In the east of the city, there is a settlement where every household is connected into a village, with a locust tree at the entrance, decorated with lanterns.

Holding Ming Qiao, Wu Ye observes the cluster of houses. All the houses look similar, except for one with wedding decorations.

“The one with the wedding decorations, that’s Chun Sheng’s house.”

Wu Ye explains: “I asked around yesterday, they’re having a wedding.”

Logically, weddings are usually held during the day. But right now, in broad daylight, every household is closed, and there’s no sound.

Wu Ye estimates, “Probably by dusk.” It seems the people of Si Xiang City live in a nocturnal lifestyle. 

There’s still a long time until dusk. Wu Ye picks a spot on the grass near the village entrance, spreads a cloth, lays out some food and drink, and invites Qing Heng to sit and rest.

With his cultivation limited, Qing Heng is considering checking his physical state. He sits down and closes his eyes to meditate.

As he begins meditating, Ming Qiao wakes up, rubs his eyes, eats, and drinks some water. “When will mother wake up?”

The little one, now full, leans against Wu Ye, looking at his mother and asking.

“Just a while longer.” While guarding Qing Heng, Wu Ye comforts the little one.

Perhaps from drinking too much water, Ming Qiao starts fidgeting after sitting for a bit. “Need to pee.”

Blushing, Ming Qiao stands up. Without thinking, Wu Ye gets up to help him with his pants. “Just go here.”

“No.”

Ming Qiao points to a grassy hill not far away, firmly saying: “Qiao Qiao will go there.”

Since his mother is meditating here, he doesn’t want to pee nearby. Seeing his insistence on going behind the hill, Wu Ye plans to go with him.

But Ming Qiao shakes his head, insisting on going alone. Finished with his little task, Ming Qiao fills in the small hole he dug.

Just then, a water bottle suddenly appears in front of him. “Here, to wash your hands.”

The sudden voice startles Ming Qiao. Looking at the child handing him the bottle, he asks in surprise: “Who…who are you?”

“I’m Tie Zhu, I live in the village. I saw you on the street yesterday.”

Ming Qiao stays wary of the child who appeared out of nowhere. “When did you come over? I didn’t see you earlier.”

“I just arrived.”

Tie Zhu, a little older than Ming Qiao, smiles warmly. “What’s your name?”

“Ming Qiao.”

“Your name sounds nice, very cultured.”

“You’re also very good-looking, better than any kids in our village, no wonder my sister likes you.”

Ming Qiao blinks. “Huh?”

Tie Zhu, grinning, continues, “My sister saw you, too. She really likes you.”

Ming Qiao tries to recall but can’t remember seeing two children last night. 

“We’re having a feast tonight in the village; you should come!”

Tie Zhu produces a red cord. “Take this with you, and you’ll be allowed at the feast.”

He tries to tie the red cord around Ming Qiao’s wrist. Ming Qiao pulls his hand back, not allowing him.

Tie Zhu smiles patiently. “I’m not trying to hurt you. Look, I also have a red cord.”

“If you don’t feel comfortable, you can even wear mine.” Swiftly, Tie Zhu unties his cord, exchanging it with Ming Qiao.

A single red cord might not look valuable, but Ming Qiao takes out two pieces of candy from his storage ring.

“For you.” These are candies his auntie gave him, and he saved some to share with his brother. The candy is sweet.

Tie Zhu eats it, then gives Ming Qiao a gift. “This is a little gadget I recently got. It can transmit sound.”

“If you keep one half with you and the other half with someone else, you can talk no matter how far apart you are.”

Ming Qiao’s eyes light up, thrilled by the gadget’s purpose. With it, he can always keep in touch with his big brother!

“Look, this is a gem my dad gave me. Here.” Ming Qiao takes out a pretty gem his dad gave him and places it in Tie Zhu’s hand.

“It’s so beautiful. My sister will love it.” Tie Zhu takes the gem and put it in his pocket.

Not finding anything, he scratches his head in embarrassment. “I didn’t bring enough things. But come tonight, and I’ll have more gifts for you.”

Patting Ming Qiao on the shoulder, Tie Zhu reminds him: “You must come! You’ll even get to see the bride. My sister and I will take you to see her.”

“I’ll ask my mother first. If he’s going, then I’ll go.” Although Ming Qiao knows his family will attend tonight, he avoids committing.

Tie Zhu, understanding, nods, “Alright, ask then.”

The two kids chat there. As they talk, Wu Ye, noticing Ming Qiao’s silence, calls out.

“Qiao Qiao, are you done?”

“All set!” Ming Qiao responds, preparing to say goodbye to Tie Zhu.

But when he turns back, Tie Zhu is gone. Ming Qiao stands there, dumbfounded. 

“He ran so fast.” He looks around but can’t see Tie Zhu anywhere.

“Qiao Qiao, come here.” Wu Ye is still calling for him.

Ming Qiao rubs his chubby arm, suddenly feeling a bit cold. He takes his little steps and runs back quickly. Qing Heng has now adjusted himself, though his suppressed cultivation level hasn’t returned to normal.

“Mother, are you okay?” Ming Qiao sees a bit of sweat on his mother’s face. He stands on tiptoe and uses his freshly washed hand to gently wipe it away.

“I’m fine.” 

Qing Heng steadies his breathing and asks, “What’s that tied to your wrist?”

“It’s a red string Tie Zhu gave me.” Ming Qiao obediently replies. 

“He also gave me a treasure, and I gave him a piece of jewelry in return.”

“Tie Zhu?” Qing Heng glances at Wu Ye, and they exchange looks. Why hadn’t they seen any children come over?

“Tie Zhu lives in the village. He said there will be a feast tonight and invited me to join.” Ming Qiao explains. 

“Mother, are we going to the feast tonight?”

Ming Qiao’s question prompts Wu Ye to think for a few seconds before replying, “Yes.”

Since the feast tonight is at Chun Sheng’s family’s place, and they’re here to find him, they’ll definitely be going. Ming Qiao has never been to a feast, and hearing that they’ll be going, he grins happily.

Time passes quickly. In the blink of an eye, night falls, and Ming Qiao sits on his father’s arm as they enter the village.

At night, the village is entirely different from how it looks during the day. Every household has opened its doors, and lively voices fill the air.

At Chun Sheng’s family home, adorned with red wedding decorations, the courtyard is open, and tables and chairs have been set up in preparation for the banquet.

As Qing Heng, Wu Ye, and Ming Qiao enter, the noisy crowd looks over. After a momentary pause upon seeing Qing Heng’s face, the noise and laughter resume with new vitality.

No one tries to shoo the three visitors away. Instead, everyone smiles and comments that Chun Sheng is quite lucky. “Chun Sheng is really blessed!”

“No one’s bride is as pretty as Chun Sheng’s!”

Wu Ye casually finds a table and sits down, munching on sunflower seeds and making small talk with the people at the table. Meanwhile, Qing Heng heads to the side, intending to see Chun Sheng.

There’s a small path on the right side of the courtyard that leads to a few bedrooms belonging to the host family.

Qing Heng walks in and soon finds the main bedroom. Since Chun Sheng is getting married, the room decorated in festive red must be his.

The bedroom door is slightly ajar, and when Qing Heng enters, the first thing he sees is a wedding robe hanging in the center.

A matchmaker, wearing a red flower in her hair, steps out from behind the door with a warm smile.

“Bride, it’s time to put on your wedding robe and get ready for the ceremony.”

Qing Heng: ???

He slowly turns his head. “Who did you say is the bride?”

The matchmaker keeps smiling. “Oh, bride, don’t joke with me. The auspicious hour is fast approaching. Let’s not delay!”

Qing Heng: “……”

While Qing Heng is being mistaken for the bride, back at the table, Ming Qiao’s chubby hand is being tugged by someone.

“Ming Qiao, let’s go! Let’s go play, and let’s go see the bride!” Tie Zhu, whom he met earlier, has come to pull Ming Qiao along, eager to take him somewhere.

Ming Qiao instinctively looks up at Wu Ye.

Wu Ye smiles and straightens Ming Qiao’s little outfit. “If you’re going to get some wedding candies, then go ahead.”

Seeing that he has his father’s approval, Ming Qiao finally hops down from his lap and follows Tie Zhu. 

He trusts that if his father is letting him go play with the other kids, then if he ends up in any danger, his father will definitely come to save him!

With this trust in his heart, Ming Qiao lets Tie Zhu lead him away.

“Tie Zhu, I want to see Chun Sheng,” Ming Qiao says earnestly.

“My parents are looking for Chun Sheng, so I want to find him too!”

“Don’t rush. We’ll get my sister first.”

“Okay.”

The two children walk away hand in hand. Watching them go, Wu Ye remains unconcerned. While straightening Ming Qiao’s clothes, he discreetly left a sliver of his spiritual sense^[1]靈識 -ling shi/Spiritual Sense: Refers to a perceptive or conscious aspect of spirituality, suggesting an awareness or insight that goes beyond the physical on him. 

This way, he can see and hear every word and action wherever Ming Qiao goes, so he has no worry for the child’s safety.

“Ming Qiao, look, my sister’s here.” Tie Zhu says.

Through his spiritual sense, Wu Ye sees Ming Qiao standing by a water tank, hand-in-hand with Tie Zhu, waiting for Tie Zhu’s sister.

His sister pushes the door open and runs over cheerfully. When Ming Qiao sees the girl with her bun hairstyle, rosy cheeks, and little red lips, he shudders.

His chubby legs begin to tremble. She looks just like the paper doll he saw at the lantern stall yesterday!

“Ming Qiao, you’re here! I’m Xiao Hua, Tie Zhu’s sister.”

Ming Qiao: “……”

Frozen with fear, Ming Qiao shakily introduces himself in a tiny voice, “I—I’m Ming Qiao.”

“I know who you are!” Xiao Hua, with a smile as bright as her brother’s, takes Ming Qiao’s other chubby hand, admiring him. 

“You’re really good-looking. I really like you!”

Ming Qiao’s trembling voice replies, “Th—thank you for liking me.”

“Why are you stuttering?”

Xiao Hua, still smiling, looks at his pretty little face and reassures him, “Well, okay, if you’re a little stutterer, that’s fine. You look so good, being a little stutterer doesn’t matter.”

With a generous wave, she dismisses his nervousness. Ming Qiao stands there, trying to tug his chubby hand free, but to no avail.

His chubby legs start to shake harder as he mutters, on the verge of tears, “I don’t want to play anymore.”

Feeling overwhelmed, Ming Qiao continues, “My dad is still waiting for me to eat with him, so I have to go back.”

---

Author’s Note: Some time with the family of three. The baby will finally call for daddy soon!