Chapter 11

Professor Ding was rather old-fashioned. Even after hearing Ding Sha's explanation, he still had a stern look on his face, muttering, "Half-grown kids ought to be studying..."

Professor Ding walked farther and farther away with his hands behind his back, facing the evening glow. Ding Sha watched his receding figure. Although scolded, she knew it was out of goodwill.

The wooden signboard made to order at Uncle Wei's shop soon arrived. Xiao Jun borrowed a ladder from the neighboring store and put it up himself, while Ding Sha stood on the street to direct him.

Raise it a bit, lower it a bit.

Xiao Jun glanced at the slope below her feet but said nothing, quietly listening to her directions.

When the signboard was finally hung properly, Xiao Jun was tidying up. Ding Sha's eyes fell on the orange vendor's tricycle across the street.

She looked at the oranges, then looked at Xiao Jun. Suddenly she laughed and said, "Stay right there and don't move. I'll go buy you a few catties of oranges."

After saying that, she walked away, laughing merrily.

Xiao Jun, who had little schooling, didn't understand the joke. He watched Ding Sha's gleefully retreating back with puzzlement written all over his face.

A passing lad patted his shoulder familiarly and said, "Hey buddy, your wife is pulling your leg!"

He told Xiao Jun the story behind the joke, "She's pretending to be your dad, hahaha!"

The boy teased him good-naturedly.

Xiao Jun was stunned for a moment, then his eyes softened with laughter.

When Ding Sha returned with the oranges, she saw Xiao Jun looking at her with a half-smile.

Ding Sha felt a little guilty. She figured Xiao Jun didn't know the joke, so she pretended nothing had happened and pushed him back inside, "Let's go, let's go eat oranges! I tried one just now. It's so sweet!"

Xiao Jun let her push him along, taking care to steady her as they descended the stairs. Once they reached the small yard behind, he finally turned to gently pinch her chin.

"Sha Sha wants to be my dad?"

Ding Sha nearly choked on her own saliva.

"You... You know about it. I... I was just joking..." Ding Sha's eyes darted around, somewhat embarrassed and guilty.

"I don't mind," Xiao Jun said with a strong grip, hugging her up like she weighed nothing. "You can be anything to me, as long as you stay by my side." Ding Sha was touched by his words. Sitting in the crook of Xiao Jun's arm, she stroked his slightly chubbier cheeks of late, "I won't leave."

At least I won't abandon you.

Ding Sha thought to herself.

"I bought some wood from Uncle Wei to build you a swing in the yard, how about that?" Xiao Jun held her as he came to a tree, "Right here."

"Make it like a rattan chair with a backrest, okay?"

Ding Sha's eyes lit up, "Really?"

"Then I'll start making it tomorrow." Xiao Jun knew it meant she liked the idea.

Xiao Jun carried her to the wall nearby, "Let's plant flowers here, all kinds of them to fill this patch. It'll look amazing when they bloom."

"Let's plant grapes here? Set up rows of trellises, it'll be a little pavilion once the vines grow up."

"We'll use half this plot to grow veggies you like - tomatoes, bok choy, some peas too. When they're in season I'll pinch off the tenderest pea shoots to cook sour noodle soup for you, how's that?"

Xiao Jun walked her through every corner of the small yard, patiently and thoughtfully telling her the layout and plans for each inch. Ding Sha couldn't help but start imagining their future life following Xiao Jun's descriptions.

Perhaps when the baby is older, he might fall asleep on the swing craving the breeze?

Perhaps when the baby first learns to walk, he might also roll in the mud playfully?

She wondered which of them would be the stern parent and which the doting one.

Ding Sha couldn't help envisioning these heartwarming details.

Knowing she liked the ideas, Xiao Jun smiled and put her down in a recliner while he sat beside her to peel oranges.

Peeling too many inevitably stained the tips of his fingers yellow, which Ding Sha didn't like.

The small shop opened for business quietly one ordinary morning.

The young boss opened the tightly shut front door. He carried out some tables and placed them at the entrance, then two large steaming baskets followed.

A small burning stove was on the ground with a cooking pot on it, the savory aroma seeping out from under the lid, whetting the appetite even at this early hour when hunger had yet to stir.

The basket lids were flipped open just a crack, revealing plump white buns steaming inside. Some were the size of an adult's palm. Even the aroma seemed to convey the flavor of the fillings within.

On the other side, a big pot was bubbling away with the rich fragrance of pork and preserved egg congee, simmered until thick and soft.

The pretty boss lady sat behind the baskets, smiling at passersby as if asking if they'd like some breakfast.

Wang Dong was a middle school student who normally ate at home. But lately, for some reason his parents quarreled every day and he couldn't even get breakfast at home.

His mother gave him money to fend for himself. Wang Dong looked hesitantly at the various breakfast places, wondering what to do. Or maybe he should just buy a loaf of bread at the school store to get by.

Thinking this, he walked along until a concentrated fragrance grabbed hold of all his senses.

His stomach, which just claimed not to be hungry, practically roared to life instantly, growling with a demanding pang of hunger.

Looking up, Wang Dong saw that shop. Was it newly opened? He'd never seen it before...

Still filled with questions, he nevertheless went over.

Seeing the neatly dressed schoolboy approach, Ding Sha stood up right away, "What would you like, little friend?"

"It's our first day open, we only have buns, tea eggs and pork congee for now."

Only then did Wang Dong notice the gentle, fairy-like beautiful boss lady. Recovering from his initial daze, he asked, "Sis, what fillings do the buns have?"

"Two kinds - pork and cabbage, and chive egg. There's also congee and tea eggs, all two yuan each."

She opened the lid to show Wang Dong the buns. Wang Dong hesitated briefly before requesting, "Sis, I'd like two pork, one veggie, a tea egg and a bowl of congee."

"Coming right up, have a seat first and I'll bring them over." Ding Sha took his money and immediately called Xiao Jun to ladle congee.

She put three buns in a plastic bag, picking out a particularly large egg, just as Xiao Jun returned with a bowl of congee.

Ding Sha handed everything to Wang Dong, "If you're not rushed, you can sit at this little table to eat."

Wang Dong indeed wasn't in a hurry. He sat on the small stool and took the first bite of bun. His eyes instantly widened.

The bun had soup inside!

Though it was hot, he couldn't help sucking up a mouthful of the broth on instinct. The rich, savory flavor with the taste of oil... Wang Dong impatiently took another huge bite of the bun.

It was so delicious!

He swiftly polished off two pork buns, then bit into the veggie bun with anticipation.

Just as good as the pork!

Salty and fragrant, wrapped around plenty of golden scrambled egg, extremely satisfying to eat.

Wang Dong's eating speed subconsciously sped up. Whether it was the tea egg or congee, everything was superb.

In the end, he rubbed his bulging stomach somewhat ruefully - this was the first time he had overeaten in the morning...

Ding Sha brought him a breath mint and napkin, "How was it, little friend? Tasty enough?"

"Delicious!" Wang Dong said excitedly. "Sis, do you sell lunch too? If so I'll come back again for lunch!"

Ding Sha was surprised she hadn't prepared to offer lunch this first day.

But she still smiled and said, "Of course we do, just come by later!"