The stories of selling children she'd heard before filled Lin Wanwan's mind. Xie Sui's sudden kindness towards them was clearly premeditated.
Rushing home, she grabbed a kitchen knife, wrapped it haphazardly in clothes, and headed to town.
Only one jar of Xie Sui's canned peaches remained. A major customer arrived, the town mayor's daughter-in-law. She wanted to buy all of them, but didn't have cash on hand. Seeing Dou Dou's cuteness, she said, "Let your child come home with me to get the money, it's just a short walk."
"Dou Dou, can you manage?"
"Ding Ding will go with big brother. Ding Ding is a big boy now, he can help Mama with the dishes."
"So sensible, auntie has candy at home for you to eat."
The young woman had only recently married into the family. She was very fond of children. The elders always said that spending more time with children would bring them home faster. Such adorable twin sons, if they spent some time in her home, it would surely bring good luck.
"Alright, you two can go with Auntie."
Xie Sui still needed to buy things. They had run out of white sugar. This time, he could buy ten catties of white sugar and still have some money left for food and other necessities.
Everything is difficult at the beginning. Accumulating initial capital is too hard.
Xie Sui sighed. Dou Dou and Ding Ding, hand in hand, bid him farewell, "Goodbye, Daddy."
"Good boys..."
Before he could finish, Lin Wanwan rushed over, shielding the two children behind her, her face contorted with fury, "Xie Sui, are you even human?"
"Wife, what's wrong? Was I not human before, but I'm changing now, aren't I? Calm down first, let's talk things through."
"You still want to trick me! What do you mean you've changed for the better? You're just trying to pacify me. You sold my children! I'm telling you, if you dare to sell my children, believe it or not, I'll kill you first!"
The kitchen knife in Lin Wanwan's arms was also revealed. Xie Sui was terrified. "Wife, let me explain, I never thought of selling our children! I've been a scoundrel, but even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs. How could I sell my own sons? Besides, buying and selling children is illegal, we can't possibly do that?"
A crowd had already gathered around, pointing and murmuring at Xie Sui. A kind-hearted aunt offered advice, "Why don't you go to the police? Are you really the children's father?"
"Exactly! Look at him, so slick and well-groomed, he's not a proper person."
Xie Sui: Damn it, what are they looking at? Jealous of my good looks!
"Shut up, all of you! Can't you see my wife misunderstands me? Didn't you buy my peaches? Instead of helping, you're fanning the flames. Is there any trust left between people?"
Xie Sui was furious, cursing them back one by one. Were they here to cause trouble?
Dou Dou took Lin Wanwan's hand and said, "Mama, Daddy didn't sell us. We're going to Auntie's house to deliver the peach cans and bring back the money. We're helping Daddy make money, lots of money."
"Yes, yes, to buy Mama delicious things. Mama, don't cry."
Ding Ding tugged at her other hand. Lin Wanwan's panicked heart finally settled back into her chest. She held her children and wept silently.
Xie Sui touched his nose. It was all due to his past scoundrel behavior, he couldn't blame his wife for suspecting him.
"Everyone disperse, stop watching. Sorry, sister, you can take the cans first. Give me the money tomorrow. I'll still be selling here."
"Alright, girls need to be coaxed. You have such a pair of good sons. If you treat your wife badly, be careful of retribution."
"Yes, sister, your lesson is correct."
He had already suffered retribution in his past life. Xie Sui would rather be wronged himself than ever mistreat his wife and children again.
Once everyone had dispersed, Xie Sui carefully took the kitchen knife from Lin Wanwan. This gentle woman's inner fierceness always moved him.
"Wife, I'm sorry, I made you worry. Hit me a couple of times to vent your anger, please don't cry?"
Lin Wanwan wiped her face and said, "Let's go home."
"Okay, Mama is not crying anymore. Dou Dou's candy is for Mama to eat."
Dou Dou gave Lin Wanwan a fruit candy he had hidden. The child's understanding was heartbreaking.
"Thank you, Dou Dou. As long as you are well, Mama is happier than eating any candy."
Seeing that she still wasn't paying him any attention, Xie Sui imitated Dou Dou and acted spoiled. "Wife, acknowledge me. I'll sell the money and buy meat for you. From now on, I'll make money every day and raise you to be fair and plump."
Lin Wanwan ignored him and sat on the steps to rest. After walking so far, her legs were still weak.
"Heh heh, wife, let me calculate with you. One can of peach preserves requires two taels of sugar. One tael of white sugar is one cent and two, one cent for the jar, and the peaches are free..."
"Why are the peaches free?"
Lin Wanwan retorted irritably, "Did you steal peaches from someone again?"
"This, let's calculate the cost, two catties per jin, this is the market price. I'll pay everyone back when I get back. Two jin of peaches can make one can of preserves, so the cost is..."
Xie Sui counted on his fingers, secretly glancing at Lin Wanwan. Lin Wanwan said irritably, "You can't even do this simple calculation? Why are you trying to do business? You'll lose your pants."
"Wife, can you make me another pair!"
Lin Wanwan was also helpless against such a shameless person, rolling her eyes and refusing to pay him any mind.
"The cost of one can of preserves is fifty-four cents, right, Mama?"
Dou Dou had already calculated it. Ding Ding was still counting on his fingers, his eyes resembling swirling smoke.
"Oh my, my son is so smart, a genius! Daddy kisses you, mua!"
Dou Dou was disgusted, "No, it's all spit, it's dirty!"
"You stinky kid, daring to dislike me, but I must kiss you, mua, mua..."
"Mama, save me!"
Dou Dou pleaded. Lin Wanwan smiled and snatched the child over, "Stop fooling around."
"Wife, let's go buy some white sugar and keep making preserves. We'll sell them again tomorrow, okay?"
Xie Sui gave her all the money in his pocket. "Entrusted to Madam Wife's care."
Lin Wanwan's cheeks flushed red. This man was crazy. In the middle of the street, wasn't he afraid of being arrested as a hooligan? At this time, hooliganism carried severe penalties; they even used to execute people for it.
"Heh heh, Ding Ding, want to ride a horse? Daddy will carry you!"
"Okay, Daddy is the best, let's ride a horse."
Xie Sui lifted Ding Ding and put him on his neck. Lin Wanwan, holding Dou Dou, followed them. The family attracted countless envious glances.
However, it also caught the attention of someone with ulterior motives. Chen Qiang, along with a few subordinates, was eating at the state-run restaurant and witnessed the entire scene.
His subordinate, Huang San, said, "That Xie Sui fellow, he's not much of a man, but his wife is beautiful. Twin sons are rare, and they're really so cute." Sudan Novel Network
Chen Qiang grinned sinisterly, "Where can you keep a wife? Sons can be sold for a good price. Someone is coming recently, looking for a batch of children. Do you dare to do something big?"
Huang San, however, became timid. He had just spoken casually out of jealousy of Xie Sui. Kidnapping children was a grave sin and an illegal act.
"Maybe that Xie Sui fellow even wants to sell them himself. As long as the price is right, what are wives and children? With money, you can remarry!"
Chen Qiang stroked his chin. Spending a little money would save trouble. That Xie Sui fellow wasn't a good person either. This business could be done!