#84: Parenting Chronicles (Part 3)

“Brother, what snacks did you bring? Let me see.” Little Ningmeng ran to Xiao Jingrui’s room, wanting to know what was inside her brother’s small backpack. She had too many snacks to fit, and wanted her brother to pack some for her.

Xiao Jingrui had already zipped up his backpack, but he patiently opened it again and told his sister about each item he was bringing. Little Ningmeng scratched the tip of her nose, saying nothing. Her brother had brought four or five English storybooks.

“I see.” She scurried back to her own room.

Whoosh! Little Ningmeng emptied all the snacks from her gray-pink backpack onto the floor. She decided to bring fewer items and stuff two more books inside. Little Ningmeng looked at the dazzling array of snacks on the floor, truly unwilling to part with even one. Daddy had said that they had to pack their own snacks and toys; they could bring whatever they wanted, and he and Mommy wouldn’t interfere, but they wouldn’t buy any more for them. Little Ningmeng was full of melancholy. She had no choice but to choose some small snacks that didn’t take up much space. She loved candy and chocolate the most, and potato chips were also a favorite. After struggling for a while, she put down several tubs of potato chips. She stuffed in the two bags of spicy strips Uncle Qin Xing bought for her, intending to share one bag with her brother. Uncle Qin Xing said these were a delicacy.

“Babies, are you ready?” Shen Tang’s voice came from the stairwell.

“Mommy, we’re ready!” The two children said in unison.

“Come downstairs quickly.”

“Okay.”

Little Ningmeng grabbed two English picture books from the bookshelf and stuffed them into her small backpack, struggling to zip it up. The backpack was bulging, looking like the zipper would burst open any second. Little Ningmeng and Xiao Jingrui came out of their respective rooms, each pushing a children’s pull-along suitcase and carrying a small backpack. As they walked towards the elevator, Little Ningmeng turned to look at her brother’s suitcase. “Brother, did you bring lots and lots of toys?” Her small suitcase contained two teddy bears, one representing Mommy and one representing the baby. No matter where she went, she had to bring them and cuddle them to sleep at night.

Xiao Jingrui pushed his small suitcase and whispered to his sister, “This whole suitcase is full of snacks.” Little Ningmeng was stunned, standing still. Her two eyes were filled with “envy.” Xiao Jingrui: “I brought all your favorites; you can have them all.”

“Wow!” Little Ningmeng threw her own suitcase aside and jumped up and down. Her excited screams echoed through the seven or eight-meter high villa hall.

“What are you two doing?” Jiang Chengyu watched them from downstairs. Little Ningmeng covered her mouth, laughing nonstop. So happy to have so many snacks to eat. “Thank you, brother.”

Shen Tang and Jiang Chengyu waited for them downstairs for over twenty minutes. Today’s noon flight was to Shenzhen. The children started their summer vacation yesterday, and she and Jiang Chengyu took a week-long leave to take the two children back to Haitang Village. She and the children were wearing matching family outfits. Jiang Chengyu’s attire was as usual: black trousers and a white shirt.

Ding-dong! The elevator arrived on the first floor. Jiang Chengyu put down the magazine in his hand and helped Shen Tang put on her sunglasses. Shen Tang stood on tiptoe, asking for a kiss. Before the children reached the living room, Jiang Chengyu lowered his head and rubbed his lips against hers for a few seconds.

“Daddy, Mommy, we’re here!” Little Ningmeng shouted cheerfully. Jiang Chengyu had his back to the children, shielding Shen Tang in front of him, so they couldn’t see the two kissing. He released her lips and pushed up her sunglasses. Jiang Chengyu turned around, “Push your suitcases into the courtyard and hand them to Uncle Bodyguard.”

“Okay,” the two children replied, whispering to each other as they walked. Little Ningmeng occasionally burst into laughter. Shen Tang looked at the two tiny figures; unknowingly, they were four years old. Every summer, she would take the two children back to Haitang Village, but they were young then and had no strong memories, only fragmented snippets. Yesterday, when they heard they were going to Haitang Village for a beach vacation, they were excited all night.

While waiting to board, Little Ningmeng and Xiao Jingrui sat on Jiang Chengyu’s lap. “Daddy,” Little Ningmeng’s voice was soft, “Daddy, look at me and brother.” Jiang Chengyu looked at his son, Xiao Jingrui, who mimicked an adult’s raised eyebrow, managing a semblance of it. Next was Little Ningmeng’s performance; she gently blew air, as if there was a dandelion in front of her.

“Daddy, guess what brother and I are acting out.” Little Ningmeng’s eyes were full of anticipation. How could Jiang Chengyu guess? After thinking for a while, “You ate spicy strips and got burned?”

“...” The two children were quiet for two seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing. Afraid of disturbing others, they covered their mouths, their bodies arching back with laughter. Jiang Chengyu couldn’t help but smile helplessly at the children’s antics. Xiao Jingrui’s eyes had been wide, and he raised his small eyebrows, clearly having eaten a surprising snack. Little Ningmeng blowing air probably meant her tongue was burning from the spice.

“Daddy can’t guess, tell Daddy.”

Little Ningmeng laughed, “Brother and I are acting out ‘elated’ (扬眉吐气 - literally ‘raising eyebrows and exhaling’), haha.” Jiang Chengyu smiled and rubbed the children’s heads.

There was still plenty of time before boarding. The two children took a storybook and sat on chairs, their heads close together, turning pages and occasionally whispering softly. Shen Tang returned with a cup of iced coffee and sat close to Jiang Chengyu. To maintain her figure, she didn’t dare drink much, tasting a few sips to satisfy her craving, then giving most of the remaining cup to Jiang Chengyu.

Jiang Chengyu brought the cup to her lips. “Have two more sips.” Shen Tang shook her head, refusing to drink. Jiang Chengyu whispered, “It’s fine to drink more, just work overtime tonight to burn off the calories.”

Shen Tang: “...” He meant “overtime” in bed to burn calories. She still shook her head, controlling her urges.

Jiang Chengyu crossed his legs, leaning back in his seat and drinking coffee, occasionally glancing at the two children who were whispering secrets. Shen Tang took out her tablet, placed it on his lap, moved a few centimeters closer to him, and started looking at a few scripts the company was about to take on. Jiang Chengyu raised his arm, half-encompassing her in his embrace.

________________________________________

At five in the evening, the family of four returned to Haitang Village. Brother Shen knew they were coming back today and had prepared early, emptying all the rooms on the third floor of the guesthouse for their entourage to stay in. Shen Tang and Jiang Chengyu still stayed in her original room; it was frequently aired and cleaned, so there was no particular smell.

At this time, the beach was bustling. Little Ningmeng and Xiao Jingrui couldn’t wait to wade in the water and play in the sand. The nannies and bodyguard accompanied the children, with Jiang Chengyu and Shen Tang following behind. Little Ningmeng and Xiao Jingrui, barefoot, each carried a small bucket containing various sand toys. After crossing the road, they cheered and ran towards the beach.

“Mommy!”

“Daddy!”

The two children kept looking back as they ran, their calls rising and falling. Jiang Chengyu held Shen Tang’s hand, walking unhurriedly towards the sea. Shen Tang wanted to take more photos. She asked Jiang Chengyu to lift the children or carry them on his shoulders, to capture grand beach photos at sunset.

Jiang Chengyu rolled up his trousers and sleeves to his forearms. “Ningmeng, come to Daddy.” Little Ningmeng had just fetched a small bucket of water from the sea, preparing to build a sandcastle. She put down the small bucket and threw herself into Daddy’s arms. Little Ningmeng hugged Jiang Chengyu’s neck and pouted playfully, “Daddy, are you going to give me candy?” Jiang Chengyu teased his daughter, “I have a grain of salt, do you want it?” Little Ningmeng giggled, her cunning little eyes, “Let me see your salt.” Jiang Chengyu: “...” He kissed his daughter’s cheek, then picked her up, first raising her above his head, then letting her sit on his shoulder. His daughter was timid, so he didn’t dare toss her high. Shen Tang recorded a one-minute video and took a few candid photos.

Jiang Chengyu carried his daughter back to her small bucket. Xiao Jingrui was building a castle. He put his daughter down and then scooped up his son for more photos. “Do you want Daddy to toss you up?” Xiao Jingrui blinked, still a little scared, but finally nodded. Jiang Chengyu didn’t dare toss his son too high, tossing him three times and catching him steadily in his arms. Xiao Jingrui was both excited and nervous, screaming several times. Shen Tang recorded the entire scene.

Jiang Chengyu asked his son for help, “Later, when I hug Mommy, you record the video, okay?” “Okay!” Xiao Jingrui happily agreed. Jiang Chengyu asked Shen Tang to give the phone to their son. He then called his daughter over and handed his own phone to Little Ningmeng. “You and brother film Daddy and Mommy.”

It had been a while since Jiang Chengyu had tossed Shen Tang. He picked her up in a horizontal embrace. The beach was extremely lively, and passersby turned their heads. Shen Tang patted his arm, “So many people are watching.” Jiang Chengyu: “Just pretend you’re filming a movie.” The two little photographers were already prepared. Little Ningmeng called out “Three, two, one.” Jiang Chengyu held Shen Tang and tossed her twice. “Wow!” Little Ningmeng automatically provided the sound effect. The last time he caught her, he turned his back to the children and lowered his head to kiss Shen Tang.

Little Ningmeng was watching the video she had just filmed when a call came in. She recognized the name ‘Fu Chenglin’, answered directly, and mimicking adults, said in a childish voice, “Brother-in-law, I’m Little Ningmeng, tell me if something’s wrong.”

Fu Chenglin: “...” Every time this happened, he felt like he had nothing left to live for. “Be good, give the phone to Daddy.”

Jiang Chengyu went to answer the call, while Shen Tang accompanied the two children in building a sandcastle. “Mommy, I’m thirsty.” Little Ningmeng, halfway through building, leaned on Shen Tang’s back and whined. “Do you want water, or should Mommy buy you juice?” Little Ningmeng whispered into her mother’s ear, “Mommy, I want ice cream.” Shen Tang turned her head and leaned closer to her daughter: “Mommy wants some too. After we finish playing in the sand, let’s ask Daddy to buy us some when we go back, okay?”

“Okay.” Little Ningmeng kissed Shen Tang’s cheek. She continued building the castle, “Mommy, brother and I will build you the most beautiful castle. Daddy said princesses live in castles.” “Thank you, darling.”

The sun set, and the castle began to take shape. Little Ningmeng took off her hat and sunscreen, finally able to fully enjoy playing in the sand and water. The wind on the beach was strong, blowing her soft long hair. Jiang Chengyu finished his call and came over. Seeing the nanny take out a hair tie and approach Little Ningmeng, he said, “I’ll do it.” He took the hair tie to tie his daughter’s hair. He couldn’t do complicated braids, so Jiang Chengyu combed his daughter’s hair with his fingers and tied a loose bun on top of her head.

“Daddy, Mommy’s hair is blocking her face too.”

Jiang Chengyu: “Daddy will also tie a little braid for Mommy.” Shen Tang just thought he was casually coaxing the children and didn’t take it seriously. Little Ningmeng and Xiao Jingrui were diligently building her castle, and she was helping them. Jiang Chengyu asked the nanny for another thick hair tie and half-squatted behind Shen Tang. Shen Tang felt someone behind her and turned around. Jiang Chengyu pressed her shoulders. “Turn back, don’t move. I’ll tie your hair.”

A few minutes later, Shen Tang had the same bun as Little Ningmeng. Her hair was thick, so Jiang Chengyu had struggled a bit to tie it. Shen Tang took a selfie with her phone to check the result. It was loose and messy, with a strand of hair sticking up. But, it looked very good. The evening breeze blew, but it couldn’t mess it up.