Chapter 29: Jindan Is Missing

“Okay!”

“Yay!”

The two little dumplings answered in unison.

Poor things—growing up this long and they had never even eaten dumplings before. First, because that rough man Fu Ting had no idea how to make them, and second, because the original woman of this household was simply too much of a bastard to bother.

But now things were different.

The good sons that the original never cherished finally had someone who truly loved them!

Ruan Jiaojiao kissed Dabao, then Xiaobao, but even showering them both with affection still didn’t feel like enough.

With red eyes, Dabao asked, “Mama, tomorrow can I take dumplings outside to eat? A couple of years ago, Ergou used dumplings to make Xiaobao and me jealous…”

Dabao rarely made requests of Ruan Jiaojiao, and she knew that his words carried a lot of unspoken pain.

Back then, the two little ones didn’t even know what dumplings were, and they must have endured endless ridicule from the village kids.

Ruan Jiaojiao smiled gently. “Alright. Not only will Mama make dumplings for you, but I’ll make them in all kinds of shapes—big ones, small ones, meat buns, little dumplings, flower rolls, wontons, even yun-tun. That way, you can take them out and even share some with your friends.”

“Wow! Xiaobao’s only ever heard of flower rolls. I don’t even know what wontons and yun-tun are. But as long as Mama makes it, it’s the best food in the whole wide world!”

The clever little Xiaobao hugged Ruan Jiaojiao’s leg, acting spoiled in the cutest way imaginable.

Ruan Jiaojiao put on a serious tone. “Mm-hmm, but now, you two little dumplings have to help Mama with chores, understand?”

“Uh-huh!” Both nodded vigorously.

As long as they were with Mama, no hardship was too much!

A golden nest, a silver nest—none compared to Mama’s warm embrace.

After letting the dough rise, Ruan Jiaojiao carefully showed Dabao and Xiaobao how to fold dumplings, hand over hand.

Dabao’s talent was remarkable—he learned instantly, so quick that Ruan Jiaojiao suspected he might even have a photographic memory. Xiaobao, on the other hand, was hopeless—no matter how many tries, his dumplings came out a mess, drawing hearty laughter from both Ruan Jiaojiao and Dabao.

“Waaah! Fine, Xiaobao will just tend the fire.”

He sat by the stove, watching the flames. When the fire flared too high, he scooted back; when it dimmed, he added wood. He was surprisingly skilled.

Because of this, no one paid attention to Jindan and Old Liu, who were still waiting on the back mountain.

Winter nights fell especially fast. Old Liu was already growing impatient.

He jabbed Jindan with his elbow and asked, “So, are your two brothers coming or not? I already told the buyer! Don’t you dare stand me up!”

“They’re coming, for sure! Don’t worry!” Jindan said, though deep down, he wasn’t so certain.

Still… he’d used this trick on Dabao and Xiaobao before. Those two little fools had always fallen for it. Every time!

Why not now? What was going on? Had they suddenly gotten smart? No way!

What Jindan didn’t know was that back then, Dabao and Xiaobao had been so desperate for food that they would try anything—even knowing Jindan was up to no good.

As long as there was the tiniest chance, they were willing to risk it.

But now things were different. Now, with Ruan Jiaojiao cooking for them, what was a skinny black chicken compared to Mama’s big fluffy steamed buns?

So Dabao and Xiaobao weren’t falling for it anymore.

As the sky grew darker, Jindan’s nerves grew shakier, while Old Liu’s gaze turned more and more vicious.

Truth be told, they were never that close. Mostly, it was Jindan clinging to Old Liu, flattering him, while Old Liu couldn’t care less about the snot-nosed brat.

But for the sake of face in front of the village kids, Jindan would brag that he and Old Liu were like brothers.

And over time, a lie repeated often enough started to sound like truth, and everyone believed it.

“They’re not coming, are they? You brat—you dared trick me? I’ll beat you to death!”

Old Liu snapped. He beat even his own wife senseless; what mercy could Jindan, a half-grown boy, expect?

“Aaaah! Don’t hit me! Mama! Help me! Waaaah!”

In the desolate snowy fields, Jindan’s cries echoed, lonely and pitiful, until… the heavy mountain snow swallowed them whole.

At Fu Ting’s home—

The dumplings Ruan Jiaojiao made had thin skins and generous filling. One bite burst with juice, the meat was tender, the vegetables fragrant. Fu Ting had already eaten three big bowls and still wasn’t satisfied.

“Mama is amazing! Waaaah, Xiaobao wants to stay with Mama forever!”

Xiaobao clutched his round belly, hating that he didn’t have two extra stomachs to hold more of Mama’s food.

“Silly child.”

The family basked in happiness.

Over at the village head’s house, firecrackers and fireworks boomed. After finishing dumplings, the family stood in the yard, watching the spectacle.

Fu Ting pulled out two little black coats for Dabao and Xiaobao, and a pink cotton-padded jacket for Ruan Jiaojiao.

“A New Year’s gift. I used this year’s cloth ration tickets and had Granny Wang make them. Don’t know if you’ll like it.”

He’d chosen black for the boys—it didn’t show dirt. Pink for Ruan Jiaojiao—delicate and girlish, perfectly complementing her complexion.

Ruan Jiaojiao accepted and put it on.

Her hair was in two thick braids, tied with pink ribbons into bows. She looked stunning—less like a mother of two sons, more like a college girl of seventeen or eighteen.

“Mama’s so pretty!” the two little ones clapped in delight.

Dabao and Xiaobao weren’t picky about clothes—as long as they fit, were comfortable, and tough enough to withstand rolling around in the dirt, they were happy.

Maybe this was just the difference between boys and girls.

Ruan Jiaojiao couldn’t help but wonder: if she had a daughter, would they braid each other’s hair into something beautiful?

The thought startled her. Was she crazy? Dabao and Xiaobao weren’t even grown yet, and here she was thinking about a third child? No, no!

As a woman, her greatest self-discipline was not recklessly having more babies!

She turned to Fu Ting. “Brother Ting, it’s New Year. I have a gift for you too.”

Fu Ting’s eyes lit up with expectation, though he said gruffly, “You don’t have to set anything aside for me. I’m a rough man, I don’t care about that stuff. You should eat more, drink more—you’re so thin, no matter what you eat you never gain weight. Annoying!”

Ruan Jiaojiao shook her head, leaned close, and whispered a few words in his ear.

Fu Ting’s entire body heated up. He nearly scooped Dabao and Xiaobao straight into bed just to get them out of the way.

This year’s New Year was the happiest reunion their little family had ever had.

But as the saying goes, while some rejoice, others grieve.

Before long, cries of despair carried over from the neighbor’s house.

Soon, Fu Jun came running.

Seeing Ruan Jiaojiao so beautifully dressed, he froze in place for a moment.

Her eyes flashed with disgust, and she immediately hid behind Fu Ting.

Fu Jun didn’t dare cross his younger brother, so he tore his gaze away and got straight to the point:

“Fu Ting! Hurry, bring your wife and help me look for my boy! It’s been an hour since dark, and my Jindan still hasn’t come home!”