Chapter 6: Heartfelt Waves

Wan Qing and Lu Demin, dragging their tired bodies through the heavy snow, had just reached the door when they heard the children’s cheerful laughter inside. Their hearts couldn’t help but lighten.

“What’s making everyone so happy?” Lu Demin asked, holding up a chunk of fatty meat in his hand. “Did you all find out that we’re having meat for dinner tonight? Is that why you’re so happy?”

Lu Jin’an took the coats from his parents’ hands, shook off the snow, and with a slight pride on his usually expressionless face, he pointed to the food on the table. “I found this outside today.”

Lu Demin followed his son’s finger and looked at the pile of food on the table, surprised. “Where did this come from?”

Wan Qing was also shocked. So much food—where did the kids get all this?

“Today, Bai An went out to play and asked me to help build a snowman. I dug and found it.”

Bai An giggled nearby. “Big brother is amazing.”

Lu Demin excitedly rubbed Lu Jin’an’s head and then lifted Bai An into the air. “Bai An is our little lucky star!”

Wan Qing, who had been pale, now had a bit of color in her cheeks due to the excitement. She gently nudged Lu Demin. “Hurry up and make dinner for the kids.”

“Right!” Lu Demin set Bai An down. “I’ll make your dinner right now.”

The fatty meat they’d brought back was going to be rendered into oil, while a few potatoes would be turned into a spicy stir-fried dish, and they’d also make fish.

On the cold winter evening, the shabby house had a soft column of smoke rising from the stove, and inside, the atmosphere was warm and cozy.

Bai An sat at the table, inhaling the delicious aroma, and sighed. “Is this the smell of home?”

Lu Jin’an, who hadn’t had good food in a long time, also felt a sense of anticipation. He grabbed a damp towel and walked over to Bai An. “Wipe your hands.”

Looking up at Lu Jin’an, Bai An noticed his pale skin. He had a high nose with a small red mole, and his lips were a bit pale, making him look somewhat fragile and distant.

Noticing Bai An’s gaze, Lu Jin’an tapped her on the head. “Why are you staring at me?”

Bai An rubbed her head and continued to look at him, speaking sincerely, “I think big brother will definitely be very handsome when he grows up.”

“Of course,” Lu Jin’an said as he hung the towel back up. “Just look at what our parents look like. I definitely won’t be ugly when I grow up.”

Bai An thought about it. With parents looking so good, their child wouldn’t be bad-looking either.

Lu Jin’an saw Bai An staring into space and couldn’t resist teasing her. “But you never know. I’ve heard that some kids who are good-looking when they’re little end up becoming ugly when they grow up.”

“I won’t!”

“Jin’an, don’t tease your sister like that.”

Wan Qing set the dishes down on the table. Under the light of the oil lamp, her voice sounded even softer. “Our Bai An will definitely grow up to be very beautiful.”

“Yes, I can guarantee it,” Lu Demin added, carrying a fish over. “I’ve photographed so many beautiful women and seen so many pretty kids, but none of them can compare to Bai An.”

Hearing his parents praise Bai An like that, Lu Jin’an couldn’t help but glance at her.

She was indeed beautiful.

“Dad, why is there rice today?” Lu Jin’an asked as he looked at the white rice on the table. “Did Dad buy it?”

“No,” Wan Qing said, filling a large bowl and placing it in front of Bai An. “When I was cooking, I noticed there was almost half a container of rice left, and it’s all good-quality rice!”

“Yes, today is such a good day!” Lu Demin, seeing the abundance on the table, took out some of his cherished wine and took a sip, his eyes slightly red. “How long has it been since we’ve had such good days?”

Bai An watched them, so happy over the simple meal—one dish with meat, another with vegetables—and felt a little sour inside.

Seeing Bai An lost in thought again, Lu Jin’an picked up a piece of fish and put it in her bowl. “Hurry up and eat.”

In the end, Bai An didn’t finish her meal, and the leftovers were all eaten by Lu Jin’an.

Wan Qing carefully placed the remaining food on the stove. “This will be for Jin’an and Bai An tomorrow.”

Lying in bed, Wan Qing tucked herself in, recalling the dinner they had that night. She couldn’t help but say, “I really think Bai An is a lucky little doll.”

Lu Demin, wearing his coat, leaned against the wall reading a book. Upon hearing Wan Qing’s words, he felt a stir in his heart. “It really could be,” he said.

“I told you,” Wan Qing said softly, holding Bai An, who had already fallen asleep next to her. “She is the daughter heaven gave me.”

The next morning, when Bai An woke up, she found that her parents were nowhere to be seen, and only saw Lu Jin’an busy at the stove.

“Big brother.”

Lu Jin’an turned around and saw her. “You’re awake. Perfect timing. After you finish eating, we can go deliver lunch to Mom and Dad.”

Bai An, still a bit tired from just waking up, spoke lazily, “What time is it now?”

“It’s almost noon,” Lu Jin’an replied, and after finishing with her, he smiled. “Little lazy pig.”

Lu Jin’an held Bai An’s hand as they walked along the small path. The two children’s delicate appearance attracted quite a bit of attention from the villagers.

“Big brother.”

“What is it?”

Bai An looked toward the distant village. “What kind of work do mom and dad do?”

Lu Jin’an’s hand trembled slightly, but he didn’t answer.

When Bai An reached the cow shed, she finally understood why Lu Jin’an had been silent and why their parents insisted on bathing every day even in such cold weather.

In the shabby, low cow shed, the two adults were shoveling cow dung, wearing worn-out, patched-up cotton jackets.

“Dad.”

Lu Demin looked up upon hearing his children’s voices, and his gentle face showed a hint of discomfort. “Why are you two here?”

The transition from their once comfortable life to now shoveling cow dung made both Lu Demin and Wan Qing feel somewhat ashamed in front of their children.

Lu Jin’an raised the bowl in his hand. “We brought you lunch.”

Wan Qing saw them and quickly walked out, rubbing her hands together with snow from the ground.

“No need, you two go ahead and eat. Your dad and I already brought our lunch.”

Bai An frowned, pulling on Wan Qing’s hand. “What did you have for lunch?”

“Do you want to eat too? But Dad and I already finished,” Wan Qing said, a little afraid she might smell bad to Bai An, so she loosened her grip on her hand. But Bai An held on too tightly.

“Mom, you’re lying, aren’t you?”

Lu Demin walked out as well. “Mom’s not lying. We really did eat.”

Bai An didn’t say anything, just quietly watching them.

Lu Jin’an knew his parents were lying. He placed the lunchbox beside the cow shed and took Bai An’s hand from his mother’s.

“We’ll leave now.”

“Sigh,” Wan Qing said as she handed the lunchbox to Lu Jin’an. “Take the food back with you.”

Bai An immediately started running ahead, pulling Lu Jin’an along, shouting, “Mom and Dad, don’t forget to finish your meal!”

Wan Qing wanted to follow them, but Lu Demin stopped her. “The children already know.”

Once they returned home, Bai An said nothing, just sitting quietly on the bed, staring ahead in a daze.