CH 21

Chapter 21: Orphanage

Northern Spring Festival, the weather is unpredictable, sometimes cold and sometimes hot. Zhou Mushi held a cup of soy milk and walked on the street. The sky was clear and the sunlight was very good, but the wind was a bit strong, which reminded him of the day when it was raining and snowing when he came out of the vegetable market.

Forgetting to bring gloves, his hands turned bright red from the cold. Today is not too bad, at least there’s a cup of soy milk to warm his hands. The soy milk made from boiled soybeans is fragrant and rich, and it’s a little hot when you drink it.

Zhou Mushi blew on it and took a small sip. His frozen stomach felt like a river that had thawed in the spring, and he felt like following his brother’s advice to study abroad in Italy for a few years.

In a new environment where there are no familiar faces, perhaps one can do better. At least it can temporarily calm down the mind and get rid of the people and things here.

“Mama, I want a sugar-coated hawthorn on a stick~” The little girl with a pretty red ball tied to her hair was clinging to her parents’ hands and acting like a spoiled child.

Zhou Mushi stood by waiting for the Guokui1, and couldn’t help but think of the little girl named Ruan Ruan whom he had made a promise with in the orphanage.

Ran Ran is a very cute girl, with big, bright eyes that always radiate a pure and kind light. She is Jin Yang’s niece, the daughter of his twin brother.

Zhou Mushi has never met Jin Yang older brother, Jin Yuan, who is said to have been imprisoned for committing a crime. When Jin Yuan’s wife learned that he would be locked up for several years, she left and abandoned their newborn daughter.

Just later, Jin Yang was too busy with work. Although he felt sorry for her, they still visited her often. However, in these past two years, they haven’t been able to pick up Ran Ran themselves because they’re afraid that there wouldn’t be anyone to take care of her.

Zhou Mushi believed that even without his relationship with Jin Yang, he would still like this little girl. Who wouldn’t like a kind, cute, and grateful little girl who is always hardworking and striving to improve herself?

Since he’s preparing to leave, let’s go see her before leaving. This trip may take several years, and perhaps… he may not come back to Q city even after he returns.

Zhou Mushi finally remembered to check the date on his phone. It was already the fifth day of the first lunar month, and the orphanage was going to open soon.

He went home and changed his clothes. When he stood in front of the mirror, he realized that the person in the reflection looked a bit disheveled. His lips were dry, and his face was pale as if his soul had been drained away.

Zhou Mushi smiled at the cracked lips on the mirror, washed his face seriously, poured himself a cup of coffee, and styled his hair to look more refreshed. Finally, he looked presentable enough to be seen by others.

Due to the holiday break, there were more people than usual in the shopping mall. The bustling crowds of people walking together made him feel a little uncomfortable, and wandering through the mall alone felt a bit awkward.

He comforted himself, saying that there would be many times in the future when he would be alone, and he would have to adapt. After all, in this world, no one can’t live without someone else.

A batch of new clothes and toys was purchased for the children in the orphanage at a children’s store, and a whole box was filled with them. The children in the orphanage really like this older brother, Zhou Mushi because the things he chooses are all the most beautiful and comfortable. They also find him to be a pleasant person to look at and good-looking.

Zhou Mushi swiped my card to pay the money and took a taxi while holding a large cardboard box, heading directly to the outskirts of the city.

Driving out from the mall, Zhou Mushi first saw a vast expanse of blue sea and a golden beach, and then green wheat seedlings and large areas of green land. The outskirts of the city were spacious, unlike the downtown area where always crowded and every place felt cramped.

End of Chapter 21

1 guokui” (锅盔) is a type of Chinese pastry made from wheat flour, water, and other ingredients. It is a round, flat, and crispy pastry that is typically baked on a griddle or in an oven. Guoqie is a popular snack food in Northern China, especially in Beijing and Tianjin. It can be eaten plain or with various toppings, such as sugar, sesame seeds, or soybean powder. ↵