Mu Zhiren’s gaze was resolute. “Miao Zhu, wait half an hour! In half an hour, I’ll give you a perfect roasted sweet potato!”
In summer, diving into lotus ponds for lotus root; in winter, digging pits for sweet potatoes—Miao Zhu had never met such a fun girl. She quickly promised, “Okay!”
Mu Huiren dragged her away in utter exasperation.
That day, all the Mu family members were converging on Jinyuan. Emerald Bamboo Hall served food anytime—come and eat. Miao Zhu had two rose bean paste glutinous dumplings; they were so tasty she drank the soup too. Then Mu Huiren grinningly pulled her to Spring Language Hall to see Granny.
A bunch of people were gathered in Spring Language Hall, keeping Old Madam Mu company with chatter and laughter. When she spotted Miao Zhu, Granny beckoned her to sit beside her. Mu Huiren zipped around, greeting everyone like a fish in water.
Old Madam Mu asked after Miao Zhu’s ankle and whether she’d eaten lunch. Miao Zhu answered obediently.
The others in the room had been prepped—no teasing, no prying—just smiling and listening.
It was as if Old Madam Mu had been waiting specifically for Miao Zhu. After some small talk, she began assigning New Year’s Eve tasks, just as Mu Huiren had described on the way. Everyone took their assignments with laughter and headed out.
Spring Language Hall was left with just Miao Zhu and sisters Mu Qiren and Mu Huiren.
Granny personally taught them to cut window flowers: fold the paper, draw the pattern, then snip along the lines. Granny knew all sorts of techniques and demonstrated several patterns in a row.
The afternoon sun shone softly, and Spring Language Hall was filled with a warm fragrance. Laughter drifted in on the breeze from somewhere. Mu Huiren peeked at Miao Zhu’s paper, then Mu Qiren’s, giggling nonstop at her own.
“A-Qi, go paste these window flowers first.” Old Madam Mu selected a few from the finished ones.
“Got it.” Mu Qiren grabbed Mu Huiren to help. Mu Huiren had been fidgeting anyway and happily tagged along.
Miao Zhu was focused on tracing her pattern when she paused her brush. Granny had sent the sisters away—clearly to speak privately.
“Last time, with A-Heng here, I couldn’t say certain things in front of her.” Old Madam Mu began.
Miao Zhu’s heart tightened as she looked at her. But Granny’s expression was shrouded in sorrow. “A-Heng’s mother was always in poor health. We learned early to say goodbye to her, but A-Heng… A-Heng was at an age when she understood nothing, and then her mother was gone.”
No matter how broad-minded Granny was, the wound of losing her only daughter hadn’t healed in decades. And Mu Shanyi had lost her mother too. With that thought, Granny’s voice caught as she told Miao Zhu: “That day, A-Heng had a bad cold and slept deeply after taking medicine. Her mother didn’t want us to wake her, so A-Heng never saw her mother’s final moments.”
Suddenly, Miao Zhu recalled that time in Capital City when Lu Zheng said Mu Shanyi had a cold but refused medicine—because when her mother passed, Mu Shanyi hadn’t been clueless; she’d slept too soundly from the meds and missed the last goodbye. Regret and self-blame had haunted her ever since.
Tears welled up silently in Miao Zhu’s eyes.
Seeing Miao Zhu cry made Old Madam Mu’s eyes well up too. “Even grown up, with the whole Mu family on her shoulders, a grandma still aches for her. Miao Zhu, do you understand?”
Miao Zhu’s voice trembled. “I do.”
She ached for Mu Shanyi too—so much.
“So, silly child, why worry that Granny wouldn’t like you? Anyone A-Heng chooses, anyone who cares for A-Heng—Granny likes them all.”
Miao Zhu nodded vigorously.
As the two dabbed at their tears, Mu Zhiren’s cheers approached from afar: “Miao Zhu! Miao Zhu, I roasted them!”
“What Miao Zhu? Xiao Hui and Miao Zhu are the same age, so she can call her that. How old are you? Have some manners?” Mu Qiren intercepted her midway.
Mu Zhiren adapted on the spot and shouted, “Sister Miao Zhu! My roasted sweet potatoes are done!”
“Not perfect, though.” Mu Huiren doused her enthusiasm. “Don’t poison her, or Sister A-Heng will come for you.”
Mu Zhiren scoffed. “Hmph!”
While the three sisters bantered, Miao Zhu and Old Madam Mu both hurriedly wiped their tears. Catching each other’s flustered looks, they broke into laughter through their sniffles.
Mu Zhiren dashed into Spring Language Hall. “Sister Miao Zhu, your roasted sweet potato! So yummy!”
Compared to her smoky stint behind the rockery, Mu Zhiren had clearly tidied up—most of the black smudges gone from her face. But her mouth was mysteriously still blackened; when she spoke, even her teeth were dark. Old Madam Mu just shook her head at the family’s youngest.
Miao Zhu eyed the charcoal-roasted sweet potato Mu Zhiren eagerly offered, solving the mystery of her mouth and teeth.
It was as if everyone had coordinated—just waiting for Mu Zhiren to lead the charge. After she delivered the sweet potato, people streamed in one after another, handing Miao Zhu things.
Food, drinks, gifts, red envelopes… They flowed into her hands. Miao Zhu hadn’t even met everyone yet, and her arms were full. Overwhelmed, she turned to Old Madam Mu for help. “Granny…”
Old Madam Mu smiled. “It’s everyone’s goodwill. Granny can’t stop them.”
Drowned in the family’s warmth, Miao Zhu messaged Mu Shanyi for rescue.
[❤️: Location sharing]
She tapped it open—Mu Shanyi was just minutes from Jinyuan by car. Miao Zhu jumped up from her chair. “Sister A-Heng is almost here. I-I’ll go meet her…”
The relatives finally cracked, bursting into laughter one after another at Miao Zhu’s shy fluster.
Miao Zhu fled to meet Mu Shanyi, escaping the bewildering social whirlwind. But strolling the veranda, thinking of the warmth the Mu family showed her—all thanks to Mu Shanyi—and of little Mu Shanyi, scarred to this day by missing her mother’s last moments, her heart swelled bittersweetly. She yearned to see Mu Shanyi, to hold her—even a minute, a second sooner.
