Chapter Eleven: Little Black (With Gratitude for Your Support)

"Little Qiu, you've come to play, haven't you?"

In the grain and oil shop, Bai Zhijun was watching the midday news, keeping up with national affairs, when a tiny figure poked her head in.

"Hee hee, hello Uncle Bai," Little Qiu greeted with a bright smile and childish lilt, "Is Xiao Bai here?"

"She is, but she's taking a nap. I'll call her for you."

As he spoke, Bai Zhijun was about to raise his voice, but Little Qiu quickly waved her hands to stop him.

"No, please don't!"

Her small face was earnest as she said, "My brother said it's not good manners to disturb others. If Xiao Bai is napping, she must be tired. Uncle Bai, let's not wake her up, okay?"

"Alright..."

Faced with such a cute and considerate child, Bai Zhijun felt that whatever she said was simply right.

"Hee hee!"

Seeing Uncle Bai agree, Little Qiu was delighted. She stood on tiptoe, attempting to place the small bag she held onto the counter.

Once—she missed.

Twice—still not quite.

Oh... she just couldn't reach...

"Haha, what is it you brought?" Bai Zhijun couldn't help but laugh at her frustrated little face. Stepping out from behind the counter, he knelt to pat her head and said with a smile, "You're still little. You need to eat well and lots, then you'll grow up big and tall."

"Mhm!" Little Qiu nodded solemnly, utterly serious about the business of growing up.

Only by growing up could she earn money.

Only by growing up could she help her brother.

Only by growing up would her brother not be so tired.

"Such a good girl," Bai Zhijun said, noticing the mouthwatering scent coming from her little bag. He swallowed unconsciously. "Did you bring food for Xiao Bai?"

"Uh-huh!" Little Qiu said sweetly, "My brother made pancakes with crispy fritters, they smell so good! Xiao Bai loves them!"

"Is that so? Just leave them with me, then. I'll give them to her when she wakes up."

"Okay!"

Little Qiu skipped away joyfully. Bai Zhijun, worried for her safety, watched from the shop door until she had run into her own courtyard before returning to the counter to resume watching the news.

His stomach rumbled.

The delicious aroma wafted over, and he couldn't help glancing repeatedly at the little bag on the counter.

It smelled so good, he wanted to eat it so badly.

But this was something Little Qiu had brought specially for Xiao Bai. If he ate it, would that little imp cry?

I must resist... I have to resist...

Damn! I can't take it anymore, just one bite, just one!

So, when Xiao Bai woke up from her nap in the back room, roused by the irresistible smell, and came out rubbing her eyes, what she saw was her father sucking on his fingers!

"Hey! Dad! What are you up to?!"

The little girl’s yell startled Bai Zhijun.

"Nothing, nothing at all. Why are you up already?" he stammered, his gaze darting about guiltily.

Those pancakes were just too tempting—it was only supposed to be a single bite, and somehow they were all gone!

"Hmph! Sneaky! Up to no good!" Xiao Bai muttered, then, sniffing the air, she walked behind Bai Zhijun and spied the empty little bag in the trash. She recognized it instantly as the one from Little Qiu’s house.

Fury ignited.

"You... you... what did you eat?! Where are my pancakes?!"

"Ahem, well... let me explain—"

"I don't want to hear it! You sneaky thief! Stealing a child’s pancakes! You... you... waah!"

Xiao Bai exploded, all her indignation and anger turning into a flurry of fists.

Bai Zhijun, feeling guilty, didn't move a muscle, letting the little girl vent.

Let her hit, let her hit, his back had been sore lately anyway.

"What are you two up to, making such a racket that my head hurts?"

As the scene of maternal love and filial piety unfolded, Xiao Bai’s mother came out from the back room, her face full of confusion.

"Mom! Dad stole my pancakes! Help me get him!" Xiao Bai wailed, rushing to complain. Her mother immediately turned to Bai Zhijun.

Bai Zhijun bowed his head even lower.

Was this little girl a sweet daughter or a watchdog? Her nose was too sharp, waking up just from the smell!

Impressive!

Maybe he should train a backup one.

As these thoughts flitted through his mind, he stole a glance at his wife.

Mm, still beautiful!

"Useless!" she glared at Bai Zhijun, then pulled out twenty yuan and handed it to Xiao Bai, saying, "Enough, go buy some Little Bear drinks and play with Little Qiu and the others."

"Okay!"

Xiao Bai snatched the money and dashed outside, not forgetting to snort at her doting but guilty father on her way out.

Bai Zhijun: ...

...

"Dun-dun-da-da, dun-dun-da-da..."

After buying Little Bear drinks, all clouds of gloom lifted from Xiao Bai’s heart. Humming a tune, she asked the shopkeeper to open one for her. Sitting on a small stool outside the store, she sipped contentedly.

Still humming, and with her bottle not yet finished, she suddenly saw a white car pull up. Instantly, she was overjoyed.

"Sis! It's Sister Qin's beautiful big car!"

Xiao Bai squealed with excitement and was about to rush toward it, when suddenly someone grabbed her.

"You little rascal! Where do you think you're going? Is your backside itching for trouble again?!" her mother bellowed angrily.

"Is that Sister Qin's car?" Startled by her mother’s roar, Xiao Bai shrank her neck and defended herself in a small voice.

"Sister Qin? Which Sister Qin? I'm telling you, from now on, if you see a car, you stay well away! If not, I’ll tan your backside until it blossoms, you hear me?!"

While her mother was scolding, the white car stopped right beside them, and an impossibly beautiful woman stepped out.

"Xiao Bai!"

Qin Xue called out in delight, spotting Xiao Bai with her head hung dejectedly.

She’d been worried about how to find Yang Qing’s house, and now she’d run into a familiar little face.

"Sister Qin..." Xiao Bai said, listless, "I’m in the middle of being scolded, could you wait a moment?"

Qin Xue: "..."

Xiao Bai’s mother: "..."

Little rascal! Sneaky troublemaker!

"Hello, you must be Xiao Bai’s mother?" Though speechless, Qin Xue decided to step in and rescue the little girl.

"Yes, hello, and you are...?" Xiao Bai’s mother looked at this dazzlingly beautiful woman with a trace of wariness.

Young and beautiful women were always on the alert list for every married woman!

Qin Xue seemed to read the caution in her eyes. She smiled gently. "I’m Yang Qing’s friend. Yesterday, he brought the children to visit me—Xiao Bai was there too."

"Oh, you’re Qingzi’s friend!"

Embarrassment dawned on Xiao Bai’s mother. She immediately realized her mistake—after all, with someone so fairy-like, how could her own husband... Ahem, no, she shouldn’t belittle him, she’d married him herself.

"Ha, so... you’re here to see Qingzi?"

"Yes. Would it be alright for Xiao Bai to show me the way? It’s my first time here—I’m not familiar with the area."

"No problem at all!" The woman’s face broke into a broad smile. She turned to her daughter. "You little rascal, what are you standing there for? Go on, show your Sister Qin the way!"

Xiao Bai: →_→

The car stopped at the end of the alley. Qin Xue opened the trunk and began unloading things, piece by piece.

Xiao Bai watched curiously. "Sister Qin, what are you taking out?"

Without pausing, Qin Xue replied with a smile, "I bought little clothes and shoes for Little Qiu and the others, and some school supplies too. Xiao Bai, there’s something for you as well."

"For me too?!"

The unexpected joy made Xiao Bai freeze for a moment, her mouth opening and closing in adorable surprise.

At the shop door, Bai Zhijun and his wife watched the scene in silence before finally speaking.

"Do you think Qingzi and that woman are seeing each other?"

"Impossible," Bai Zhijun shook his head, "She’s too beautiful, she’s not right for Qingzi."

"True," his wife sighed, "Qingzi is a good man. All these years, he’s shouldered that household. Back when Grandma Yang was still around, and now... sigh."

"Yeah." The memories swept over Bai Zhijun, and he said with emotion, "I remember working with him on construction sites. He was so thin, but he worked harder than anyone. After work, he’d go do odd jobs. Life isn’t easy, and making a living is even harder. He always said the world runs on rules—the more you work, the more you earn. He’s repaying kindness, but he’s also grateful for it."

"Yes, it’s both repayment and gratitude," his wife agreed, recalling the winter when Grandma Yang brought him home, the light in his eyes, and the compassion he showed when he took in Little Dong that same winter.

Love has never known boundaries.