“Miss Su, it is already late. Why don’t we discuss the details tomorrow?” Young Master Shen said, noticing Su Tian’s embarrassment and taking a step back.
Su Tian was equally reluctant to part with An’an. Following his lead, she agreed, “When An’an was wandering the streets, I brought him home. It’s only natural he’s grown attached. I hope Young Master Shen can understand.”
Shen Wenzhao gave a slight nod. He stepped around Su Tian to face An’an, gently tapping the child’s little cheek. The sharp lines of his brows softened.
“Uncle will come see you again tomorrow.”
Su Tian was holding An’an close, standing very near Shen Wenzhao. His cool, clear voice spread behind her ear, his breath lightly brushing her skin. Suddenly, she felt the rim of her ear grow faintly warm and ticklish.
After saying goodbye to An’an, Shen Wenzhao left.
Before dawn had even broken, Su Tian rose from bed. She had not slept all night. Holding An’an’s soft, warm little body in her arms, she wished that time would slow down.
Thinking that this might be their last breakfast together, she wanted to cook every dish she knew how to make.
The dough had been kneaded the night before. She prepared An’an’s favorite corn and pork filling dumplings. She planned to make shengjian dumplings where the tops are chewy and springy, the bottoms crisp like a golden rice crust.
She didn’t wrap many dumplings, because she also intended to make an egg pancake. She cracked eggs into flour, added water while stirring, seasoned with salt until it became a smooth batter, then mixed in chopped scallions. After brushing a thin layer of oil in the pan, she ladled in a scoop and spread it into a thin round, pan-frying over low heat until both sides turned golden. Once out of the pan, the yellow, white, and green intermingled beautifully and fragrant.
In the pot beside it, white porridge was kept warm below, while the sticky corn and sweet potatoes steamed above.
Su Tian also sliced a plate of spicy napa cabbage and pickled white radish from the shop, along with smashed cucumbers and shredded chicken. These are the small dishes An’an usually liked.
Just past the Chen hour, Shen Wenzhao arrived punctually at the restaurant entrance.
Su Wenzu opened the door for him half-heartedly, clearly unwilling to pay him much attention.
An’an had already washed up and was sitting obediently at the table, waiting for breakfast. When he saw Shen Wenzhao, he grew uneasy, his little hands twisting the hem of his clothes again and again.
“Young Master Shen has arrived.” Su Tian brought out the last dish and greeted him. “You haven’t eaten yet, have you? If you don’t mind, please join us.”
“It has indeed been a long time since I dined at the same table with Ning’er. Then I shall trouble Miss Su.”
Su Tian blew on An’an’s porridge to cool it before handing it to him. “So An’an was originally called Ning’er?”
“Ning’er’s full name is Shen Xuning.” Shen Wenzhao sat beside him, watching as An’an obediently used a spoon to eat. A trace of heartache flickered in his eyes. “It’s only been a few months, and Ning’er already knows how to use a spoon.”
“Ning… An’an is very clever. I only taught him a few times and he learned. Now he eats with chopsticks and a spoon all by himself.”
As soon as Su Tian finished speaking, An’an seemed eager to prove her right. He picked up his chopsticks skillfully, grabbed a dumpling, and took a big bite.
Watching him, Shen Wenzhao also picked one up. “These dumplings seem somewhat different from ordinary ones.”
“These are shengjian. An’an likes the corn and pork filling. After shaping them like dumplings, they’re pan-fried in oil.”
Shen Wenzhao took a bite. How fragrant.
A rich aroma of oil instantly filled his mouth. The bottom was fried to a crisp golden crust, the top sprinkled with sesame seeds and scallions. Combined with the juicy, flavorful filling inside, it whetted the appetite immediately.
Shen Wenzhao had tasted countless delicacies in the capital, yet this was a flavor he had never encountered before.
“Miss Su, your skills are excellent.”
Su Tian smiled generously. “Merely the foundation of my livelihood.”
After breakfast, Su Wanqing and the others consciously went to clean up, leaving the three of them to talk alone.
The sky was already bright. Outside, the sounds of townsfolk beginning their day drifted in.
Su Tian knew she could not delay any longer. She crouched down and pulled An’an into her arms.
“An’an… it’s time for you to go home. You’ll be able to see your father and mother again.”
Earlier at breakfast, Shen Wenzhao had mentioned that after An’an went missing, his mother had fallen ill from grief, and his father was far away and unable to return immediately. Thus Shen Wenzhao, as his uncle, had taken responsibility.
“Your mother misses you very much. She’s even fallen sick from missing you. When you go home, will you take good care of your mother?” Su Tian’s voice trembled.
An’an tilted his head, thought for a moment, then pointed at Su Tian and then at Shen Wenzhao, letting out a soft “Ah.”
Su Tian understood. “Elder Sister is very busy right now and can’t go back with you. When I have time, I’ll come visit you, alright?”
From the moment she began speaking, An’an’s eyes had already reddened. Now his lips quivered, on the verge of tears.
Su Tian pulled him tightly into her embrace. “Elder Sister won’t lie to you. Go home first, okay? I’ll visit you very soon.”
But by then, tears were already falling like pearls from a broken string. He couldn’t hear a single word. His little fists clutched Su Tian’s clothing so tightly his fingers turned white.
“An’an…” Su Tian’s head buzzed. She couldn’t bear to see such a small child cry like this.
While she still had clarity, she asked Shen Wenzhao to bring the carriage to the back door. Step by step, she carried An’an toward it.
In her arms, An’an sobbed uncontrollably. Shen Wenzhao stepped forward to take him, but An’an flung his arm out, pushing him away, clinging to Su Tian tightly.
Seeing this, Su Tian could only hold An’an’s arm steady so Shen Wenzhao could carry him into the carriage.
Held firmly in Shen Wenzhao’s arms, An’an struggled without pause. His voice had already grown hoarse; no more tears would come.
“Set off,” Shen Wenzhao ordered.
Su Tian turned, closed the door, and leaned against it weakly. Eyes shut, she let An’an’s cries wash over her.
There was no help for it. In his most helpless moment, he had met her. It was only natural he would grow dependent.
Gradually, the crying grew fainter.
Su Tian’s hands trembled uncontrollably. Her entire body felt icy cold. Scenes of An’an by her side flashed rapidly before her eyes.
Just as her vision blurred….
A small voice suddenly rang out.
“Jie… Jiejie!” [1]let’s indulge this one, I felt it was more dramatic LOL jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2827823_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2827823_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });
The voice, unused for so long, was hoarse and raw.
Su Tian snapped awake and flung the door open.
The carriage in the distance had stopped. An’an had wriggled free and stumbled down, running toward her as best he could.
“Jiejie!”
“An’an!”
Seeing the little figure running toward her with all his might, Su Tian rushed forward to catch him.
She hugged his tiny body tightly, feeling it tremble against her.
Shen Wenzhao stepped down from the carriage. Watching the two locked in each other’s arms, he fell silent for a long moment.
“Send word back,” he finally ordered. “Delay the return by one month. Ning’er is willing to speak.”
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