Chapter 7: “The Scene that Manman Dreams Of”

It wasn’t too difficult to find the address on the subsidy.

The key issue was how Jiang Ningning, a delicate and beautiful woman, could manage to drag along two four-year-old children for a long and exhausting journey. There were many human traffickers on the road, making it unsafe.

But staying behind and continuing to be bullied by her in-laws was even worse.

As long as Tian Cuifen held onto the concept of filial piety, in a time when reputation was so important for finding jobs and enrolling in school, Jiang Ningning, who would be criticized and threatened because of her children, would inevitably hand over the subsidy money.

After thinking for a moment, Uncle Zhu suddenly spoke up: “There’s still a few days’ time, let your brother Changguang take you there.”

Zhu’s eldest daughter-in-law nodded in agreement: “Right, he picked up a job position for nothing, it’s time for him to work hard. Ningning, don’t be afraid to cause trouble on the way—let him carry your things, and make sure to put him to work. Your brother has no brains, but he’s got plenty of strength.”

Zhu’s eldest son: “…”

“Alright, I’ll listen to Uncle Zhu’s arrangements, then it’s up to Changguang to help us.” Jiang Ningning didn’t act too coy or refuse.

Her face was a trouble magnet when she stepped out of the house, so having someone familiar to help and look after them on the journey would make things safer and easier. When they reached the military district, she could thank him properly.

Jiang Ningning stayed a little longer, asking Aunt Zhu to keep an eye on the house for her.

Before leaving, Aunt Zhu packed three steamed buns and a bag filled with dried fruits and snacks.

The two daughters-in-law of the Zhu family were delighted and didn’t raise any objections.

Jiang Ningning came with empty hands and left with her arms full of food.

The neighbors saw her leaving Zhu’s house with a pile of food, and in fear, they quickly closed their doors and windows, no longer curious enough to ask any questions.

Manman stood on a stool, hands on his hips, with a serious expression as he scolded her: “Jiang Ningning, what you did is wrong. Aunt Zhu’s family has it hard, how could you take so many things from them?”

He had barely finished saying this when his body suddenly lifted off the ground.

Startled, he tightened his hands around Jiang Ningning’s neck, like a little kitten that had just been startled, his whole body stiff with tension.

Mother and son were very close, and Manman could clearly smell the soap fragrance on his mother.

Manman struggled for the right words, the only thing he could think of to describe her was like a blanket dried under the sun—clean, refreshing, and warm with a light scent.

His small, white ears flushed with a faint pink.

But he couldn’t let himself be swayed by his mother’s sweet words. When his feet hit the ground, he immediately bounced a few steps back.

He thought his mother would be angry, but to his surprise, she just spoke in a soft, gentle tone, “The stool is unstable, don’t climb so high next time.”

Manman pursed his lips, his little face conflicted for a moment before he decided not to argue.

Jiang Ningning sat back on the stool, panting and completely unmindful of her image. The little guy, though small and light, was not easy to carry.

Seeing his mother act in such an unpretentious way somehow made Summer feel a bit closer to her, and she timidly asked, “Mom, you’re back so soon. Did you earn money to buy the train tickets?”

Manman looked up at her, feeling inexplicably worried. Silly Summer, money doesn’t just come by like that. Why bring up such a thing now?

He then wondered, if his mother cried later, should he comfort her?

Such a hassle. If only she were the same as before, there wouldn’t be so many worries.

“I sold my job at the textile factory and made over a thousand yuan. Uncle Changguang will come with us tomorrow so we can help each other along the way,” Jiang Ningning said lightly.

Her words, like thunder from a clear sky, struck Manman and Summer’s ears, and they both stared at her, their eyes wide in shock.

To prevent Grandma from stealing the position, their mother had gone to such extremes as to jump out of a window to make a point, but now she was so easily giving up the job?

“Grandma has been determined to get these two positions. What if, when we get to the military district, she calls Dad and cries to him? If he softens and asks Mom to transfer the position, what should we do? If we change it for money, we won’t have to worry about food and lodging on the road,” Jiang Ningning said with a smile.

The heavenly-like mother’s smile was like the gentle spring light, filling the entire room with brightness.

In the past, their father seemed perfect in the eyes of the siblings, but now, hearing that he had helped Grandma bully their mother to fulfill his filial duties, they suddenly felt a bit resentful toward him.

Manman had actually calculated the travel expenses to the island privately. One yuan and seventy-five cents weren’t enough. So, he planned to take his little sister with him, scavenging and begging along the way.

Mother was an adult, so she definitely knew more than him, which was why she chose to sell the job.

She had kept her promise to herself earlier.

A sour, swelling feeling filled his chest, and Manman didn’t know why, but he suddenly hated this kind of sacrifice from his mother.

Unconsciously, his gaze fell on her hand. There were red dots on the back of her hand, caused by the splashed oil burns, and within just a short time, it had swollen terribly.

It poked deeply at his heart.

Suddenly, he ran out of the house and rummaged through a trash bag, finding a bottle of dirty clam oil. After wiping it clean on his sleeve, he ran back home, holding it out to Jiang Ningning.

As soon as his hand was halfway extended, he regretted it immediately.

Beside him, Xiaxia also showed a terrified expression.

The clam oil had been picked up from the snow, and there was only a tiny bit left, just the size of a finger joint.

Mother never allowed them to bring trash home. She would get angry, and then the siblings would cry all night.

The two children instinctively huddled close together, their eyelashes trembling nervously, preparing to face their mother’s anger.

Jiang Ningning, who was exhausted, didn’t notice the unusual emotions in the twins. When she saw the clam oil, she took it and applied it.

The sharp pain in her hand was immediately relieved.

“Thank you, baby,” Jiang Ningning said, smiling with her eyes and brows.

The two little ones looked at each other in surprise.

Their eyes immediately brightened, like stars in the night sky, and then they unconsciously curved their little mouths into a smile.

Mom wasn’t angry after using trash that they had picked up?

Manman awkwardly shifted his gaze away.

Even though he didn’t admit it, deep down, he hoped that his mother would always be like the way she was today.

With a heart full of anxiety and hope, he climbed into bed, thinking that he wouldn’t be able to sleep. But surprisingly, lying on the hard pillow, he quickly drifted off to sleep.

In his dream, he could smell the scent of meat buns, the fragrance of eggs, and the sweet smell of soy milk…

Manman suddenly opened his eyes, realizing that his pillow was soaked with saliva. He turned it over, embarrassed.

Beside him, his little sister was already up. There was a rustling sound coming from the living room.

He tried to turn over and get out of bed, grabbing his shoes and waddling over to see. The house was empty, except for his sister, who was sitting at the table, holding a big meat bun in her hands, eating it carefully, taking small bites.

So it wasn’t a dream!

There were meat buns in their house!

Manman swallowed his saliva desperately, feeling like he was walking on clouds, soft and light. He hurried to the table.

There were double portions of breakfast, steaming hot, exactly the scene he had always dreamed of, where his mother would love and take care of him.

However…

There was only a portion for him and his sister.

His heart inexplicably sank to the floor. Manman’s face turned pale. “Where did Jiang Ningning go? Did she sell the job yesterday and plan on abandoning us?”