The silly smile on Yu Mei's face was still bright as ever. Her eyes still glued on the playful Pei Nan. She only came back to reality when she felt a soft tug on her skirt. She looked down to see a tiny boy no more than six staring up at her with his big sparkly eyes. The boy still had all his baby fat and his cheeks were like a chipmunk's. Yu Mei couldn't help but crouch down and smile at the boy.
"Pretty sister, did you come with Big Brother Nan?" the little boy asked innocently as he pointed to Pei Nan who was still busy lifting kids one by one in the air. Yu Mei wanted to giggle and pinch his chubby cheeks but refrained herself. Instead she lifted her hand to pat the little boy's mushroom hair. "Pretty sister? You are quite the charmer, little one."
He leaned towards her and whispered to her. "Pretty sister, are you big brother's wife?"
Yu Mei almost choked from the blunt question. Her eyes widened as she stared at the very innocent little boy. "En." She nodded yes.
His small lips suddenly turned into a huge grin. He grabbed her by the hand and was about to pull her away when Chu'mei panicked. "Xiaojie," Chu'mei stepped forward.
"It's okay." Yu Mei assured her.
The little boy didn't hesitate to look at Chu'mei blankly. "Pretty sister, who is this?" he asked Yu Mei.
"That's my bests Sister Chu'mei." Yu Mei explained.
Hearing that, the boy put his guard down and grabbed Chu'mei's hand with his other. He pulled both girls towards the crowd. Yu Mei and Chu'mei did not have the heart to say no. So they allowed him to drag them. Yu Mei would have stood where she was if she knew what he was going to do next.
"Big brother Nan's wife is here. Guys, come see big brother's pretty wife." He shouted happily. His voice only got louder the closer he got to the crowd.
Majority of the kids stopped and looked at Yu Mei. They all clapped and cheered, shouting happily at her. "Big sister is here! Now we have someone else to play with." Many of them spoke eagerly.
Yu Mei's head turned towards Pei Nan. She regretted it. He had that stupid smile on his face. Why did he look like he was enjoying this embarrassing moment of hers. And why was she embarrassed for? She could not figure it out.
The little boy stopped in front of Pei Nan and looked up. "Big brother, you shouldn't leave your wife all by herself. Ask her to play with us." He whined. Pei Nan pat his head and smiled.
A young girl about the same age went up to Chu'mei and tugged at her skirt this time. "Where is your husband? Big Brother Nan has a wife, where is yours?" She innocently asked.
Chu'mei was flustered by the random question, Why should she be married. It only got more awkward when a few of the young ones spotted Feng Ju leaning on a tree trunk not too far. They pointed at him and giggled. "Big Sister, is that him? Is that him?" they all pointed.
Before she could answer, an older boy ran over to Feng Ju and dragged him over before Chu'mei could reply. "He's not my husband." Chu'mei quickly answered when Feng Ju arrived. She dared not look at him.
Feng Ju arched his brow. What in the world was going on?
The same older boy looked up at Feng Ju and seriously asked him, "Are you in the process of courting her?"
"Boys and girls~" an elderly voice came from inside the house. She had saved Feng Ju from a messy situation.
An auntie no older than forty-five came out with a large pot of soup in hand. When she saw who had visited, her eyes suddenly became twice as bright. "Little Nan," She happily called his name as she put the pot onto the table and went over to him. Pei Nan also made his way to her.
Like a happy reunion, the elder woman put her arms around Pei Nan and hugged him dearly. Pei Nan returned her hug as he happily greeted her. "Aunt Po, how have you been?" he asked.
The plump woman by the name of Aunt Po looked Pei Nan over like a mother seeing her son after a long time. "Your uncle and I have been well." She replied.
"Where is uncle?" he asked.
"He went into the city to do business. He'll be back tonight." Aunt Po spotted the awkward Yu Mei standing in the distance. Her brows arched curiously. "Little Nan, who is she?" a hint of excitement in her voice. This was the first time her Little Nan had brought a woman over.
"That's my wife." Pei Nan quickly walked over to Yu Mei, looked at her and took her hand. Without asking, he pulled her towards Aunt Po. "Yu Mei, this is my Aunt Po. Aunt Po, this is my wife Pan Yu Mei." He introduced the two.
[Aunt?] Nothing was making sense to Yu Mei. He had an aunt who lived in the country side? Shouldn't all his relatives be living in luxury? Her thoughts quickly vanished the moment the elder woman grabbed both her hands. "You must have had a hard time taking care of Little Nan. Hopefully he hasn't given you too much trouble." She jokingly apologized on behalf of Pei Nan.
Yu Mei wanted to say something but Pei Nan beat her to it. "Aunt Po, how can you badmouth me right in front of my face." He complained like a child.
"Aiya, it's true though. You can be so difficult to handle."
The two bickered.
Seeing the two bicker back and forth, Yu Mei felt a sudden warmth fill her heart.
"Aunt Po, I'm hungry." The same little boy who had dragged Yu Mei suddenly popped out of nowhere. In fact, Yu Mei had been so busy; she didn't even notice when all the young ones had surrounded her. They all looked up at Aunt Po like baby chicks waiting to be fed.
***
Yu Mei and Chu'mei helped Aunt Po distribute the food. Only when the kids were situated did Pei Nan and Yu Mei get some alone time. The two sat on wooden stools a far distance from where the kids were eating. Yu Mei sat there twiddling with her thumbs. She had so many questions but didn't know where to start.
"She's my savior." Pei Nan suddenly said, breaking the awkward silence. Yu Mei continued to listen. "That year when I ran off to play, I got kidnapped. Who knew bandits would try to use me as ransom." He chuckled at himself. "Who knew I was so stupid back then. My whole body from head to toe was covered in wealth. It was no wonder they knew to kidnap me." He blamed himself. How could anyone be so stupid, he thought. "If it wasn't for Uncle and Aunt Po saving me, I might not be alive. Thereafter, they brought me here until my father found me." He slowly explained to her.
Yu Mei didn't know why she grabbed his hand, as if to assure him it wasn't his fault back then. "You were not stupid. It was something no one could have saw coming."
"But still I am thankful. If it wasn't for that incident, I would never have met Uncle and Aunt Po." Yu Mei had never seen him speak this sincere about anyone before. These two must have been important people to Pei Nan. And indeed they were. Uncle and Aunt Po were a loving couple but they could not have kids, thus they decided to care for abandoned and orphaned kids.
Yu Mei listened as Pei Nan told her about his father's promise to let him visit twice a year and how the couple never treated him any different from the other kids when he visited. For the first time in his life, someone treated him like a normal child rather than a prince in the making.
***
Pei Nan and Yu Mei spent the day playing with the kids, all the way until they fell asleep. Many secret glances were given between the two as the day went by. Sometimes Yu Mei caught her cheeks blush when Pei Nan caught her peeping at him. Pei Nan blushed too but he would never admit it.
***
Uncle Po had arrived early in the evening. He was much taller than Aunt Po. His hair was greying but that didn't take away from his charming features. When he stood next to his wife, Yu Mei couldn't help but giggle at how adorable the two were. She too wished she could grow old together with someone she loved.
Yu Mei spent time with Aunt Po in the kitchen as they cooked while Pei Nan helped Uncle Po cut some firewood.
Feng Ju and Chu'mei were busy watching the kids in case they woke up and started crying.
After a long day, dinner was finally served.
(To be continued)