The Landlady and The Amnesiac

36

Chapter 36 – “You’re like a kindergarten teacher.”

Until noon the next day, Chen Lan had not returned and her phone was off.

Zhao Pianpian was flabbergasted when she heard that Chen Lan had stayed out all night and that the child had been locked out for so long.

“Is Chen Lan really Little Jingzhou’s biological mother?” Zhao Pianpian was incredulous.

It was Zhao Pianpian’s belief that while being a mother didn’t mean your life should revolve around your child, the least you could do is to not leave your child alone at home at night. He was too young,

A mother didn’t have to dedicate and sacrifice her life for her child, but since the child had been born, she must at least be responsible for this little soul.

Luo Bei nodded, “She is indeed his biological mother.”

She had verified that Fang Jingzhou was indeed Chen Lan’s son, but he was born out of wedlock.

Of course, she, as the landlord, had no need to investigate too deeply into her tenant’s history and find out exactly what happened. It was enough that she knew Fang Jingzhou was Chen Lan’s biological son.

After Zhao Pianpian gave birth, she grew a love for children. She was distressed for Fang Jingzhou, who wasn’t naughty and instead mature and obedient beyond his years.

The weather had transitioned into perpetual coldness, but Fang Jingzhou wore very little. His pants were thin and short, and he only wore one extra layer in the form of a coat. Luo Bei thought he must be very cold but she and Chen Lan were neighbors, she more or less understood what was going on in their household.

Chen Lan neglected her son. She only bought bread and some food to put in the refrigerator. When she was at home, she ordered in and Fang Jingzhou ate what she ordered. If she wasn’t home, Fang Jingzhou would eat the bread at home. Chen Lan provided him with a place of sleep and things to eat, but would not go as far as to buy him clothes. Last time Luo Bei accidentally mentioned about leaving Fang Jingzhou at the daycare, she interrupted her impatiently.

She thought that there was no need in going to daycare, he would just go straight to elementary school in the future.

Luo Bei couldn’t say much either. After all, it wasn’t her child and they weren’t related at all.

But now she felt she wasn’t overstepping her bounds by buying Fang Jingzhou a set of new clothes to keep warm. Luo Bei had not interacted with many children, but she could see that Fang Jingzhou was a very intelligent child.

He was eloquent and was logically far more advanced than children his age. Luo Bei had always thought that cute little Fang Jingzhou would be top school rankings in the future.

After lunch, Zhao Pianpian wanted to take the children shopping seeing as the weather was nice today. So Luo Bei invited Jiang Sihan who had nothing to do to help them carry their bags and the three adults and two children went to the nearby mall together.

When Zhao Pianpian brought her child outside, it was an occasion no different from moving. Even if they were only going to a nearby park, she would bring a mountain of things. Luo Bei’s hands were full with Fang Jingzhou so she would of course ask this favor of Jiang Sihan.

The moment Fang Jingzhou stepped into the mall, he was full of hesitation.

He dared not move and stopped in his tracks.

Luo Bei was originally pulling him along. When he stopped, she asked, “What’s wrong?”

Fang Jingzhou looked up at her and asked her in disbelief, “Are you going to buy me clothes?”

Luo Bei nodded.

He told her, “I have no money.”

“It’ll be a gift from us.” Zhao Pianpian explained warmly.

Fang Jingzhou became even more suspicious, “Even my mother won’t buy clothes for me.”

In his mind, Mommy didn’t like him so how could other people like him. Mommy didn’t even care that he was cold, how could anyone else care?

Although he was only four years old, he was already able to understand that Mommy who lived with him didn’t love him at all, even hated him.

Luo Bei had seen the suffering Zhao Pianpian went through to give birth. Everyone said that there was nothing more painful than the pain of childbirth. And precisely because she had witnessed it, even if, from an adult’s perspective, she felt that Chen Lan was a very irresponsible mother, she wouldn’t comment.

She squatted down, pinched his cheeks and whispered, “Maybe your mom forgot that you’ve grown. Little Jingzhou, it’s no trouble for us at all to buy you clothes and cook you noodles, but it’s different for your mom. No matter for what reason she gave birth to you, even if she wasn’t like other mothers, what you definitely cannot do is deny that she’s been through a lot.”

Fang Jingzhou did not speak.

Jiang Sihan looked at Luo Bei acting like this and couldn’t hold in his laugh.

Luo Bei caught him in the act. She asked him, “What are you laughing at?”

Jiang Sihan said, “You’re like a kindergarten teacher.”

Luobei had nothing to say. Let’s take this as a compliment.

Back home in the evening, Jiang Sihan was inspired. He didn’t sleep all night and wrote a song that would be very popular later, “You’re Like A Kindergarten Teacher.”