After saying this, Chen Lan stood up and turned back towards the entrance of the black market. She greeted the young man guarding the entrance, "Son, I'll be back after getting something."
As soon as she finished speaking, Chen Lan walked out of the moon gate at the entrance of the black market alley and headed into the dark alley.
Not long after, Chen Lan returned to the black market carrying a large bag of items. The young man guarding the entrance of the black market alley was completely bewildered. He hadn't expected this auntie to be so fast.
Chen Lan placed a large bag of grain at the feet of the man selling dogs and then took out two hundred yuan and two hundred jin of grain coupons from her pocket, extending them towards the dog seller.
The dog seller was so startled by Chen Lan's actions that he immediately stood up, waving his hands repeatedly, and stammered, "Little sister, what are you, what are you doing?"
Chen Lan quickly put the money and coupons back into her pocket, then gestured downwards with her hand and said with a smile in a low voice, "Brother, please don't get excited, don't get excited, keep your voice down, keep it down! Come, let's both squat down, and I'll explain slowly."
The dog seller also realized he had lost his composure and noticed that people at the surrounding stalls were looking their way. So, he followed Chen Lan's lead and squatted down again.
Chen Lan explained in a low voice, "Brother, please don't speak for now, and let me finish. Brother, you see, since we're planning to buy all the puppies you brought, we should offer some compensation to the hardworking mother dog. So, you must take this bag of grain. It's specifically for our weak 'Hu Zi' to recuperate!"
Seeing that the dog seller was about to speak again, Chen Lan immediately held up her hand to stop him and continued, "Brother, don't rush to speak, wait until I'm finished, then you can talk."
After speaking, Chen Lan took out the money and coupons again and explained, "Brother, you see, this two hundred yuan is specifically a reward for your hard work. You've been taking meticulous care of Hu Zi for the past few months, from her pregnancy to giving birth, and it's been quite a chore."
The dog seller immediately replied, "Little sister, taking care of Hu Zi is what we should be doing! Hu Zi is very well-behaved, obedient, and easy to care for. She eats whatever we eat, and she's never picky."
From the dog seller's words, Chen Lan could tell that his family didn't treat Hu Zi as just a dog but as a member of their family.
People who are kind to animals are undoubtedly kind-hearted people. Kind-hearted people will surely be blessed! Thus, Chen Lan became even more determined to help the dog seller's family.
So, she interrupted the dog seller and continued to persuade him, "Brother, you see, after all, your family worked hard to take care of Hu Zi for months, and in the end, we are the ones who benefit. How can we feel at ease? Right? So! You must accept this reward for your hard work."
Chen Lan once again held up her hand to stop the dog seller, who was about to speak, and continued, "Brother, don't rush to object, just listen to me finish. As for these two hundred jin of grain coupons, they are for the food Hu Zi ate during her pregnancy and birth. I was afraid it would be difficult for you to carry all the grain, so I gave you coupons instead. Please don't mind! I also know that a wolfhound like her has a huge appetite, and this amount of grain coupons might not be enough. Brother, please bear with it!"
After finishing her speech, Chen Lan put all the money and coupons in her hand into the bag of grain, and she even added an extra two hundred yuan and two hundred jin of grain coupons. Then, she picked up the worn basket containing the puppies and prepared to leave with Jia Hui.
Before leaving, Chen Lan looked at the still-dazed dog seller with some concern and said to him, "Brother, it's getting late, so tidy up your things and go home quickly! It's not very safe in the black market with so many items."
After saying this, and before the dog seller could react, Chen Lan turned around and quickly walked away with Jia Hui.
The dog seller didn't react to Chen Lan's words at all. So, when he saw the mother and daughter gradually walking away, his mouth fell open, and he was utterly stunned.
Chen Lan's guess was indeed correct. As soon as Chen Lan and Jia Hui returned home with the five fluffy puppies in their basket, the puppies were warmly welcomed by everyone in the family, young and old.
Especially the youngest triplets, who refused to leave the worn basket. The three of them, looking at the puppies' fluffy heads and round bellies, couldn't resist reaching out to touch them.
Because they were in an unfamiliar environment, the five puppies were startled and huddled together, whimpering occasionally, with only their little bottoms exposed like ostriches, their tiny tails twitching!
This made their mother feel heartbroken. She hurriedly stopped the triplets' movements and instructed, "Lan'er, the puppies are still very young, likely only a month old, and have just left their mother. They are probably still timid and shy. Let the children put them in a warmer place and feed them something."
As soon as the triplets heard their grandmother say this, they immediately raised their hands to volunteer. The eldest, Jia Hui, then picked up the basket and headed towards the small study. Chen Lan followed them with some concern.
Little Tenth Sister seized the opportunity and scooped up a small puppy, refusing to let go. This puppy had fluffy brown fur and eyes as round and bright as two black gemstones.
Tenth Sister held the puppy in her arms even while eating, unwilling to put it down. She even gave the puppy a rather amusing name: "Shiyi" (which means eleventh).
Their grandmother smiled and asked, "Tenth Sister, are you perhaps wishing for another little brother?"
To everyone's surprise, Little Tenth Sister replied without even thinking, "Grandma, I'm not picky. I want to be an older sister, and a younger sister would be fine too."
Their grandmother and Liu Mama burst into laughter upon hearing Tenth Sister's words. Liu Mama chuckled, "Then let your mother try for another one!" The conversation between grandmother and granddaughter made Chen Lan blush deeply.
Chen Lan told Xiang Xi and his group to spend a couple of days exploring Harbin and then buy their train tickets the day before they were due to leave.
During these two days, Chen Lan also needed to arrange the lives of her mother and Liu Mama at home.
Yes, after careful consideration, Chen Lan decided not to take her mother and Liu Mama back to the Imperial Capital this time. After all, the situation was still uncertain, and she didn't know if the house in the Imperial Capital was still vacant!
It had been nearly thirty years, and there were too many variables. Chen Lan didn't want her mother to be distressed and agitated if she found their house occupied.