Chapter 20: Enthusiastic Dongdong 

The visitors were Qin Shun and his two children. The seven-year-old daughter was named Qin Wenjing, and the four-year-old son was named Qin Jiadong. At that moment, Qin Shun was holding his son with one arm and holding his daughter’s hand with the other. He looked at the child not even as tall as his thigh and smiled, “Are you Dongdong? I’m your uncle. Do you know what an uncle is?”

Qin Shun naturally knew about Dongdong. Although he only returned home a few times a year, he was aware of things at home.

Dongdong’s big eyes curiously examined them and tried to think about what Qin Shun said. Unfortunately, Father Qin and Mother Qin had told him about big brother and big sister but not about an uncle. So Dongdong obediently shook his head. Just as he was about to say something, Aunt Zhang came over, “Qin Shun, you’re back. Come in quickly.” Then she said to Dongdong, “Dongdong, this is your uncle and big brother and big sister. Weren’t you saying you wanted to give White Rabbit candy to them when they came? These are your big brother and big sister.”

Big brother and big sister?

Dongdong’s eyes lit up. He quickly got off his tricycle and bounced his way inside.

“Aunt Zhang, my parents are at work, right?” Qin Shun put his son down and said to the children, “We’re home now. Go play.”

But Qin Wenjing held onto Qin Shun’s clothes and didn’t move. She seemed a bit shy.

Qin Jiadong, on the other hand, stared at the tricycle with a liking in his eyes.

The two children had been here before. Every New Year, Qin Shun brought them back. But they only stayed a few days each time, so they were a bit reserved.

“Master and Sister Qi went to work.” Aunt Zhang said, “Are you hungry? Should I make you something to eat?”

Mother Qin’s name was Yang Qi. Aunt Zhangused to call her Miss, then later changed to Sister Qi.

“After traveling all the way, we are indeed a bit hungry. Aunt Zhang, please make something simple.” Qin Shun said, “I have to go report to the police station later.”

“I’ll make noodles then. They’re quick to prepare,” said Aunt Zhang.

Dongdong came bouncing out of the house. He lived on the first floor with Father Qin and Mother Qin. Originally, their room was upstairs, but since Dongdong started walking, he liked running around. They were afraid he’d fall, so they moved downstairs. They even installed a wooden gate at the stairs to stop Dongdong from climbing up.

When Dongdong came out, he was holding his tin box, which drew the attention of Qin Shun, Qin Wenjing, and Qin Jiadong who were watching TV.

Dongdong walked to them and opened the tin box, revealing the snacks inside. Not only were there many, but the types were also varied—White Rabbit candy, biscuits, chocolate, small bread, and even imported chocolate.

Mother Qin worked at a publishing house. The publishing house had staff stationed abroad. When they came back, they brought imported snacks and would share some with Mother Qin. What Mother Qin got naturally became Dongdong’s.

As the snacks inside the tin box were revealed, Qin Wenjing and Qin Jiadong both couldn’t look away. They had eaten White Rabbit milk candy and biscuits before, but rarely. When their mother bought these snacks, she would take them to their maternal grandmother’s house, saying that eating too much of this stuff would cause cavities.

Dongdong used his two little hands to grab a handful of snacks from the tin box and stretched them out toward Qin Wenjing and Qin Jiadong. “Big brother, big sister, eat.”

He spoke loudly, with a bright smile.

Qin Wenjing and Qin Jiadong did not dare to take them. They looked toward Qin Shun.

Qin Shun said, “You can eat. If your little brother gives them to you, just take them. It’s okay.”

“But…” Qin Wenjing opened her mouth hesitantly, “Mom said that eating these things will make our teeth decay, and she doesn’t let us eat them.”

When Qin Shun heard his daughter’s words, his eyes darkened. How could he not know that this was an excuse from his wife? Once again, he felt that his decision was the right one.

Dongdong didn’t understand what tooth decay meant. When he heard his sister mention teeth, he opened his mouth and showed his white teeth. “Ah… teeth, brush brush…”

He meant that Dongdong is a good child who brushes his teeth every day.

Qin Shun looked at the lively and friendly little boy, then looked at his own two children. Compared to this child, they seemed a bit shy. To put it bluntly, they appeared a bit petty.

At that moment, he felt an indescribable bitterness in his heart. “It’s okay. As long as you don’t eat too much every day, just one or two pieces, and brush your teeth every day, then your teeth won’t decay.”

Hearing their father say so, Qin Wenjing and Qin Jiadong breathed a sigh of relief. They eagerly took the snacks from Dongdong’s hands and softly said, “Thank you, little brother.”

They hadn’t come to the capital for the New Year in two years, so they hadn’t met Dongdong since he came to the Qin family. But before coming, Qin Shun had told them there was a younger brother at home, their uncle’s son. As for things like being an adopted child, they were still too young to understand, and Qin Shun didn’t explain in detail.

When Dongdong heard his brother and sister say thank you, his fair little cheeks turned red. He was happy, then grabbed two more handfuls of snacks from the tin box and gave them all to his brother and sister. “Eat, Dongdong’s, eat.”

Qin Wenjing and Qin Jiadong were also infected by his cheerfulness and smiled.

Qin Shun looked on, and couldn’t help but think again, this child was indeed raised by his mother. Once again, he felt that coming back was the right decision. He also couldn’t help but tease a little. “Dongdong is really good.”

Dongdong understood praise and was not modest. “Dongdong good.” If someone said he wasn’t good, he would get angry.

Qin Shun nodded. “Yes, Dongdong is good.”

Dongdong was happy. He took out a candy from the tin box and gave it to him, then closed the lid of the box. These snacks he had to save to eat with his mom. After closing the tin box, Dongdong hugged it and went back to his room to hide it. Then he ran out again. He ran to Qin Jiadong and pulled his hand to lead him outside. “Big brother, go ride a bike.”

Qin Jiadong was a little overwhelmed by the attention. In their previous home, the neighborhood kids didn’t like to play with them. He didn’t expect that upon arriving at Grandpa and Grandma’s house, he would be invited by his little brother. If it were a bigger kid who pulled him, he would have been shy. But Dongdong was even younger than him, and also his little brother, so he naturally wasn’t shy.

However, Qin Jiadong still didn’t immediately agree. He looked at Qin Shun. “Dad, can I go play with little brother?”

Qin Shun said, “Of course you can. Go ahead. You are the big brother, so you also have to protect little brother, understand?”

“Mm.” Qin Jiadong happily responded. Then he went with Dongdong, hand in hand, happily to the yard to ride the bike.