Witty Wife, Better Life

Chapter 409: Chapter 399 Preparations before New Year

As the New Year was fast approaching, Shen Yunfang’s house-hunting had to be put on hold because she and her husband were going to spend it in the Capital this year. Moreover, Li Hongjun had already visited his hometown in August, so they decided to celebrate in their own home in the Capital. That meant it was time to start preparing for the New Year’s festivities.

During shopping, Shen Yunfang found a kindred spirit, which was none other than Ma Liguo’s wife, the policewoman Mu Huazhen.

Initially, Shen Yunfang didn’t dare to ask her to go shopping together. It was only after she took her children to the mall and bought two new outfits for the New Year – which Manman, always keen to show off, insisted on wearing right away – that Mu Huazhen noticed them.

When Mu Huazhen heard that Shen Yunfang had purchased them at the Chinese Store, her eyes lit up.

Shen Yunfang was very opportunistic, pulling out a big stack of Remittance Coupons to offer Mu Huazhen, who pounced on them with an "ao" sound. From then on, the two frequently joined forces on shopping expeditions to the mall.

Shen Yunfang was puzzled at times, "Aren’t you a police officer? Isn’t it busy before the New Year? How come you’re out shopping every day like this?"

Mu Huazhen flashed her a proud smile, sending chills down Shen Yunfang’s spine, "You don’t know? The public security organs are cracking down on thefts during this period. To better serve the people, I voluntarily shed my uniform and put on plain clothes to blend in with the citizens, ready to spot and capture criminals who prey on the public during the New Year’s period. So, don’t think I’m just out shopping with you every day. Actually, I’m working, observing in all directions, ready to engage criminals in a fight to the death at any time."

Shen Yunfang unconsciously shifted away, then saw that Ma Chaofan moved even faster than she did. She finally got the hint; she shouldn’t have been so nosy.

The two of them, along with their three kids, battled it out in the mall for three or four days, managing to procure two new outfits for everyone at home for the New Year. They even bought two sets of bed sheets and quilt covers – the house needed a fresh look for the new year.

Then came the various New Year’s goods.

Seeds and peanuts are a given. At the mall, she found many things that are usually unseen, like seafood – although frozen and not very fresh. Shen Yunfang had never seen such in her hometown, so she didn’t mind and picked out a few big lobsters and some crabs. She also bought several kinds of sea fish, enough for the New Year’s feast.

She spotted fruits rarely seen in winter, like apples, tangerines, bananas, and pears. Ah, even frozen persimmons were in the fruit section. Although these fruits were quite common, they were nowhere to be seen outside, even in supply and marketing cooperatives. Shen Yunfang bought a box of each, to be enjoyed slowly by the children at home. With her around, even if she bought too much, it wouldn’t go bad.

Despite having the money and coupons, Shen Yunfang was surrounded by poor people. As much as she wanted to stuff her balcony full, she had to consider the feelings of her neighbors, so after a few days of shopping, she stopped.

But that was enough to cause envy in Aunt Sun across the way.

Shen Yunfang also found it strange. Aunt Sun seemed to have built-in radar; every day when she returned home from shopping with the children, she could see her perched on the balcony, watching (It wasn’t radar; the woman had nothing better to do and spent her time watching from the balcony, so of course she saw Shen Yunfang coming). As she and the kids walked upstairs, Aunt Sun would definitely be waiting with the door open, her beady eyes scanning over the shopping bags in Shen Yunfang’s hands. Of course, even if she went blind from looking, Shen Yunfang couldn’t give her a single thing – so in the end, all Aunt Sun could do was stand inside her door and utter some sour, pathetic remarks. In Shen Yunfang’s opinion, Aunt Sun really had too much time on her hands.

Shen Yunfang felt helpless having such a neighbor and if it were up to her, she wouldn’t let such a person live within ten miles of her home. But circumstances didn’t allow for this, so for now, she had to endure it.

Several days of shopping finally came to a temporary end as the 25th of the twelfth lunar month arrived. Shen Yunfang put on her old clothes and began to clean the house.

Because she generally loved cleanliness, the apartment was quite easy to tidy up. The main task was just washing the bed sheets and duvet covers from the three rooms. At this time, Shen Yunfang dearly missed the days with a washing machine.

When Li Hongjun pushed open the door, he saw his wife sitting on a small stool by the bathroom door, vigorously scrubbing clothes. He frowned at the pile of bed sheets and duvet covers on the floor, changed his shoes after entering, asked his wife to get up, and sat down to start washing.

Shen Yunfang watched her husband with a tender expression, finding him more lovable by the minute. He knew how to be kind to his wife, knew how to love his kids, was upright and ambitious – wasn’t that enough? In the future, men like this would indeed be the epitome of a good husband.

Li Hongjun couldn’t ignore the intense gaze of his wife and, slightly uncomfortable, shifted his bottom. He turned his head and asked her seriously, "Is my son’s birthday cake ready yet?"

Ah, sing his praises and he starts to act all proud.

Shen Yunfang paid him no mind, "As if I need you to tell me. Your son has been pestering me about it since he got up this morning. It would be odd if I had forgotten."

This Thursday was Pangpang’s third birthday, and the couple had asked him in advance if he had any wishes. The little guy had only one desire: to eat an entire birthday cake by himself on the day.

The couple fell silent when they heard it. Whose kid was this, only thinking about eating?

But since it was their child’s only birthday wish, and it wasn’t too difficult for them, they agreed. With Li Hongjun only able to come home on weekends, they had decided to celebrate the child’s birthday then. Of course, Pangpang was too young to understand, and thought his birthday was actually on Sunday. That morning, upon their son’s urging, Shen Yunfang got up and started mixing and baking, making a five-inch birthday cake specially for her son.

The child was so young, his birthday wish was to eat an entire cake by himself, so as a mother, she only had to consider the size.

Of course, although it was Pangpang’s birthday, they couldn’t let him eat alone while Manman just watched – that would surely make her cry. Therefore, Shen Yunfang baked a total of five cakes, with Pangpang’s being the largest and the others slightly smaller than his.

The moment the cakes were brought to the table that evening, Pangpang’s little mouth puckered up, wondering why the cake had shrunk.

However, seeing that his sister’s cake was even smaller than his, and Taxue’s even tinier, he was instantly comforted. Happily, he picked up a fork and began eating the cake in front of him.

Latter, Pangpang, seeing his sister eyeing the banana boat (a piece crudely carved by Shen Yunfang to amuse the kids) on his cake, thoughtlessly forked over half of it for his sister to eat.

Shen Yunfang and her husband watched with great satisfaction. Pangpang would be a good brother who cherished his sister.

The family of five celebrated Pangpang’s birthday together in a simple yet warm manner.