Chapter 59 - 58: Return the Money to Uncle Gu

Chapter 59: Chapter 58: Return the Money to Uncle Gu

"Give me your access card," Chen Momo said to Xu Xiaoka. "I’ll go down and collect the items for the three of us."

Xu Xiaoka immediately handed over her access card.

Holding the three cards, Chen Momo was just about to head out when she heard a sweet little voice. "Mommy, I’m back!"

Chen Xiaobao was clutching a large, fragrant roasted sweet potato, his mouth ringed with mashed sweet potato.

"Who bought this for you?" Chen Momo asked.

Chen Xiaobao gave a sweet smile. "Uncle Gu bought it for Xiao Bao!"

Standing to the side, Xu Xiaoka said happily, "Xiao Bao is so cute! The base chief must really like him, which is why he took him to buy a roasted sweet potato!"

Unexpectedly, Chen Momo’s face fell. She pressed, "How much was this roasted sweet potato?"

"Fifty base credits!" Chen Xiaobao said. "Mommy, I didn’t even spend my own money. Uncle Gu paid for it!" Seeing Chen Momo’s displeased expression, Chen Xiaobao thought she was going to scold him for wasting money, so he hurriedly waved his little hands to explain.

To his surprise, Chen Momo’s expression only grew darker. She crouched down and asked him seriously, "Do you have your own card? Did Mommy get you one?"

Xiao Bao pulled his access card out of his pocket. "Mommy got Xiao Bao a card."

"Since Mommy got you a card," Chen Momo asked patiently, "why did you let Uncle Gu buy it for you when you wanted a roasted sweet potato? You have to work hard to get the things you want, not just wait for others to give them to you for free. Do you understand?"

Chen Xiaobao was speechless.

Xu Xiaoka was also speechless. She thought Sister Momo was being a bit too rigid about this. It was just a roasted sweet potato, so it wasn’t exactly a big deal. Especially when she saw the aggrieved expression on Chen Xiaobao’s little face, Xu Xiaoka felt even more wronged on his behalf.

Never expecting to be lectured over a sweet potato, Chen Xiaobao could only nod. "I know, Mommy."

"This roasted sweet potato cost fifty base credits, which is already a lot for you," Chen Momo said. "Now, go and return the fifty base credits to Uncle Gu."

"But..." Chen Xiaobao started.

"No buts," Chen Momo said with absolute firmness. "I don’t care how you do it, but you must give every single one of those fifty base credits back to Uncle Gu. Whenever you want to buy anything from now on, remember to use your own money. If you don’t have the means to buy it yourself, then you must learn to control your spending desires."

Chen Xiaobao nodded resignedly. "Okay, Mommy. Xiao Bao understands. Xiao Bao will go return the money to Uncle Gu right now." He looked down at the large sweet potato in his hands and suddenly felt that it was no longer appetizing. He only had five hundred credits on his card in total. Having to spend fifty all at once physically hurt!

Watching Chen Xiaobao turn and walk away with a PIT-PAT of his little footsteps, Xu Xiaoka couldn’t help but say, "Sister Momo, Xiao Bao is only five years old. Isn’t it a bit too harsh to lecture him like this?"

"Habits are cultivated from a young age," Chen Momo explained. "If someone just hands him whatever he wants the moment he reaches out for it, over time, he’ll develop a habit of reaping without sowing."

Xu Xiaoka indicated that although she understood, she couldn’t accept it. "I’ll go with Xiao Bao." With that, she called out his name and chased after him.

Chen Momo locked the door, picked up the three cards, and went downstairs to collect the base’s winter suits and winter masks.

Once on the first floor, she saw several long tables set up next to the corridor. Several base staff members in work uniforms were enthusiastically shouting, "Please have your cards ready in advance to collect your winter suits and winter masks! The deposit for the winter suit and winter mask is one hundred credits. If your balance is insufficient, please go to the recharge station beforehand!"

Neatly folded winter suits and masks were stacked on the tables, and the residents coming to collect them had already consciously formed a long queue.

When it was finally Chen Momo’s turn, she handed the three cards to the staff member. The staff member swiped them one by one on a small robot nearby. Then, according to the information displayed, they retrieved two adult winter suits, one children’s winter suit, two adult-sized winter masks, and one child-sized winter mask, handing them all over.

"Here you go!" the staff member said warmly.

Chen Momo thanked the staff member. Holding the three sets of winter suits and masks, she turned to head upstairs. Inadvertently glancing toward the front desk, she saw Xu Xiaoka, Chen Xiaobao, and Gu Rongjin standing together at the counter.

Chen Xiaobao’s head didn’t even reach the top of the counter. He could only grip the edge tightly with his chubby little hands, listening as Xu Xiaoka explained the situation to the front desk staff.

After hearing the explanation, the front desk staff couldn’t help but laugh. "So that’s how it is!"

Xiao Bao nodded vigorously. "That’s how it is."

The staff member couldn’t resist leaning over to peek over the counter. There, she saw a cute little figure craning his neck upward. His handsome, radiant little face was like a miniature sun, making the entire base seem warmer and brighter.

"What a cute little boy!"

The front desk was manned by two middle-aged women who were both mothers themselves, making them especially fond of children. Naturally, they instantly adored Xiao Bao the moment they saw him. This little boy was so adorable that he was practically melting their hearts! It was no wonder that even the stern base chief couldn’t resist buying him a roasted sweet potato. After all, the base chief was usually incredibly serious, and everyone in the base was afraid of him!

"Alright, Auntie will deduct fifty base credits for you and transfer it to Uncle Gu’s card." The female staff member’s voice unconsciously slowed down and softened.

Then, she took the access card from Xiao Bao’s hand, swiped it through the machine’s slot, and tapped a few keys on the keyboard. The balance displayed on the card instantly dropped from five hundred base credits to four hundred and fifty.

Gu Rongjin took out his own card and handed it over. After completing the transaction, the staff member returned it to him. "Base Chief, please take your card."

Gu Rongjin nodded. As he turned his head, he spotted Chen Momo standing not too far away. He furrowed his brows, a trace of displeasure flickering across his forehead. He had bought the roasted sweet potato because he liked Xiao Bao. He hadn’t expected this woman to make a mountain out of a molehill over a simple snack, stubbornly insisting that Xiao Bao pay him back. Not wanting to put Xiao Bao in a difficult position, Gu Rongjin had simply played along and brought him here to deduct the fifty base credits from the boy’s card.

Xiao Bao also spotted Chen Momo. A flash of delight crossed his eyes, and he called out in his clear, crisp voice, "Mommy!" Then, he waved at Gu Rongjin. "Goodbye, Uncle Gu!"

Gu Rongjin’s expression softened. Offering a rare smile, he waved back at the boy. "Goodbye, Xiao Bao!"