Bai Dan glanced at the courtyard, it was cluttered with debris everywhere. It didn't look clean at all like before.
Bai Dan handed the meat to Bai Da and was about to leave when he noticed Bai Da's clothes.
There was a big tear, and no one bothered to mend it.
"Look at your clothes, what do they even look like? Hurry up and mend them!"
These days, you couldn't just go out and buy clothes easily, it was a matter of patching them up to last another year.
Bai Da looked a bit embarrassed and put his hand behind his back.
"Well, Bai Zhi isn't here, so no one is mending for me. Dad, could you ask Bai Zhi to come back? We are really busy here and need her help!"
Bai Da hadn't wanted to say this, but he had no choice.
These past few days, he had been making do with whatever he could find; the three children couldn't cook and usually just made porridge. How could this go on?
Especially since Xixi had lost weight. The three of them were well-behaved enough to dig up fish mint to earn money, but if they didn't eat well...
Bai Dan's face darkened upon hearing this, and he looked at Bai Da with a somber gaze.
"Say one more word, and Bai Zhi will live with me from now on. How come you bully her whenever you feel like it? When no one is doing your work, suddenly you want her back? Is she your old maid? She's a child too. Why don't you have Bai Ye or Bai Yu cook? And your precious daughter!"
Bai Dan glanced at the group pet standing behind Bai Ye with a bit of grievance,
Looking chubby and well-fed, clearly never having suffered.
She complained about being tired just from digging a bit of fish mint each day.
His Xingxing cleaned the house inside and out without ever complaining about hardship or fatigue.
Bai Da felt uncomfortable upon hearing this. Xixi was his good brother's child, how could he let her suffer? Besides, she was still young.
Just a little thing, she would always act spoiled and say she loved her daddy the most.
"Dad, Xixi is still young, how can she do heavy work? I can handle the cooking, you have other matters to attend to. Why don't you head back? It's fine if Bai Zhi doesn't come back, let her take care of you."
If Bai Zhi didn't come back, it was fine, Dad was getting older, so let her look after him too.
Bai Dan was furious at Bai Da's reasonable-sounding words. He especially regretted bringing them meat.
"Ha, she's young? Is my Xingxing much older? Bai Da, your name suits you perfectly!"
Bai Dan turned and left, not wanting to see this foolish son any longer.
Xingxing and Xixi were about the same age, but Xixi was considered too young and needed care while Xingxing had to do everything?
Bai Da was stunned, wanting to stop Bai Dan, but didn't know what to say.
At that moment, Bai Ye walked over and glanced at the meat in Bai Da's hand,
"Papa, you must be tired, go rest. We'll cook."
Bai Ye took the meat from Bai Da's hand. Bai Da didn't believe the three of them couldn't cook a decent meal!
Bai Da's heart warmed seeing Bai Ye's sensible nature, and he ruffled his hair,
"No, you don't know how, let me do it. Just help me start the fire!"
Bai Da trudged to the kitchen, dragging his weary body. The kitchen was a mess.
Xixi was washing dishes by the stove, though she'd never done it before, so she seemed clumsy.
Hearing someone enter, she got scared and quickly turned around, sighing in relief upon seeing it was Bai Da. She patted her little chest,
"Papa, I'm clumsy and can't wash well, but I will learn!"
She smiled sweetly, her eyes shining brightly at Bai Da,
"Papa, I'll learn to cook too, so when you come back, there will be food. Okay? Now go rest, I'll cook with my brothers. Trust me, I'll do well!"
Although Xixi clearly didn't know how to cook, her confident demeanor made Bai Da want to laugh, feeling less tired,
"Alright, I'll give you a chance. Go ahead and try."
Even if it didn't turn out well, it didn't matter. Xixi was so obedient, Bai Da thought.
Meanwhile, the family of three was having a warm and happy moment at home, Bai Dan walked home, growing angrier with each step, feeling Bai Da treated Xingxing unfairly. He decided not to bring them anything again.
Thankfully, Xingxing wasn't here. Otherwise, seeing Bai Da like that would have made her sad.
If Bai Zhi knew, she would only say, "Grandpa, you're overthinking. I don't care about them. I just want to stay away from them and live my little life. Their lives are practically charmed compared to ours."
Bai Dan returned home to find Bai Zhi cooking, preparing fried potatoes, cold fish mint salad she had dug up, and garlic sprouts stir-fried with meat.
Seeing Bai Dan, Bai Zhi beamed a big smile,
"Grandpa, you're back! Come eat!"
Seeing Bai Zhi's smiling face, Bai Dan's anger dissipated considerably. That foolish boy didn't know any better. From now on, he would live happily with Xingxing and not let her go to them.
"Alright, Grandpa's coming. Didn't I tell you to wait for me to cook? Why don't you listen, child."
Bai Zhi felt a bit helpless. It was just cooking, Grandpa made such a fuss, as if she couldn't lift a finger. But her heart was warm.
Whether it was the Grandpa who had already left her or the one in this world, they both loved and cared for her deeply, and she was content with that.
From now on, she would always stay with Grandpa.
"Grandpa, it's just cooking, I'm used to it. After dinner, let's do some bamboo weaving together. I want to make a special small basket."
Bai Zhi had already planned to make Green Bean Cakes, Red Bean Cakes, and Date Cakes to sell, then save money to buy other things.
She and Grandpa would have a better future, buying many houses and becoming landlords, haha.
"Alright, Grandpa will teach you."
Bai Dan thought Xingxing just wanted to play and didn't mind. The grandfather and granddaughter happily finished their meal, then Bai Dan shooed Bai Zhi to do her homework while he washed the dishes.
After everything was cleaned up, the two turned on the courtyard light and began weaving bamboo baskets outside. Bai Dan could continue even with his eyes closed after decades of practice.
He had supported Bai Da and his siblings with this skill.
"Grandpa, I want to make a basket this small, can I?"
Bai Zhi gestured, it would be about the size of a small watermelon, just right for holding pastries and looking cute.
"Alright, Grandpa will weave it for you."
Making one that size would take him two hours. Xingxing probably wanted to carry it around outside, and of course, he would fulfill her wish.
...
By morning, Bai Zhi woke up to find a small basket on her room table. It was tiny, especially delicate and cute. Her eyes sparkled at the sight. This basket was so beautiful and Grandpa had taken such effort to make it; she couldn't bear to give it away.