Chen Yuanyuan came bounding over, gasping in surprise when she drew near—
“Wow! Auntie, why did you buy so many delicious treats?!”
At her words, the other children who had been playing around froze instantly as if someone had pressed a pause button on them.
The next second, they swarmed around You Sanmei like a pot boiling over.
“What? What delicious treats?!”
“Whoa, snacks! So many snacks! Chen Haobei, did your aunt buy out the whole general store? This is amazing!”
“Chen Yuanyuan, is this the new wife your uncle just married?!”
“Chen Haonan, your uncle is a good-for-nothing layabout—how’d he end up with such a pretty wife? Does he have some secret skill nobody knows about?”
Chen Haonan scoffed. “Skill? Pfft, what’s that got to do with him? I heard my mom say Grandma went to see her all by herself when they were arranging the match!”
“And Grandma’s the one who brought her into the family for him!”
“…Your grandma is so nice!” The chubby boy who spoke had thick, wavy eyebrows that looked just like caterpillars.
He patted his round belly and added, “Your uncle is so useless, and she still found him such a pretty wife.”
Chen Haonan lifted his chin. “That Grandma’s capable is for sure—but I think this aunt of yours is just like your uncle: one’s a layabout, the other’s a sickly weakling!”
“Now we’ve got not one but two people in the house who don’t lift a finger!”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than You Sanmei called out to them: “Haonan, come have some snacks! Auntie bought loads of goodies—don’t you want to see?”
The chubby boy swallowed hard with a loud gulp. “Well… if you’re so fed up with your aunt, you probably don’t want anything she bought, right?”
“I’m always happy to help—if you won’t eat it, I will!”
“??”
Before Chen Haonan could even react, the boy had already darted off at a run.
Chen Haonan’s eyes went wide, and panic flared up in his chest.
No! She’s their aunt!
Even if she’s sickly, she’s not anyone else’s aunt!
So the snacks she bought are for them, not for strangers!!
Chen Haonan didn’t hesitate another second—he gritted his teeth and bolted after him.
But he was still too late. The chubby boy had gotten there first.
He was grinning so broadly it looked like he was trying to butter someone up, waving his hand high in the air. “Auntie! Auntie! I want some!”
“Chen Haonan doesn’t want any—I’ll eat his share!”
The way he called “Auntie” was so warm and familiar it made your teeth ache.
“…”
Who said I don’t want any?!
The words stuck in Chen Haonan’s throat, and his face scrunched up with frustration.
Then he heard You Sanmei ask gently: “Is that true, Haonan? You don’t want any?”
“…”
I do! I really do!
His neck flushed red, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. He turned his back like he was pouting, his hands clenched into fists behind him.
Chen Haobei was always the first to notice how his little brother felt. He struggled to speak up: “Well… if Haonan doesn’t want any, then I don’t either…”
He bit his lip hard to keep a grin from slipping out.
When was the last time they’d had snacks?
He couldn’t even remember.
The grown-ups always said they had to pinch every penny to pay for their schooling.
Every time they heard that, they felt too guilty to ask for anything.
Only Chen Haobei knew that sometimes, he actually envied his uncle—envied how he could get yelled at and scolded and never let it bother him, just doing whatever he pleased, lazing about and living off the family.
He was pretty sure Haonan felt the same way sometimes.
But neither of them would ever say it out loud, or admit it.
Chen Yuanyuan didn’t waste time overthinking things. She stood on her tiptoes to grab a few peanut candies, peeled one open and popped it in her mouth, then tucked the rest into the pocket of the older girl next door.
Then she blinked up at You Sanmei. “Auntie, can you pass out the snacks now? Yuanyuan wants you to braid my hair!”
“Yuanyuan won’t eat too much—if I do I’ll get fat and won’t be pretty anymore!”
You Sanmei looked at Chen Haobei and Chen Haonan standing side by side, and smiled. “How you share them is up to you and your brothers to decide together, Yuanyuan~”
“These snacks are for the three of you—so you’re the ones who get to say who gets what, and what you want to keep for yourselves. Auntie won’t make that choice for you!”
Both boys froze, turning to stare at You Sanmei in unison.
Chen Haobei’s tight lip relaxed without him noticing, and Chen Haonan uncurled his fists behind his back.
Chen Yuanyuan just shrugged. “I don’t mind! Let big brother and second brother do it—hurry up and take them, Auntie! My hair’s all messy and ugly!”
Besides Chen Yuanyuan, who thought looking nice was more important than treats, all the other children were stunned into silence.
In the next moment, all their bright, eager eyes turned toward Chen Haobei and Chen Haonan.
The chubby boy wrapped his arms around Chen Haonan’s arm, quick to show his loyalty. “Haonan, we’re best friends, right?”
“So… can I have a bottle of soda? I’ve only had it once! Mom says sugar water makes you fatter than candy, so she never lets me have any!”
“C’mon Haonan~~ you’re the best, you’re the coolest! Just give me half—please?”
Another shorter boy spoke up quickly. “Haobei, we’re best friends too, right?”
“If he gets half, can I have the rest?!”
“Please Haobei~~ you’re the coolest too!”
“Haonan~~ big brother Haonan~~”
“Haobei~~ smartest coolest Haobei~~”
You Sanmei smiled quietly to herself, set all the snacks down in front of the two boys, then took Chen Yuanyuan’s hand and walked over to the shade of the trees.
Chen Haobei and Chen Haonan were immediately surrounded by the other children.
Excitement and pride shone clearly on their little faces, and their eyes sparkled with barely contained joy.
They glanced at each other, and both saw the same smile tugging at the other’s lips.
Chen Haonan’s heart was pounding so fast it felt like it might burst. It was such a strange, wonderful feeling—he stood up straighter, his voice ringing with confidence.
“Fine! Since Big Fatty’s my best mate, you can have half the bottle!”
“YAY!!” The boy nicknamed Big Fatty jumped for joy. “Long live Haonan! Haonan’s the best!”
Then Chen Haobei spoke up, unable to hold back his smile. “Then the other half goes to Potato. And these dried figs…”
They all squatted down on the ground, picking and dividing the treats like they were in charge of everything.
“I’m keeping these preserved plums—none of you can have them.” Chen Haonan grinned, clutching the bag to his chest. “Whoa, so many peanut candies?”
“Speedy, you want some?”
Speedy was a thin boy who could run faster than anyone else.
“Yes! I do!” He waved his hand in the air, as excited as if he’d been called on to answer his favorite question in class.
Chen Haobei was more thoughtful. He noticed that after Chen Yuanyuan left, the older girl who always played with her looked a little shy and unsure. He spoke up right away: “Xiao Duo, is there anything you’d like?”
“You’re Yuanyuan’s big sister—so you’re our big sister too! Don’t be shy, okay?”