Chapter 3

On the tenth day after arriving at the Zhang household, as the sun began to set, Tian Jiao once again squatted at the village gate.

But this time, she was not waiting for Zhang Rui; she was waiting for the children to return from school.

After much effort, Zhang Rui finally convinced his parents to adopt Tian Jiao, officially placing her under his name. Initially, they considered naming her after their eldest brother, Zhang Dong, who is 32 and has been away for years without any news. Since he remains a soldier, they decided Tian Jiao would become Zhang Rui’s daughter, officially named Zhang Tian Jiao.

Recently, Zhang Rui took her to play with other village children after school, helping her adjust to her new surroundings. Today, she finally felt comfortable going out.

While waiting for the carpenter, who left in a hurry without taking anything, Tian Jiao saw a group of children returning home at sunset. Excitedly, she stood up and waved, calling out, “Brother Zhuzi, Sister Huahua!” 

Her clear, sweet voice caught the children’s attention, and they quickly ran toward her, their eyes bright. “Jiaojiao is here; let’s hurry!” they shouted.

Tian Jiao took a few steps forward, her chubby cheeks wobbling. When they met, a skinny seven-year-old girl stared at her, eyes wide, and pinched her cheeks in envy. “Jiaojiao, you have so much flesh on your face!”

Tian Jiao blushed and looked expectantly at Zhou Dazhu. He, with his honest demeanor, blushed too when she looked at him. He pulled out two small white cylinders from his pocket, saying, “Here, here.”

Tian Jiao happily accepted one and said, “Thank you, Brother Dazhu! Let’s go draw.” They had brought back a piece of chalk yesterday, but there was hardly any left. After seeing it yesterday, she longed to use it, and Zhou Dazhu promised to bring another piece today.

“Okay, okay,” Zhao Xiaohua and Zhou Dazhu agreed, while the shy Tian Zhuangzhuang followed them. They headed to a village alley rarely visited by others, where the dark side walls were covered in chalk drawings.

Zhao Xiaohua held Tian Jiao’s hand and said, “Today our teacher showed us how to draw the sun. I’ll give it to you later.”

“Okay,” Tian Jiao replied with a smile, her neat hair loose and clean.

Zhou Dazhu kept glancing at Tian Jiao. When he saw her smile, he quickly added, “I can do it too! I can teach you.”

Zhao Xiaohua playfully pushed him away. “We girls are talking; don’t interrupt.”

“Oh,” he said, turning around, and pulled Tian Zhuangzhuang, “Let’s play together later.”

“Let’s have a contest!” Zhao Xiaohua challenged.

Her family is relatively well-off in the village, with only boys except her. She works hard and eats a lot. She is also the only girl in the village going to school at this early age; others must wait until they turn seven.

Tian Jiao, lacking skills, imitated her new father by clapping her hands and saying in a babyish voice, “Come on, Sister Huahua!”

With a proud look, Zhao Xiaohua replied, “Don’t worry; I won’t lose.”

A few kids dashed into the alley, eager to start drawing.

Tian Jiao grabbed a piece of chalk, her little face serious as she focused on her work, as if she were handling something important. Soon, their artwork covered the wall.

Eventually, they ran out of chalk, and as the sun began to set, the mothers in the village called, “Dazhu, it’s time for dinner!”

“Coming!” they answered, each one hurrying home, leaving Tian Jiao behind. She felt a little slow and alone, but she stood happily, watching the sunset.

Looking around, she realized she was the only one left.

“Tian Dao Dad, does Jiaojiao’s painting look good?” she asked aloud.

Just then, she heard two “ding ding” sounds, like tiles cracking. Thinking it was Tian Dao’s father responding, she clapped her hands joyfully and decided to head back.

But as she turned, she spotted a thin boy staring at her with big eyes. He was so skinny that his sallow face and sparse hair made his eyes appear even larger. Tian Jiao was startled by his sudden appearance.

Upon closer inspection, she noticed he wasn’t looking at her but at the chalk drawings on the wall. He stepped closer, and as he walked, the tiles beneath him made a familiar sound. Disappointed, Tian Jiao pouted but then focused on the boy.

He looked painfully thin. Although everyone in the village dealt with hunger and cold, none appeared as malnourished as he did. His tattered clothes and unwashed hair suggested a life of hardship—perhaps he was a beggar or an orphan.

Feeling sympathy, Tian Jiao remembered a piece of steamed bread she had saved in her pocket from lunch. She had planned to eat it later when her new father returned, but now she gently offered it to the boy, “Do you want this?”

Her tender voice, full of warmth, seemed to fill the dim courtyard with light.

Xiao He, momentarily drawn to the chalk drawings, finally shifted his gaze to the girl. However, her fair skin dazzled him, making him shy. He quickly took the yellow steamed bread and ran away without a word.

Tian Jiao stood there, startled by his sudden departure. “That’s too much! You didn’t even say thank you!” she called out after him.

A gentle breeze seemed to comfort her, but she remained a bit upset. Then, as if someone playfully poked her cheek, she smiled and forgot her frustration. “Dad Tian Dao, I want to go back. Dad said he would buy me a pen and notebook today. Jiaojiao can go to school soon!”

She didn’t understand what going to school meant before, but after spending time with Sister Huahua and Brother Dazhu, she realized that it was about playing with many children. It felt wonderful, and she looked forward to it eagerly.

With a creak, the old courtyard door swung open. A thin little boy slipped inside and quickly closed the door behind him. The woman washing clothes in the yard looked up at the noise, and a faint smile appeared on her beautiful face, despite her messy hair. “Xiao He is back,” she said.

The boy pursed his lips and approached the woman, extending his hand. A small yellow steamed bun rested in his dirty palm. The woman was surprised and asked, “Where did this come from?” The boy remained silent and walked past her. She forced a smile and asked gently, “Xiao He, was this given to you by someone?”

After waiting a few seconds, the boy nodded slowly. The woman sighed with relief and pushed the food back, saying, “Eat it yourself. I don’t like this.” Xiao He tightened his lips and approached her again, holding her hand. His stubbornness was clear, but he still didn’t speak.

Seeing this, the woman reluctantly took a small bite of the bun before giving it to him, saying, “Eat it.” Xiao He withdrew his hand, took a bite of the steamed bun, and noticed a hint of sweetness. He paused, his eyes glazing over as the image of a little girl flashed in his mind.

He stared ahead blankly, looking dazed and not particularly clever. The woman, washing clothes, noticed this and felt a flicker of resentment. If only this child were a bit smarter, she thought, perhaps she wouldn’t feel so hopeless.

She bit her lip, a wave of sadness washing over her as the future seemed bleak, and tears welled up in her eyes. Suddenly, a cough sounded from inside, followed by a man’s rough voice shouting, “Is the meal ready? Didn’t I tell you to cook? Why are you washing clothes?”

The woman jumped, her sadness disappearing in an instant. She stood up and rushed to the kitchen, saying, “It’s ready. I’ll serve it right away.” If one looked closely, they would notice that she walked with a limp, as if she had been injured and hadn’t fully healed.

When the man stepped outside, Xiao He stiffened instinctively. He began to take quick bites of the steamed bun, but it was too late; the tall man approached him, slapped the remaining half of the bun from his hand, and shouted angrily, “You little bastard, you’re stealing again. I’ll beat you to death!”

The woman quickly set down her plate and rushed over to intervene. “No, no, this was given to him by someone else,” she said. The man, tall and not particularly handsome but stocky and strong, waved her off dismissively. “Whoever gave it to him? Who has extra food to share with this brat?”

He reached out to grab Xiao He, but the boy pushed him away, swiftly snatching the bun that had rolled onto the ground and stuffing it into his mouth, trying to run away. Offended, the man lunged forward, pulling the boy’s hair. “You little bastard, you dare to push me!”

Xiao He didn’t say anything, but his face paled instantly as he struggled in the man’s grip, his feet dangling off the ground. “Don’t hit him, don’t hit him! He really didn’t steal anything,” the woman pleaded, rushing to hold the man’s arm protectively. The atmosphere in the house turned chaotic.

“Then let’s see who gave it to him. This little mute won’t tell us. We should go directly to the captain,” the man sneered as he walked away. The woman followed, tears streaming down her face.

Soon, the whole village buzzed with activity. Tian Jiao was begging Zhang Rui to teach her how to read. In no time, she had learned to write her own name. Shaking her head proudly, she exclaimed, “Jiaojiao is smart, isn’t she?”

Zhang Rui flicked her forehead and, noticing her pouting face, smiled and said, “You’re smart and beautiful. Jiaojiao is amazing.” 

Tian Jiao beamed, instantly charmed and smiling foolishly. Meanwhile, Zhang Zhi was holding his son Dabao and teasing him when he noticed the boy heading toward the newly-formed father and daughter duo. Zhang Zhi patted his son’s bottom and brought him closer. “You little brat, isn’t it enough for your dad to play with you?”

Dabao kept reaching out to the beautiful girl, saying “Ahhhh.” Zhang Rui, unhappy, snatched his nephew up, saying, “He’ll definitely be a bad boy who likes pretty girls in the future.” 

Immediately after, he received a playful smack on the head from Zhang Zhi, who shot him a glare. Tian Jiao adjusted her notebook on her knees and took Dabao, who rushed over with a smile. Though she didn’t fully hug him, she gently caught him as he leaped into her lap. 

Dabao, no longer fussing, grabbed her hand and shook it like a good baby. With his big, sparkling eyes and a silly smile, he revealed his two front teeth. “Ahhhh.”

“Yeah, be good. Sister likes you,” Tian Jiao said, nodding and kissing him. Her pretty face lit up with a wide smile, which was heartwarming to see. Dabao, thrilled by the kiss, held her hand even tighter.

Zhang Rui felt a pang of jealousy. This was his daughter, and he had only been with her for a few days, yet he felt the silly worry that she might be taken away by some bad boy.

Wiping away his tears, he felt the weight of fatherhood settle in. Li Mizhen happened to walk by and observed this scene, pouting in displeasure. Her eldest grandson was a mischievous troublemaker. He needed constant movement; otherwise, he would cry endlessly. But why was he so obedient in this girl’s arms?

She looked at the doll twice, her expression mixed, but she had to admit it was beautiful. If it weren’t for the doll’s face, she wouldn’t have compromised.

Just then, a commotion erupted outside.

A middle-aged woman, close to Li Mizhen, approached and waved at her, wearing an expression typical of someone eager to watch drama unfold. “Aunt Zhang, Old Sun is causing trouble again. You should go see!” 

“What happened?” Li Mizhen asked, confused.

The woman frowned, her expression animated. “What else could it be? Old Sun claimed that the child stole someone else’s steamed bread and refuses to admit it. He wants to publicly scold him, adamant that the landlord won’t take advantage of our blind date again.”

The woman even acted out Old Sun’s tirade, waving her arms, then added, “I came here specifically to see it and wanted you to join me for the fun.”

Li Mizhen looked guilty and hesitated. “Let’s not. That child is really pitiful. He lost his father young, and his mother remarried. He has never had a good life.”

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept by as the third child and the new daughter dashed out, leaving her eldest grandson staring blankly in the yard before he burst into tears.

With a headache, Zhang Zhi hurried to pick up his son and comfort him, feeling confused. Just a moment ago, after hearing the aunt’s words, Tian Jiao’s expression shifted as if she had remembered something. She suddenly took off with her third brother. What was going on?