Xiao He didn’t give up, nudging the chicken leg closer and almost brushing it against her lips before she quickly ducked away. “Really, I don’t want it. You eat it!” she said, pushing his hand back toward his mouth. “Come on, take a big bite.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Xiao He took her advice and bit into the chicken, savoring it slowly. He seemed to always save the best things for last, but he would have given them all to Tian Jiao if he thought she wanted them.

Tian Jiao watched him eat, her stomach fluttering, the smell making her mouth water. She resisted the urge to take a bite herself, knowing she couldn’t afford it—not in the strange, mystical way she understood. For her, eating the food she conjured for Xiao He would mean sacrificing her future fortune, something that came with an unseen but steep cost.

She sighed, quietly amused by the irony, then picked up a blade of grass, playing with it as she asked, “Xiao He, have you seen your mom these past few days?”

He paused, considering the question before shaking his head. She watched him eat quietly, his small bites careful and gentle, unlike the hurried gulps she saw from others in the village. She wasn’t sure if it was natural for him or if someone had once taught him.

Xiao He’s mother had vanished a few days ago, and though he’d panicked initially, he had returned to his usual calm since then. Seeing his untroubled face, Tian Jiao couldn’t help but sigh, “You’re really so silly.”

…

When Xiao He finished eating, Tian Jiao perked up. She clapped her hands excitedly. “Come on, let’s do some lessons!”

Xiao He jumped up with equal enthusiasm, rinsed his hands and mouth in a chipped porcelain bowl beside him, then picked up a stick, looking at her with eager, sparkling eyes.

Tian Jiao grinned. “Today’s an exam day! Let’s see if you can get everything right!”

Xiao He nodded eagerly, silently showing his readiness.

She bent down and began scratching questions into the dirt with her stick, recreating problems from her recent school test. Although she was only in the first grade, she had a sharp memory and could picture the questions in her mind.

“Alright, now it’s your turn!” she said, folding her arms with a proud smile. “Remember, if you make a mistake, you get a little stick whack.”

Xiao He pursed his lips, got serious, and squatted down to start answering the questions. Tian Jiao watched eagerly, alternating between hoping he’d get everything right and hoping he’d slip up just a little, so she could experience the thrill of being a “real teacher.”

As the sun began to set, Xiao He finished the last problem without any errors. Tian Jiao was amazed, clapping her hands in delight. “You’re amazing, Xiao He!”

Xiao He pointed at her with a shy smile, causing her to blush a bit.

Just then, a raspy voice interrupted their quiet celebration. “Hey, you two little ones!” Startled, they looked up to see an old man slowly approaching them. His hair was gray, his face weathered, but his smile was gentle and warm.

The old man’s clothes were worn and patched but clean. He leaned on a cane, his frail frame looking almost too light for the world. Yet his eyes held a clear, wise light that defied his age.

Tian Jiao smiled brightly and greeted the old man, “Hello, Grandpa!” 

The old man’s face lit up with a smile, and he squinted his eyes in delight. “What a beautiful little girl! Who do you belong to?”

“I’m from the Zhang family,” Tian Jiao replied proudly. “My name is Tian Jiao, and this is Xiao He, but he can’t speak.” Beside her, Xiao He lowered his head, drawing circles in the dirt with a branch, focusing intently on his task.

The old man’s eyes sparkled with interest as he watched them. “Little girl, did you memorize that question all by yourself?”

Tian Jiao beamed, her pride evident. “Yes! I memorized them all. The teacher said Jiaojiao is the smartest child!” 

The old man nodded appreciatively and pointed at Xiao He. “Did he go to school? Did you teach him?”

She nodded enthusiastically, but noticed that the old man seemed a bit emotional, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. Concerned, she asked, “What’s wrong?”

The old man coughed lightly to clear his throat, trying to suppress his emotions. “Well, little girl, how about we play a game? Come visit Grandpa every afternoon after school, and I’ll teach you some fun things. If you learn them well, you’ll be amazing in the future!”

Tian Jiao’s face lit up with excitement. “That sounds great! I love studying!” Then she hesitated, looking at the old man with hopeful eyes. “Can he come too?”

The old man smiled broadly and nodded. “Of course! But remember, this is a secret between the three of us. If you tell anyone, Grandpa might disappear.”

“Got it!” Tian Jiao said, shaking her hands around them. She glanced over at Xiao He, who had been preoccupied with his branch, and gently knocked his head, although she quickly rubbed it to ensure she didn’t hurt him. “From now on, the two of us will go to Grandpa’s class. This is a secret, so you can’t tell anyone. Understand?”

Xiao He’s eyes sparkled with understanding and enthusiasm as he nodded eagerly.

“Haha…” The old man chuckled, but his laughter quickly turned into tears of joy. He couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by their potential. Here were two bright children, only five years old, capable of rewriting a test they had done only once. Their talents were clear, and he felt a swell of pride.

“I have a successor!” he thought to himself, feeling grateful for the opportunity to guide them.

Wiping his eyes, he composed himself and said, “Don’t worry, Grandpa is just a bit emotional. I’ll be sure to teach you well!”

Tian Jiao smiled, nudging Xiao He. “He can’t forget either.”

The old man stroked his beard thoughtfully. “He has another grandfather too, named Li. For now, you two can play, and we’ll start class tomorrow.”

Tian Jiao nodded eagerly, then asked sweetly, “What’s your last name, Grandpa?”

“Song. My name is Song Zhen,” he replied, a proud glint in his eyes.

Tian Jiao took note of this without any outward reaction, though anyone knowledgeable about the local art scene would recognize him as the renowned painter, Song Zhen. Just a few years ago, one of his ink paintings could have bought a house in Kyoto.

_

Tian Jiao’s motivation for teaching Xiao He stemmed from what Zhang Rui had told her. In the village, people thought Xiao He was a little lunatic, unworthy of communication. But Tian Jiao understood that there was a difference between autism and mental illness, even if the villagers didn’t. She believed that if Xiao He could excel and prove his worth, their perceptions would change.

To help him succeed, she concluded that studying was the best path in their era, so she began teaching him. They were both young, and Tian Jiao diligently copied what the teacher had taught her, sharing it with Xiao He. He was smart and learned quickly, absorbing knowledge just like she did.

However, she sometimes felt frustrated with the pace of their learning, wishing they could progress faster than the other students. But she knew they couldn’t skip grades, and today, her anxiety eased as she realized that with Grandpa Song, they might finally have the guidance they needed.

When they returned home, dinner was ready. Zhang Rui was finishing up in the yard when he called out, “Tian Jiao! I got you some candied haws!” 

Tian Jiao’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Dad is the best!” she shouted, bouncing over to him.

With a warm smile, Zhang Rui pinched her nose playfully before handing her the treat. The candied haws had melted slightly from the warmth of the day, but they still looked delicious. She took a bite, the sweet and sour flavors bursting in her mouth. Holding up the remaining haws, she exclaimed, “Daddy, eat some too!”

Zhang Rui shook his head, chuckling. “Dad has already eaten.”

Tian Jiao frowned playfully, insisting, “You’re a liar! Eat one!” 

Zhang Rui smiled at her stubbornness. Though he pretended to be reluctant, he took a bite, enjoying the sweetness just as much as she did. 

As Tian Jiao finished her treat, she rushed to find her grandma and grandpa, sharing her happiness with everyone. Even Dabao, their pet, watched eagerly, drooling as he waited for a chance to sneak a taste of the candied haws. 

“Alright, that’s enough!” Tian Jiao said, holding the haws out to Dabao. “You’ve already had two bites. Now you have to wait!”

Dabao nodded, eyes wide with anticipation, but he kept his paws obediently on his knees, waiting patiently for another chance.

When Li Mizhen came out of the kitchen with two dishes, still savoring the sweet and sour taste in her mouth, she noticed the scene and smiled a bit more.

Entering the main room, she saw her husband sitting cross-legged, cheeks puffed out, clearly enjoying his meal. Li Mizhen couldn’t help but laugh and asked, “Is it good?”

Zhang Dagen coughed dryly and replied, “…It’s okay.”

Li Mizhen continued, “How’s our granddaughter?”

Zhang Dagen shot her a look, but she just kept watching him until he finally gave in and answered, “Very good!”

Just then, Zhang Rui came in with his food and, hearing this, laughed. “I told you, no one could dislike my daughter!”

Zhang Dagen huffed, “Just eat your food!”

_

While they were all enjoying themselves, someone else was also feeling happy on the other side of town.

Song Zhen returned cheerfully to the place where they stayed, an old abandoned thatched hut. When they first arrived, the team leader hadn’t dared to let them stay somewhere better, so he pointed to this place instead.

The village chief, a kind man, had even asked a few young people to help fix it up so they would be safe from the wind and rain.

When he walked in, Old Man Li was sitting at the doorstep, staring ahead with a sad look. He seemed lost in thought, his eyes a little red—clearly thinking about something difficult.

Seeing this, Song Zhen lightly cleared his throat to make his presence known.

But Old Man Li didn’t even look at him. Amused, Song Zhen sat down beside him. Then he heard Old Man Li ask in a low voice, “Will we ever make it back?”

There was a pause, then Song Zhen swallowed the lump in his throat and said, “Today I found a student. She’s a very smart girl, and her handwriting looks like printed letters. And she’s only five years old!”

Old Man Li sat up at once, his eyes lighting up. “Really?”

Song Zhen grinned proudly. “Why would I lie to you?” But seeing the eager look in Old Man Li’s eyes, he quickly added, “But she’s my student!”

Old Man Li’s face fell, and he pleaded, “Come on, aren’t we friends? Would you let my skills go to waste?”

Song Zhen tried not to laugh, and when Old Man Li looked more disappointed, he finally said, “I found one for you too. He’s never been to school, but he can pick up whatever the girl teaches him instantly and has an amazing memory.”

Old Man Li’s face brightened instantly.

_

Grandpa Song had told Tian Jiao to keep their lessons a secret, so every afternoon at around five, she went to study with Xiao He until dinnertime, just for an hour or so. If dinnertime was early, she’d have to leave sooner.

Grandpa Song was teaching her Chinese painting. Even using a tree branch, he could create beautiful landscapes. Tian Jiao loved it so much that she found time elsewhere to keep practicing.

Since the two old men had plenty of free time, Tian Jiao decided to give up her playtime and visit them in secret.

She didn’t want anyone to know, so she made sure no one could find out where she was going.

Soon, her friends noticed she wasn’t around after school. Zhao Xiaohua and other close friends felt upset.

Kids usually make up fast after disagreements, often by the afternoon if they fought in the morning. But this time, it took Tian Jiao three full days to cheer Zhao Xiaohua up.

“What are you doing, disappearing on us every day?” Zhao Xiaohua asked, frowning, as they chatted during a break.

Zhao Xiaohua was fond of Tian Jiao, who was two years younger than her. She liked how smart, neat, and respectful she was, especially how she looked up to her.

But now her little friend was keeping secrets and wandering off alone. She felt hurt and didn’t want to play with her anymore.

When Tian Jiao came to apologize, Zhao Xiaohua wanted to forgive her but still felt annoyed. So she had to ask her why.

Tian Jiao, who usually answered all the teacher’s questions, could only look at Zhao Xiaohua with big, helpless eyes. She didn’t want to lie, so she simply said, “I’m sorry, Sister Huahua. Even if I can’t play with you after school, we’re still together at school. Look, we meet at seven in the morning and stay together until five in the afternoon…”

She used her little fingers to count with Zhao Xiaohua. Then she clapped her hands and said, “See? I’m with you the most!”

Zhao Xiaohua wasn’t good with numbers, but it did seem right. After all, they were deskmates and even walked to school together every day.

Finally feeling better, she said, “Fine, I forgive you.”

Tian Jiao hugged her arm and said sweetly, “Sister Huahua, you’re the best!”

When class began, the teacher arrived, and everyone sat up straight. Zhao Xiaohua focused on the teacher, not even glancing at Tian Jiao beside her. She suddenly felt something wasn’t quite right.

Tian Jiao, also listening intently, thought the problem was solved. She would spend school hours with Sister Huahua and after-school hours with Grandpa Song.

But something was different when she got home that evening.

The house, usually quiet since Zhang Zhi and his wife left, was now full of noise. She could hear several aunts chatting loudly in the main room, sounding almost like they were arguing.

Tian Jiao ran inside and instinctively called out, “Dad~~~”

The sweet voice, though gentle, was loud enough to get everyone’s attention in the main room.

Tian Jiao stopped, smiling as she searched the crowd for a familiar face. She noticed a woman in her forties or fifties near the door, looking at her strangely. Turning toward Zhang Dagen, who was standing in the middle of the room, she commented bitterly, “Brother, is this the little burden you took in? You’ve really pampered her!”

Tian Jiao’s smile faded.