Wu Sheng’s gift was, to Su Li’s surprise, a comb.
The comb, with its faint, woody fragrance, lay quietly in a wooden box, its texture smooth and warm.
A few words were faintly engraved on the comb: "Happy Birthday, Su Li."
"Why did you think to give me a comb?"
Su Li was genuinely surprised.
"I just thought and thought about it, and this is what I came up with. Do you like it?" Seeing the light in Su Li’s eyes, Wu Sheng breathed a sigh of relief.
"I love it."
The comb Su Li was currently using was just an ordinary one that created static. She often thought about getting a new one when she brushed her hair, but she always forgot. To think that Wu Sheng would be the one to give her a new one in the end.
"As long as you like it." Wu Sheng looked at Su Li’s hair. It was dark, shiny, and smooth—very pleasant to the touch.
"People often talk about ’three thousand strands of sorrow.’ From now on, whenever you’re troubled, just comb your hair and brush all those worries away. Live without worries, happy every single day."
Su Li smiled. "Mhm, brush them away. So you’re saying a comb has a very good and deep meaning."
Wu Sheng nodded affirmatively. "Of course. I only gave it to you because it’s good. In the future, you can use this comb to do your hair before you marry me."
The old saying goes, "The first comb for a smooth life, the second for a long marriage, the third for a house full of children." It carried his hopes for Su Li’s well-being and peace, as well as a declaration of his love.
The same thought occurred to Su Li, and she couldn’t help but chuckle.
"You’re always talking about me marrying you."
"Because that’s what I want," Wu Sheng replied, then sighed. "Time flies. You’re another year older."
’Hmph, I’m another year older too.’
Wu Sheng didn’t say that last part out loud, but Su Li heard it in his tone.
"They say a man at thirty is a flower in full bloom. You’re just like me,"
she said to Wu Sheng after a moment of thought. Wu Sheng couldn’t stop laughing. "You really know how to make someone feel better."
When they reached her doorstep, Wu Sheng was reluctant to leave. He wanted to spend a little more time with Su Li, but unfortunately, Little Tang Mo didn’t give him the chance.
"Goodbye, Uncle."
Little Tang Mo pulled Su Li inside and shut the door without a hint of ceremony.
’The rest of the evening is for mother-son time!’
Wu Sheng rubbed his nose. Hearing Su Li’s goodbye, he could only say goodbye in return.
"Goodbye, Su Li! Happy birthday! Get some rest."
Wu Sheng called out before he left.
Inside, Su Li sat on the sofa, waiting for Little Tang Mo’s gift.
Little Tang Mo went into his room and came out with his hands behind his back.
Little Tang Mo was smiling, but he looked at Su Li with a hint of seriousness.
"Mom."
"Mhm," Su Li replied.
"This past year, you’ve worked so hard, Mom." Little Tang Mo began by expressing his gratitude.
Su Li heard this and was about to speak, but Little Tang Mo continued before she could.
"Mom, thank you. Thank you for taking me to and from school every day, for tucking me in every night, for cooking for me every day, for helping me wash so much laundry, thank you for..."
Little Tang Mo’s eyes grew a little red, but in the end, no tears fell.
The things Su Li did for him were all part of the daily routine—the eating, drinking, and mundane chores. They were the repetitive, tedious tasks that someone who had never been a mother, or an outsider, might not see as difficult. But Little Tang Mo saw it all.
It wasn’t just for a day or two, but day after day.
From their time in Xinghua Village until now, Su Li had been taking care of him every single day. She had done so, so much.
Back in Xinghua Village, Little Tang Mo hadn’t noticed these things as much, but this past year, he had seen so, so much.
On Su Li’s birthday, he wanted to tell his mom that she had worked hard and thank her for taking care of him every day.
For Su Li’s birthday last year, Little Tang Mo had made her a paper sunflower, which she received belatedly. That sunflower was now sitting on her bedside table, and it would probably never be moved for the rest of her life.
Su Li had just been curious about what birthday gift Little Tang Mo would give her. She never expected to hear such words.
Just a few simple words, but they made Su Li’s nose tingle.
’Little Tang Mo... Little Tang Mo actually understands it all.’
She had gotten used to it all. And because it was Little Tang Mo, she had prepared herself for everything the moment she decided to adopt him. These were just things she did.
On normal days, it was fine. But during those two special days each month, or when she was too busy or tired, she sometimes wished she could do nothing and just sleep. But she couldn’t.
Raising a kitten or a puppy is tiring, let alone raising a child. Of course Su Li got tired sometimes, but at this moment, she suddenly felt it was all worth it.
Because of Little Tang Mo’s words: "Mom, you’ve worked so hard."
Su Li looked at Little Tang Mo standing straight before her, took a deep breath, and tapped his nose.
"You silly child... Mom isn’t working hard."
Seeing Little Tang Mo every day made Su Li blind to his growth.
As Su Li looked at Little Tang Mo seriously now, she realized that this child... he had grown up again.
Not just in height, but in maturity.
In her heart, Little Tang Mo still seemed to be that soft, adorable five-year-old child.
But in reality... more than two years had passed.
He had grown much taller and matured a great deal. His clear, bright eyes now held a deeper wisdom.
Without her realizing it, he had grown up. He had grown up so much.
A complex mix of emotions filled Su Li’s heart. She reached out and stroked Little Tang Mo’s head.
"Little Mo is all grown up... he can say such things now."
She felt a bittersweet feeling she couldn’t quite put into words, along with an indescribable sense of pride.
Seeing Little Tang Mo grow up, seeing him mature like this, how could she not be happy and proud?
"I figured I would keep growing up." Little Tang Mo couldn’t fully understand the complexity of Su Li’s feelings, but he could grasp a part of it.
"Mom, thank you."
Su Li smiled and shook her head. "No need to thank me."
This was probably the most beautiful thing she had ever heard in her life, the most beautiful birthday wish.
"Mom, you’ve worked so hard."
"Mom, thank you."
For a mother, this was the most touching and wonderful praise she could ever hear.
Su Li cupped Little Tang Mo’s small face in her hands. "Little Mo has worked hard too."
He had endured a pain that even adults would find unbearable, yet he had walked out of the shadows, learned to speak again, and started a new life.
’You’ve worked so hard... to have made it through all that.’
"Little Mo, Mom thanks you too. Thank you for growing up healthy."
Little Tang Mo brought the gift he had been hiding behind his back and aimed it at Su Li, turning it on.
"Mom, happy birthday. This is my gift for you."
Su Li looked at the birthday gift in front of her, her face filled with astonishment. "A hairdryer?"
Little Tang Mo nodded emphatically. "Mhm, it’s a small hairdryer I made myself. In the summer, Mom won’t have to be so hot anymore. You can also take it with you when you go out and use it anytime, anywhere."
Su Li’s expression went beyond mere surprise. "You made it yourself?"
Little Tang Mo nodded. "Mhm, it wasn’t that hard."
He got the idea when he saw Su Li fanning herself because of the heat when she went out. Because he had to make it behind her back, it took a little longer. He only finished it two days ago.
"Try it. It’s really cool."
Little Tang Mo flipped a switch for Su Li, and a cool breeze blew out.
The little fan was compact, but the airflow was strong.
On the thin wooden base below, there was writing in Little Tang Mo’s still-childish hand.
"For the best mom."