Eating Melons in the Police Station-Chapter 83

In the supermarket's deli section, there was an area with tables and chairs where many people bought food from the deli and sat down to eat.

Little Tong noticed this and insisted on eating there too.

Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng took her to the deli section, where they bought meals, drinks, and a small cake.

After finishing their meal at the supermarket, they also picked up supplies for the next day's garden outing. By the time they stepped outside, the sky was pitch black, the air crisp, and a cold wind was blowing.

On the way home, Zhong Jin received a call. After exchanging a few words, he turned to Qiu Sheng and said,

"That was Miao Yueyue's father. They have to host a tour group tomorrow and won’t have time, so he asked if Miao Yueyue could join us for the garden outing."

Qiu Sheng immediately replied, "Of course. We’ll leave a little earlier tomorrow to pick her up first."

Zhong Jin then spoke into his Bluetooth headset, "Alright, we’ll come get her tomorrow morning."

Qiu Sheng turned around, intending to share the news with Little Tong, only to find her asleep, her head tilted against the car seat.

Judging by the way her lips moved, she was probably dreaming of something delicious.

Qiu Sheng tapped Zhong Jin’s arm lightly. "Look at her."

Zhong Jin glanced in the rearview mirror and smiled.

On a cold winter night like this, driving down empty streets with the family after a trip to the supermarket, the car warm and filled with pleasant music—

It felt like a dream, too beautiful to be real.

Later that night, Zhong Jin was startled awake by a loud thud, followed by panicked clucking noises.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

He immediately sat up and hurried out of the bedroom barefoot.

The living room was dark.

Zhong Jin first checked the entrance—nothing seemed amiss.

Qiu Sheng emerged from the other bedroom, squinting. "What’s wrong?"

Zhong Jin shook his head, signaling Qiu Sheng to stay back, and silently walked down the hallway. When he saw the scene in the living room, he let out a relieved sigh and turned on the light.

Little Tong, wearing a small headlamp, was sprawled on the floor, a supermarket bag tipped over beside her, its contents scattered everywhere.

Sang Biao’s incubator was knocked over too, the little chick wide-eyed and chirping nervously.

Zhong Jin closed his eyes, already picturing the "crime scene."

Clearly, the greedy little girl had woken up in the middle of the night craving cotton candy. But the shopping bag was too heavy for her, sending her stumbling around until she crashed into Sang Biao’s incubator, toppling everything over.

Qiu Sheng gasped as she stepped forward. "Sweetheart, what are you doing?"

The cotton candy thief grinned. "I want cotton candy!"

Qiu Sheng crouched down to check on Little Tong, confirming she wasn’t hurt before helping her up. Then she righted Sang Biao’s incubator.

The poor chick, still dizzy from the ordeal, let out a few more chirps.

Later, the family of three bundled up in thick coats and wool socks, huddling on the balcony as they lit charcoal from a tea-brewing set and roasted large chunks of cotton candy over the flames.

When the outside turned crisp, Qiu Sheng reached for one.

Little Tong quickly stopped her. "No, no! It’s too hot!"

The little troublemaker then turned to Zhong Jin with wide eyes. "Daddy take it. Daddy isn’t afraid of heat."

Zhong Jin: "..."

He picked up a golden-brown piece of cotton candy, splitting it open to reveal the melted interior stretching into long strands.

Once cooled, he handed half to Qiu Sheng and the other half to Little Tong.

After enjoying two plain pieces, they skewered the remaining roasted cotton candy on sticks, dipped them in melted chocolate, and let the cold wind harden the coating into a thin, crisp shell.

Little Tong held out her chocolate-dipped treat to Qiu Sheng first. "Mommy, say 'ah'!"

Then she offered it to Zhong Jin. "Daddy, say 'ah'!"

Only after her parents had taken a bite did she squat down and devour the rest, pausing only to dip it back into the chocolate for another coating.

Zhong Jin asked, "Is it sweet?"

The chubby-cheeked child, her mouth ringed with chocolate, grinned back, revealing a row of tiny blackened teeth. "I’m sweet all over now!"

Zhong Jin sighed. "Your uncle should teach you poetry."

*

Because a certain little glutton had raided the cotton candy and chocolate the night before—and used up half the charcoal—Zhong Jin had to drive around the next morning to restock.

After picking up Miao Yueyue from the farmhouse, they headed to the wetland park to meet up with the other parents.

Luckily, they weren’t too late. Only a few parents had arrived, bundled in thick down jackets, hands buried in pockets, shoulders hunched against the cold as they grumbled, "Who goes sightseeing in this freezing weather? Wouldn’t it be nicer to stay home by the fire?"

Zhong Jin lifted Little Tong out of the car, then turned to retrieve the wheelchair from the trunk.

Dressed in a green military-style coat, a Lei Feng cap, and a crossbody satchel (a trendy children’s outfit Qiu Sheng had picked out), Little Tong looked like an adorable little figurine.

The parents glanced over. "Zhong Yun Tong, you look so cute!"

Little Tong flipped open her satchel, revealing a tiny chick wearing a knitted hat—Sang Biao’s grand debut. The chick, clad in Qiu Sheng’s handmade sweater and a diaper, blinked its beady black eyes, taking in the unfamiliar world with curiosity. "Cheep cheep."

The grumbling parents, initially unhappy about being dragged out into the cold, softened at the sight, the atmosphere instantly warmer.

Miao Qingyue had grown quite adept at walking with her prosthetic leg, but Miao Chong, worried she might tire from the long walk, had asked Zhong Jin to bring the wheelchair just in case.

When leaving the farmhouse, Miao Chong had repeatedly thanked Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng, adding, "Be good and don’t trouble Uncle Zhong."

Now, Miao Qingyue stood by the car, watching Zhong Jin unload the wheelchair. Feeling guilty, she tugged at his down jacket, offering to help.

Zhong Jin patted her head. "Uncle can manage. Just tell me if you get tired later."

Little Tong, still giggling with Sang Biao strapped to her back, ran over and grabbed Miao Qingyue’s hand, then pointed at Zhong Jin.

"You can put the stuff on the wheelchair and push it!"

Zhong Jin and the others had indeed brought quite a lot of supplies—a large thermos of beef soup, various stir-fried dishes packed in foil containers, as well as snacks like oil-braised shrimp and clams in foil, all of which could be reheated over the charcoal fire later.

He unloaded the items from the trunk and placed them on the storage rack beneath the wheelchair, which didn’t interfere with seating at all. It was certainly much easier than carrying everything by hand.

Little Tong gently patted Miao Yueyue’s cheek and said affectionately, "Yuebao, thank goodness you have this wheelchair. You’ve been a huge help."

A faint blush of shyness spread across Miao Yueyue’s fair cheeks, and she brightened instantly, happy to be of use.

Little Tong guided Miao Yueyue’s hand to stroke Sang Biao’s head, saying to the chick, "This is your big sister."

Miao Yueyue whispered in protest, "No, I’m its daddy."

Little Tong giggled, shaking her round head. "Okay, okay, you can be the daddy. But daddy has to change the baby’s diaper later."

Miao Yueyue nodded solemnly. "I will. Because I’m a responsible daddy, just like Uncle Zhong Jin."

Once all the families had gathered, the group followed Teacher Luo toward the center of the wetland park.

The Floating Duckweed Walkway was one of the park’s most famous photo spots.

It was a shallow water area covered in thick green duckweed, resembling a vast matcha cake from a distance—so much so that some even called it the "Matcha Forest."

The duckweed was so dense it nearly obscured the water beneath, and the pedestrian walkway cutting through it had no railings. Worried the children might mistake the surface for solid ground and jump in, Teacher Luo repeatedly reminded everyone as they walked:

"Under your feet is water. Be very careful not to fall in."

To drive the point home, she picked up a small stone and tossed it into the duckweed. With a *plop*, it sent ripples across the surface before sinking.

The children gasped in awe.

Qiu Sheng held Little Tong’s hand as they walked ahead. Little Tong gripped her mother’s fingers tightly while her other hand shielded Sang Biao’s head, afraid the chick might tumble into the lake.

Since ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍Miao Yueyue wasn’t as steady on her feet as the other kids, Zhong Jin simply lifted her onto the wheelchair and pushed her along.

After crossing the duckweed area, they continued deeper into the park for over two hours. Many children grew too tired to walk and had to be carried by their parents.

Fortunately, Zhong Jin’s group had the wheelchair, allowing both kids to ride while being pushed.

At first, Zhong Jin had Little Tong sit on Miao Yueyue’s lap, but the stark contrast in their sizes quickly became apparent—Miao Yueyue was petite and slender, while Little Tong was plump, fair, and tall.

Worried Little Tong might crush Miao Yueyue, Zhong Jin rearranged them, settling Miao Yueyue in Little Tong’s arms instead.

The so-called "park tour" lived up to its name—everyone simply wandered aimlessly through the greenery.

Many parents, exhausted, grumbled under their breaths the entire way.

Qiu Sheng silently thanked her recent morning jogs with Zhong Jin for boosting her stamina; she didn’t feel tired at all despite the long walk.

By noon, they finally reached the pavilion at the park’s heart.

Teacher Luo announced a break for lunch and rest before resuming the trek to cross the park and exit from the opposite side.

Zhong Jin found a spot with stone tables and benches, unpacked their supplies, and started lighting the charcoal.

Having ridden in the wheelchair most of the way, Little Tong was still full of energy. After telling Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng, she and Miao Yueyue set off with Sang Biao to play with other kids.

Qiu Sheng stopped her and pinned a small tag to her oversized coat.

Little Tong, who couldn’t read yet, pointed at it. "Mommy, what’s this?"

"It has Mommy’s name and phone number. If you get lost, someone can call me, and I’ll find you."

Zhong Jin glanced at the tag, then at Qiu Sheng’s deadpan expression. How could she lie so effortlessly without blinking?

Little Tong looked up earnestly. "Mommy, I won’t wander off."

Qiu Sheng patted her round head. "Go play."

Once the children ran off, Zhong Jin poured a cup of steaming beef soup from the thermos and handed it to Qiu Sheng.

"Drink this while it’s hot. Once the kids come back, there won’t be enough to go around."

The soup had been simmering overnight in an electric slow cooker. In the chilly outdoors, a bowl of something so warm and rich was downright heavenly—enough to thaw even a corpse.

Little Tong took Sang Biao out of the backpack and set the chick on the ground to walk freely.

It was the first time anyone had seen a chicken dressed in a sweater and diapers, and passersby couldn’t resist teasing comments.

One dad quipped, "That’s a fine chicken. Shame it’s so small—would’ve been perfect with some ginger, scallions, and garlic..."

His wife promptly elbowed him and gestured to the tag on Little Tong’s coat.

It read: *"This chick is a pet. Please refrain from joking about cooking it. Thank you."*

With the tag prominently displayed, no other parents crossed the line with their remarks.

Teacher Luo, however, asked Little Tong, "Zhong Yuntong, Sang Biao must be a very special chick to you, isn’t it?"

Little Tong cradled Sang Biao in her arms, pinching its wings thoughtfully, and replied with utmost seriousness:

"Teacher, actually, it’s just a regular chicken. The kind you’d use for fried chicken."