It was only half past ten in the morning, and the mall was not very crowded.
The family got off the car and the driver gave Gu Chen three yuan for the fare.
Then they picked up Tang Tang and walked towards the mall.
Ji Pianran had never been to the city before, and she didn't know her way around at all. Plus, she had been holding the money, and had been nervous the whole time.
She hadn't noticed the address that Gu Chen had told the driver.
Now, standing in front of the mall, she finally understood.
They were going to the mall to buy clothes?
She suddenly remembered that last night, Gu Chen had said that he wanted to buy New Year's clothes for her and Tang Tang.
Her heart tightened.
This Gu Chen, he wastes money!
Clothes in the building are the most expensive. Similar clothes in the market only cost 100 yuan, but in the building they can be 400 or 500 yuan.
Besides, she really doesn't need clothes. The clothes she has are still new.
She can wear them for the New Year.
Thinking about this, she took a few quick steps and nervously tugged on Gu Chen's sleeve.
Her voice was soft and gentle, 'That is, I don't need clothes. Sugar's clothes can be bought in the market, so there's no need to spend this kind of money.'
Gu Chen felt her sleeve being tugged, and when she looked down, she saw Ji Pianran's pair of snow-white, slender hands.
She...she actually grabbed her sleeve?
Gu Chen's heart trembled.
Ji Pianran realised this only when she saw Gu Chen looking at her hands.
She actually tugged Gu Chen's sleeve!
That was a really intimate action.
Ji Pianran quickly let go of the sleeve, and her face flushed slightly.
She turned her head away and deliberately didn't look at Gu Chen.
'That, I mean, I don't need clothes.'
Really?
Are you kidding!
Gu Chen knew that she was worried about money, so he smiled.
Then he said seriously, 'It's the New Year, and we've been married for three years, but I haven't bought you any new clothes. This year, I've finally earned some money, and I'll slowly make it up to you for what I owe you.'
When Tangtang heard that her mother didn't want new clothes, the little girl was beside herself with worry.
If her mother didn't want them, she did!
The cotton-padded jacket she was wearing was a gift from Grandma Zhang next door, and she had never bought any new clothes!
She wanted them!
The little girl pouted, looking at Gu Chen with a face full of grievances.
'Dad, are you not going to buy Tangtang new clothes? Tangtang hasn't worn any new clothes yet,'
She muttered in a baby voice, completely unaware.
Not only did her words make Ji Pianran feel guilty, they also pierced Gu Chen's heart like a knife.
He patted her head.
'Buy it! Not only new clothes, but also new shoes and new pants, even socks, all new!'
The little girl was exceptionally happy to hear that she would have new clothes.
Ji Pianran didn't say anything, her face full of self-reproach.
Her Tang Tang had never worn new clothes since birth, so to speak.
If she didn't buy any, why should her child be the same as her?
That little girl didn't want new clothes?
She seemed...a little selfish.
She reached out and gently touched Tang Tang's soft, plump little face.
Trying hard to force a smile, she said, 'Come on, let's go with your mommy and daddy to buy some new clothes, okay?'
'Yes!' Tantan was delighted that her mother had agreed.
She immediately beamed a happy smile, showing her small white teeth.
Her dark, round eyes curved into a crescent moon, looking extremely pretty.
In these days, elevators could only be found in big cities. In small places like Gu Chen's hometown, elevators were still rare and staircases were the norm.
The family of three entered the shopping mall. The second floor sold women's clothing, while the third floor sold children's clothing.
It was the year-end holidays, and the mall was bustling with activity. Just by going up to the second floor, she saw several women chatting and laughing as they tried on clothes.
The most conspicuous one was a girl about the same height as Ji Pianran.
Although she wasn't as pretty as Ji Pianran, the clothes she was wearing were really nice. They were a kind of cashmere overcoat, grey in colour, and really showed off her temperament.
When Ji Pianran walked past, she couldn't help but glance at the girl.
Undeniably, the coat was really beautiful.
However, she knew in her heart that she was different from them.
They were still the apple of their parents' eyes, able to expect their parents to provide for them, while she was already a mother.
She didn't earn much herself, so she would try to save as much as possible.
At the moment, Gu Chen had only just started buying groceries.
After calculating today's income, she only had about 4,000 yuan.
In small cities, the New Year atmosphere is heavy.
In the next few days, people will spend the New Year at home.
Everyone will prepare all the dishes and necessities at home in advance.
From New Year's Eve onwards, no one will go out to buy food again.
This situation will continue until the third day of the New Year, that is, the third day of the New Year. After the third day, the people who buy food and buy things will slowly start to open.
Ji Pianran is very clear about this.
For her, as long as Tangtang is happy, the family is reunited, and she doesn't have to go out to borrow money,
this is the life she wants to live.
New clothes are a thing. When conditions are better, it's not too late for her to buy them.
Thinking about this, she turned her face and continued upstairs.
Gu Chen curiously asked, 'Did you like that dress?'
Ji Pianran shook her head, 'I didn't like it. It's not something you wear in the village, and it's not convenient for working.'
Although her face still had no expression, and she spoke very naturally,
but the eyes don't lie!
Gu Chen clearly saw like in her eyes just now.
She clearly did like it.
It's probably because she's worried about money that she said she didn't like it.
Thinking about this, he couldn't help but frown.
Gu Chen, you are really a failure. What has Ji Pianran learned from being married to you for three years?
Be thrifty?
Be self-reliant?
Live frugally?
Or has she learned to say no to the things she likes?
He rolled his throat and felt a little uncomfortable.
The stairs were short, and every few steps they reached the second floor.
The little girl saw the colourful and beautiful clothes in front of her, and immediately struggled in Gu Chen's arms a few times, excited to get down.
Then she ran over to a little red cotton dress not far from the stairs.
The dress was also suede-like and looked very delicate, after all, it was a shopping mall product.
The quality was not a problem.
Seeing that Tang Tang's eyes were drawn to the little skirt and she couldn't take them off, Gu Chen hurriedly looked over at the salesperson.
'How much is this skirt?'
The salesperson was a young girl.
To be honest, Gu Chen had casually worn a black cotton jacket, jeans, and Ji Pianran's cloth shoes on her feet because she was doing the shopping.
She didn't look like a rich person at all.
But the salesperson didn't look down on people.
She came over with a smile, looking at Xiaotangtang's face.
'Oh, this little girl is really pretty,' she said, then glanced at Ji Bianran again and couldn't help but exclaim, 'She really looks like her mother!'
Ji Bianran smiled and didn't say anything.
The salesperson looked at the price tag on the clothes and read the price before speaking again.
'These clothes are 640 yuan. It's New Year's Eve, and there's a discount. I can give you a 20% discount, so it's 512 yuan.'
Ji Pianran's eyebrows twitched.
It seems that the clothes in this mall are not cheap.
Gu Chen glanced at Ji Pianran and shrugged.
'Daughter-in-law, give me your wallet.'