RYEY -Chapter 257 The Expectations Were Too Strict

Little Li Ming, too—ever since he was born, he had never entered the space even once. It wasn’t that Cheng Qiao wouldn’t allow him to; it was simply impossible for him to enter.

She had tried countless times. She would hold little Li Ming and try to enter the space, but once inside, there was only her alone. She would take little Cheng Li by the left hand and little Li Ming by the right and try to enter together—yet inside the space, there were only her and little Cheng Li.

When he was still a baby, little Li Ming didn’t understand. By the time he turned one and gradually learned to speak, he always thought it was just a game of hide-and-seek that Mommy and big brother were playing with him.

Li Huan, on the other hand, was delighted that there was now another person in the family who enjoyed the same “special treatment” as he did. So every time little Li Ming wanted to play hide-and-seek, Li Huan would cooperate enthusiastically.

“Little Cheng Li, do you remember a place you used to go to when you were little? There was a huge bathroom there, and Little Red Head and the sea eagle, and lots of delicious food.”

Little Cheng Li shook his head. He only remembered Little Red Head and the sea eagle on the back mountain. Where was there a huge bathroom? Mommy must be tired or hungry—otherwise, why would she suddenly think about bathing and eating?

“Mommy, once Daddy gets his false teeth fitted, let’s go eat, okay? And Mommy, I need to pee.”

Cheng Qiao could no longer bother discussing the space with little Cheng Li. She hurriedly picked up little Li Ming and took little Cheng Li by the hand to the restroom. This time, little Cheng Li bravely walked in by himself.

Although when they came out, the little fellow’s pants were wet. Mommy never let him wear split-crotch pants, so he had to take his pants off to pee. But even after taking them off, he still ended up wetting his pants.

“Mommy, I’m sorry.”

Cheng Qiao didn’t blame him at all. For a child who was only three years old, being able to take off his pants to pee on his own and then pull them back up was already very impressive.

She took out a spare pair of pants from the basket and changed him, then changed his shoes as well. Looking at himself now clean and tidy again, little Cheng Li was overjoyed. Cheng Qiao then took out some snacks and water and slowly fed the two children.

As soon as Li Huan came out, he saw this warm, tender scene, and his heart felt cozy all over. A few years ago, he had never imagined that he could have a lovely wife, two adorable sons, and even become the village chief.

“Qiao, you’re the greatest contributor to our Li family, the most important treasure in my heart. I’ll protect you for the rest of my life and protect our family well.”

Hearing Li Huan’s sweet words, Cheng Qiao’s face flushed slightly. This guy—not only was he good-looking, but his mouth was sweet too. She just didn’t know whether he would change after the reform and opening-up era began.

The family of four left the hospital and first went to the supply and marketing cooperative. They bought little Cheng Li a toy hen that could lay eggs, and bought little Li Ming a little green frog that could jump.

The two children stared at the toys in their hands, so happy that they squatted right at the entrance of the cooperative and started playing. Before long, many other children gathered around them, all fascinated by the hen that could lay eggs.

One of the children saw the hen lay an egg and rushed over to grab it. In fact, it wasn’t a real egg at all—just a hollow shell made by clamping together two pieces of tin.

As soon as little Cheng Li saw someone snatch his toy egg, he quickly put the toy away and handed it to Cheng Qiao, then walked toward the child who had taken the egg.

The child who grabbed the egg originally wanted to run away, but for some reason, his gaze turned greedy again, landing on the little green frog hopping on the ground.

Stealing the egg had been for eating, but the little green frog was truly a fun toy. He focused all his attention on it, waiting for the right moment.

But when little Cheng Li suddenly snatched the egg back from his hand, the child flew into a rage. “Why are you stealing my egg?”

“That’s my egg. My mom bought it for me—it’s a new toy. And this egg is fake, you can’t eat it.”

Hearing that it was fake and couldn’t be eaten, the boy took a closer look at the egg in little Cheng Li’s hand and couldn’t help blushing. Suddenly, he shoved little Cheng Li, grabbed the lively hopping frog, and ran.

“Waaah—”

Seeing his toy being snatched away, little Li Ming burst into loud cries. One hand tugged at Cheng Qiao’s clothes, the other pointed at the boy who was about to run away. Still unable to speak, he could only express himself by crying.

The boy hadn’t even run a few steps when Li Huan grabbed him by the back of the collar. “Whose child is this? Won’t anyone come and take responsibility? I’ll give you one minute—if no one comes out, I’ll send the child to the police.”

A woman nearby shook her head. “Both this child’s parents are dead. He lives with his grandfather, and his grandfather is barely holding on. Who’s there to take care of him?”

Li Huan froze for a moment, and his grip loosened. The boy ran off without looking back—the toy frog was the very first toy he’d ever owned in his life.

Cheng Qiao ignored little Li Ming, who was still crying, and didn’t buy him another toy either. The reason was simple: she had already warned them that toys bought should be taken home to play with. The two little brats just had to play with them right away.

No matter how Cheng Qiao tried to persuade them, little Cheng Li would at least hesitate. But little Li Ming was completely spoiled—if he wasn’t allowed to play, he would cry and make a scene. So fine, let him play.

Now they had tasted what it felt like to have their toy stolen. Let this teach them a lesson—children this small already developing vanity was not a good thing at all.

Ignoring little Li Ming’s crying, Cheng Qiao took little Cheng Li by the hand and turned to leave. Li Huan picked up his younger son, hesitated for a moment, then followed Cheng Qiao.

When they reached the state-run restaurant, little Li Ming was still crying—though now it was just hoarse wailing without tears. Cheng Qiao lost her temper and told Li Huan to take him back. With such willfulness, what was the point of eating out?

Seeing that Cheng Qiao was truly angry, little Li Ming’s crying softened, though he continued to sob intermittently, trying to draw her attention. But Cheng Qiao remained unmoved and led little Cheng Li into the restaurant.

“Son, today is your birthday. What do you want to eat? Mommy will buy it for you.”

“Mommy, can you forgive little brother? He’s still young and doesn’t understand.”

“If you can make him stop crying and fussing, then I’ll forgive him.”

Little Cheng Li ran outside. No one knew what he whispered into little Li Ming’s ear, but the little fellow really did stop crying. Only then did Li Huan dare to bring the two children into the state-run restaurant.

The family of four ate a birthday meal that wasn’t exactly joyful, but still complete. Even on the way home, everything was quiet—mainly because little Li Ming had fallen asleep.

Xu Hui and Li Le were helping Mother Li cook in the kitchen. It was little Cheng Li’s birthday, so they planned to have a good dinner that night. But when they saw little Li Ming with swollen, red eyes, they didn’t know what to say.

“Qiao, what happened?”

“Mom, the little one’s been spoiled. He can’t listen to reason anymore—if he doesn’t get his way, he screams like mad.”

Mother Li nodded, then suddenly smiled. “Qiao, when Li Bing was little, he was very obedient and easy to raise. But Huan was mischievous and naughty—no matter how I beat him, it didn’t work. Your situation now is exactly the same as mine back then.”

Cheng Qiao was stunned and fell into thought. Perhaps because little Cheng Li had always been such a good child, it had given her the illusion that every child should be like him. Maybe she really had been too strict with little Li Ming.