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"You really don’t hold back, do you~" He Zhilan teased with a smile.

After Wang Juan bought her lipstick, the three women headed towards the toy department. The largest shopping mall in the city had a toy section, but it wasn’t particularly large, only about half the size of the one from which He Zhilan used to buy toys for Jiaqing and Jialang back in S Province.

The three ladies browsed through the toys, all of them financially comfortable and still kids at heart. Their eyes sparkled at the sight of the toys.

"You know, when I was a little girl, I absolutely adored dolls like this.

" Chen Cui said, holding up a cloth doll in her hand, "But back then, before my parents were sent down to the countryside, we lived in a big city. They were strict with me, saying that being playful leads to idle habits and never let me touch these things. Later on, when my husband and I started dating, the first gift he gave me was a doll. That’s when I knew he was the one for me for life. "

"A doll to win a wife, your husband really got a good deal," laughed Wang Juan before turning to He Zhilan, "What was the first gift your husband gave you?"

"Him?" He Zhilan shook her head and chuckled, "He’s a blockhead. How could he ever think to give me something to cheer me up?"

Wang Juan shrugged and patted He Zhilan on the shoulder, "You’re valued even less than Chen Cui."

"Get outta here~" Chen Cui playfully hit Wang Juan, "The first doll my husband gave me was an imported one! It cost him two months’ salary! It’s different for He Zhilan since she grew up with her husband. In his eyes, she’s probably just like family.

Besides, her husband is a soldier; naturally, he wouldn’t think of doing something like giving gifts. "

The three were chatting and picking out toys when Gu’s mother and Lan’s mother happened to walk by and heard their conversation.

Gu’s mother paused immediately, looking towards the three women inside, her gaze inevitably resting on He Zhilan.

She sighed softly, feeling a sense of guilt that she simply couldn’t express whenever she saw He Zhilan.

After all, a little life had slipped away from her hands.

"What’s wrong?" Lan’s mother noticed Gu’s mother stopping abruptly and followed her gaze, spotting He Zhilan and her friends. The three women had a bunch of toys at the checkout, laughing and chatting about their children.

"Sister, don’t take it too hard. It wasn’t intentional, what happened back then," Lan’s mother sighed and reassured Gu’s mother.

When it was time to pay, Wang Juan generously covered the bill, "Zhilan, I bought these toys for your son. He’s several months old now, and we haven’t even met him yet. Take these back and tell your son these are gifts from Aunt Juanjuan. He might take a special liking to me when he sees me."

"And you’re bribing him before even meeting?

" He Zhilan didn’t hesitate to accept, "I certainly will! My baby loves model cars and guns, can you believe it? Even though he’s still young, his father is an outstanding soldier, not to mention the Sharpshooter.

He has a talent for such things - a natural affinity! "

"Oh, by the way, Zhilan, how come you didn’t celebrate your baby’s full-moon or hundred-days ceremony?

Are you planning to wait for his first birthday to have a celebration?

" Chen Cui looked back at the beaming He Zhilan, "When you came back to work, we thought we’d get to celebrate your baby’s hundred-days. "