"Second Aunt, I donāt want to talk about He Qingās matter for now, and I canāt explain it clearly just yet," Xia Lan said with a forced smile. "By the way, Second Aunt, why are you living here alone? Whereās Chuyi?"
Hearing Xia Lanās question, Mother Xia sighed and said, "After all, she is not my own flesh and blood; thereās no blood tie, and thatās why she naturally isnāt close to me!"
"Oh..." Xia Lanās eyes rolled as she said, "Right, Second Aunt, Chuyi doesnāt know about this, does she?"
Mother Xia opened her mouth in surprise and then said, "Impossible!"
"I havenāt mistreated the child; Iāve always been nice to her, so how could she suspect that Iām not her biological mother?"
Mother Xia shook her head and said, "Impossible, the child couldnāt possibly."
"What child would randomly doubt their own mother?"
Hearing Mother Xiaās words, Xia Lan secretly rolled her eyes and sarcastically thought: Second Aunt isnāt 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 Lanās 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 donāt 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 didnāt get anything useful.
This could only mean one thing: Mother Xia didnāt 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 someoneās mind.
On New Yearās 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 peopleās hearts.
The crackling sound of firecrackers, the lively cheers, and the noise of the children were incessant.
Seeing this scene, Xia Chuyiās 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 wasnāt pleasant, she couldnāt help but revel in the festive atmosphere ā an atmosphere that wouldnāt 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, "Itās 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, itās me," Huo Shiqianās deep voice came from the receiver.
For some reason, hearing his voice, Xia Chuyi couldnāt help but smile, saying, "Uncle Liberation Army, happy New Year!"
Huo Shiqian: "..."
Xia Chuyi giggled, her eyes forming crescents, and said, "Brother Shi Qian, happy New Year! Did you prepare any New Yearās money for me?"