Chapter 111: Jin'er's Feelings for Xi'er

In the evening, Yang Qing and his group returned to the small shop. With the Dragon Boat Festival over, business was set to resume the next day, and the three children—Chun, Qiu, and Xiaobai—would be heading off to school.

Bai Zhijun had placed the new single bed he bought for Bai Lingyue in Tan Jin'er’s bedroom on the second floor, pushing it against the existing bed and covering it with fresh bedding.

Back at the shop, the three little ones were unusually excited, running back and forth. Mother Bai, who was busy giving instructions to Bai Lingyue, felt a headache coming on from the noise. She stepped out, grabbed her own little rascal, and roared, "What time is it! Why aren't you bathing and going to bed? Don't you have to go to kindergarten tomorrow?"

Xiaobai (‵□′) cried out, "I ain't going! I’m not going to kindergarten anymore!"

The little girl had been wild with excitement these past few days, struggling in Mother Bai's hands and squealing.

"What! Say that again! I’ll tan your hide!"

At Mother Bai’s shout, Xiaobai slumped, completely deflated. She couldn't afford to cross her mother; she might ignore her father, but she dared not ignore her mother, for she knew her mother would truly make good on that threat.

Xiaobai was whisked away by Mother Bai to bathe, followed by a giggling Xiao Qiu. Only little Xi'er remained, laughing heartily.

"Hiahia... Xi'er doesn't have to go to kindergarten tomorrow, so Xi'er doesn't have to take a bath!"

"Snap!"

No sooner had she spoken than her older sister caught her.

"Hiahia... Sister, let Xi'er go!"

"Go take your bath, then cuddle with Dong'er and go to sleep," Tan Jin'er said in a soft, melancholy tone. "Cherish it while you can. Cuddle with Dong'er as much as you like now, because once you start kindergarten, you won't be able to sleep with her anymore."

"Gah!"

Little Xi'er stopped laughing instantly. Her face went blank and stiff. Looking at Tan Jin'er in disbelief, she asked, "Sister... you're tricking Xi'er, right?"

"No, why would I trick you?" Tan Jin'er replied calmly.

"Hia... hia... then... then Xi'er doesn't want to go to kindergarten. Sister, don't send Xi'er to kindergarten, okay?"

"Alright," Tan Jin'er nodded without hesitation, then added, "In that case, when Qiu and Xiaobai go to kindergarten, you can just stay here and play with Dong'er."

"Whoosh!"

Little Xi'er’s face stiffened again. Then, her little mouth puckered, and she looked ready to cry, pleading pitifully, "Sister, Xi'er... Xi'er wants to go to kindergarten with Qiu and the others, but Xi'er also wants to sleep with Dong'er. Please help Xi'er, Sister, I'm your favorite little sister!"

Seeing her little sister on the verge of tears, Tan Jin'er’s heart softened. She crouched down, stroked the little girl’s face, and said, "Don't cry. Sister will help you. It’s just bed-wetting; Sister will teach you how to stop. Our Xi'er is a sensible big girl, and you will definitely overcome it, won't you?"

"Mm... mm!"

Little Xi'er wiped her tears with her small hands. "Xi'er... Xi'er will... won't... won't drink bear-milk anymore."

"You don't have to stop," Tan Jin'er said, shaking her head affectionately. "You can drink it, but not too much. How about you only have two bottles a day from now on?"

"Okay! Xi'er... Xi'er will listen to Sister."

"Good, go on. Go bathe with Qiu and the others, and when you're done, Sister will tell you stories before bed."

"Mm-hmm!"

Little Xi'er ran off to bathe. Just then, Bai Lingyue stepped out of the room and looked at Tan Jin'er. "Sister Jin'er, aren't you being a bit too strict? After all, Xi'er is still small; bed-wetting is normal."

"It is normal," Tan Jin'er nodded. "But I have to teach her to grow step by step. That is my responsibility."

Tan Jin'er smiled. "Xi'er is a happy, kind child with a strong sense of pride. I don't want her to grow up worrying about bed-wetting when she starts kindergarten, or worse, being mocked by the other children. I only want her to be happy and grow up happily. Lingyue, the reason Xi'er can smile so brightly today is not easy to come by. She has experienced the pain of permanent loss; perhaps one day a careless word from someone could make her smile disappear. I don't want that to happen. Do you understand?"

"I... I understand."

Bai Lingyue nodded silently. In that moment, she finally understood why Yang Qing treated Tan Jin'er so well—because she and he were truly alike.

...

The next morning, when Bai Lingyue woke up and went downstairs, she was stunned by what she saw.

Outside the shop, there were two long, orderly lines of customers—men and women, old and young, from businessmen in suits to laborers in modest clothes, from women with bright red lips to fresh-faced young girls. The customers were smiling and speaking kindly, while Tan Jin'er was making *jianbing guozi* with lightning-fast hands.

She checked the time blankly: it was barely ten minutes to seven.

"Oh, Lingyue, you're up."

Just then, Yang Qing emerged from the kitchen carrying a steaming bamboo steamer.

"Q-Qing brother, I..."

Bai Lingyue started to speak, but Yang Qing interrupted her. He placed the steamer on the warming table, turned back, and smiled at her.

"Lingyue, go ahead and sell the *xiaolongbao*. They’re fresh out of the steamer, so be careful, they're hot. It’s going to be a busy day, thank you for your hard work."

Yang Qing ducked back into the kitchen to steam more, leaving Bai Lingyue standing there, stunned. She couldn't believe it. It was just a small shop selling *xiaolongbao* and *jianbing guozi*; how could there be so many people lining up at dawn? Even if it was good, it shouldn't be like this!

"Lingyue, what are you staring at? Come on!"

The voice of the little chef, Jin'er, snapped her back to reality.

"Hey, Jin'er, the little boss hired another beauty, huh? Haha... you've got some competition now!"

"That's right, the little boss is truly blessed. First Jin'er, now this beauty. I'm so jealous!"

"Haha, stop staring at the beauty and hurry up! Take your *jianbing* and go! The people behind are getting impatient!"

"Why the rush? The little boss hasn't been open for days; it’s finally open today. One *jianbing* is never enough! Jin'er, give me two more, and two baskets of *xiaolongbao*!"

"Damn! Don't be like that, leave some for the rest of us! Jin'er, I want three plus three!"

"I want two plus two!"

...

Amidst the cheerful banter of the customers, Bai Lingyue got to work. She discovered she didn't even have to collect money, as the customers paid on their own. Her only job was to pack the food and hand it over. Even so, she didn't have a moment to rest.

Time flew by in the rush until noon, when the customers finally dispersed. She collapsed onto a chair.

"Lingyue, here's some water."

Tan Jin'er handed her a glass and smiled. "Exhausted, aren't you?"

"Yes," Bai Lingyue nodded. "I really didn't expect the business here to be this hot! I was so busy I didn't even have time to check how my sister-in-law's shop was doing."

"Giggle... no need to check," Tan Jin'er laughed. "My sister-in-law and I are both disciples taught by Brother Qing, so whatever it's like here, it's the same over there."

"Plop!"

Bai Lingyue’s jaw dropped. She asked in disbelief, "My sister-in-law is also... Brother Qing's disciple?"

"Mm-hmm." Tan Jin'er nodded proudly.

Bai Lingyue was completely stunned. She felt an overwhelming curiosity about Yang Qing, while at that moment, Yang Qing was being besieged by a little person in the second-floor kitchen.

"Xi'er, stop circling me. Go play with Qiu."

Yang Qing, who was preparing lunch, looked at the little girl trailing behind him and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Hiahia... Qiu is dressing Dong'er in her little clothes. Brother Qing, let Xi'er help you cook!" little Xi'er laughed.

Yang Qing smiled. "No need, thank you. Are you hungry? Don't worry, lunch will be ready soon."

"Xi'er isn't hungry! Xi'er wants to help you!"

Yang Qing sighed helplessly. He stopped chopping vegetables, looked down at the little girl, and asked softly, "Is something the matter?"

"Hiahia... Brother Qing, Xi'er wants to give the little princess to Niannian. Can you take Xi'er there, please?"

"Haha... is that all? You should have just said so; you had me thinking it was something serious."

Yang Qing smiled and patted little Xi'er’s head. After a moment of thought, he smiled. "Brother is busy this afternoon and can't take you, but you can invite little Niannian to come and play here."

"Whoosh!"

Upon hearing this, little Xi'er’s eyes lit up, and she jumped with joy. "Can I? Really? Can Xi'er really invite Niannian to come play at our place?"

"You can."

Yang Qing took out his phone, dialed Li Wanxiao’s number, and handed it to the little girl. "Go ahead, invite Niannian."

"Hiahia... Thank you, Brother Qing!"

Little Xi'er ran out, clutching the phone and shouting at the top of her lungs, "Qiu, come quick! We’re going to invite Niannian to come play at our house!"