Chapter 8: A Chance Encounter with a Young Boy

Mi Xia left after making an appointment to come back next month. She reached a deserted alley, changed her makeup, bought a cup of milk tea, and went out. It was only three o’clock.

As soon as she left the alley, someone bumped into her. Looking down, she saw a small boy with dry, yellow hair, looking at her pitifully. “Sister, do you have any food? My grandmother is starving. I can buy some; I have this.” He showed Mi Xia a sapphire ring in his palm.

“Quickly put that away, don’t let anyone see it. Be a good boy and wait for me here for a while,” Mi Xia said. She loved the sapphire ring and planned to get more supplies; these things were practically worthless now.

She found another deserted alley, took out 20 kilograms of rice and 5 kilograms of meat-filled steamed buns from her spatial storage, and put them in her backpack. Fearing the boy would get impatient, she quickly returned. The boy was obediently waiting there. “Little brother, let’s go. I have a lot of things; I’ll deliver them to your house.”

“Okay, sister. My name is Song Binbin. You can call me Binbin.” Song Binbin led the way as he spoke.

After walking down an alley, Da Zhong arrived at Song Binbin’s home, which was a large compound. After chatting with him on the way there, he learned that he lived with his grandmother.

Entering, she discovered it was a two-courtyard house with over ten households. A rope strung across the middle held various clothes.

Several children were squatting under a large tree, playing. They ignored Song Binbin’s arrival. Because of his family’s background, no one dared to speak to them.

People usually pretended not to see them, fearing association.

After a while, Mi Xia followed Song Binbin into his home. The room was small and windowless, and with an elderly person living there, the smell wasn’t pleasant.

A frail old woman lay on a small bed, covered with a tattered quilt.

The old woman turned her head and saw her grandson with a strange girl. “Grandma, hello. My name is Mi Xia. Binbin mentioned you, so I came to see you.”

Grandma Song struggled to sit up, but Mi Xia quickly went over and held her down. “Grandma, please lie down; you don’t need to get up.”

Grandma Song sighed heavily. “Xia, don’t mind; I’m old and my body isn’t good. Please sit.”

“It’s okay, Grandma Song. I brought you some food.” Mi Xia took meat buns from her backpack, giving one to Grandma Song and one to Song Binbin.

Song Binbin poured her a glass of water, blushing as he looked at Mi Xia. “It’s okay, sister. I prefer plain water. Here, eat this quickly.” Mi Xia gave him the bun.

Song Binbin saw his grandmother also had one and, looking at Mi Xia, tearfully thanked her and began to eat.

Mi Xia quickly took everything out of her backpack: 20 kilograms of rice and noodles, meat buns, and secretly took 30 eggs from her spatial storage.

Seeing the pile of things, Grandma Song was stunned. “Xiao Xia, why did you bring so much?” She called Song Binbin over.

“What is it, Grandma?” Song Binbin knew what was happening but still asked politely.

“Go under the bed and get Grandma’s jewelry box.” Song Binbin looked at Mi Xia. “It’s alright, Binbin. This girl is a good person; don’t be afraid to get it.”

Song Binbin crawled under the bed, took out a box, and gave it to his grandmother. The moment Mi Xia saw the jewelry box, she sensed its extraordinary quality—a purple hue that spoke of its value.

Grandma Song took the jewelry box, opened the bottom drawer, and took out a pair of imperial green jade bracelets. “Xiao Xia, come here. This is for you.”

Seeing what Grandma Song had taken out, Mi Xia went over. “Grandma Song, this is too precious; I can’t accept it. Please put it away; don’t let anyone see it.”

“Take it, Xia. I’m giving it to you because you’re kind. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here. Besides, these things are worthless now, far less valuable than what you brought.” Grandma Song looked at Mi Xia sincerely.

“Yes, sister, just take it.” Song Binbin added.

“Alright, then I’ll take it. I’ll come again in a few days to bring you more food. Grandma, Binbin, I’ll go now. The ox cart back to the village leaves at four.” Mi Xia said.

“Binbin, see Xia off.” Grandma Song instructed. Mi Xia didn’t refuse, as she needed to discuss when to come back with Song Binbin.

Reaching the courtyard gate, Mi Xia looked at Song Binbin. “Binbin, don’t send me. Remember, I’ll wait for you at the alley entrance in seven days to bring you some other things. Don’t forget.”

“Okay, sister, I remember. Here.” Song Binbin took out the sapphire ring from his palm.

“Grandma already gave me something; I don’t need this. Hide it well. I’m going now. Go back and take care of Grandma.” Mi Xia said as she walked away, relieved to reach the ox cart. She didn’t want to walk back.

Although she liked the sapphire ring, she didn’t want to be greedy.

The delay meant she couldn’t go shopping. Half an hour later, she arrived at the village entrance. Mi Xia found a secluded spot, took out 20 kilograms of rice, 20 kilograms of flour, 12 meat buns, some eggs, and a kilogram of brown sugar from her spatial storage.

She hurried home to see her daughter. As she entered the courtyard, she heard her niece and daughter playing. Zhang Hongxia was washing vegetables. “Sister-in-law, I bought some meat buns. Call the children over; one for each.”

“You’re wasting money again.” Zhang Hongxia put down her work and called the children to wash their hands and eat the buns.

“Thank you, Aunt,” Mo Zhixia said, imitating her sister. “Thank you, Mom.”

“Good girls, eat quickly,” Mi Xia gave Zhang Hongxia a bun.

“Little sister, I won’t eat. Save them for the children.” Zhang Hongxia continued washing vegetables.

“Sister-in-law, eat. I bought fourteen; I ate two. The rest is just enough for everyone to have two. The children can’t have them and the adults don’t, right? Everyone should have some. Don’t worry.” Zhang Hongxia took a bun and ate it.

Taking a bite, her mouth filled with oil. “Wow, Aunt, these are so delicious! If only we could eat such delicious buns every day!” Mi Xiaohuan said innocently.

Mi Xia smiled and didn’t respond. She doubted they would believe her if she said they could eat them every day.

Smiling, she took everything out of her backpack, asking her sister-in-law to put the brown sugar in the room while she took the rest to the kitchen.

She cooked porridge, boiled twelve eggs, and made several vegetable pancakes.

Mi Xia refused her sister-in-law’s help. When the meal was ready, her brother and nephews returned. Mi Xia and Zhang Hongxia served the food, and the family started eating.

Zhang Hongxia gave Mi Qiu and the children their buns; the others had already eaten. “Mom, are there any more buns? I want more.” Mo Zhixia asked in a childish voice.

“Yes, Xia Xia, do you want more? I’ll get them for you.” Zhang Hongxia asked, smiling at Xia Xia.

“Sister-in-law, bring out all the buns. We still have wild boar meat. Let’s make some buns and dumplings tomorrow and have a good meal.” Mi Xia craved dumplings.

Some of the wild boar meat was kept for daily cooking, while the rest was cured to prevent spoilage.

“Okay, I’ll get them and share them.” Zhang Hongxia had just finished speaking when her nephews shouted, “Mom, you’re the best! You’re the best mom in the world!”