After Divorce: Why My Aloof Ex Starts Chasing Me?

Chapter 326: An Honorable Task

Shen Qingqing was driving, and Jiang Zhixun sat in her passenger seat. This feeling was quite intriguing.

Watching her skillfully maneuver the steering wheel, driving smoothly, Jiang Zhixun couldn’t help but laugh.

Shen Qingqing kept her eyes forward, "What are you laughing at?"

"Yeah, Dad, what are you laughing at?" The two little ones in the back curiously looked at Jiang Zhixun.

"Do kids really have such a strong curiosity?"

Xiao Man: "It’s because kids are more curious. You adults have seen everything; nothing seems strange to you anymore."

Shen Qingqing found this reasoning quite sensible.

"It’s good for kids to be curious."

Jiang Zhixun: "They’re just too curious, which is why they ask about everything every day."

Xiao Xi: "So, Dad, what are you actually laughing at?"

She’s still pondering this problem, refusing to give up until she gets an answer.

Jiang Zhixun couldn’t help but chuckle.

His daughter is very similar to Qingqing in that regard, not living life in a blur but wanting clarity in everything.

"Dad was reminiscing about the past. Back then, your mom couldn’t drive, and everywhere she went, I had to take her. Now, in the blink of an eye, she can drive herself. It’s quite something."

Shen Qingqing corrected, "Saying it like that, people might think you were my personal driver. You only drove me during vacations, and you could count the number of times I was chauffeured all year on your fingers."

Xiao Xi: "Dad always exaggerates! That’s not good."

Jiang Zhixun clicked his tongue, "This little girl, sharp-tongued, someone says one sentence and you come back with several."

Xiao Xi proudly raised her chin, "Grandma says I’m outgoing, not like a piglet that can’t get out the pen!"

Shen Qingqing was amused.

Jiang Zhixun also couldn’t help but smile, "No wonder you like parrots, chatting all day long. You’ve found your kindred spirit."

"Dad, are you complaining that I talk too much?"

How could Jiang Zhixun bear to complain about his own child, especially one Shen Qingqing had given birth to!

He countered, "If I complained you talked too much, would you change?"

Xiao Xi shook her head, "You can complain if you want. As long as great-grandpa, grandpa, grandma, and mom don’t mind, it’s fine. Wherever I am, you can just keep your distance so no one will bother you."

Jiang Zhixun smiled, faked a cough, "You’re pretty open-minded."

"Of course, grandma says I’m a little sun! A ball of joy!"

Jiang Zhixun wholeheartedly agreed.

Though kids talk very naïvely, hearing their chatter puts him in an exceptionally good mood.

This is their family’s bundle of joy!

Listening to their conversations, Shen Qingqing chimed in from time to time, and they smoothly arrived at the flower and bird market.

After a long search, they found one that resembled the one at home.

Xiao Xi asked Xiao Man: "The one at home is mine; this is bought for you, so you have to like it."

Xiao Man wasn’t picky, "I like them all."

Xiao Xi: "You’re really something, no personal preferences, no assertiveness."

Xiao Man couldn’t argue with her.

Shen Qingqing and Jiang Zhixun already knew how sharp their daughter’s tongue could be.

By the age of three, she could use a lot of idioms, far more mature than her peers, yet still found it remarkable.

Her words were almost indistinguishable from those of adults.

Not interfering in the siblings’ topic, once confirming that Xiao Man liked the little green parrot, Shen Qingqing decisively paid.

Thinking that the old man liked flowers and plants and given their rare visit, and with the car, she decided to buy a few pots of flowers for the old man.

Jiang Zhixun asked: "Should we buy two more green plants for the house at school?"

"Not for now, let the old man nurture them for a while. If they survive, I’ll move a pot to school."

That’s how they’ve been doing it for years.

The old man likes it, and Shen Qingqing likes it too.

Sometimes, when out with friends, if she sees nice green plants, she’ll bring some back for the old man.

Now the Jiang Family’s small garden is beautifully maintained, with plenty of greenery and clusters of flowers, even a grape trellis built.

Every year when the grapes ripen, there’s an abundance; everyone loves the sweet and sour taste.

Jiang Zhixun now also enjoys gardening, telling Shen Qingqing: "I’ll take care of them for you."

"As you wish."

Like taking on an honorable task, first thing when home, Jiang Zhixun started tending to the newly bought flowers.

Pruning where needed, repotting where required, busy and content.

As for Xiao Man and Xiao Xi, they had already taken their Little Jiang and Little Qing out to show off to their friends.

The courtyard is very safe; they weren’t going to get beyond the front gate, which reassured Shen Qingqing.

After washing her hands, she joined Madam Jiang in the kitchen to help with cooking.

"Miss Shi called you earlier."

"What did she say?"

"She said she’ll be in Beijing in a few days for business talks, asked if you have time to meet for a meal."

Madam Jiang smiled, "She invites me and Xiao Man and Xiao Xi too, said to bring the kids along to meet other people."

Shi Yu’s business is growing bigger now, earning quite a bit.

A capable woman, Madam Jiang has always admired her.

Shi Yu is particularly attentive, often sending Northwest specialties during festivals.

Sometimes when she’s abroad for market research, she finds delicious or useful things and sends them over too.

Someone attentive easily wins others’ favor.

Madam Jiang always had a good impression of Shi Yu and admired her even more now.

"When she didn’t choose the translation path, I found it regrettable, grumbling privately to your dad that she married too early, tied down by men and children. Didn’t expect her business venture to be so successful; truly, there’s a master in every trade."

Shen Qingqing also thought Shi Yu was impressive, "No matter the circumstances, she manages to live well."

"You’re right; Miss Shi is very clear-headed, always knowing what she wants."

Just having met Mr. Chen briefly, she bravely married and moved to the Northwest, a courage not everyone has.

Chatting while cooking.

Besides the cake for the two little ones, Madam Jiang also steamed buns.

Freshly out of the pot, smelling delightful.

Before the dishes were cooked, Madam Jiang urged Shen Qingqing to try a bun, "Test the saltiness."

Shen Qingqing chuckled, "I’m not a child who needs snack bribes."

"Adults can eat too."

This was Madam Jiang’s usual approach, fearing Xiao Man and Xiao Xi might hurt themselves. Whenever they entered the kitchen, she’d quickly give them food to shoo them out.

This time, with buns ready, she wanted Shen Qingqing to eat some too, as she loves pasta.

Shen Qingqing checked her watch, "I’ll go find them first."

Madam Jiang: "Alright, come back for dinner."

Not far from the door, Shen Qingqing saw her two children trotting along happily behind Qin Cheng.

Xiao Xi holding a birdcage in one hand and Qin Cheng’s hand in the other, "Slow down, or Little Qing might get dizzy."

Qin Cheng: "I’m going home."

Xiao Xi: "Why go home, come have dinner at our place. My brother and I will keep you company."

Qin Cheng: "I have homework."

Xiao Xi furrowed her brow, knowing homework wasn’t something she and her brother could assist with...

Just as Shen Qingqing was about to call them, she heard a man’s slightly sour voice from behind, "So clingy, who does she take after?"

Looking back, she saw Jiang Zhixun had also left the house without her noticing.

Shen Qingqing masked a smile, "Who else besides you?"