“Third Brother, I want to take off my little jacket. Boys can’t see, it’s embarrassing,” little Wanwan said seriously, even using her tiny hand to brush her cheek.
Li Moyi’s head was full of black lines—he hadn’t expected such a small child to even know about feeling shy!
“Then will you put it on yourself?” he asked.
Wanwan nodded confidently, a smile curving her lips. “Of course! I’m an independent little baby.”
“Alright then.” Li Moyi tossed the clothing to her and turned to leave the room.
In the living room, Old Madam Li, after sleeping in the same position for too long, had blocked meridians, and even after the doctor massaged her for a long time, there was no relief. She sighed while sitting in the chair.
“Grandma, what’s wrong?” Li Moyi asked, concerned.
Old Madam Li glared at him: “It’s all your fault! You’re so big and still can’t sleep properly, almost pushed me into the wall!”
Li Moyi twitched at the corner of his mouth, trying to defend himself: “I said I’d take Wanwan to my room, but you disagreed.”
“Of course I didn’t trust you! Ahhh!” As she spoke, she accidentally strained her injury, her face flushing with pain.
At that moment, Wanwan, having finished putting on her little clothes, ran out and saw Grandma’s face. Concerned, she hurried over.
“Grandma, what’s wrong?”
Seeing her, Old Madam Li’s expression softened, though still tinged with discomfort.
“Wanwan, Grandma’s waist is hurting. I probably won’t be able to take you to the flower-and-bird market tomorrow. Don’t be angry, okay? We’ll go when Grandma feels better.”
“I’m not angry. Where Grandma hurts, I’ll blow on it and make it better,” Wanwan said earnestly, her small face full of sincerity.
Old Madam Li didn’t expect much—she assumed the child was just playing—but as Wanwan gently blew on the painful spot, the pain in her waist seemed to dissipate instantly.
“Eh? Really better?”
Old Madam Li twisted her body slightly to test, confirming she could move freely. She stood up, pleasantly surprised, and held Wanwan: “Grandma really doesn’t hurt anymore! Our Wanwan is amazing!”
Though she had seen Wanwan’s special ability before, this was the first time she truly experienced it.
Wanwan blinked her big, innocent eyes: “Then can we still go to the flower-and-bird market tomorrow?”
“Yes! Of course!” Old Madam Li cherished her in her arms and kissed her twice.
Nearby, Li Moyi’s obsessive-compulsive tendencies flared as he helplessly pressed a hand to his forehead.
“I’ll come back later to pick her up.”
Old Madam Li watched him leave in a hurry, already knowing what was on his mind.
“You little brat, aren’t I supposed to feed you? And now you look down on me!”
Wanwan curiously asked: “Grandma also fed Third Brother?”
“Of course. When your other brothers were little, I fed them all.”
Old Madam Li sighed, thinking about how quickly her grandchildren had grown. She and her husband were already in the age where half a lifetime had passed, expecting little time left to enjoy their grandchildren. But Wanwan’s arrival had brought back the joy of having children around, making them want to live ten, no, twenty more years just to enjoy it.
“Still, our Wanwan is so good. Can eat by herself now, no need for Grandma to feed her, right?”
Wanwan replied seriously, “Yes, I’ve grown up, I don’t need feeding anymore.”
…
In the evening, after Wanwan had just finished dinner, Li Moyi came to pick her up.
At that time, Li Mobi had been called to discuss arranging a matchmaking, which Li Moyi interrupted midway.
“Grandma, I’ve come to take Wanwan to my room.”
His eyes glanced at Li Mobi’s sour expression, then withdrew as if he hadn’t seen it.
Old Madam Li still couldn’t trust him entirely, so she gave a long list of instructions and had him repeat everything before finally letting him take the child.
On the way to the East Courtyard, Wanwan turned into a little curiosity machine, asking him endless questions.
“Third Brother, what’s matchmaking?”
Li Moyi, at first patient, explained simply: “It’s when a man and a woman meet, preparing to form a family.”
Wanwan seemed to understand, though not completely. She scratched the tufts of hair on her head and asked, “Then why doesn’t Third Brother do matchmaking?”
Li Moyi pursed his lips, thinking her question too silly, and evaded: “That’s adult business. Little kids shouldn’t ask.”
“What counts as an adult?”
“Eighteen years old.”
“How old is eighteen?” Wanwan had never been to school, and could only count up to four on her fingers, making it hard to grasp the concept.
“You’ll know when you start school.”
“When do I start school?”
“I don’t know!”
Li Moyi felt completely like he was talking to a wall. Every answer prompted a new question. Truly exhausting!
“Third Brother, have you been to the flower-and-bird market?” Wanwan chirped non-stop like a little sparrow.
The usually quiet Li Moyi could no longer tolerate it, stopping abruptly and threatening in a low voice: “Keep chattering and I’ll send you back, won’t bring you.”
“Fine, then I’ll sleep with Grandma.”
Pampered everywhere, Wanwan didn’t fear threats. She didn’t even realize Li Moyi was threatening her—she assumed he simply didn’t want to take her and wanted to return her.
Li Moyi ground his teeth in frustration, staring helplessly at her innocent, silly little face. Who could resist her?
He carried Wanwan toward the courtyard, and before long, more questions arrived.
“Third Brother, aren’t you taking me to see Grandma?”
“No, hush. I told you, you sleep with me tonight!”
“Oh, then Third Brother, have you ever been to the flower-and-bird market? Grandma said there are so many pretty flowers to give me, bla bla bla…”
Li Moyi never knew that a three-year-old could talk so much, completely shattering his assumptions about children.
Finally, once inside, he gave her a piece of candy, thinking that would quiet her.
Unexpectedly, she munched on it while still chattering: “Shan…shan…remember brush teeth after eating candy, or little teeth all gone!”