Chapter 18

Chapter 18

"Your grandma is dead!" Minghe said.

Danzi stopped in his tracks.

Minghe ran up to Danzi, grabbing his little arm, "Your grandma just died, let's go back home."

Danzi didn't move.

Minghe complained to Xiao Yu, "Little uncle, he won't go home."

Xiao Yu approached, gently saying, "Danzi, let's go home."

Danzi hung his head low, silent, but tears fell drop by drop.

Seeing him cry so heartbreakingly, Xiao Yu crouched down, touched Danzi's dirty little face, and asked, "Danzi, why are you crying?"

Danzi looked up with tearful eyes, resembling a neglected puppy on the roadside, "Big brother, my grandma is dead."

Xiao Yu nodded, "Yes." Grandma had died.

Danzi added, "I’ll never see grandma again."

Realizing the child understood the concept of death, Xiao Yu, feeling deeply sympathetic, said, "You can see her."

Danzi looked puzzled.

"Can we really see them again?" Minghe asked curiously.

Xiao Yu, raised by his grandparents in his previous life, was young when his grandfather passed away and didn't know concepts like "heaven" or "paradise." But his grandmother told him that his grandfather had gone to a beautiful new world, free of sickness, strife, and worries, filled with sunshine, birdsong, flowers, and laughter everywhere.

When they grew old, they would meet his grandfather in that world.

As he grew older, he realized this was a story made up by his grandmother, but it still brought him great comfort. Later, it helped him accept his grandmother's passing and live a positive and optimistic life, cherishing the present and looking forward to meeting them in that world.

Even after his sudden death and subsequent arrival in this world, he still chose to believe that when he truly aged, he would meet his loved ones in a beautiful new world. So, he shared this belief with the two children.

Minghe exclaimed, "Wow, that sounds like a wonderful place."

Danzi, blinking away two large tears, asked, "Big brother, is my grandma there?"

Xiao Yu nodded, "Yes."

Danzi then asked, "So, when I get old, will I go there too?"

Xiao Yu affirmed, "That's right."

Danzi repeatedly confirmed, "Then, then I can meet my grandma there."

Xiao Yu said, "Yes, when that time comes, you'll see your grandma."

Danzi then said, "Big brother, I wish I could grow old right now."

Minghe added, "Little uncle, I want to grow old too, then go to that world so I can see my mom and dad." It turns out Minghe had always been thinking about his parents.

Xiao Yu felt a surge of emotion and gently touched both children's cheeks, saying, "There's no need to rush to grow old. From this moment on, let's be people who love ourselves, love others, and stay positive. We'll grow old soon enough."

Danzi and Minghe nodded together.

"Minghe and Danzi are really great!" Xiao Yu turned to Danzi, speaking gently, "So Danzi, don’t be sad or worried. Grandma is doing well in that world. And we, here in this world, will live well, loving ourselves, others, and staying positive, striving to become amazing people. Then, when Grandma sees us—"

Danzi interrupted, "Grandma will say 'Danzi is the best in the world', and she will smile." His speech was a bit unclear on some words.

"Exactly!" Xiao Yu agreed with Danzi.

Danzi's sadness, loneliness, and longing gradually dissipated.

"So let's not cry anymore, okay? Shall we go home?" Xiao Yu asked.

"Okay." Danzi finally agreed.

"Let's go." Xiao Yu reached for the bowl in Danzi's hands.

Danzi held it tightly, saying, "But—"

Xiao Yu asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Danzi looked down at the bowl of green vegetable and egg noodles in his arms, which seemed delicious, and said, "But I still want to give the noodles to Grandma."

Such persistence.

Not wanting to dismiss the child's filial piety, Xiao Yu took the two children to the foot of the hill and at Grandma Hua's grave, dug a hole and poured the bowl of noodles into it as an offering. This finally soothed Danzi.

The three returned to the small courtyard and shared the remaining two bowls of noodles, but they were still hungry. Xiao Yu then took down a bamboo basket from the beam, retrieving some homemade snacks, and they finally had enough to eat.

"Alright, let's start boiling water," Xiao Yu said, pouring a bucket of water into a large pot.

Minghe asked, puzzled, "Little uncle, why are we boiling so much hot water?"

"We're going to give Danzi a bath," Xiao Yu explained.

Minghe looked at the disheveled Danzi, "Danzi, you'll be clean in no time."

Danzi nodded obediently.

After the water was heated, Xiao Yu picked up Danzi and first washed his hair in the courtyard, dried it, and then carried a bucket of hot water into the house.

Minghe and Danzi followed Xiao Yu like little shadows.

"Minghe, Danzi doesn't have clothes for now, so can he wear yours, is that okay?" Xiao Yu had bought Minghe three sets of thick clothes and two sets each of light and heavy cotton clothes since having savings, enough to spare a set for Danzi. He planned to buy fabric to make clothes for Danzi the next day.

Minghe readily agreed, feeling he had plenty of clothes now.

"Thank you, big brother. Thank you, elder brother," Danzi said politely.

It was then that Xiao Yu paid attention to how Danzi addressed them, "You can't call me 'brother'. Call him 'brother' too."

After a glance at Minghe, Danzi instinctively followed suit, softly calling Xiao Yu, "Little uncle."

Minghe panicked upon hearing this.

Xiao Yu didn't quite catch what Danzi said, "What? Say it again."

Danzi repeated, "Little uncle."

Before Xiao Yu could respond, Minghe shouted, "You can't call him little uncle!"

Danzi was startled and trembled.

Minghe, visibly upset, yelled at Danzi, "You can't call my little uncle!"

Frightened, Danzi stepped back and bumped into the mud wall, staring blankly at Minghe.

Xiao Yu quickly intervened, "Minghe, why are you being so harsh with your little brother?"

Xiao Yu's voice wasn't loud, but Minghe felt as if his little uncle was favoring Danzi and blaming him. He looked unhappily at his little uncle and suddenly started crying out of feeling wronged.

Minghe was usually sensible and generous, and had never cried like this before. Xiao Yu, sensing his insecurity, quickly crouched down, embraced him, and softly called, "Minghe, Minghe."

Minghe's crying gradually subsided.

Xiao Yu asked, "Did you think just now that your little uncle doesn’t like you anymore?"

Minghe nodded, "Yes."

"Silly boy, haven't I told you many times that I will always like you? Have you forgotten?" Xiao Yu gently wiped Minghe's tears.

"But he called you little uncle," Minghe pointed at Danzi, still upset.

Xiao Yu nodded.

"Little uncle was about to agree," Minghe's tears increased again.

Xiao Yu, always emotionally stable, wiped Minghe's tears and said gently, "Yes, your little uncle was about to agree because he is the little brother I found for you." He emphasized the words "little brother."

Minghe's attention shifted to these words, "Little brother?"

Xiao Yu said, "Yes, hasn’t he always called you big brother?"

Minghe nodded, "Yes."

"So, he is your little brother, and you are his big brother."

Minghe glanced at Danzi, who was cowering near the wall, looking frightened and timid.

Xiao Yu continued, "From now on, your little uncle and your little brother both like you. In this world, you’ll have two people who like you. You’re lucky, right?"

It did seem that way.

Minghe blinked twice and asked, "Does he like me?"

Xiao Yu looked at Danzi and asked, "Danzi, do you like your big brother?"

Even though the big brother's hair was messy and he had just been a bit fierce, Danzi remembered that like the elder brother, he too had helped him a lot. They both were warm people. Danzi nodded, "I like him!"

Xiao Yu smiled, "See, you have two 'likes' now."

Minghe wiped the tears from his eyes and asked, "Did I earn it?"

Seeing Minghe's mood lighten, Xiao Yu nodded and continued, "Yes, you've earned it. In the future, if you like your little brother and I also like him, then the little brother has two 'likes'; if you and your little brother both like your little uncle, then your little uncle has two 'likes' too."

Minghe thought for a moment and concluded, "So we all have two 'likes' now!"

Xiao Yu seized the opportunity to ask, "Right, smart, isn't it? So, we've all earned it. Can Danzi call me little uncle then?"

Minghe, being a generous child, accepted Danzi quickly and nodded, "Yes."

"So you were quite harsh and scared Danzi. What are you going to do about it?" Xiao Yu wanted to let the children handle their own affairs, so he left it to them.

Minghe, who was also independent, said, "I'll apologize."

Xiao Yu nodded in agreement.

Minghe stepped out of Xiao Yu's embrace and approached Danzi.

Danzi, startled, stepped back again.

Minghe reached out his chubby hand and grabbed Danzi's skinny one, saying, "Danzi, don’t be scared. Just now, just now, it was big brother's fault for being mean to you. I won’t be mean to you again. Will you forgive big brother, please?"

Danzi was momentarily taken aback.

Minghe asked again, "Can you forgive big brother?"

Surprisingly, Danzi, also a magnanimous child, quickly nodded in agreement after discerning Minghe's sincerity, "Yes."

"Then call him little uncle, and from now on, we're real brothers!" Minghe declared.

Danzi looked at Xiao Yu, his eyes full of inquiry.

"Go ahead," Xiao Yu encouraged.

Danzi glanced at Minghe, then said softly, "Little uncle."

"Yes! Now we are a family," Xiao Yu declared.

Minghe and Danzi nodded together, their faces barely containing their excitement after this little episode.

Seeing both children satisfied, Xiao Yu also felt relieved and said, "Let’s give Danzi a bath first." As he stood up to pour water from the bucket into the basin, he realized the water had cooled.

"What's wrong?" Minghe asked curiously, seeing his little uncle hesitate.

"The water’s gone cold," Xiao Yu explained.

"What should we do then?" asked Minghe.

"We'll have to heat it up again," Xiao Yu responded.

Xiao Yu then reheated the water and thoroughly scrubbed Danzi with soap, finally cleaning him from head to toe and getting a good look at his features.

Unlike the bright and handsome Minghe, Danzi looked like a delicate little doll, cute and soft. Xiao Yu and Minghe kept complimenting Danzi on his good looks, making him shy until they stopped.

Afterwards, Xiao Yu bathed Minghe and then himself, sweating from the effort. Once they all snuggled into bed, Minghe cuddled into Xiao Yu's embrace, "Little uncle, I'm so warm. I'll warm you up too."

Seeing the child's clinginess, Xiao Yu didn’t point it out and embraced him, while noticing Danzi looking over longingly. He whispered to Minghe, "Minghe, Danzi’s grandma just passed away, and he’s very sad. Can little uncle hug him too?"

"Okay," Minghe agreed immediately.

"Then you sleep on the outside, and little uncle will sleep in the middle, hugging one on each side."

"Okay." Minghe promptly rolled over Xiao Yu.

As long as things were explained thoroughly and clearly, Minghe, despite his young age, could be very understanding and reasonable.

Truly a talent worthy of a high official.

Xiao Yu praised Minghe in his mind, then reached out to pull Danzi into his embrace from the bed.

Having just washed away layers of dirt from the little boy, Danzi now felt fresh and clean. Xiao Yu deliberately sniffed him, saying, "You smell nice."

"Little uncle, does brother smell nice?" Minghe asked curiously.

"Yes," Xiao Yu replied.

"Let me smell, let me smell, I want to smell too." Minghe leaned over Xiao Yu, burrowing towards Danzi, his fuzzy head nestling into Danzi’s chest as if finding a ticklish spot.

Danzi couldn't help but giggle.

Usually, the more Minghe giggled, the more Xiao Yu enjoyed teasing him. Now, Minghe had learned this trick and playfully used it on Danzi.

Danzi giggled nonstop, wriggling in Xiao Yu's arms like a caterpillar.

Xiao Yu let the two children play until Minghe, who hadn't taken a nap, started to doze off. Then he said, "Let's sleep."

Minghe immediately closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Danzi also obediently closed his eyes, feeling happy in the warmth around him, thinking to himself, "I really like little uncle, and I really like big brother."

"Danzi, can you fall asleep?" Xiao Yu asked.

Danzi opened his eyes, his watery gaze fixed on Xiao Yu, and replied, "Yes."

"Good," Xiao Yu said, then blew out the light. He wrapped an arm around each child, and soon heard Danzi's steady breathing.

He sighed internally, reflecting on the day's events - Grandma Hua's fainting, passing away, her last request, and Danzi's plight... Alas, the departed are gone, and the living must live well.

Having promised Grandma Hua, he was determined to take good care of Danzi.

Feeling tired himself, Xiao Yu's eyelids grew heavy, and he soon fell asleep.

The next day, before dawn, he got up to make buns.

Minghe, probably exhausted from the previous day, showed no signs of waking. Xiao Yu didn’t disturb them, tucked them in, dressed quietly, and left the thatched hut for the kitchen.

With the weather getting colder, worried about the yeast's effectiveness, he had left some embers in the hearth overnight to keep the dough warm. Now, the dough in the pot had risen perfectly.

Reassured by this, he decided to continue doing so in the future.

Rolling up his sleeves, he quickly washed and chopped vegetables, prepared the filling, and then began wrapping the buns.

When he had wrapped a good amount, he heated two pots, placed the buns in bamboo steamer baskets, covered them, added firewood to the hearth, and after washing his hands, continued wrapping more buns.

Xiao Yu made a hundred and six buns in two batches and then prepared a simple version of spicy soup with shredded meat, kelp, tofu skin, vermicelli, peanuts, black fungus, and daylily flowers. After frying, boiling, and seasoning, he thickened it with starch, creating a hearty and nutritious soup.

Just as he was about to call Minghe and Danzi to get up, the two children came over hand in hand.

"Little uncle, you've made the buns already? Why didn’t you wake me up?" Minghe asked.

"You were too tired, so I didn’t call you," Xiao Yu replied.

"You’re tired too."

"…Then I'll wake you up tomorrow."

"Okay then." Minghe was always easy to talk to.

"Come and eat," Xiao Yu said, only then noticing the children's clothes were askew, especially Danzi’s shoes, worn on the wrong feet. "Did you both dress yourselves?"

"Big brother dressed me," Danzi said.

Minghe proudly nodded, "I dressed myself, and I also dressed Danzi."

"You did a… very good job!" Xiao Yu complimented, albeit a bit forced.

Minghe said to Danzi, "See, big brother is really good at this."

Danzi nodded vigorously, "Mhm mhm."

"But let little uncle tidy you up a bit, you'll be more comfortable." Xiao Yu sat by the stove, pulled Minghe over to straighten his clothes and tie his belt, then lifted Danzi onto his lap, redressing him and his shoes, and said, "For now, wear big brother's clothes, and I'll make new ones for you later."

Danzi nodded, "Okay."

"Are the clothes comfortable now?" Xiao Yu asked.

Both children nodded together.

Minghe declared, "Unbelievably comfortable."

Danzi mimicked, "Unbeatably cozy!"

Xiao Yu chuckled, "Let's eat first."

Minghe was trying spicy soup for the first time and was pleasantly surprised, "Little uncle, this tastes so good."

"Drink more, it will warm you up," Xiao Yu looked at Danzi, "Danzi, you should drink more too."

Danzi, who had always struggled with inadequate food, drink, and sleep while with Grandma Hua, was overjoyed to wake up to buns and spicy soup. He ate a bun and drank a bowl of soup thoroughly.

Minghe finished his meal as well.

Xiao Yu placed the two children and the bamboo basket on the cart and left the courtyard. Villagers seeing another child on Xiao Yu's cart began to ask questions.

"He's also my nephew," Xiao Yu replied.

"From far away?" Everyone in the village knew Xiao Yu had a brother and a sister; his brother had drowned at the age of ten, and his sister, Minghe's mother, had passed away that year. So when Minghe called Xiao Yu 'little uncle,' they never heard of any other sisters or sisters-in-law of Xiao Yu and assumed the handsome little boy was a distant relative.

Not wanting others to know Danzi was a refugee, to avoid gossip, Xiao Yu didn't deny it but instead changed the subject with a smile.

Soon, the trio left the village.

Arriving at the small dock, they were stunned by the sight.