Seven o'clock.
Fangcun, the store manager, and everyone at the Antique Coffee Shop watched helplessly as Xia Tian packed up his things and left, ending his street stall business with a carefree air.
At the entrance of the teahouse, they were full of questions but didn't dare to ask.
But letting Xia Tian leave like this made them feel uneasy. Who knew if the boss would just put up another stall tomorrow? They didn't want to experience that same anxious wait again.
As they watched Xia Tian's three-wheeled cart disappear, Fangcun nodded to Gu Jian Yuan'er, who understood with a glance.
Reluctantly handing the packed bag to Dong Xiang, she silently followed Xia Tian.
He knew the difference between a full meal and a half-full one.
The three-wheeled cart sped away. Xia Tian, on the cart, suddenly broke into a slightly contemptuous smile.
Suddenly, a clap of thunder echoed through the night sky.
Yuan'er, who was jumping on a tall building, felt her body go numb. She collapsed stiffly onto the roof. When she regained consciousness, the three-wheeled cart was nowhere to be found.
Gu Yuan'er couldn't understand. Why did she get struck by lightning? Wasn't it Si Fang Cai who had cursed the gods before?
With a sigh, she smoothed her explosive hair and headed back.
#@#
It was almost 8 o'clock when she got home.
The Safe Zone was quite far from the villa where Xia Tian lived.
Xiao Qian and Xiao You were still awake. In the past, when they were wandering the apocalyptic city, they would go to sleep at nightfall to conserve their food.
Now, they had a full dinner and didn't have to worry about breakfast the next day. They were accustomed to staying up late after two days of eating and sleeping well.
Hearing the noise, they both went out to greet him.
"Boss, you're back."
Xia Tian nodded. He held the sleeping Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal back to his room,
covering the little guy with the Puka Xiu blanket.
When he returned to the yard, Xiao Qian and Xiao You had already cleaned the three-wheeled cart, making sure there wasn't a speck of dirt on it.
"Boss, is there any work for us? We've only done this much all day, and we're starting to feel uneasy about eating three meals a day."
Xia Tian looked at them strangely. There were actually people vying to be workhorses.
Xiao You also said, "Boss, maybe I should go out with you to set up a stall. We're going to get bored out of our minds at home after you leave."
Even though they had TV to watch, they still felt inexplicably uneasy. How could they stay at home while the boss went out to make money?
"Well... if you have nothing to do, why don't you go to the General Affairs Office and sell scallion pancakes? I'll make the things, and you can use the three-wheeled cart in the morning."
Xia Tian pondered for a moment. He thought it would be good for the two girls to go out and interact with people. This would help them integrate faster.
"Boss, can we do it?"
"Of course. All you need for a street stall is guts. Xiao You will definitely be fine. If Xiao Qian is afraid to shout, she can be responsible for taking the money."
#@#@
A large bag of rice appeared in Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal's dream.
She held the rice, her favorite, and walked happily home. On the way back, her grandmother was waiting for her.
"Hee hee! Grandma~~"
She called out happily, wanting to show her grandmother the rice.
"Xiao Tan, you're home~"
Grandma smiled and waved at the little girl. She looked at her with a kind face.
"Grandma~~ I'm here~~"
The little girl showed a big smile and ran towards her grandmother with her short legs.
Grandma waited in place and watched her encouragingly.
"Grandma, Xiao Tan is so tired, wait for Xiao Tan~"
Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal ran and ran, ran and ran... She didn't know where she left the rice, but she couldn't get close to her grandmother.
"Grandma~ Grandma~~"
"Wait for Xiao Tan~~"
"Take me away~"
......
Grandma's figure became fainter and fainter. Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal, anxious, tried desperately to get closer.
She reached out her hand, about to touch her grandmother, but the next moment, her grandmother disappeared like a bubble, leaving no trace behind.
"Grandma~ where are you?"
"Come back, Grandma~"
"Take Xiao Tan away, Xiao Tan is tired~"
Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal ran through the forest, ran through the town...
The duck mother didn't see her, and Turtle Grandpa didn't see her either...
She wasn't by the river, she wasn't in the small wooden house...
Grandma was gone~~
Leaving Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal alone~
Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal sat sadly at the door, crying loudly~
Grandma doesn't want Xiao Tan anymore...
Grandma~ Grandma~
......
Tears soaked her pillow. Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal suddenly woke up.
"Woo woo~"
Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal cried sadly.
Xia Tian woke up and immediately hugged the little girl. "Tan Tan, what's wrong? Does your tummy hurt again?"
"Woo woo~ Big Brother~"
Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal shook her head.
"What's wrong? Tell Big Brother, Big Brother is here."
"Grandma~ Woo woo~"
"Grandma~ Grandma doesn't want Xiao Tan anymore~"
Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal cried very sadly.
"Did you have a nightmare?" Xia Tian gently patted Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal's back.
"Yeah~ Grandma~"
"Woo woo~"
Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal stretched out her little hand and hugged Xia Tian tightly, as if afraid that her brother wouldn't want her either.
She wasn't afraid of a hard life, wasn't afraid of hard work, and even being hungry didn't matter. What she feared was loneliness...
A lonely little wooden house, a lonely person.
Eating alone, saying goodnight alone.
She didn't want to act like a 'grown-up', she just wanted to be a child, to snuggle in a warm embrace.
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Big Brother is here, Big Brother will always be here."
"Xiao Tan~ Xiao Tan~ be good, be good~ Big Brother, when will Grandma come back?" With tearful eyes, Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal looked expectantly at Xia Tian.
"Tan Tan, be good. We won't cry. Grandma loves seeing Tan Tan smile happily."
"I didn't cry~ Grandma said that Xiao Tan should be strong and not cry, Xiao Tan won't cry~"
Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal rubbed her eyes, trying to hold back her tears. She used to be able to do it when she was alone, but why couldn't she stop crying now?
Grandma doesn't like crying children~ woo woo~~
"Woo woo~~ Big Brother~"
"Xiao Tan is a bad child~ woo woo~~" Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal hugged Xia Tian tighter, feeling as if she had suffered a great injustice.
"Tan Tan is the best! Tan Tan is the best, best child in the world. She helps Big Brother wash rice, she helps Big Brother make scallion pancakes, she helps Big Brother watch the fire, she helps Big Brother take money... Our Tan Tan is the most capable!"
Xia Tian softly comforted the little girl in his arms. The sight of her tearful eyes broke his heart.
"It's okay. It was just a nightmare. Grandma loves Tan Tan the most, and Big Brother loves Tan Tan the most too. When Tan Tan grows up happily and has three meals a day, Grandma will come back."
"Hmm hmm~ Xiao Tan will be good."
Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal still clung to Xia Tian, refusing to let go.
As if she was afraid that Xia Tian would run away.
"Look, even the rice bowl is worried and came running to see you."
Xia Tian realized that it was already dawn. The dog, Rice Bowl, had run into the room.
"Woof woof!" Rice Bowl barked twice.
"Let's get up, brush our teeth, and wash our faces. Let's have a happy and energetic day, okay?"
"Okay!"
Xiao Bei Tan Charcoal reluctantly got up from Xia Tian's arms and followed him step by step. She brushed her teeth and washed her face with him, her eyes always on her brother.
When Xia Tian was kneading the dough in the kitchen, she sat with the dog and watched obediently.
"Big Brother, are we still going to sell scallion pancakes today?"
"Today your sisters, Xiao You and Xiao Qian, are going to sell them. We'll cheer them on."
"Hmm!"
(Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the various forms of support, including flowers, urging updates, monthly tickets, and rewards. There are too many to list individually, and the author is incredibly grateful!)