Wen Yining added a cup of the spiritual spring water to the thermos at Li Xia’s house, so not only Zhang Xiaofan could drink it, but Li Xia could as well.
The spring water looked no different from ordinary water, and once mixed into the thermos, it was indistinguishable—much safer than the vitamins she had pulled out of thin air.
Before going to bed, Wen Yining placed two milk candies beside Yao Yao’s little pillow.
She had promised to give Yao Yao a small cake every day, but being away from home, she couldn’t be too flashy and risk drawing attention.
To keep her promise to the child, she substituted the cake with candies.
The next morning, Zhang Xiaofan woke up early.
After a night of rest and metabolism, his condition had improved noticeably compared to the previous evening.
He immediately shouted that he was hungry. Breakfast wasn’t ready yet, so Li Xia poured him a cup of hot water from the thermos and gave him a piece of sponge cake to nibble on first.
After drinking the water, Zhang Xiaofan asked for another cup.
“Mom, mom, this water is sweet! Did you put sugar in it?”
“What are you dreaming about? Who adds sugar to water? You’d be spoiled if I did!” Li Xia tapped his forehead. Seeing him lively and energetic, her heart, which had been tense all night, finally relaxed.
Zhang Xiaofan wanted more water, but Li Xia saw he’d already had two cups. Worried he’d fill up on water and spoil his appetite, she didn’t pour more.
“Quietly eat your sponge cake and don’t wake the auntie and little sister sleeping in the west room,” Li Xia warned him, giving a sharp look. “Drink less water, or you won’t be able to eat later. I don’t have time to fuss over you all day.”
Zhang Xiaofan made a funny face at her, and before Li Xia could react, he scuttled to the bed and bit into the sponge cake.
He frowned slightly at the first bite, inspecting the cake in his hand. It looked just like he liked it, yet the taste seemed off.
“Mom, did this cake go bad? Why does it taste weird?” He held the cake to Li Xia’s mouth, letting her taste it.
“Crazy kid!” Li Xia tapped his head. “This cake was specially bought for you yesterday by your dad through someone. It’s fresh. I think you’re just not hungry—then don’t eat it.”
Seeing Li Xia trying to snatch the cake from him, Zhang Xiaofan quickly dodged to the other side of the bed.
“I didn’t say I’m not eating it,” he muttered, taking another bite. The taste still seemed off, not as sweet as the water he had drunk.
Li Xia, seeing him bouncing around like a little monkey, didn’t bother with him further.
Soon after finishing the cake, Zhang Xiaofan felt a stomachache and rushed to the bathroom to take care of things.
When he came out, he saw Yao Yao sitting on a small stool in the courtyard, her pale yellow hair messy like a bird’s nest.
“Hey, aren’t you the little girl who told me to eat properly last night?” Zhang Xiaofan crouched in front of her, pinching her cheeks. “I thought I was dreaming!”
Yao Yao yawned and skipped past him to the bathroom.
Zhang Xiaofan ran to the kitchen to find Li Xia. “Mom, mom, when did you and Dad have a little sister for me? She’s already so big!”
Li Xia, busy picking wild vegetables from a pot, dropped a steaming bun on the floor.
She put the dusty vegetable bun into Zhang Xiaofan’s bowl. “Eat this.”
Zhang Xiaofan: “Answer my question first! When did you and Dad have such a big little sister?”
“That’s not from me and your dad. She’s someone else’s daughter,” Li Xia replied, tapping his head again. “Stop talking about sisters! Maybe Yao Yao’s even older than you—she could be your sister!”
Li Xia placed breakfast on the table. Just as she was about to call Yao Yao to fetch Wen Yining, Wen Yining arrived, holding a freshly washed Yao Yao.
As soon as they entered the kitchen, Yao Yao promptly picked up the buns and placed them on the table.
Wen Yining didn’t just sit and wait for food. Her cooking wasn’t great, but she could help with small tasks.
“Auntie, is there anything I can help with?”
Li Xia didn’t fuss, handing her the porridge ladle. “You help me serve the porridge, and I’ll finish mixing the side dish. Then we can eat.”
Zhang Xiaofan, seeing Wen Yining, ran two circles around her first.
Wen Yining, noticing the fearless little boy, smiled. “What’s up? Do you have a question for me?”
Zhang Xiaofan grinned. “Auntie, I want to ask how old my little sister is?”
Wen Yining looked at him blankly. “Little sister? You mean Yao Yao?”
Zhang Xiaofan nodded shyly. “So her name is Yao Yao!”
Wen Yining realized he was asking about Yao Yao’s age. “She’ll be six this winter.”
Zhang Xiaofan stretched out six fingers and smiled broadly. “Auntie, I’m already six! I’m the big brother.”
Li Xia looked at her silly son and said, “Wen, don’t pay attention to this little rascal.”
Zhang Xiaofan made faces at her. “I’m telling the truth—it’s a sister.”
Li Xia shoved a bun into his mouth. “Hurry up and eat!”
Both children didn’t eat much. Once full, they went out to play.
Li Xia watched Zhang Xiaofan bouncing around like a monkey, sighing. “This kid… not sure if he was drugged by human traffickers or what, he’s acting weird this morning.”
Wen Yining smiled faintly. “That’s good. Full of energy and vitality.”
Li Xia laughed. “And it’s only the first day. Wait till tomorrow and the day after, you’ll see how troublesome he can be!”
After breakfast, Wen Yining helped Li Xia clean the kitchen and wash the dishes.
Li Xia, a warm-hearted woman, remembered Wen Yining mentioning the divorce last night and that her partner had someone else.
Li Xia had always been progressive and despised men who cheated. She genuinely resonated with Wen Yining and cared about her. “Sister, do you have a plan?”
Wen Yining stacked the dishes by size and shape, then explained simply, “I originally wanted to sort things out after the divorce, but I can’t just stay at your house forever, disturbing your family. I plan to find a job first, rent a suitable place, settle down with Yao Yao, and then transfer her household registration.”
She had no intention of returning to her hometown. Once she left with Yao Yao, it would be permanent.
“That’s very polite of you to say. But don’t worry, we’re like sisters. You’re visiting, and I was glad for the company—who knew… forget that scoundrel man.”
Li Xia frowned at the thought of Cheng Yifeng but her gaze toward Wen Yining softened with admiration and respect for this modern woman. “It’s good that you have plans. Women can hold half the sky, no less than men.”
“You should be careful finding a place as a single woman with a child,” Li Xia whispered. “I heard people working in the army get dorms.”
She nodded toward the other side of the kitchen. “Near our family housing. The place isn’t big, but it’s safer than finding a place outside.”
Wen Yining’s heart leapt. Finding work in the army might not be a bad idea—especially since yesterday, the commissar had suggested she join the propaganda department as a temporary staffer.
Li Xia covered the remaining buns with a cloth and put them in the cupboard. “Finding a job isn’t urgent. When your brother Zhang comes back tonight, I’ll have him help you inquire.”
Li Xia had been there twice before, so she knew the family housing well.
After finishing chores, Li Xia decided to take Wen Yining to stroll around the family housing.
“There’s a hill behind the housing. Army wives go up there to pick wild vegetables and mushrooms when they’re free. It’s fun.”
Li Xia handed Wen Yining a basket. “We might as well go for a walk while we have nothing to do.”