The candy was still melting in his mouth when the little one raised his hand to say goodbye. He was lifted back onto his brother’s back, and they walked towards the village entrance. Tian Hai stood there for a very, very long time, until he could no longer see the two figures, until the candy in his mouth had completely dissolved.
He returned home to a life he could see at a glance. Bland. Uninteresting. The little one’s childish laughter seemed to still echo in the yard. The chick and duck feeders were full, the water troughs full, and the ground swept clean.
Tian Hai walked towards the main house. As he climbed the steps, he saw the things Shen Yan had left for him. Two new sickles, a brand new hoe, and a box of tea beside them. After the production team had all left, the old man put his hands behind his back and walked slowly towards the Zhang family’s house.
“Mi Huan told me. You can watch it on your phone. He also said we’d be on TV.”
Grandma Zhang was holding a red silk scarf that Mi Huan had given her, smiling like a little girl receiving a gift. She found it rather strange that Old Man Tian had come to ask her where to watch the show. Tian Hai’s phone could only make and receive calls; it couldn’t watch videos.
Grandma Zhang patted him, tucked away her scarf, and said, “Mi Huan said that when the show airs, he’ll call me and teach me how to watch. You and Old Bai should come watch it with me then.”
Tian Hai hesitated. He wasn’t the type to like being around people. Grandma Zhang was about to soak soybeans to make tofu the next day, and she was used to his ways by now.
“I’m telling you, what’s the point of staying cooped up at home all day alone? Don’t you want to see what you look like on TV?”
Tian Hai didn’t want to watch. He was already halfway in the grave anyway; what was so interesting about that?
Grandma Zhang continued, “Who’s going to be looking at us? I mainly want to watch those little kids.”
The two elders chatted at the doorstep for a while. In the end, Tian Hai agreed to come to Grandma Zhang’s house to watch the show with them when it aired. After Grandma Zhang finished soaking her soybeans and came out, she saw Tian Hai walking home alone with his hands behind his back. She smiled and muttered to herself, “That old recluse, actually going out to visit someone for once. The sun must be rising in the west.”
In this small village called Nianbai Village, most of those who remained were elderly. Their lives were like stagnant water. But the arrival of these few children seemed to be changing something.
—
Meanwhile, the little one, carried on his big brother’s back, left Nianbai Village and got into a car. Village life was very novel for the little one. He spent the whole ride reminiscing with Shen Yan about what had happened over the past two days. The four families left separately, but Mi Huan and Mi Le waited for them to go to the airport together.
They were on the same flight, and their seats were quite close. As soon as they boarded the plane, the cameramen left. When they said goodbye, the little one was reluctant. Especially the cameraman uncle who had been following him. Over those three days, he had asked for his help quite a few times. At parting, he finally learned the cameraman’s name. Exchanging names meant they were now acquainted.
Su Youli tugged at the cameraman’s pants, looked up, and said, “Goodbye, Uncle Da Mo.”
Da Mo patted his head and said goodbye too. Perhaps because he had been up since morning packing and had a tiring couple of days, the little one got sleepy very early. Shen Yan carried him the whole time. As soon as they boarded the plane, Tang Dou appeared. Seeing the little one dazed and on the verge of falling asleep, he immediately asked a flight attendant for hot water and prepared a bottle of milk.
The little one hadn’t had formula in a long time. He closed his eyes, smacked his lips, and started sucking. After a while, he was truly asleep. Poking his face got no reaction. Tang Dou felt his little belly, noticed it was a bit round, and was relieved. Mi Huan was stunned by Tang Dou’s series of actions. Knowing that little kids fall asleep quickly when tired, but worried that Su Youli might be hungry without lunch, he immediately took out formula and a bottle…
Impressive, Mi Huan thought, giving a thumbs up. With the child in Tang Dou’s care, Shen Yan was completely at ease. He leaned back comfortably in his seat and started scrolling through his phone. These two days in the village had been like being cut off from the world. He hadn’t even had time to contact his family. As soon as he took out his phone, Shen Yan got a call from Shen Lin.
The teenager’s voice was a bit deep, as he was past his voice change. “Brother, where’s Youyou? Let me see Youyou!”
Shen Yan hung up and video-called him, aiming the camera at the sleeping little one.
Shen Lin watched for a moment, then started complaining. “How does Youyou look thinner? Brother, how have you been taking care of him?”
Thinner?
Shen Yan turned his head and carefully examined Su Youli. “He’s not thinner, is he? Maybe you haven’t seen Youyou in a while, and your eyes are playing tricks on you.”
The brothers exchanged a couple of sentences, then a flight attendant came by to remind Shen Yan to turn off his phone.
“I’ll come to the airport with Dad this afternoon to pick you up,” Shen Lin said before hanging up.
Su Youli’s nap was a bit long this time. He woke up just as the plane was about to land. After getting off the plane, Shen Yan carried him on his back instead of letting him walk. Before deplaning, Shen Yan had already put on a disguise, as had Mi Huan, who was walking behind them, also wearing a mask and hat. But no one expected that the fans at the airport weren’t there for them, but for the two children.
Mi Le adapted well, even cheerfully calling out “Hello, brothers, sisters, aunties, uncles.”
Su Youli, just awake and still groggy, heard many people calling his name. He immediately perked up his ears and poked his fluffy head out from his big brother’s shoulder. So many phones were pointed at him. Su Youli immediately ducked back, pressing close to Shen Yan. The Shen family’s bodyguards lined up on both sides to escort them to the VIP elevator, keeping the fans blocked outside.
Mi Huan and Mi Le were also startled. They quickly thanked Shen Yan. Without the bodyguards, he and Lele probably would have been crushed to death today. The elevator descended slowly. Shen Yan was worried that the big crowd might have scared the little one, so he patted his back gently and whispered comforting words. Mi Le held Mi Huan’s hand, tilted his head back, and made funny faces to amuse Youyou. Su Youli was amused and reached out to him, wanting to play.
“You can play with Lele gege once the elevator stops,” Tang Dou said with a smile.
Su Youli, of course, was very obedient. He waited until the elevator stopped in the underground parking garage before getting down to walk with Lele.
“Youyou!”
The teenager standing by the car saw his little brother and, with eyes practically shining, ran over. Shen Minyan followed closely behind, taking long strides.
The little one saw his second brother. His short legs churned as he ran forward. “Second Brother!”
Shen Lin finally got to hold the little brother he had been missing day and night. He hugged him tightly.
The little one was tickled by his second brother’s rubbing and wriggling, giggling. “Second Brother, that itches~”
“Youyou, did you miss Second Brother?”
The little one was held high by his second brother and let out a little yelp. “Yes, Youyou missed Second Brother.”
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