's presence, he discussed opening a shop with Sun Suying. After some discussion, they both agreed it was worth a try.
Chen Yunqiu felt that setting up a street stall was indeed something shameful, and he wouldn't have done it if it weren't for the fact that he could actually make more money. Sun Suying, on the other hand, simply thought that having a shop would prevent wind and rain from affecting her stall. As for whether it would actually make money, she hadn't even considered buying a tricycle food cart; the investment wasn't much anyway, so she just considered it a trial.
Chen Yunqiu quickly chose a location: a street-facing house not far from the school, with a back door and window, which could be easily converted into a good shop. The floor was cement, the walls were painted white, and the stove was outdoors, facing away from the street, but a rain shelter could be added. Chen Yunqiu had also discussed with Sun Suying that a clean shop greatly impacts business, so the two discussed what materials to use for renovation that would be both economical and hygienic. Chen Yu observed them and, finding no problems, didn't interfere further. Neither of them were lazy; they figured it was hard for a shop not to make money, so they could do whatever they wanted, and they were sure they could manage it well.
The shop opened quickly, and business was just as Chen Yu had predicted. Business was slow at first, but then it became so good that customers were practically bursting at the door.
The couple found themselves overwhelmed and hired two acquaintances to help out—two women in their forties and fifties. These women in their forties and fifties often have nothing to do; they have no land, no jobs, and can only do odd jobs.
And so it was 1996 again, and Chen Yu started third grade. Elementary school material was a piece of cake for Chen Yu, requiring absolutely no brainpower. Even dropping to second place in a test felt like an insult to someone thirty years old!
Chen Yu, who consistently ranked first in the entire school in every exam, enjoyed even higher status at home and was renowned throughout the neighborhood. Ah yes, yes, he's that "other people's child"!
Chen Xu has also started attending preschool. Preschool is a relatively new program, established only in the last two years; it wasn't available before. Sun Suying spent two years at home looking after Chen Xu, as he was often unruly and mischievous, frequently causing trouble. Without supervision, such a child would be in danger. However, the shop has started to get on track in recent years, and with Chen Yunqiu watching over him, there shouldn't be any problems. The two of them decided that Sun Suying would stay home to look after the child for two years.
Chen Yu looked at his younger brother, who had become somewhat disobedient due to their mother's indulgence, and then at Chen Xu's height. He pinched his smooth chin and made a decision: it was about time to start disciplining his brother! Hehe!
The next morning, before six o'clock, Chen Xu dragged Chen Xu out for a 1,000-meter run. A 1,000-meter run is quite long for a child. The main purpose of this run wasn't to build Chen Xu a strong physique, but rather to cultivate his perseverance and self-discipline. Over time, this would become an instinct, much like how soldiers maintain a certain level of exercise after retirement, a habit that only gradually fades away after a few years. Chen Xu, of course, didn't want to run, but he couldn't withstand Chen Yu's iron fists and had no choice but to obediently keep up. As everyone knows, only older brothers and sisters can control their younger siblings; they really do it, without holding back!
Besides making Chen Xu run, Chen Yu also had him memorize some classic ancient texts and poems. Unlike some parents who simply want their children to memorize them to save face in front of relatives and friends, Chen Yu explained the contents of the texts to Chen Xu, analyzing the right and wrong of specific events. Sometimes he would even incorporate idioms, allusions, and stories. Chen Yu was determined to educate Chen Xu into a morally upright but not pedantic and ambitious young man.
Time passed day by day, and Chen Yunqiu didn't leave as coldly as she did in the drama. Although Chen Yunqiu didn't leave, Chen Yu still took care of and educated Chen Xu just like in the drama. The difference was that Chen Yu wasn't as unwilling as in the drama. Now, Chen Yu found educating Chen Xu quite interesting, hehe!