Fu Yunrou later noticed that her son had become much more lively. He no longer only babbled when he was hungry or needed a diaper change. Previously, he was so obedient and quiet that she often worried he was too reserved for a boy. Now that he had become more animated, she felt relieved.
In the past, his silence made her inexplicably anxious. But now that he liked to cry and fuss, it was as though a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
However, after a few days of this newfound energy, Fu Yunrou found herself exhausted. He had become incredibly noisy, babbling incessantly.
Except when he was sleeping, the house was filled with his constant chatter, almost like he had ADHD. He couldn't sit still for even a moment. Only when he was utterly tired and fell asleep could she find a moment of peace.
On top of that, he no longer liked being in his stroller. He insisted on being carried, and not just by anyone—only by her. In the past, Aunt Mei could carry him without a problem, but now he would stiffen up and resist whenever anyone else held him. His tiny body was surprisingly strong, and Fu Yunrou was always worried he might fall if someone else tried to hold him. So, she had no choice but to carry him herself.
Recently, her son had also started rejecting formula.
After he turned three months old, Fu Yunrou had bought a can of formula suitable for his age, feeding it to him before bed while breastfeeding him the rest of the time. Initially, she thought he liked the formula more than breast milk. But after hearing that breast milk strengthens a baby's immune system, she resolved to only give him formula once a day.
Now, he seemed to detest the formula. As soon as he saw her preparing it, he would babble excitedly, but after it was made, he would refuse to drink it.
Concerned that something might be wrong with him, Fu Yunrou took him to the clinic. The doctor reassured her that he was perfectly healthy.
Seeing that he was still drinking breast milk and that his baby fat hadn't diminished, she felt relieved. Maybe he just preferred breast milk to formula. Babies' tastes could change, after all.
Fu Yunrou finally understood the struggles she had seen other mothers vent about online. She used to compare herself to the moms on parenting forums, feeling proud that her son was the most well-behaved and considerate baby in the world.
She had learned not to get too confident too soon. She now understood the saying: babies are little angels when they sleep and little devils when they're awake. Still, despite the challenges, she felt a deep joy and fulfillment.
Recently, her son also stopped enjoying his toys. Whenever she brought out something for him to play with, he would push it away with his chubby hands and babble, as if to say he wasn't interested.
Fu Yunrou thought maybe he was bored with his old toys, so she bought him a new one. To her surprise, he became even more vocal, as if he was angry with her.
Chi Wen was indeed furious. This woman was wasting money! She didn't know how to save at all. In an attempt to prevent her from running out of money and starving, he had even cut back on his own rations. And yet, despite all his efforts, she was squandering money on useless toys.
She just wanted to drain her funds faster to have an excuse to abandon him, didn't she?
If that was the case, then he'd make things difficult for her. Maybe if she got fed up, she'd get rid of him sooner rather than later. It wouldn't bother him!
Determined, Chi Wen caused trouble every day, thinking that the sooner she reached her limit, the sooner she'd give up on him. He didn't care anymore.
The previous afternoon had brought heavy rain that lasted well into the night. By morning, the weather had cooled, and the air felt fresh. The ground was still marked with shallow water rings that hadn't fully dried.
Chi Wen hadn't been outside for a few days, and today he noticed that Fu Yunrou was carefully placing him in the stroller, preparing to go out.
At first, he considered throwing a fit, but when he saw the dark circles under her eyes and the fatigue etched on her face, he realized she hadn't been resting well for days.
Though he was on the verge of demanding to be carried, he stopped himself, quietly accepting being placed in the stroller.
Chi Wen thought it best to hold off on causing trouble for now. If he upset her too much, she might decide not to take him out at all, and that would be worse.
He hadn't been outside in days, and even though there wasn't much to do, it was better than staying cooped up.
Fu Yunrou pushed the stroller along the road, admiring the countryside scenery.
The rice fields, still green in June, were now bearing rice ears, creating a peaceful and pleasant view.
The distant mountains, freshly washed by the rain, looked even greener and more lush, their vibrant color bringing a sense of calm.
The sun was shining, but the heat wasn't intense. Many people had come outside to work.
As she continued walking, she suddenly heard someone calling her from behind. "Ruoruo! Ruoruo!"
Fu Yunrou turned to see Aunt Mei hurrying toward her, a hoe slung over her shoulder.
"Aunt Mei," Fu Yunrou greeted with a bright smile, her face lighting up even more.
"I went to your house but didn't see you. I didn't expect you to be here," Aunt Mei said, setting her hoe down and catching her breath.
"It's not too hot today, so I thought I'd take a walk," Fu Yunrou replied.
Aunt Mei nodded, then smiled. "Ruoruo, you mentioned wanting to work last time. There's some progress on that."
"Really?" Fu Yunrou's eyes lit up, but then she hesitated. "But Wen Wen has been so difficult lately. I'm not sure I can manage…"
She worried about working while leaving her baby behind. If she left him at home, she'd be anxious the whole time. How could she focus on work like that? Could she bring him along?
"You can bring the baby with you. It won't be a problem," Aunt Mei assured her with a wave of her hand. "The pay isn't great—1,000 yuan a month, and lunch is included, though you'll have to cook it yourself. There aren't any fixed holidays, but if something comes up, you can just take leave."
"1,000 yuan is plenty! Thank you, Aunt Mei," Fu Yunrou said gratefully. She knew that jobs in such a remote village were hard to come by. Even if one appeared, many people would jump at the chance to work for just a few hundred yuan. Aunt Mei must have gone to great lengths to secure this opportunity for her.
1,000 yuan a month meant two cans of formula, some cheap toys, and clothes for the baby—plus, it covered lunch! Fu Yunrou happily accepted, knowing it was a rare chance.
Aunt Mei was relieved to see how genuinely happy Fu Yunrou was. She had been worried that Ruoruo might feel discouraged by the low pay.
In big cities, even a salary of 5,000 or 6,000 yuan was considered low, and many white-collar workers earned tens of thousands each month. But out here in the countryside, there were no such high-paying opportunities. Even getting this job had required Aunt Mei's husband to call in a favor.
Seeing that she had helped made Aunt Mei feel content. "Alright then," she said, picking up her hoe. "Come by early tomorrow morning, and I'll show you the way. I'm off to the field now."
"Okay! Thank you, Aunt Mei," Fu Yunrou said sweetly.
As she walked on, Fu Yunrou beamed with joy. She looked down at her baby, who was watching her with wide eyes. "Aunt Mei is so kind. We must make sure to be good to her in the future!"
Now she didn't have to worry about running out of money! Though 1,000 yuan wasn't much, it was enough to cover essentials like milk powder.
Fu Yunrou hadn't expected Aunt Mei to find her a job so quickly. No matter how hard the work might be, she would endure it. She couldn't let Aunt Mei down!
Then she realized she hadn't asked what the job actually was. But it didn't matter—she'd find out tomorrow.
With a happy spring in her step, Fu Yunrou walked for a while longer before turning back toward the village. Just as she was entering, someone called out to her.
It was Aunt Wang, walking up with a wide smile.
"Ruoruo!" Aunt Wang looked around to make sure no one was listening, then leaned in with a conspiratorial grin. "Have you given any thought to what I mentioned last time?"
Fu Yunrou immediately knew what Aunt Wang was referring to. *She's still trying?* Sighing inwardly, Fu Yunrou replied, "Aunt Wang, I'm just focused on raising my child. I'm not interested in anything else right now."
"Oh, don't be like that," Aunt Wang said, growing more insistent. "The child needs a father. It's better to find one before he's old enough to remember. That way, he'll bond with his stepfather."
"I really don't want to think about that," Fu Yunrou said gently. "But thank you for your concern."
"You're a young woman. Life will be tough if you're alone…" Aunt Wang continued, ignoring Fu Yunrou's protests.
"If you don't like this one, there are others. I have another one …"
Auntie Wang was eloquent and introduced Fu Yun to other people. Fu Yun could not get a word in at all.
"Ahhh!" Chi Wen couldn't take it anymore and yelled angrily.
That woman had already said that she didn't want him anymore, so why was she still clinging onto him? Are you bullying her because she's young and doesn't dare to fall out with you?
He didn't want a stepfather at all, okay?
"The baby pooped. I have to change his diaper quickly. Bye, Auntie Wang."
Fu Yunruo found an excuse and hurriedly pushed the stroller back home. Auntie Wang could not stop crying from behind.
Fu Yun finally got rid of Auntie Wang with great difficulty. She looked like she still had lingering fears.
She patted her chest. Fortunately, she had escaped quickly.
Fu Yunruo bent over and picked up Chi Wen. She grinned and rubbed her face against Chi Wen's. "Fortunately, we have the baby. The baby is so awesome! Otherwise, Mom will be taken away by the big monster. "
Chi Wen let her rub her face expressionlessly. She laughed in her heart.
Although there was such an episode in the middle that affected her mood a little, she was still very happy. She was going to work tomorrow!