The wind over the sea was strong, and the rising tide kept slapping against the boat cabin.
Xiaoman was curled up in Jiang Jiayun’s arms. She looked up blankly and asked, “Brother, what are you saying? She’s the fairy sister.”
She sat up and waved her chubby little hands toward the sky. “A fairy from the sky! She can even use magic!”
“Don’t be silly.” Jiang Jiayun lowered his voice. “I told you, there are no fairies in this world. Only child traffickers who trick people.”
He didn’t dare relax at all. His sharp, wary eyes fixed on the cabin. His worn black rubber shoes stepped back slowly, and he reached up to grab a sickle hanging at the doorway, gripping it tightly.
This sickle was the only thing protecting the only shelter he and his sister had. He had to guard it.
Jiang Li glanced at the sickle but wasn’t afraid. She understood his defensive behavior.
“Don’t point that at yourself,” she said calmly. “Come in and eat.”
Jiang Jiayun didn’t move.
So Jiang Li turned and called out, “Xiaoman, come eat.”
“Okay! Xiaoman is hungry!” the little girl replied. She patted Jiang Jiayun’s thin chest, then wriggled free before he could hold her properly.
Like a little cannonball, she rushed to the chair, climbed up, and grabbed a bowl of rice with bright eyes. Using chopsticks longer than her head, she started shoveling rice into her mouth.
The rice was piled like a small mountain in the wooden bowl. Under the light, the grains looked full, round, and crystal-clear.
Jiang Jiayun froze.
When had he ever seen anyone eat rice like this—like a wealthy household?
“Mmm… so good! So good!” Xiaoman happily called out.
She waved at Jiang Jiayun. “Brother, there’s meat! Come eat!”
Jiang Li picked up a piece of pork and ate it deliberately in front of him. The mushroom and meat fragrance exploded in her mouth, and she squinted in enjoyment.
“Xiaoman is right, it really is delicious. Even the rice is fragrant.”
A loud gulp echoed in the cabin.
Jiang Jiayun quickly looked away in embarrassment.
Jiang Li noticed Xiaoman eating too quickly and wiped a grain of rice from her cheek back into the bowl.
“This food was bought and cooked by me,” she said. “And Xiaoman, do you know she had a fever?”
Xiaoman nodded immediately. “Thanks to sister! Aunt Guixiang said if it weren’t for sister, I would’ve died!”
Jiang Jiayun’s body shook violently. “W-what…?”
Xiaoman ran over, holding out a piece of meat with her chopsticks. “Brother, try it! Sister’s food is super tasty!”
Only after seeing Jiang Li eating did Jiang Jiayun finally sit down.
He carefully checked Xiaoman’s condition first, placing a trembling hand on her forehead. Only after confirming she was fine did he finally relax.
“Xiaoman, tell brother if anything still feels wrong. I’ll take you to the clinic.”
Xiaoman shook her head hard. “No more! I’m fine now!”
She pushed the meat toward him again.
Jiang Jiayun finally bit it. His eyes reddened as he chewed, the taste of meat mixing with his long-suppressed hunger.
It’s… good that she’s okay.
Otherwise, he would never forgive himself.
Jiang Li sighed silently.
In the original story, Xiaoman had died from this fever, and Jiang Jiayun had personally buried her. After that, he never spoke again, becoming like a walking corpse. Later, he drowned at sea, ending the same fate as his father.
“Eat,” she said softly.
This time, Jiang Jiayun sat down with Xiaoman.
He had brought only dried sweet potatoes while working at sea, and his stomach had long been empty. Without hesitation, he began eating rapidly.
Soon, all the dishes on the table were finished.
Jiang Li was surprised as he went for bowl after bowl of rice. Thankfully, she had cooked extra.
When he reached for a third bowl, she stopped him.
“Don’t overeat at once. Increase your intake slowly.”
Jiang Jiayun blushed deeply, embarrassed.
He didn’t dare look at the empty dishes and quietly said, “Thank you for saving Xiaoman.”
Then he quickly took the dishes to the kitchen. When he came out, he noticed the dirty floor and fetched water, kneeling down to wipe it clean with a rag.
By the time Jiang Li had put Xiaoman to sleep, everything had already been cleaned.
Jiang Jiayun was still moving around, searching the cabin. Jiang Li frowned.
“What are you looking for?”
He finally stopped and asked seriously, “Where is your shell?”
Jiang Li blinked. “My shell?”
“Your snail shell,” he said firmly. “The one you came in.”
He had decided she must be some kind of spirit.
A “snail girl”—like in fairy tales. Someone who could cook, heal, and appear out of nowhere.
Jiang Li: “…”
She almost laughed in disbelief.
After a pause, she said calmly, “I’m really your sister. Your biological sister. I came from the northern city.”
Just one sentence.
Jiang Jiayun’s face instantly turned dark and lifeless.
“So it’s you.”
After a pause, he added hoarsely, “You shouldn’t have come here.”
He glanced at the sleeping Xiaoman.
“Stay away from her.”
He could survive without anyone.
But Xiaoman was too young. She couldn’t endure another abandonment.
If even the sister who had lived with them for over ten years could leave without hesitation, how long would a wealthy girl from the north stay on this poor island?
Night passed.
At dawn, sunlight broke over the sea, turning the waves into shimmering silk. Seagulls circled above the boat-house.
Jiang Li woke up to the sea breeze. She covered Xiaoman with a blanket and got up.
When she opened the kitchen door, she froze.
Jiang Jiayun was not in bed.
Instead, the thin boy was lying on a pile of firewood. There was no bedding beneath him—only rough wood pressing into his fragile body. Even so, he slept deeply from exhaustion.
Jiang Li’s heart tightened.
She gently touched his wrist.
His pulse was weak, thin, and lacking strength.
She was shocked.
He was only twelve years old, yet his body was already severely depleted—overworked, malnourished, and stunted.
If this continued, his body wouldn’t hold.
Suddenly, the boat rocked.
Outside, a mocking voice shouted:
“Jiang family! The sun’s up and you’re still not at the dock unloading fish? Slacking off again? No work points for you—no fish either! Not even a single shrimp!”
“I’ll count to three. If you don’t come out, I’m reporting you to the brigade leader!”