Chapter Seventy-Seven: Your Little Ones Are Waiting for You

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Creak, creak...

Riding his old bicycle, Yang Qing wore a subtle smile, humming a tune in high spirits as he headed toward his small shop.

At the same time, at Yangcheng Airport, a fashionable young man in sunglasses stepped out. Hailing a taxi, he told the driver, “To May Day Street, please.”

“Alright!” The driver, a chatty uncle, struck up a lively conversation with the young man along the way. As they neared May Day Street, he joked, “If you’re visiting Yangcheng, you can’t miss the local cuisine. There’s a little shop on the corner of May Day Street called ‘Seasons’ Delights.’ Their crispy pancakes and soup dumplings are legendary—they’re practically a city landmark now.

“Oh, and the porridge at the ‘Little White Congee Shop’ next door is also excellent. If you have the time, give it a try—I bet you’ll love it.”

“Uh...” The young man was taken aback, then gave the driver a peculiar look. “Why do you sound like one of those tour guides who only takes four tourists at a time?”

“Haha…” The driver laughed. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just making a suggestion—go if you want, up to you. But those crispy pancakes and soup dumplings really are delicious, I swear.”

“Alright, I’ll give them a try. But why is that your top recommendation? Surely there are other local foods worth mentioning.”

“Well, you’re heading to May Day Street, aren’t you? Of course I’d recommend that place. Besides... to be honest, I’m a retired soldier, and I really like a song sung by a little kid in that shop. A bit of personal bias, I guess. Haha…”

“Fair enough, you’re straightforward. Let’s do it—take me straight there now.”

“Uh...” This time it was the driver’s turn to be flustered. He hadn’t expected the young man to be so direct and eager. “You can’t go now, the shop is closed today for a break.”

“What!” The young man was stunned. “Closed? Just like that?”

“Hey, everyone’s entitled to a few days off for the holiday, right?”

“...Alright, fine. Just take me there anyway.”

“You still want to go?”

“Yes! I’ll check out the place and come back another day.”

“Alright then.”

The taxi stopped in front of the shop. After paying, the young man got out and stared ruefully at the heavy iron chain blocking the entrance.

Too early! And since he’d come here on his own, the association wouldn’t reimburse his expenses.

Sigh, another hit to his own wallet—but it was worth it!

Let them hold onto their narrow views; I’m going to cut the ground out from under their feet with this move!

Simmering with determination, he glanced around, hoping to find a nearby hotel. But everywhere he looked... nothing.

He sighed in resignation, about to leave, when his eyes suddenly locked onto a figure approaching on a bicycle.

“Yang… Yang Qing!”

Overcome with excitement, he shouted out.

“Hm?” Yang Qing stopped at the sound of his name, surprised. Looking toward his shop, he saw a fashionable young man waving at him.

“Hello… and you are?” Yang Qing approached, studying the man who had taken off his sunglasses, his face filled with curiosity.

“Yang Qing, hello, my name is Li Dongning. I’m a member of the Huayue Society’s Folk Instrument Ensemble.” The stylish young man, Li Dongning, reached out to introduce himself.

“Oh, hello.” Yang Qing shook his hand, looking even more puzzled.

“Is there something I can help you with?”

“Yes, actually. I wanted to ask if you’ve registered the copyright for your erhu piece, ‘Galloping Horses.’”

“Copyright registration? Well... not yet.” Yang Qing felt rather lost. Copyright registration? He’d never even thought about it.

Before he had his system, he was just an ordinary worker struggling to get by—copyrights were the last thing on his mind.

“If you haven’t registered it, that’s fine. I’ll take you right now to get it done. Let’s go.” Li Dongning smiled, reached out, and tried to pull Yang Qing along.

“Wait, hold on. What’s going on? I’m a little lost—can you explain?”

“Of course.” Li Dongning nodded, then proceeded to explain the entire situation—its origins, developments, outcomes, and his own intentions.

After hearing him out, Yang Qing pondered for a moment before laughing it off. “Thank you, but... if I can’t go, then I can’t go. No need to take it so seriously. An event of that scale—if I went, I’d probably just get nervous and make mistakes anyway.”

“Sigh, it just feels like such a shame—and it makes me angry,” Li Dongning said with a sigh.

“Haha, don’t get discouraged, young man, you’ll chase away your good luck. Thank you for coming all this way to help me. Let me treat you to some crispy pancakes.”

“Great! The driver who brought me here just recommended your place. I played dumb and chatted with him for a while. Honestly, your food has quite the reputation.”

“Of course it does,” Yang Qing laughed. “Come on in, I’ll make you some.”

“Uh, maybe wait a bit. Let’s get the copyright registered first—I won’t feel at ease otherwise.”

“You... alright, but I need to run home first. After that, we’ll go together. Is that okay?”

“Sure, as long as we get it done today.”

“Alright, and... sorry for the trouble.”

“Heh, it’s no trouble! This is all part of my plan, after all.”

They exchanged phone numbers, agreed to call later, and then Li Dongning went off for a stroll while Yang Qing returned to the shop to pick up the children’s clothes before heading home.

...

“Qing... Brother Qing.”

Back at the courtyard, the little chef Jin’er was sweeping up. Seeing Yang Qing return, she blushed and called out shyly.

She wished she could turn back time and swap last night’s three cups of wine for a teddy bear instead.

She had no idea what sort of spectacle she’d made of herself during her first ever bout of drunkenness, and she didn’t dare ask.

“Jin’er, you’re up. How are you feeling?” Yang Qing smiled, unconcerned.

Tan Jin’er nodded. “I’m fine, really. No dizziness or headache.”

“Good, that’s what matters. Try to drink less in the future, or don’t drink at all,” Yang Qing said seriously. “Xier was really worried about you last night.”

“Mm, I won’t drink again.” Jin’er nodded, recalling waking in the night for water and seeing her sister’s worried face turn to joy. She felt both guilty and pained by the memory.

“You brought the kids’ clothes? Give them to me, I’ll help them get dressed. The little ones are all tumbling around naked on the bed.” Jin’er took the clothes with a smile, then added, “Oh, and Brother Bai and his wife took Lingyue out for a walk. They wanted me to let you know they won’t be back for lunch.”

“Alright.” Yang Qing nodded with a smile.

Jin’er went inside with the clothes, and soon laughter rang out as three little girls came running out hand-in-hand.

“Brother!”

“Brother Qing!”

The trio ran up to Yang Qing, beaming up at him.

“Good girls.” Yang Qing patted their heads affectionately, then turned to Xier with a fond smile. “Why didn’t you sleep a little longer? Are you awake now?”

“Hiahiahia... No, Xier still wants to sleep, but Xiaobai smacked my bottom and wouldn’t let me!” Xier giggled as she tattled.

“Silly girl!” Xiaobai retorted adorably, “You peed all over my clothes and you still want to sleep?”

“Hee hee... Xier, you shouldn’t drink so much teddy bear before bed or you’ll wet the bed again,” Qiuer chimed in.

“No, Qiuer, please don’t!” Xier squeaked anxiously. “I can’t stop drinking teddy bear! Last night I only wet the bed because I was worried about big sister—I won’t do it again.”

Tan Jin’er, overhearing this from the doorway, was equal parts amused, exasperated, and helpless.

So now it’s my fault you wet the bed...

“Haha...” Yang Qing looked at the three adorable girls and laughed. “Alright, go wash your faces and brush your teeth, then eat breakfast. Afterwards, I have a surprise for you.”

Whoosh!

At his words, the three little ones dashed off in excitement.

Yang Qing shook his head with a smile, then went inside to fetch the children’s watches Qin Xue had bought for them.

Tan Jin’er watched as he took five watch boxes out of the shopping bag and asked in surprise, “Are those... children’s watches, Brother Qing?”

Yang Qing smiled. “They’re Children’s Day gifts from Xiao Xue. They have GPS tracking.”

“With tracking?” Jin’er’s eyes lit up.

“Yep. Come help me add contacts.”

“Okay, who should we add?”

“Let’s see... me, you, Xiao Xue, Brother Bai, his wife, and Lingyue,” Yang Qing mused. “Just us. We’ll put everyone’s numbers into each watch.”

“Alright.”

Twenty minutes later, the little ones had finished breakfast and bounded over.

“Brother, what’s this?”

“Hiahiahia... Is it a toy? It’s so tiny, but pretty!”

“Silly, it’s a watch! It can make calls! Some of my classmates have one!” Xiaobai declared, clearly wiser than Qiuer and Xier thanks to her time in kindergarten.

“That’s right.” Yang Qing smiled. “This is a children’s watch that can make phone calls. It’s a gift from your Sister Qin Xue. Jin’er and I have already saved our numbers in them. Come here, I’ll put one on each of you.”

At that moment, Chun and Xia walked out with Xiaodong. Yang Qing gave them watches as well, then said to all the children:

“Play nicely at home and listen to Jin’er. I need to go out for a bit.”

“Okay, bye brother! Qiuer will wait for you to come home!”

“Hiahiahia... Bye, Brother Qing! Come back soon—your little darlings are waiting for you!”

“Alright, I will!”