When Cheng Su woke up early the next morning, she still saw heavy rain pouring down, with raindrops as big as beans hitting the windowpane with a steady rhythm.
It seemed like going to school would be impossible today. Cheng Su got up, washed up, and then called the school to ask for leave.
"Havenât your cousin and his wife come over for breakfast yet?" Cheng Su saw that breakfast was already laid out on the tableâbuns, steamed bread, porridge, and the likeâand couldnât help but ask Qi Fengping.
"Not yet, I just finished making it!" Qi Fengping looked at the time and asked, "Should I go call them?"
"Go ahead!"
Cheng Su poured herself a cup of milk and sat on the sofa with a book. Before long, Qi Fengping came in holding Gou Shengâs hand, followed by Liu Wenjing, but there was no sign of Deng Weixia.
"Sis." Liu Wenjing greeted Cheng Su.
Cheng Su was momentarily taken aback before realizing that Liu Wenjingâs way of addressing her had changed.
Her late husband, Deng Weidong, was older than Qi Taiguo. When they used to come over, Cheng Su would call her sister-in-law. But now, sheâs changing to calling Cheng Su sis-in-law, following Deng Weixiaâs way.
Cheng Su couldnât help but laugh a little. They had already accepted the way of addressing, recognizing the reality, but she still considered them in the roles of younger uncle and widow, not yet adjusted.
But it was just a title, and Cheng Su wasnât bothered. She said, "Youâre here, have breakfast." Seeing no sign of Deng Weixia, she couldnât help but ask, "Where did your brother go? Still asleep?"
Liu Wenjing hurriedly replied, "No, no, he got up early and went out to find a job!"
Find a job?
Cheng Su and Qi Fengping both froze, instinctively looking out the window.
Though it was morning, it was still dark outside with heavy rain falling. How could he be job hunting in this weather?
"Itâs such heavy rain!" Qi Fengping exclaimed gently, glancing at Cheng Su.
Liu Wenjing said, "When he left, it wasnât raining yet. It just started coming down this hard now."
Cheng Su couldnât quite describe what she was feeling inside; seeing Gou Sheng blinking at the buns on the table with a lick of his lips, her heart softened. "Letâs eat first."
"Cousin..."
"With such heavy rain, he probably wonât come back to eat. Letâs not worry about him, dig in!" Cheng Su picked up a bun for Gou Sheng. The child grabbed it and took a bite, obviously starving.
She couldnât help but sigh. Itâs often the children who suffer from the mess adults create.
After breakfast, seeing that Cheng Su didnât need to go to school, Qi Fengping went into her room to study on her own.
There was a television at home, and Cheng Su turned it on. It was showing Journey to the West, and little Gou Sheng was instantly captivated, sitting obediently on a small stool, watching without blinking.
As for the little one, Liu Wenjing was holding him while feeding him milk. Evidently, she appeared quite restrained in front of Cheng Su, unsure if from embarrassment or awkwardness.
"Whatâs his name?" Cheng Su asked, looking at the child, opening the conversation.
"Jin Sheng, Deng Jinsheng."
"Born in February?"
Liu Wenjing nodded again and said, "Mid-February, shortly after we went up the mountain."
"The child looks quite thin. Is the milk enough?" Cheng Su asked.
"It is." Liu Wenjing nodded eagerly, a face full of relief, "Actually, itâs a good thing itâs enough; otherwise, I wouldnât know what to feed him. Heâs thin now because last month he had a high fever and got pneumonia, which made him lose weight. He was quite chubby before."
Cheng Su pursed her lips. Seeing the slight smile emerging at the corner of her mouth, she asked, "Do you regret it?"