Chapter 94: Moved

But the little girl’s words almost brought tears to the adult traveling with her.

She was so skilled with her tongue. No wonder the child was dressed so well and, from the looks of it, was plump and rosy from good food, while the adult beside her wore plain clothes patched in many places.

These days, a household with three or four children was nothing unusual, and it seemed likely the little girl simply had a sweet mouth and knew how to coax the family into lavishing everything on her.

At a ready-made clothing counter with few customers, the clerk happened to have some free time. Hearing Bai Xi’s words, and then seeing Chen Daliu—a grown man—moved to the point of almost crying, she could not help bursting out laughing.

Bai Xi and Chen Daliu both looked over. Bai Xi had not even said anything yet when Chen Daliu lost his temper. He stepped forward and said, “Comrade, what are you laughing at? How can you make fun of people?”

“I’m telling you, our Great-Aunt—”

“Little Liu!”

Bai Xi stopped him. She merely glanced at the clerk, then said to Chen Daliu, “It’s getting late, isn’t it? Didn’t we still need to buy oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea? Let’s go.”

In her present state, it was hardly strange that people did not believe her. Bai Xi did not need to prove anything to a clerk anyway. Let them look down on her if they wanted; being looked up to by that clerk would not put another bite of meat in her mouth.

“Oh, oh, all right.” Unlike the clerk, who was glaring back in annoyance, Chen Daliu’s expression changed at once when Bai Xi called him over. He obediently followed her downstairs.

Halfway down, Chen Daliu turned back and shot the clerk another look, then snorted in displeasure, thinking how rude she was to laugh at their Great-Aunt. Their Great-Aunt was formidable—a person blessed with good fortune!

On the way to the supply-and-marketing cooperative, Chen Daliu bought Bai Xi an ice pop.

It cost two cents.

Though it was only two cents, villagers had no wages from steady jobs. Every penny came from the sweat of farming, or from collecting eggs to sell for cash.

Bai Xi held the ice pop and looked at Chen Daliu, letting out a small sigh in her heart. In the middle of winter, he really was careless enough to let a five-year-old child eat an ice pop.

“Why don’t you have it?” Bai Xi handed the ice pop to Chen Daliu. “You haven’t bought a thing on this whole trip. Have an ice pop to quench your thirst.”

Chen Daliu was deeply moved. The smile on his face would not fade. He even licked his somewhat dry lips and shook his head. “No need, Great-Aunt. I bought this especially for you.”

“I saw plenty of city people eating these in summer,” he added.

At that, Bai Xi’s mouth twitched. So you know it’s for summer, do you?

Chen Daliu had not noticed her reaction. In the past two or three months, whenever he came into town, he had seen people walking around with ice pops in hand. He had meant to bring one back for Great-Aunt before, but the road home was too long, the weather too hot, and it had melted. After that, whenever he came into town, he never bought one again.

Today, since Great-Aunt had come into town with him, he hurried to buy her one so she could taste something new.

Bai Xi did not know what he was thinking, but seeing how delighted he was, she had no choice but to take the ice pop herself and console herself in silence. Fine. At least it was a gesture of filial devotion. She should not disappoint him.

“Great-Aunt, are you tired?”

Chen Daliu said, “If you are, I can send you back to the ox cart to rest first. I’ll go buy the things.”

“I’m all right. I’ll just walk with you and have a look at what the city is like.” After a pause, Bai Xi went on, “Don’t worry. I won’t get tired. I’m Great-Aunt.”

Her somewhat childish attempt at bravado made Chen Daliu want to laugh. Great-Aunt kept saying she was not forcing herself, but was not this exactly what forcing herself looked like?

The supply cooperative at the commune also sold oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea, but since they were already in town, it was easier to buy everything here. There was more variety than at the agency shop.

On this trip, many people in the village had asked Chen Daliu to buy things for them. Most of it he purchased at the supply cooperative, while the rest he picked up at the hardware store and the general store.

Bai Xi had some interest when she was browsing the department store, but once they reached the supply cooperative, her interest faded.

After they came out, Chen Daliu sent Bai Xi back to the ox cart before going on to the hardware store.

“Great-Aunt.” As soon as Chen Xiaocong saw Bai Xi, he greeted her with a bright smile.

“You brat, don’t go running off anywhere. Keep Great-Aunt company properly. I’ll be back soon after I finish shopping.” Chen Daliu could not help reminding him. If he had not needed to carry the bamboo basket, and if Great-Aunt were not able to walk for too long, he would never have felt comfortable leaving her with his son.

It was said that a mouth without hair could not be trusted to get things done. His son might handle other matters well enough, but when it came to leaving Great-Aunt in his care, Chen Daliu still felt somewhat uneasy.

Chen Xiaocong promised at once, “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll definitely take good care of Great-Aunt.”

Bai Xi could also see that Chen Daliu was not at ease. She said, a little helplessly, “Go on then. With me here, I’ll keep an eye on this boy and make sure he doesn’t run around.”

Chen Xiaocong: “Uh...” Had Great-Aunt said that backward?

Chen Daliu paused, then said with a smile that held a hint of coaxing, “All right then. Sorry to trouble Great-Aunt to keep watch for me. I’ll be back in no time.”

Bai Xi said nothing more and waved him off.

After Chen Daliu left, Bai Xi turned around and stuffed the ice pop she had been holding the whole time into Chen Xiaocong’s hand.

“Eat.”

“Huh?” Chen Xiaocong froze. Then he shook his head so hard it was nearly a rattle. “No, no, Great-Aunt, I can’t eat your things. You should have this ice pop.”

“Great-Aunt, I’m not greedy!” Even as he said that, he secretly swallowed once.

How could Bai Xi not notice? Her small face took on a solemn expression, and like a grown-up she put on airs of authority. “Do you know that what an elder gives, you must not refuse?”

Chen Xiaocong nodded.

“If you know that, then that’s enough. I’m your Great-Aunt. I gave it to you, so eat it. It’s not poison. What are you afraid of?”

“If it were poison, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second.” Chen Xiaocong looked grave. “But this is...” If he ate it and his father found out when he got back, he would definitely get beaten. And if the villagers knew, they would surely think he had tricked food out of Great-Aunt.

Great-Aunt was still so young. In another couple of years, he’d be old enough to marry and have children. How could he possibly be shameless enough to eat her ice pop?

Bai Xi did not care what he was thinking. Her round little face lifted as her eyebrows arched. “If you won’t eat it, I’ll tell your father that you won’t listen to me and want to run off to play...”

She paused. Seeing panic flash across Chen Xiaocong’s face as he looked ready to protest in grievance, Bai Xi continued, “All right, all right. I’m only teasing you. What are you worrying about? I saw that you’ve been watching the ox cart and thought it must be hard work, so I brought this for you especially.”

“Go on, eat.”

She could hardly say that she herself did not want it and had simply wanted Chen Xiaocong to help finish it.

Hearing this, Chen Xiaocong, who had just been red-faced with anxiety, froze. Warmth rose in his heart, and his eyes grew a little red.

“G-Great-Aunt... I’m not tired at all.”

As he spoke, he looked down at the ice pop in his hand, and his eyes reddened even more.

“Great-Aunt, thank you for thinking of me.”