Xie Yulan’s eyes were red as she walked up to Qin Yanzhou.
Qin Yanzhou subconsciously lowered his head, not daring to look into his mother’s eyes.
“We’ve already brought Mianbao back. There’s no way we’re sending her away again.” Xie Yulan held her son’s hand, her voice softening.
“Yanzhou, when your elder brother sacrificed his life, he didn’t leave any descendants. Our Qin family only has you as a son. If you don’t want to get married, then at least there should be a child.”
“Mianbao is obedient, adorable, and sensible. Today, she even saved your father’s life. Her mother just passed away, and she has no other relatives willing to take her in. She’s so pitiful.”
As Xie Yulan spoke, tears began to fall.
Qin Yanzhou feared his mother’s tears the most.
He frowned tightly and glanced sideways at Mianbao, who stood there quietly and obediently. The little “radish head” was so skinny—she could save the old man’s life?
Qin Yanzhou ran a hand through his hair in irritation, his tone firm.
“Three days! At most three days. She must be sent away!”
After saying that, he turned and walked out of the house.
Xie Yulan wiped her tears, both happy and worried as she picked Mianbao up.
Mianbao raised her small hand and gently wiped the tears from Xie Yulan’s face.
“Grandma is pretty. Grandma, don’t cry.”
Hearing that warm, childish voice, Xie Yulan almost cried again. She lightly pinched Mianbao’s cheek.
“Come on, Grandma will take you to the supply and marketing cooperative.”
The news that Factory Director Qin from Xinning County Textile Factory had adopted a little granddaughter quickly spread through the workers’ dormitory building and the cadres’ building.
Xie Yulan openly carried Mianbao around, introducing her to neighbors.
At the cooperative, Xie Yulan used ration coupons to buy some cotton cloth and stuffing, two pairs of small cotton shoes, and two tins of malted milk.
It was Mianbao’s first time there. She was curious to look around but didn’t dare, staying in Xie Yulan’s arms the entire time.
“Grandma, that’s too much,” Mianbao said, holding onto her fingers.
Xie Yulan smiled so widely her eyes crinkled. “Not much, not much. All of this is for Mianbao.”
It was a pity—it was winter, so her little granddaughter couldn’t wear pretty dresses.
When summer came next year, she would definitely buy nice fabrics to make several beautiful dresses.
Since Xie Yulan was carrying so many things, Mianbao obediently climbed down and walked by herself.
On the way home, they ran into several acquaintances.
Xie Yulan’s face nearly split from smiling.
“How did you know I have a granddaughter now?”
Acquaintances: …
“Oh my, look! This is my obedient and adorable granddaughter. She’s so caring—a lucky star!”
A lucky star? Mianbao tilted her head, thinking.
Wasn’t she a jinx?
Back in the village, she and her mother had been called jinxes by everyone. None of the children would play with her. Aside from her mother, no one was ever happy because of her.
Only after entering the alley did Xie Yulan notice Mianbao’s reddened eyes.
“Oh, my dear Mianbao, what’s wrong?”
She quickly set down her things and picked her up.
“Did someone bully you?”
Mianbao shook her head. “I… I miss Mom.”
Mianbao was only three and a half. It was natural—her mother had just passed.
Xie Yulan gently stroked her head, unsure how to comfort her.
But Mianbao wiped her own tears and stopped crying.
She couldn’t let Grandma worry. Grandma and Grandpa treated her so well—she wanted to stay by their side.
…
Night fell. Xie Yulan was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen, while Qin Shanhai had gone to the factory. They were rushing a batch of goods, and he had to keep an eye on things.
Dim yellow lights lit up each household. Those not working gathered around their tables, eating and chatting about how Director Qin had brought home a little granddaughter.
Mianbao woke up from a nap. Seeing the unfamiliar surroundings, she felt a little afraid, then remembered she was already in a new home.
From now on, there would be no mother by her side—only unfamiliar yet kind grandparents, and a “cheap father” who liked to fight and didn’t want her.
“Oh, oh, how did Mianbao get up by herself?” Xie Yulan brought dishes to the table.
They hadn’t managed to buy meat at the cooperative, so she had fried a plate of eggs instead.
She lifted Mianbao onto a chair and prepared a bowl of malted milk.
The sweet aroma filled Mianbao’s nose, making her swallow unconsciously.
“Be good, Mianbao. Drink the malted milk.”
Mianbao held the bowl with her little hands, but instead offered it to Xie Yulan.
“Grandma first.”
At home, her mother always let her eat first. After she finished, there would be nothing left for her mother.
Mianbao thought Grandma treated her so well—so she wanted Grandma to have the good things first.
A trace of bitterness crossed Xie Yulan’s heart. This child was so sensible it hurt.
“Grandma can make more if she wants. This bowl belongs to Mianbao alone.”
After some coaxing, Mianbao finally took a careful sip.
The sweet, fragrant taste spread through her mouth, and she couldn’t help but take another sip.
At that moment, Qin Yanzhou returned.
The wounds on his face had been treated and covered with medicinal wine, looking red and rather alarming.
“Turn your face away. Don’t scare Mianbao.”
Qin Yanzhou’s eyes widened.
“Mom, I’m your biological son.”
“Mianbao is my biological granddaughter.”
Qin Yanzhou: …
He picked up his bowl and turned his back.
Seeing him deflated, Mianbao laughed, revealing her small, soft baby teeth.
Qin Yanzhou turned to glance at her.
This little radish had grown bold—she even dared to laugh at him.
He made a funny face at her.
Mianbao froze for a moment, then burst into even brighter laughter.
Xie Yulan smacked his shoulder. “That’s enough. Don’t scare her.”
“Which eye of yours saw her being scared?”
Xie Yulan rolled her eyes and ignored him.
Qin Yanzhou kept a sour face and lowered his head to eat. Just as he reached for the eggs, Xie Yulan snatched the plate away and piled all the eggs into Mianbao’s bowl.
Growing up, Mianbao had only eaten eggs once—earlier that spring, when her mother found a wild egg.
Qin Yanzhou protested, “Am I still your biological son?”
Xie Yulan replied, “Mianbao needs to grow. You eating less won’t kill you.”
“Brother Zhou!”
Someone called urgently from outside. “Quick, Brother Zhou—something happened at Xiaohong’s house!”
Hearing this, Qin Yanzhou set down his bowl and chopsticks and was about to leave.
Suddenly, Mianbao’s eyes widened as she grabbed her head.
She saw it again—
She saw him fighting someone, his eye gouged out, blood flowing endlessly…
“Uncle, you can’t go!” Mianbao jumped down from the chair, her small body blocking Qin Yanzhou.
Qin Yanzhou, anxious, picked her up and tossed her into Xie Yulan’s arms.
“This little radish is just in the way.”
He strode out the door.
Mianbao’s eyes turned red with urgency.
“Grandma, Uncle can’t go! He can’t go!”
Xie Yulan’s heart jolted violently. Remembering what her husband had said about Mianbao saving him, could it be…?