With Shen Yan’s secret help, the little one made much faster progress. A three-year-old had no idea that packing required skill, like putting heavier things at the bottom and things that could get crushed on top. Shen Yan watched Su Youli toss things into the suitcase one by one and was grateful he had brought a large enough suitcase this time. After more than an hour of hard work, the little one finished packing the large suitcase.
He stood up, and, imitating someone, let out a deep sigh, patted the dust from his hands, and said, “Finally done packing.”
“Little Brother, I’ve packed your suitcase,” Su Youli said, his voice still milky.
The little one stood in front of the suitcase, which was much taller than him. Using both hands, he tried to lift it. No matter how hard he tried, nothing happened.
Su Youli: “…”
Shen Yan pressed his lips together tightly, using all his willpower to hold back his laughter.
He crossed his arms and said, his voice laced with amusement, “Youyou gege, do you need my help?”
“Yes, thank you, Little Brother, for helping Big Brother with his things.”
Even though he was being helped, the little one still had to emphasize that he was the big brother. Shen Yan bent down, easily lifted the suitcase, and pushed it over to the door to put it away. When he turned back, he wasn’t surprised to see the little one’s admiring gaze.
“Big Brother, you’re so amazing!” Su Youli had forgotten he was the big brother now.
As a child who lived in an environment full of praise and positive reinforcement, he naturally didn’t hold back his compliments. Shen Yan crouched down and pinched his cheek. After packing ‘Little Brother’s suitcase, the little one packed his own Stitch suitcase. There wasn’t much in it: two sets of little pajamas, a few pairs of socks, and finally his little pillow from the bed.
The small suitcase was there mostly for the symbolic participation. The two brothers spent two hours packing everything. Shen Yan stood by the door with the suitcases, waiting for Youyou, who was saying goodbye to the chicks and ducklings. A child’s world is innocent. Over the past two days, Su Youli had grown attached to feeding them. As soon as he approached, the chicks and ducklings would waddle over to him. Su Youli pressed his little lips together, reached out, and touched the ducklings’ soft feathers.
“Bye-bye~”
Shen Yan watched as the little one raised his hand and waved at the animals inside, looking reluctant to part. He smiled, glancing at the main house with its closed door. Grandpa Tian had disappeared after breakfast. Shen Yan had wanted to take Youyou to thank him in person and give him the prepared gift.
“Big Brother, where’s Grandpa Tian?” The little one ran over and took Shen Yan’s hand after saying goodbye to the animals.
Shen Yan shook his head. “Big Brother doesn’t know either. Grandpa Tian might have gone to the fields. Let’s leave the gift here, and he’ll see it when he comes back.”
They had to leave quickly, or they would run out of time. The little one nodded. He quite liked Grandpa Tian. Although Grandpa Tian was fierce, he was very kind to him. Su Youli was shy around strangers and wouldn’t get close to someone he had just met. Grandpa Tian’s appearance and personality were fierce, and he rarely smiled.
But Su Youli remembered that on the first day, when his big brother got lost, Grandpa Tian was waiting for them at the door when they came back. Grandpa Tian also boiled hot water for him, cooked him eggs and millet congee, and played with the chicks and ducklings with him… Holding his big brother’s hand as they crossed the threshold, the little one turned his head to look at the empty yard, his eyes watery. He hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye to Grandpa Tian. The little one lowered his head, looking pitiful.
Shen Yan simply carried him on his back. “Youyou, hold onto Big Brother’s neck, or you’ll fall.”
The little one emerged from his sadness, wrapping his arms tightly around his big brother’s neck.
With his head resting on his big brother’s shoulder, he had a wide view. As soon as they turned the corner onto the path, he grabbed his brother and called out happily, “Grandpa Tian!”
By the roadside stood the thin old man in an old-fashioned buttoned-down long-sleeved shirt, holding a red plastic bag. Before he could even see them clearly, he heard the familiar voice of the little one from his yard.
“Grandpa Tian—” Su Youli called out again.
Shen Yan hadn’t expected such a coincidence, running into him midway.
“Grandpa Tian,” Shen Yan stopped to greet him as well.
Tian Hai’s gaze paused on the two suitcases for a moment. His aged voice asked, “You’re leaving?”
Su Youli struggled to get down from his big brother and ran in front of Grandpa Tian.
The little one was short. When he looked up, his eyes met the red plastic bag in Tian Hai’s hand.
Tian Hai crouched down, opened the bag with both hands for him to see. Inside was a bag of orange-shaped hard candies, the color of golden oranges, coated with sparkling white sugar. The village had very few types of candy. Tian Hai had taken quite a while to pick this kind, which looked nice and tasted good.
It was the first time Su Youli had seen this kind of candy. He immediately said, “Wow.”
The old man told him to take one and eat it. Su Youli turned to look at his big brother, and only when he nodded did he reach his hand inside.
“Is it good?” Tian Hai asked.
The little one bit into the orange candy. The sugar crystals cracked with a satisfying crunch, as if exploding in his mouth. The inside was a little sticky, with a refreshing, sweet orange flavor. Watching the child’s innocent expression, Tian Hai truly didn’t want him to leave. At first, when the production team came to the village looking for houses to rent, they had gone to every home. He had just been passing by with his hoe that day and was pulled in to join the fun.
“A big star is coming to film a TV show! Eight or nine cars came just today. They said whoever rents out a room in their house will get paid.”
Tian Hai wasn’t interested. He turned to leave with his hoe.
Just as he moved, he was pulled back. The villager knew him well, knew he was a lonely old man living a hard life. “You still have two empty rooms no one’s using. Go sign up. You might get chosen.”
Tian Hai couldn’t even remember how he got chosen that day. He just knew a few young people went to his house to look around, asked if there was anyone else living there, and then decided. He guessed it was because he was a solitary old man with no family, which would make filming more convenient. After getting the money, he started worrying. What if the big stars didn’t like his house? He heard they would also bring a child. City children were so delicate. What if it cried?
…
Until the Shen brothers arrived, he had kept his guard up, trying not to run into them. But the little one was so beautiful, the prettiest baby he had ever seen. His big eyes were unusually bright, and he would call him “Grandpa.”
Such a well-behaved, adorable baby would soften even a heart of stone. Tian Hai hadn’t snapped back to reality when a bit of sweetness touched his lips.
“Grandpa, the orange candy is so sweet. You have one too~”
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