Wang Nuannuan kicked her little short legs, thinking to herself. It had been almost seven months since she arrived. The thing that made her happiest was that she had grown two tiny teeth—and, after her tireless effort, she could finally speak!
Well… her words were extremely simple… but still, it was definite progress!
Ever since she grew her little teeth, she always thought about the big apples in the spatial dimension. She could only enter the space with her spirit, not her body, so whenever she saw the delicious food there, she couldn’t help but drool.
One quiet night, Wang Nuannuan, unable to resist the bright red apples, took one out under the moonlight and started gnawing at it.
However, she had overestimated her tiny hands. By accident, the apple fell onto the kang with a “thud,” waking Old Madam Wang and Old Master Wang.
Old Madam Wang first looked at her little granddaughter—nothing seemed wrong. She just smiled, though her smile carried a hint of guilt.
Rubbing her eyes, Old Madam Wang wondered why she saw guilt in a baby’s face—she must not have been fully awake.
Looking closer, she saw a round object. Using the moonlight, she picked up the apple, which even had two small teeth marks, and handed it to Old Master Wang. They exchanged a glance but said nothing.
Wang Nuannuan was terrified. She hadn’t expected to be discovered and feared her grandparents would think she was a little monster and throw her out. She smiled with her tiny teeth, trying to charm them.
After all, when she collected items from the mountain before, it could be hidden. But an apple appearing in her hands late at night was far too risky.
Old Master Wang and Old Madam Wang were a little shocked, but seeing Wang Nuannuan’s mischievous, apologetic smile, their hearts melted, and there was no anger.
Wang Nuannuan realized her grandparents’ eyes had gone from shock to acceptance, then to kindness, and she relaxed.
Indeed, her grandparents were the smartest and best. She twirled her eyes and waved her tiny hands—and two more apples appeared on the kang.
Her speech wasn’t yet clear, but she said in her baby voice, “Ci, ci, ci.”
This time, her grandparents directly saw the two apples appear. They were stunned. Old Master Wang reacted first, picking up an apple:“Nuannuan, are you letting Grandpa and Grandma eat apples with you? Right?”
Wang Nuannuan shook her tiny fists vigorously and nodded: “Ci!”
The three of them quietly shared a little feast under the blankets, finally eating the long-awaited apples. Wang Nuannuan went to sleep feeling satisfied, still thinking that now she could openly enjoy treats with her grandparents. Shiny drool clung to the corners of her mouth.
For Old Master Wang and Old Madam Wang, this was miraculous. They kept turning over, glancing at their little granddaughter, afraid she might suddenly disappear. They didn’t sleep until nearly dawn. Little did they know, such surprising scenes would eventually become very ordinary.
Wang Nuannuan was awakened by the bleating goats outside. She turned her head, unsure where Grandpa had gone. Only Grandma sat on the kang, sewing patches onto clothes.
Her heart ached a little. Since the last time she brought back little rabbits from the mountain, last night’s apple was the first thing she had tried to take out recently.
Grandpa said it was unsafe in the mountains because wolves had been heard, so the family hadn’t gone for a long time. Occasionally, Grandpa and Eldest Uncle would go quickly, but she was never allowed to go—even if she begged.
Wang Nuannuan’s eyes rolled. She had planned to continue “collecting things” in the mountains once it was safe, but now it seemed unnecessary—Grandpa and Grandma were quite accepting, hehe.
She opened her little mouth: “Ah, Nai, ah.”
“Ah, Nuannuan is awake! Come, let Grandma hug you. After we wash your little face, we’ll drink some milk, alright?” Old Madam Wang smiled at her granddaughter, clearly delighted.
She put aside her sewing and busily got Wang Nuannuan ready. After feeding her goat’s milk, Old Master Wang entered. Old Madam Wang looked at her husband. Though usually expressionless, he seemed in a bad mood.
“Old man, what’s wrong? Weren’t you going to the field early this morning? Why the long face?” Old Madam Wang lifted Wang Nuannuan onto her lap.
Sighing, Old Master Wang said:“Ah, if we don’t get a single grain this year, it’s still fortunate. It’s already August, but the rice panicles are still thin. Normally, our fields yield three thousand jin of grain; this year, even two thousand might be the limit. If things go badly, maybe just over a thousand jin…”
Old Madam Wang’s face fell. Their annual grain consumption was over six thousand jin. The fields alone couldn’t provide enough, so they always exchanged rice for millet in town—one jin of rice for two jin of millet. If the yield was low this year…
She explained her thoughts to Old Master Wang. He nodded:“Last time at dinner, we said we’d figure out ways to make more money, but nothing so far. We need to talk with the kids this morning, or else…”
Wang Nuannuan, listening, mentally finished his sentence: “Otherwise, we’ll go hungry.”
But with Nuannuan around, there was no need to worry! Her chubby little hands waved, and a small pile of apples appeared on the kang.
“Guo, qian, ah, ah,” Wang Nuannuan struggled to express her idea, hoping for some understanding with her grandparents.
Old Madam Wang saw the apples and brightened. Right! They could sell the apples Nuannuan brought out to buy grain! If Nuannuan produced more, the family wouldn’t need to worry!
Old Master Wang frowned:“Nuannuan, Grandpa knows you’re special and want to help the family, but could this harm you? We just want you to grow up safely.”
Old Madam Wang felt guilty hearing her husband’s words. She had only thought about selling Nuannuan’s apples and hadn’t considered the effect on the little one.
Wang Nuannuan looked at Grandpa, her big eyes twinkling. Warm inside, she wanted to say “no,” but couldn’t find the words. Her little head was sweating.
Old Master Wang understood:“Nuannuan means it won’t affect you, right?”
Nuannuan was overjoyed. Her grandpa was so smart! She nodded vigorously: “Ah, ah, ah! Yes, yes, yes!”
Old Madam Wang, seeing their interaction, thought for a moment. She placed Wang Nuannuan in Old Master Wang’s arms, went to the courtyard for a basket, lined it with straw, brought it inside, and filled it with apples.
She added grass for the goats on top, so no one could tell the basket contained apples unless they removed the grass.
Old Master Wang looked at his busy wife. She was good in every way, just a little short-sighted—but that wasn’t her fault. He had raised the children alone after all.
“Old woman, wait. Have you thought about how you’ll explain where the apples came from?” he asked, frowning, lowering his voice.
Old Madam Wang instantly lost her cheer, plopping down on the kang:“What can we do? We have apples but can’t sell them? Should the whole family starve? That would waste Nuannuan’s effort!”
Wang Nuannuan looked at her grandparents. She realized she had indeed overlooked this problem. All three of them frowned together on the kang.