Tian Sangsang returned to her usual spot, set down her bamboo basket and wicker tray, spread a clean white gauze cloth on the ground, and began arranging her goods.
The sun was still mild at this hour, its rays half-illuminating Tian Sangsang's plump figure. She supported her waist as she eased herself onto the ground.
Pedestrians passed by one after another. She thought she needed to save up quickly—buying a proper shop would surely be better than living like a street-side beggar. Raising her eyes in wistful thought, she saw a young man approaching her.
"Oh, you're here! Yesterday, I didn't see you, but today I waited here, and you indeed ca." Xu Yiyuan's eyes carried a gentle smile. He approached her unhurriedly.
Tian Sangsang blinked nervously but steadied herself as she replied, "Sir, it's you again. Sorry, I don't do business on weekends."
He nodded knowingly, his gaze landing on the pastries while he comnted, "The braised food I bought from you last ti—I didn't even get a taste of it. Co to think of it, I've been buying from you a few tis, but I don't even know your na."
"My na is Tian Sangsang."
"Tian Sangsang, huh?" His gentle eyes swept briefly over her face as he casually asked, "It must be pretty far coming from the village to town every day, isn't it?"
"It's alright; I hitch a ride with a companion."
"Will you keep doing this business in the future?"
Tian Sangsang froze, montarily caught off guard, and stared at him in surprise. She knew she must look a bit comical right now, but she couldn't stop herself. Custors rarely asked such questions, but for so reason, she found Mr. Xu unusually warm. Like his presence—a soft breeze one didn't realize they needed. Not overly cheerful, but not distant either.
Warm and moderate, just the right amount.
He paused briefly, then smiled wistfully as he said, "My daughter really likes the food you make. Lately... she's been a bit picky with her eating."
Tian Sangsang glanced at him and remarked, "It's better for her to have a balanced diet."
He shook his head slightly with a hint of frustration, his finely arched brows furrowing slightly. "But she's still so choosy. Do you experience the sa with your child?"
He looked very much like a confused father at that mont.
Tian Sangsang imdiately understood and squinted slightly, saying, "My son listens to . If I tell him to go east, he wouldn't dare go west. Little boys—if they're acting up, give them a spanking, and they'll behave."
Xu Yiyuan chuckled. "Your son sounds adorable and quite well-behaved—doesn't seem like the troublemaker you're describing."
"Ahem." Tian Sangsang felt a sweet warmth in her heart as her son was praised. She said, "But your daughter is a little girl—she can't be treated like that. Girls need a gentler approach. Coax her a bit, and she'll agree to anything you ask."
Xu Yiyuan didn't offer much response, shifting the subject instead. "Back when market days were busier, this street used to be packed with vendors like yourself. But none as diligent as you—still sticking around even after the rush."
Tian Sangsang laughed heartily. "I'm short on money, you see."
"Short on money?" he murmured softly, his eyes softening. "My family happens to need soone to cook. Since your pastries are so good, I imagine your cooking skills must be excellent too. You wouldn't have to work so hard, out in the streets every day. Would you consider it?"
Cooking—for soone else? Wasn't that just being a maid? She had never really thought about it.
Tian Sangsang froze in place.
Xu Yiyuan looked at her, though it seed as if he were seeing soone else through her. "Truthfully, I'm a bit selfish. Your food is so wonderful that I'd like to keep you around."
He paused, then smiled and sighed. "But soone as good as you deserves a wider world—not confinent in my household."
His voice was gentle and warm, his jade-like eyes seeming to ripple with soft water. Tian Sangsang's cheeks grew hot. He said she was good. It was the first ti she'd been complinted by a man since coming here, and it was from a handso, refined man at that.
"You flatter too much, sir." Tian Sangsang moved her eyebrows awkwardly. "As long as there are no special circumstances, I'm usually here."
Xu Yiyuan didn't press the matter any further. He simply chose a few items, packed them up, and left. Tian Sangsang, suddenly energized, felt a noticeable lift in her spirits. Perhaps because of her mood, her business bood that day—she earned 11.31 yuan, sold out the braised food, and had only a few mung bean cakes left.
She eventually left with Li Zhengxiong when his shift ended, the two heading back to the village together.
For Tian Sangsang, coming out to set up her stall had never been particularly exciting. But the next day, she saw Xu Yiyuan again. She even found herself wondering if he might show up every day. Since their last conversation, they had grown a little more familiar. She learned that he was ho during the sumr vacation and would return to the county town in about a month.
But when she got back to the village, her good mood was doused with cold water.
When she arrived ho, the surroundings were eerily quiet. The yard at Aunt Zhong's house was empty, the only movent coming from so chickens and ducks wandering about. She rembered Aunt Zhong's family had gone to the fields, Tian Yi was in Dongzhen City, Gou Sheng was away at school, and Li Xiaoqin was soone who flitted between visiting her mother's house frequently—acting like a child despite her age.
Entering her own yard, Tian Sangsang glanced towards the closed door, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.
She pushed the door open. No one was inside. Her son's notebook was still on the table, the pen cap left open. She knew her son's habits; he always tidied everything up after writing, but now it was clear he had left in a rush.
"Yanyan—"
"Son—"
She called out twice, but no one responded. Room by room, she searched the house, but it was completely empty. Suddenly, Tian Sangsang was in a panic. How could this be? Where could her son have gone?
Every ti she ca ho before, she would always see Yanyan's little figure. He would wait obediently for her to return, unlike other children who might complain. He was always so thoughtful and well-behaved. He was here this morning—how could he not be here now?
She rembered touching her son's soft, fluffy hair at breakfast and even kissing his cheek.
It felt as if the sky was falling. Rushing out of the house, she dashed around aimlessly, like a headless chicken. Maybe he went out to play, she tried to console herself. Like a wandering ghost, she searched the entire village, her heart sinking lower with every passing mont. Spotting soone ahead, she didn't care who it was. Grabbing them, she imdiately asked, "Have you seen my son? Have you seen my son?"
"Huh?" The person was startled. "What happened to your son?"
"He's gone—when I got ho, he was gone! I don't know what to do; I don't even know where to look..." She stamred, choking on her sobs.
The woman saw her pale lips, shaking body, and streaming tears, and an imdiate pang of sympathy rose. She thought of how good Sangsang's boy was and couldn't believe he was missing.
The woman consoled her, "Sangsang, don't panic. Maybe the child just ran off to play with soone and will co back soon."
She waved to another woman not far away and called out, "Hey—Xiuying, have you seen Sangsang's son?"
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