Liu Duo sat on her rocking chair, brushing her kitten’s fur. Bai Xiaojiao had grown up quite a bit, and she knew her master was a kind lady.
Out of nowhere, she suddenly thought of Liu Ran, and wondered how they had been. Had they or had they not moved out?
It was cooler and windier that day. Was there going to be a drop in temperature? “Ling, let’s bring in the bamboo pieces we have left out to dry. I think the rain’s coming.”
Ye Ling looked up at the sky and nodded. Indeed, the weather wasn’t good. Gray clouds had gathered. It was better to keep them now than to be sorry later.
Little Lian and the rest helped to pack up the bamboo pieces.
The ones that were completely dried were packed in gunny sacks and stored in the empty room on the second floor. They had a lot in stock, but Ye Liu wasn’t in a rush to sell them. Liu Duo didn’t ask. She believed in his mind for business, and knew he must have his reasons.
Almost a whole day had passed, and not many villagers had come to sell them bamboo shoots. Liu Duo deduced that the bamboo’s life span must be coming to an end. It had been like this for the past two days.
“Ling, there’s barely anyone coming to sell bamboo shoots. I’m going out for a while. If anyone comes, tell them to drop by again in the afternoon,” she instructed him.
“Duo Er, where are you going?” Ye Ling looked up at her.
She squatted down and said, “To check on Ran Er.”
She didn’t want to keep it a secret. She didn’t intend to care about them, but she was awfully worried about Liu Ran.
Hearing that, Ye Ling stopped peeling bamboo and suggested, “Then I’m coming with you. I want to see him too.”
He had always wanted to go, but it was busy at home, and he was afraid Liu Duo would get mad, since she had stated she wouldn’t bother them.
Now that she had brought it up, he needed to go.
Liu Duo grinned at his flurried decision and nodded.
Having received permission, Ye Ling went to wash his hands by the well, while Liu Duo told Aunt Li and Little Lian that they were heading out.
Along the way, Ye Ling took the initiative and held Liu Duo’s hand. Lately, thanks to Liu Duo, he couldn’t care less what others would say.
“Duo Er, you say we’re going to check up on Ran Er. Would he be happy to see us?” Ye Ling was quite hopeful.
Liu Duo smiled when she noticed his cheerful mood and rosy cheeks, “I think you’re the happy one, aren’t you?”
Ye Ling flushed redder at Liu Duo’s teasing, yet he gave a serious nod, “Yes, because I get to see him, so I’m glad.”
“Ran Er would be overjoyed to know you’ve been thinking of him.”
They pressed on to the Liu household in good cheer.
When they arrived, Liu Duo knocked on the door, and it was a while before Liu Liushi came to greet them.
She stared in bewilderment for a moment before quickly letting them inside, “Duo Er? Do come in.”
Grandmother Liu was nowhere to be seen, and Liu Duo didn’t ask about her.
“We came to check on Ran Er. Where is he?” Liu Duo directly admitted their reason for coming.
Liu Liushi was quite happy to hear that, despite knowing she wasn’t there to visit her own parents, “He’s in the house… and he’s not feeling well.”
Ye Ling reacted more strongly than Liu Duo, “What happened to him?”
Seeing how worried he was, Liu Liushi brought them to Liu Ran’s room.
It was quite small, and worse for wear, with only a wooden bed and a small wardrobe.
