The next day, Zhuang Zhuang woke up first. He looked at his mother, who was still asleep—it was a novel situation to him.
Zhuang Zhuang leaned over the pillow to observe Xiaoguo's face while she was sleeping. He had studied his own appearance before. His mouth was identical to his mother's—they both had mouths with upturned corners and rosy red lips. Their eyes were big with double eyelids.
One feature that wasn't the same were their eyelashes. Zhuang Zhuang touched his eyelashes. They were thick and long. Could he have taken after his father? As Zhuang Zhuang thought about this unfamiliar person, he couldn't help but feel a little confused and disappointed. His grandmother always said that he looked exactly like his father when he was still a child.
When Xiaoguo opened her eyes, she saw Zhuang Zhuang watching her with his chin on his hands and sighing to himself. "What was this kid thinking? Sighing at such a young age."
"Zhuang Zhuang."
Xiaoguo's call jolted Zhuang Zhuang from his thoughts. "Mother," he said in reply.
"Zhuang Zhuang, let's go up the mountain with me today." It was a nice day. Xiaoguo thought about the traps on the mountain and wondered if there was any prey. If any animals were caught in the traps, would they have drowned? After all, it had been raining heavily for days.
"Okay." Zhuang Zhuang replied and got up happily as he prepared to get dressed. Xiaoguo got off the bed and went to make breakfast in the kitchen. At first, Xiaoguo was going to help Zhuang Zhuang get dressed, but Zhuang Zhuang insisted on doing it himself. He put on his clothes one by one in front of Xiaoguo. Although his actions were a little clumsy, his hands did not stop.
When Zhuang Zhuang was dressed, he went to the kitchen. Xiaoguo had cooked some porridge and was now making pancakes. Zhuang Zhuang looked around and saw that there was nothing he could help with, so he went out to feed the cows.
Xiaoguo brought the rice to the table and called Zhuang Zhuang to wash his hands and eat. Zhuang Zhuang acknowledged with a holler and ran out to wash his hands. When he arrived at the table, Xiaoguo had already filled the bowls with porridge. The simple breakfast was very nutritious.They each had a bowl of millet porridge. There was also a basin of shredded potatoes with a few carrot pancakes to be shared between the two of them. All that was eaten clean by the end of breakfast.
Xiaoguo waited for Zhuang Zhuang to finish his food before setting off. Zhuang Zhuang saw Xiaoguo carrying a basket on her back and shouted that he wanted to carry one too. Having no other choice, Xiaoguo found a small basket for him too. The mother and son then began their walk up the mountains. Xiaoguo was now familiar with the route, and knew which way to take so that she wouldn't bump into anyone. She walked with Zhuang Zhuang by the back of their house and arrived at their destination not long after.
It was Zhuang Zhuang's first time on the mountains, so he was a little scared. He held onto Xiaoguo tightly and did not dare to let go. When he accidentally stepped on a branch, he was so startled that he crawled into Xiaoguo's arms. Xiaoguo held his hands tightly and guided him on the path where it was easier to walk. She also warned him to avoid muddy spots. From time to time, she would talk to Zhuang Zhuang to distract him from being scared.
Once he began chatting with his mother, Zhuang Zhuang was no longer afraid. He started to look around the dense forest curiously. Every little thing in the forest did not escape Zhuang Zhuang's inquisitive gaze.
"Mother, it's so beautiful here."
Gripping his hand tightly, Xiaoguo said to him, "Then feel free to look around. Mother will hold on tight. I won't let you fall."
Zhuang Zhuang nodded trustingly and put his hand into his mother's palm. His eyes were fixed on the surrounding forest.
Meanwhile, in the small fishing village nearby…
A knock on the door interrupted the two men talking in the house.
"Brother Li, it's me. I'm here to change the dressing." Yu Zhizhi's timid voice came from outside the door.
Jiang Danhe raised his hand—signaling Li Shouji to open the door. After opening the door, Yu Zhizhi, who was wearing a pink traditional Chinese attire, walked in with a tray. Her eyes furtively glanced at the man sitting on the bed. Although his face was still a little pale, his facial features were achingly handsome. His manly eyebrows were tightly furrowed at that moment. Below those brows were almond shaped eyes which were slightly upturned and lined with thick eyelashes. His nose bridge was high and slim. Though his thin lips had lost their color due to his injuries, he still looked very attractive. Yu Zhizhi could not help but feel rather bashful while these thoughts ran through her mind. Her face turned red in an instant.