"Hey kids, you should go to bed early and remember to get up and eat breakfast tomorrow morning."
The lights were off. Xie Shi'an lay on the bed, looking at the wooden, dilapidated ceiling covered with cobwebs by the moonlight.
"You don't seem to have ever mentioned your parents."
"I left home when I was very young, and since I have no recollection of it, I never mentioned it."
"Don't you miss them?"
“I do think about it. Sometimes I wonder what they look like, where they are now, and why they don’t want me. But when it comes to how I got along with them, I can’t remember anything at all.”
Jian Changnian stirred and turned to look at her.
"So sometimes I'm a little envious of you."
Xie Shi'an curled his lips in a mocking smile.
"What's there to envy about my family's situation?"
Jian Changnian's eyes shone brightly in the darkness.
"No, at least there was a happy time, but for me, my memories of my parents are completely blank."
Xie Shi'an remained silent for a while.
“You have a maternal grandmother.”
For some reason, every time she heard her speak in that tone, Jian Changnian's heart would clench, so she replied without thinking.
“You also have Sister Yu Chu, Coach Yan, and… me.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Shi'an's eyes snapped over to him.
Her eyes were like a deep whirlpool, and when the boy looked at her like that, he felt as if he was about to drown.
She turned around in a panic.
"Ah, I mean, if... if you'd like, you can come to my house for Chinese New Year every year from now on, since it's just me and my grandma at home anyway."
Xie Shi'an withdrew his gaze and leisurely placed his hands under his head.
"Come with me to the city tomorrow."
"what?"
"Go with Wangfu to see the doctor."
Chapter 62 Past Fate
The next day, knowing they were going to the city, the two of them got up very early. Grandma made handmade steamed buns and steamed a few sugar buns for breakfast.
After finishing the meal, Xie Shi'an wanted to help clear the table, but his grandmother waved her hand repeatedly.
"No need, no need. Aren't you going to town? Go quickly. There's a market and folk performances in town today. If you go early, you can take a look around."
Jian Changnian gently picked up Wangfu from the cardboard box, put it in her schoolbag, and held it in her arms.
"Shi'an, let's go."
Xie Shi'an nodded and followed her out of the courtyard.
The two people arrived in town in an oxcart. The small town was completely congested today, with people everywhere you looked.
The two of them stood on tiptoe and strained to see.
Jian Changnian said, "Shian, Shian, look, the dragon and lion dancers are coming."
Amidst the sounds of firecrackers and drums, the parade procession approached from afar.
The leader held a colorful ball, and the people dressed as little lions followed behind him, turning around and dancing, looking adorable.
The dragon dance team performed with great vigor and flair, and there were also colorful lotus boats, stilt walkers, and other folk customs.
The faces of everyone on the street were beaming with joy, and they clapped and cheered from time to time. Xie Shi'an couldn't help but clap along as well.
"That's amazing."
After the folk performances ended, the market became lively again, and Jian Changnian led her people through the crowd of vendors.
“I used to love Chinese New Year. Not only could I go out and play, but it was also the day when my grandma made the most money from her stall.”
"When she earns money, she buys me sugar paintings, glutinous rice cakes, cut cakes, and lots and lots of other delicious things. Oh, and little clay figurines too!"
Jian Changnian looked at the stall in front of her, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she grabbed the person and ran over.
"Shī'ān, shī'ān, let's make a sugar painting."
The old man selling sugar paintings smiled.
"Two yuan per spin."
Jian Changnian took out four coins and handed them over.
"Give."
Xie Shi'an looked at the □ on the small table, which depicted the twelve zodiac animals. It seemed that whatever the □ turned to was the one that was drawn.
With a casual flick of her wrist, the pointer stopped on the dragon.
The old man also looked somewhat surprised.
"You're really lucky."
Jian Changnian rubbed his hands together, eager to get started.
"Let me try."
As expected, the pointer stopped on the mouse.
Jian Changnian let out a scream. Although they were all sugar paintings, the more complicated ones used more sugar and the patterns were more beautiful.
The two left the stall, and Jian Changnian walked along, gazing longingly at the majestic and lifelike dragon in her hand.
"Shi'an, yours is so pretty!"
Xie Shi'an remained unmoved.
"You've already drawn your own zodiac sign, what's there to be dissatisfied about?"
"But I've never been a dragon before, not even once in my life."
Jian Changnian sounded pitiful, but she was too busy walking to focus on her task.
Xie Shi'an stopped in her tracks; she had almost bumped into it.
"Hey, you scared me! Why did you stop?"
Xie Shi'an handed her the sugar painting, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
"Alright then, let's switch."
Jian Changnian jumped for joy upon receiving the sugar painting, her face beaming with a smile, and excitedly grabbed her hand and ran off.
The two of them weaved through the bustling crowd.
"Shi'an, hurry up! There's a ring toss game ahead."
After playing all morning and eating a lot of snacks, Jian Changnian patted her round belly and finally remembered that there was a little one on her back.
Xie Shi'an noticed that it was getting late.
"Let's go, let's get in the car."
Upon arriving at the vet, the doctor briefly examined Wangfu's condition and then frowned.
"It's too young, less than a month old, with such a weak immune system and pneumonia. It's probably a stray dog, and it'll cost you money. I advise you not to treat it."
Just as Jian Changnian was about to speak, Xie Shian said decisively.
"No matter how much it costs, we will get treatment."
After all, it was a small life. Seeing their insistence, the doctor compromised and said, "Alright then, but you have to sign a waiver. It's so small, we will do our best, but we can't guarantee that it will survive."
Xie Shi'an nodded.
"good."
She signed her name without even looking at it.
The doctor took it and looked at it.
"Okay, go to the front desk to pay the hospitalization fee. We'll keep it in an incubator for the next few days for anti-infection treatment. Once it's better, we'll deworm it internally and externally. You've come at just the right time; we have a female dog that gave birth to puppies yesterday, so we have plenty of breast milk."
Jian Changnian and Xie Shian both laughed.
"Thank you for your help."
Before leaving, Jian Changnian and Xie Shian could only stand outside the glass door, watching Wangfu being isolated and treated inside, and say goodbye to it.
"Wangfu, you must be strong and get better soon, otherwise we'll feel bad for spending so much money to save you."
Jian Changnian gave it a thumbs-up.
Little Wangfu seemed to sense something, turned over, smacked his tongue, and then fell asleep again.
The two left the pet hospital. Xie Shi'an told her to wait there for a while, thinking she was going to the restroom. But instead, she came out of the bank carrying a backpack.
"You... what is this?"
Xie Shi'an slung the backpack over his shoulder.
"Let's go, let's go and redeem your jade."
Twenty thousand yuan is not a small amount; it's roughly equivalent to Xie Shi's prize money for the competition.
Jian Changnian took two steps after him, looking anxious.
"Shi'an, Shi'an, you have so much money..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xie Shi'an turned around and looked at her.
"You pawned so much money without hesitation."
"I don't like owing people anything."