Chapter 317: 303 Send to Kindergarten
Tian Sangsang stood frozen on the spot, a wave of nameless anger, guilt, and disappointment surging in her heart. She couldn’t help but question herself—she only saw Zhao Chun as a friend, so why would it cause a misunderstanding? Was she really too careless?
And Jiang Jinghuai had done this behind her back, without telling her anything.
During dinner, she was distracted, stealing glances at Jiang Jinghuai from time to time. What was he thinking? Why would he treat Zhao Chun like that? Zhao Chun was completely innocent!
Jiang Jinghuai had already noticed her furtive looks. After dinner, he followed her to the study.
"What’s wrong?"
Tian Sangsang sat on a chair, her head bowed as she murmured sullenly, "Nothing. It’s just a bit chaotic in my mind."
"You can talk to me."
She always did this—liked to bury things deep in her heart.
She raised her eyes. In the end, she couldn’t suppress the urge to speak anymore. "Let me ask you, did you go to see Zhao Chun?"
He gave a faint acknowledgment and responded indifferently, "That’s something between men, it has nothing to do with you."
"But you hit him."
"That’s why I said it’s between men."
"Jiang Jinghuai, why did you..." Tian Sangsang stood up, feeling utterly powerless.
He kept a stern face. "Can we not talk about this anymore? It’s already in the past."
But could avoiding it mean not thinking about it? How was she supposed to face Zhao Chun after this? Pretend as if nothing had happened and remain friends? She had originally thought that the matter had been put to rest, but now she realized it wasn’t. Even though they hadn’t brought it up, the issue still loomed between them, lingering, never truly gone.
Tian Sangsang opened her mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.
"What’s the matter? You feel sorry for him?" Jiang Jinghuai asked, looking at her with an inexplicable darkness in his eyes.
"I!" Tian Sangsang slapped her hand on the desk and stared straight at him. "I feel guilty in my heart. He and I have known each other for a very long time. We are friends, and he’s always been kind to me and Yanyan."
Jiang Jinghuai tugged at the corners of his mouth, silent for a long while.
Hadn’t they also known each other for a very long time?
Hadn’t he been good to her and Yanyan?
Why get so emotional over an outsider?
"I..." Tian Sangsang suddenly realized what she had said. Lowering her head apologetically, she added, "Sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. I just don’t want our friendship to affect the love between us as husband and wife."
"Alright." He pulled her into his arms, gently comforting her in a low voice, "Don’t overthink it, Sangsang."
**
After Shui Lian was dismissed, the military district kindergarten brought in a new teacher.
The rowdy kids from the family compound had mostly been sent to the kindergarten for discipline, leaving only infants still wailing in their cribs. Meng Shuyan, at four years old, was stuck in the middle—not really a baby and not old enough for school—and he didn’t have any companions around.
Jiang Jinghuai noticed this state of affairs:
"We should let Yanyan attend kindergarten and receive a proper education."
"But what can a kindergarten teach? He already knows a lot," Tian Sangsang didn’t quite agree.
"It’s not about what he’ll learn but about letting him spend time with peers his own age and living the life of a normal child," Jiang Jinghuai explained matter-of-factly. He felt his son was far too lonely and a little too mature for his age. Regardless of mental development, he was still physically a child.
Tian Sangsang thought about it and found some merit in his point.
Jiang Jinghuai spent his days in the military, and she herself was often busy with her business. Most children Yanyan’s age were already attending kindergarten, which made him appear out of place when left at home alone.
A child’s world shouldn’t consist only of their parents and home. There should also be other parts to it—like their own sea of stars. Their first step in the journey of life was to part briefly from their parents. To meet more people, to experience more things. Whether those people were good or bad, exceptional or average, they would become precious experiences on the road of life.
After they discussed and agreed, Tian Sangsang took a moment to talk to their son, "Yanyan, would you like it if Mommy sent you to kindergarten?"
Meng Shuyan was sitting on the sofa holding Little Milk Tea in his arms. At her words, he shook his head vigorously. "Mommy, I don’t want to be with a bunch of childish kids."
Imagine a four-year-old saying this. Tian Sangsang would’ve laughed, but she couldn’t. This was her son, and here she was suggesting he separate from her.
"So you’d rather stay at home every day?" she asked.
"I..." Meng Shuyan furrowed his little brows but only said, "I want to stay with Mommy and Daddy."
Tian Sangsang placed her hand on his head and gently coaxed him, "Every child has to go to school. You’ll only be at kindergarten during the day, and at night you’ll be home. You won’t be apart from Mommy and Daddy. You’re going there to make friends. Once you make friends, maybe you won’t like Mommy and Daddy as much anymore."
"No way." Meng Shuyan raised his dark, shiny eyes, pursed his small mouth, and said, "I’ll always love Mommy and Daddy."
Tian Sangsang’s heart warmed at his words. Smiling with a sigh, she said, "But Yanyan, there’s always someone better and something beyond what we know. Right now, the kids out there are all amazing. While you think they’re childish, they might think you’re childish. There are so many excellent people out there, and being around them will help you learn even more. If you don’t go to kindergarten, you’ll be different from others, and you might even get dumber over time..."
Meng Shuyan started to panic. "I’d really turn into a dummy?"
"You’re Daddy and Mommy’s child. Even if you were a little dummy, we’d still love you."
"I don’t want to become dumb." His wide eyes glistened with determination. "Are there really people more amazing than me out there?"
"There are," she said. Although they might not be found in a kindergarten.
He clenched his little fists. "Great, Mommy, then I want to go to kindergarten!"
"Perfect. Nini is also in kindergarten. You can play with her there."
With the decision made, they completed the paperwork and prepared to send Meng Shuyan to kindergarten. The military district kindergarten wasn’t far from the base—a walk of less than ten minutes.
That morning, after a simple breakfast of congee, fried dough sticks, steamed meat buns, and some side dishes, Tian Sangsang took Meng Shuyan downstairs. As luck would have it, they ran into Lin Dongni, who was also heading off to school.
"Nini!" Meng Shuyan greeted cheerfully, his big eyes curving into crescent moons.
"Yanyan." Lin Dongni, carrying a pink backpack, had her hands quietly at her sides. Her clean little face lit up with a hint of joy. "Auntie Sangsang."
"Nini, are you going to school by yourself?"
"Yes." Lin Dongni nodded, then softly added, "I already know the way."
Tian Sangsang, wanting to accompany her, deliberately came up with another excuse. "Nini, you’re so impressive! Could you take Auntie and Yanyan to school? It’s our first time, and we don’t know the way."
"Sure!" Lin Dongni smiled faintly.
Tian Sangsang walked them both to the kindergarten gate. But suddenly, as they reached it, Meng Shuyan came to a stop, clutching her hand tighter.
"Go ahead. Mommy will pick you up after school." Squatting down, Tian Sangsang spoke to him softly.
"Mommy." The little one struggled to let go, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "You have to come for sure."
"Of course!" Tian Sangsang returned his kiss with one of her own.
Only then did Meng Shuyan wipe away his tears and regain his bright, smiling expression.
"Auntie Sangsang, I’ll take care of Yanyan little brother," Lin Dongni said sensibly from the side.
"Thank you! You two have to help each other out."
"Mm-hmm!"
Lin Dongni took the initiative to hold Meng Shuyan’s hand like a little big sister. Watching the two little ones walk through the school gates, Tian Sangsang finally felt assured enough to head back.