Chen Hansheng hadn't expected that Shen Youchu actually had a younger cousin—just a little girl.
"Where's grandma?"
Shen Youchu knelt down and gently wiped the little girl's face.
Chen Hansheng glanced at the child under the moonlight. The little girl was rather thin, with tiny arms and legs, but her eyes were large and expressive. It was too early to describe her as beautiful or not, but "adorable" was the perfect description.
"Grandma is at the alley entrance."
The little girl pointed ahead. It was then that she noticed Chen Hansheng and Wang Zibo. Startled, she stepped back and hid behind Shen Youchu, curiously peeking at the two men.
Shen Youchu turned her head and introduced her, "This is my cousin from my uncle's family. Her name is Ning."
"My name is Chen Ningning," the little girl said softly, blinking her large eyes.
"Oh, we even share the same surname!" Chen Hansheng walked over to greet her, but Ningning, feeling shy, turned around and ran off.
"See that? You're so ugly that when you close your eyes, it's like nightfall. You've scared the child," Chen Hansheng teased, looking at Wang Zibo.
Wang Zibo protested indignantly, "I haven't even said a word! You're the one who scared her off!"
After walking another twenty or so steps, they saw an old woman standing with a cane in one hand and a candle in the other. Her eyes were cloudy but kind. When she spotted Shen Youchu, her weathered face lit up with a smile of relief.
"Grandma."
Shen Youchu walked up to her, supporting the old woman. Her voice choked with emotion—it was clear she'd missed her terribly.
"As long as you're home, that's what matters," the old woman said, holding Shen Youchu's hand. She glanced briefly at Chen Hansheng and Wang Zibo.
"Grandma, this is Chen… Chen… Chen…" Shen Youchu stammered a few times, unable to get the words out.
"I'm Chen Hansheng, and this is Wang Zibo. We're Shen Youchu's classmates," Chen Hansheng introduced them directly.
The old woman nodded, said nothing, and began walking back toward the house.
Wang Zibo whispered nervously, "Chen, meeting her family for the first time, I'm really a bit on edge."
Chen Hansheng glanced at him. "What are you nervous about? It has nothing to do with you."
---
Shen Youchu's house had a small yard. The main room was flanked by two bedrooms, along with a storage room and a kitchen.
As they pushed open the wooden gate, the old woman asked, "Have you eaten yet?"
Shen Youchu shook her head.
"Then make some food for your classmates," the old woman said.
The small kitchen lacked modern appliances like gas stoves or coal burners, relying instead on a simple clay hearth. Although Shen Youchu spoke slowly, she was efficient in the kitchen. She lit the fire, heated the pot, and cooked noodles with seamless ease.
Chen Hansheng nudged Wang Zibo. "Hey, lend a hand—help with the fire."
Wang Zibo obediently crouched by the hearth to feed wood into the flames, while Chen Hansheng lounged nearby, petting a cat.
The house had a scruffy little mutt and a yellow-and-white cat, both circling at Chen Hansheng's feet. The old woman, who spoke little, sat on a stool with her eyes half-closed, as if dozing. Meanwhile, Ningning snuggled in her grandma's arms, her big eyes blinking as she observed the two unfamiliar older boys.
"Grandma, there are no eggs left in the basket," Shen Youchu said softly.
"Check the chicken coop; there should still be some there," the old woman replied slowly.
Chen Hansheng stopped Shen Youchu. "Plain noodles are fine—don't bother looking for eggs."
Shen Youchu shook her head gently. "You won't get full."
"It's fine. Don't you have chili? That's enough for flavor," he replied.
While the two stood at an impasse, Ningning suddenly ran off. Moments later, the sound of clucking chickens echoed from the corner of the yard.
When she returned, her slightly yellow hair had a couple of feathers stuck in it, and her hands were dirty, but she held two fresh eggs carefully. "Big sis, here," she said.
Shen Youchu took the eggs and fried them. Chen Hansheng thanked Ningning, saying, "Thank you, little one."
Ningning blushed at the praise, scurrying back into her grandma's arms to steal shy glances at him.
Soon, three steaming bowls of noodles were served. Shen Youchu's bowl had no egg; she added a bit of chili oil and ate slowly, bite by bite.
Wang Zibo hesitated, "Chen…"
Chen Hansheng waved him off. "Eat. It's their kind gesture."
He then split the fried egg in his bowl into two halves and placed one in Shen Youchu's bowl. "No arguing. I don't like fussing over this kind of thing."
Seeing Chen Hansheng's stern expression, Shen Youchu didn't dare refuse. Instead, she cut the half egg into two smaller pieces and fed one to Ningning. "Is it tasty?"
Ningning's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "It's delicious when big sis feeds me!"
Shen Youchu smiled along with her. Her rare smile, with her striking features, reminded Wang Zibo of the story of King You of Zhou lighting signal fires for his consort, Bao Si.
Still, remembering how three people had shared one egg, Wang Zibo felt a pang of sadness. He glanced at Chen Hansheng, who remained expressionless.
---
After finishing their meal by the hearth, Shen Youchu helped prepare a bed for Chen Hansheng and Wang Zibo in the storage room. It wasn't drafty, so they settled in.
As they got comfortable, Wang Zibo asked, "Chen, when are we leaving?"
"Tomorrow."
"So soon?" Wang Zibo actually wanted to explore the area more.
Chen Hansheng chuckled. "You're not here for Shen Youchu's cousin, are you? You've already met her."
"Rubbish!" Wang Zibo was annoyed. "You're the one who wanted to escort Shen Youchu home, and you lied to me about this being a Sichuan-Chongqing trip!"
But best friends don't hold grudges for long, especially since Chen Hansheng often took the lead in their duo. Soon enough, Wang Zibo forgot about it.
"Chen, before we leave, I want to give Ningning all the money I have on me. It's just over 100 yuan, but the eggs were probably meant for her to recover her strength. I feel bad about eating them."
Chen Hansheng nodded. "Go ahead. I'll leave some money with the grandma too."
"How much are you giving?" Wang Zibo asked curiously.
"800."
Wang Zibo was surprised. "Knowing you, I thought you'd give 2,000 or 3,000."
"I've already paid Shen Youchu her salary. Whatever she decides to give them is her business. As for me, I only have 800 left. Even for my parents, I only give them 1,000 each for New Year's—no exceptions."
Wang Zibo nodded silently. "You've always been principled, no matter what."
After a moment of quiet, Chen Hansheng suddenly said, "Zibo, are you asleep yet?"
"No."
Chen Hansheng coughed. "When we're back in Hong Kong, if Xiao Yu'er asks what we've been doing these past few days, you know what to say, right?"
"Nope," Wang Zibo said smugly, seizing a rare opportunity to tease Chen Hansheng. "I'll just tell Xiao Yu'er that you escorted a girl as pretty as her back to her hometown!"
Chen Hansheng didn't respond. Instead, he silently flipped open his blanket and began rummaging through his wallet.
"What are you doing?" Wang Zibo asked, suddenly uneasy.
"Oh, nothing. Keep bragging," Chen Hansheng replied, looking down. "I'm just going to tear up your train ticket. Let's see how you'll go back and tattle!"