?Chapter 30: Thirty, taking the daughter to buy new clothes!_1 Chapter 30: Thirty, taking the daughter to buy new clothes!_1 It was only ten-thirty, and the mall wasn’t crowded.
The family of three got off the rickshaw at the mall’s entrance, with Gu Chen paying the three-yuan fare.
He then picked up Tangtang and started heading toward the mall.
Ji Pianran hadn’t spent much time in the city, so she didn’t know her way around. On top of that, clutching the money tightly, she had been too nervous during the ride.
She hadn’t paid attention to the address Gu Chen had given to the rickshaw driver.
Now, standing at the mall’s entrance, she finally understood what was going on.
Were they going into the building to shop?
She suddenly recalled Gu Chen saying last night that he wanted to buy new clothes for her and Tangtang for the New Year.
Her chest tightened.
That Gu Chen, wasting money as soon as he had some!
The clothes inside the mall were the most expensive. Similar clothes at the market only cost around one hundred yuan. In the mall, it could easily be four or five hundred.
Besides, she really didn’t need new clothes. The ones she was wearing were still practically new.
They would be perfectly fine for the New Year.
With this thought, she quickened her pace and nervously tugged on Gu Chen’s sleeve.
Her voice was soft and delicate, “Um, I don’t need clothes. Tangtang’s clothes can be bought at the market. There’s no need to waste money on this.”
Gu Chen felt the tug on his sleeve and glanced down, only to see Ji Pianran’s slender, porcelain-white hand.
She, she actually grabbed his sleeve?
Something stirred in Gu Chen’s chest.
Seeing Gu Chen look down at her hand, Ji Pianran suddenly realized what she had done. Sёarch* The n?vel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
She had actually grabbed Gu Chen’s sleeve!
This action felt far too intimate.
She hurriedly let go and felt her face flush slightly.
Turning her head away, she deliberately avoided looking at Gu Chen.
“Um, what I meant was, I don’t need new clothes.”
Really??
What kind of joke was that!
Gu Chen knew perfectly well she was just worried about wasting money. He chuckled lightly.
Then, more seriously, he said, “It’s the New Year. We’ve been married three years, and I’ve never bought you anything new to wear. Now that I’ve earned some money this year, I want to make up for what I owe you. Going forward, I’ll slowly make it all up to you.”
Hearing her mom refuse new clothes, Tangtang immediately grew anxious.
If Mommy didn’t want them, she definitely did!
The cotton jacket on her back had been a hand-me-down from Granny Zhang, and she’d never had new clothes of her own!
She wanted them!
The little girl pursed her lips and looked up at Gu Chen with a pitiful expression.
“Daddy, does this mean you’re not buying Tangtang new clothes? Tangtang hasn’t even worn new clothes yet.”
Her sweet, childish voice carried her muttering thoughts, completely unaware that, in saying these words, she not only made Ji Pianran feel guilt-ridden but drove a knife directly into Gu Chen’s chest.
He patted Tangtang’s head gently.
“Of course we’ll buy them! Not just new clothes—we’ll get new shoes, new pants, and even socks. Everything will be brand new!”
Hearing that she’d get new clothes, Tangtang beamed with delight.
Ji Pianran fell silent, but her face betrayed regret.
Her Tangtang, from the moment she was born, had never worn something new.
If she herself chose not to buy clothes, fine—but why let a child suffer the same fate?
What child wouldn’t want new clothes?
Maybe she’d been…a bit selfish.
She reached out and gently brushed Tangtang’s soft, chubby cheek.
Forcing a smile, she said, “Alright, Daddy and Mommy will buy Tangtang new clothes, okay?”
“Yay!” Tangtang cheered when her mom agreed.
She broke into a big smile, showing off her tiny white teeth.
Her large, dark eyes crinkled into crescent moons, making her look absolutely adorable.
These days, only big cities had elevators. In the smaller towns like the one Gu Chen’s family lived in, elevators were still rare, with stairs being the norm.
The family of three entered the mall. The second floor housed women’s wear, while the third floor was for children’s clothing.
With the New Year approaching, the mall was bustling with activity. As they reached the second floor, a group of women were laughing and trying on clothes.
The most striking among them was a young woman around Ji Pianran’s height.
Though she wasn’t as pretty as Ji Pianran, her outfit, a gray cashmere coat, exuded a refined elegance and was truly beautiful.
As Ji Pianran passed by, she couldn’t help but glance at the woman’s coat.
She had to admit, it was stunning.
But deep down, she knew that she wasn’t like them.
They were still the pampered daughters cradled in their parents’ palms, enjoying carefree lives. She, on the other hand, was already a mother.
She didn’t earn much, so she had to save wherever possible.
Right now, Gu Chen had just started earning money from selling vegetables.
Counting today’s income, it totaled around four thousand yuan.
In small cities, the New Year atmosphere was particularly vibrant.
Over the next few days, families prepared for the New Year at home.
Starting on New Year’s Eve, people wouldn’t go out to shop any longer.
This lasted until the third day of the New Year, when businesses slowly began operating again.
Ji Pianran understood this well.
As far as she was concerned, Tangtang’s happiness, family togetherness, and avoiding the need to borrow money were her idea of a good life.
New clothes could wait until their situation improved.
With this thought, she turned and continued up the stairs.
Gu Chen curiously asked, “Do you like that coat?”
Ji Pianran shook her head, “No, I don’t. It’s not suitable for the village, and it wouldn’t be convenient for work.”
Her expression remained neutral, and her tone was natural.
But her eyes betrayed her!
Gu Chen clearly caught the trace of longing in her gaze moments ago.
She had liked it—there was no doubt.
But likely, worrying about money, she had denied it.
At this, Gu Chen couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
Gu Chen, oh Gu Chen, you really were a failure. What had Ji Pianran learned in the three years of marriage to you?
Penny-pinching?
Self-reliance?
Making do with less?
Or had she learned to deny herself the things she truly desired?
His throat tightened as a wave of sadness swept over him.
The stairway was short, and within a few steps, they reached the third floor.
The little girl caught sight of the bright, colorful clothes displayed and grew so excited that she wriggled in Gu Chen’s arms, wanting to be set down.
As soon as she was free, she dashed toward a red cotton dress not far from the stairs.
The dress had a velvet texture and looked exquisitely made—after all, it was mall merchandise.
The quality was undoubtedly excellent.
Seeing Tangtang captivated by the dress, unable to look away, Gu Chen quickly turned to the sales assistant.
“How much is this dress?”
The sales assistant, a young woman, approached with a smile.
Truth be told, Gu Chen, with his simple black cotton jacket, jeans, and handmade cloth shoes by Ji Pianran, didn’t look the part of a wealthy customer.
However, the sales assistant didn’t judge him.
Beaming, she walked toward Tangtang and commented, “Wow, this little girl is so adorable.” She then glanced at Ji Pianran and couldn’t help but remark, “She looks just like her mom!”
Ji Pianran smiled but didn’t say anything.
The assistant checked the price tag on the dress and, after noting the amount, finally spoke again.
“This dress is six hundred and forty yuan. Since it’s the New Year, you get a discount. I can offer it at eighty percent of the price, which comes to five hundred and twelve.”
Ji Pianran’s brows furrowed slightly.
It was clear that mall clothes weren’t cheap.
Gu Chen glanced at Ji Pianran and shrugged.
“Wife, hand me the purse.”