Chapter 25: The Peculiar Grandpa Qin

The man’s words carried a trace of surprise. As he stubbornly tried to lunge toward Qiu Yiyao, the police officer beside him changed expression, drew his baton, and struck the man.

The man let out a cry of pain, rolled his eyes, and collapsed to the ground.

The scene gave Qiu Yiyao a start.

The officer hurried over and asked, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Although the officer’s tone was amiable, a lingering fear gripped Qiu Yiyao’s heart as she watched the man being dragged past her.

"Glad you're okay," the officer said, turning to the gathering crowd. "Everyone, head back now. There's nothing to see here."

Hearing this, the people dispersed quite sensibly.

Qiu Yiyao still wanted to look at the accident scene, but when she turned around, she found Bai Peiyu standing silently behind her.

"Are you sick? Are you trying to scare someone to death?"

"You didn't die of fright anyway, so what are you afraid of?"

Bai Peiyu’s words were designed to infuriate. Qiu Yiyao didn't want to argue with him and pushed his arm. "Move aside, don't block me."

"Uncle Qiu is waiting for you for breakfast."

At the mention of "Uncle Qiu," Qiu Yiyao’s anger flared. "Can you stop acting like a bootlicker every single day? You listen to everything my dad says, so why don't you listen to me?"

Bai Peiyu crossed his arms and cast a disdainful look at her. "Uncle treats me well, so of course I should listen to him. And who are you to me?"

"Hmph, bootlicker."

Qiu Yiyao raised her fist, waved it at him, then shoved him hard and turned to walk back.

As she passed Grandmother Wang’s house, she saw an elderly man with gray hair and a cane coming out. Qiu Yiyao hurriedly stepped forward to support him. "Grandpa Qin, are you going to visit Grandmother Wang?"

"Yes, I heard she saw the motorcycle hit someone and was quite shaken, so I came to check on her."

Grandpa Qin looked at Qiu Yiyao with a smile. "What a good child, so thoughtful."

Hearing this, Qiu Yiyao felt a bit embarrassed.

"By the way, how is Grandmother Wang?"

"Nothing major, she'll recover after some rest. At our age, what haven't we seen? It’s nothing."

"That’s good."

Qiu Yiyao helped Grandpa Qin walk across the street, glancing back as she went. Through the window, Grandmother Wang’s room appeared pitch black, suggesting she was resting in the bedroom. She decided to visit after breakfast.

After seeing Grandpa Qin back to his watch repair shop across the street, he politely pressed a pear into her hand. "It’s very sweet and delicious, have a taste."

As he spoke, he picked up another one and began gnawing on it. He ate with such gusto that his saliva mixed with the pear juice, dripping down his chin and onto his clothes.

Qiu Yiyao frowned slightly, thinking to herself that at his age, he really didn't care about his appearance at all.

She looked down at the pear in her arms; it had a yellow-green skin and a fresh stem, likely picked only recently.

Just then, her stomach let out a timely rumble. She wiped the pear on her clothes and was about to take a bite when her hand suddenly went empty.

The pear had been snatched away by Bai Peiyu.

"Eat less, or you'll get fat."

He wore a smug look as he put the pear to his lips and took a large bite.

Qiu Yiyao rolled her eyes at him and muttered under her breath, "Bootlicker."

Turning back, she saw Grandpa Qin holding another perfect pear, beckoning her. "It's alright, come here."

He smiled so broadly that the wrinkles on his face bunched together. His gray hair was ruffled by the fan behind him, and with the juice still on his lips, he looked rather strange.

Qiu Yiyao waved her hands. "No, thank you, Grandpa Qin."

"Come on, this one is saved for you."

The familiar wording startled Qiu Yiyao. Thinking of the voice from the night before, her body trembled involuntarily, and she stood frozen in place, not daring to move.

"This child, why aren't you listening?"

Seeing her silence, Grandpa Qin grabbed his cane and limped toward her. When he reached her, he insisted on shoving the pear into her hand.

"I still have plenty."

Qiu Yiyao stared blankly at his face, sensing an underlying strangeness about him.

Just as she was dazed, Bai Peiyu tapped her shoulder. "Let's go, Uncle Qiu is still waiting."

He bit into the pear and turned to walk back.

Qiu Yiyao thanked Grandpa Qin and followed him.

After a few steps, she looked back and saw Grandpa Qin leaning on his cane as he headed into the back room. Watching his retreating figure, Qiu Yiyao couldn't stop her mind from racing.

...

Qiu Yiyao sat by the window, lost in thought as she looked at the medicine bottle on the table.

Not far away, Congcong was bouncing a ball in front of his house. In a moment of carelessness, the ball rolled away toward the plum tree.

"Don't run away!"

Congcong’s milky voice interrupted Qiu Yiyao’s thoughts.

She looked up to see him taking small, hurried steps, his anxious expression making Qiu Yiyao smile.

She rose quickly and opened the back door to retrieve the ball for him.

"You're so young, why are you so anxious about everything?"

Qiu Yiyao pinched Congcong’s small cheek. "Give your sister a smile."

Congcong squinted his eyes and giggled. "Sister Yaoyao, Mom said she’s making me a big chicken leg. Do you want some?"

"No," Qiu Yiyao said, shaking her head. Remembering the scene from her dream, she didn't want to see anything related to chicken. "Sister doesn't like chicken legs."

"Then what do you like to eat?"

"Well..." Qiu Yiyao used to be a foodie; as long as it wasn't something terrifying or inedible, she loved it.

But facing such a small child, she feared he wouldn't understand a complex answer. She thought for a moment, turned, and pointed to the plum tree. "Sister likes to eat plums."

"Plums? Are they tasty?"

Congcong pursed his small lips, looking puzzled.

"They're alright."

As they were talking, Li Zhen came out of the house. Upon seeing Qiu Yiyao, she smiled and said, "Oh, Yaoyao is here. I was just about to check on Grandmother Wang. Are you coming?"

If she hadn't mentioned it, Qiu Yiyao would have forgotten. She nodded quickly. "Yes, I'm coming."

Seeing Li Zhen carrying a basket—likely intended for Grandmother Wang—Qiu Yiyao felt a bit awkward. "I'll go back and grab something."

Li Zhen stopped her. "No need. She isn't the type to care about such things. She’ll be happy just to see you."

She stepped forward and linked her arm with Qiu Yiyao’s. "Let's go."

Seeing this, Congcong followed along.

Grandmother Wang was leaning against the headboard, resting with her eyes closed. Seeing the three of them enter, she moved to pull back the quilt and get out of bed.

Li Zhen hurried over and held her hand. "Just lie there. We’re all old neighbors; no need to get out of bed to greet us."

Grandmother Wang smiled and patted her arm. "You, you just love to tease me."

She then looked at Qiu Yiyao. "My room is a mess, Yaoyao, don't mind it. Just find a place to sit."

"Not at all, your room is much cleaner than mine."

Qiu Yiyao smiled awkwardly, and it was the truth. She hadn't expected the old lady to be so diligent; the room was spotless, with every object in its proper place, not a single detail out of order.

However, she faintly sensed a strange smell drifting through the air.

Before she could identify the scent, she heard Grandmother Wang sniff and say, "Oh, Yaoyao, what kind of perfume are you wearing? It smells so good."