Cauliflower

It was already five o'clock in the evening when Liu Yan returned to Q City, where she lived.

The scorching sun was gradually setting in the west and a bright reddish light was scattering across the sky as if it was going to use the last bit of strength to ignite the world.

Liu Yan was a bit drained after days of dealing with her sister's funeral and the various formalities that followed it and driving for several hours... She hadn't been so physically and mentally exhausted for a long time.

Looking up at the setting sun above the horizon, she found it difficult to keep her eyes open, trying not to accidentally fall asleep.

But after turning her head to see the sleeping cub, that tiredness and sleepiness were miraculously lifted off.

The little girl's body was bent into an incredible posture; her head was tilted to one side, her fleshy cheeks were huddled together, and there were suspicious water marks at the corners of her mouth.

The corner of her lips curled up unknowingly.

Raising a cub didn't seem to be as bad as she imagined before.

"Oh, Yanyan is back?" Aunt Zhao, the landlord, who was enjoying the shade outside the store, came up with a palm fan and said, "This is the vegetable you order..."

She accidentally caught a glimpse of Baobao in the back seat, "This is?"

Liu Yan answered in a hushed, "My sister's daughter."

Aunt Zhao hummed.

She remembered that when Liu Yan looked for her before, she said that her sister, who lived in another city, had an accident and now she had to bring her niece back with her...

Aunt Zhao sighed and comforted her softly, "Don't be too sad. Life and death is already predestined. Yanyan, if you need help, don't be shy to ask this old woman."

Liu Yan nodded and thanked her sincerely.

"The vegetables are almost sold out. Do you want to take the rest of the food back or buy it at a discount prize?"

Seeing that the little girl was sleeping so soundly, Aunt Zhao subconsciously lowered her voice.

Aunt Zhao had been focusing on real estate speculation all her life and never got married; now she could be said to be a little bit successful. Half of the properties in this street were hers. She had no shortage of money and a little bit of almost no trouble in life, which caused her personality to be more carefree and easy-going.

Located near the well-known Q City Middle School and not far away from the subway station connected to the commercial area, there were many people passing by this area every day. Thus, she opened a supermarket for a living, and Liu Yan rented the two-story building next door to open her restaurant.

For the cooking ingredients, including the vegetables, she sourced it from local farmer, so it wasn't easy for her to cancel the order. Therefore, she could only ask Aunt Zhao a favor to place it in her supermarket. After all, she was the only person Liu Yan could ask for help in this city.

Unexpectedly, not only did Aunt Zhao take care of it on her behalf, she also wanted to give her the remaining vegetables without asking for any money.

Liu Yan quickly refused it and transferred the money to her account.

But Aunt Zhao still insisted, "It's not easy for you to work hard at a young age, and furthermore, now you also have a child to take care of. It costs a lot of money to raise a child nowadays!"

After lecturing for ten more minutes, she directly transferred the money back.

Liu Yan was not good at words and couldn't resist Aunt Zhao's sincerety, so she had to issue a sincere invitation.

"You must come over for dinner."

"Of course! How can I miss Yanyan's food?" Aunt Zhao replied with a smile.

This young lady was mature, prudent, and capable. She even helped her change the light bulbs and fix the water pipes for her supermarket a few days ago. She is a great girl!

After going here and there for the entire day, Liu Yan was a bit tired and famished now, so she just brought back the remaining vegetables to make some food later.

"Mom~"

Baobao woke up rubbing her eyes and instinctively wanted to get up, but her body was pushed back by the safety belt.

She seemed to be a little awake, lowered her head and plucked the strap with her chubby fingers, her memory slowly returned to her mind and her big eyes soaked in tears.

"Wuwuwu… Auntie!"

She remembered.

The police aunt said that the mother flew to the sky and she now had to follow her auntie home.

"A-Auntie… sob…"

The front seats completely blocked the little girl's sight, and the dimmed car was like a huge monster, which frightened her.

When Liu Yan turned around, the little girl had turned into a sobbing mess while hugging the old bear doll tightly as if it was her last safe haven.

"Auntie is here… It's okay Baobao. Don't cry anymore…"

As soon as Liu Yan unfastened her seat belt, the little girl threw her arms and legs into her arms, holding her neck tightly.

All of a sudden, Liu Yan felt that she was being pressed into a jar of spicy bitter gourd.

She had to disperse these layers of bitterness again and again.

Simple bitter or hemp are good condiments, but mixed together... well, the vast universe was their perfect home.

He patted the little girl's thin back lightly, "Auntie is here."

The little girl choked and hummed, but her arms tightened even tighter.

"Baobao will never see her mother again, will she?"

The child, who was only three years old and still had a soft, milky voice, seemed to have finally caught a glimpse of the cruel reality.

Liu Yan lowered her eyes slightly and muttered softly, "Auntie also can't see her big sister anymore…"

Once you have made a lie, you will need countless more lies to support it. And children were very sensitive. A white lie might be enough for a short term, but in the long term, it would only hurt the child more.

She wasn't sure that she could hide it for the rest of her life, so she decided to tell the truth early, hoping that time would heal the wound.

"I… I will be a good girl," the little girl's body was tense and kept repeating the words, "I'll be good, I'll be good, so auntie please don't leave me alone..."

She slept all the way through the trip back, and now the two pigtails are a little loose, one high and one low hanging on her head.

A few strands of hair that were not very obedient were wet with sweat from crying, and pressed tightly to her cheeks, they looked particularly distressing.

"I know Baobao is a good girl," Liu Yan raised her hand and brushed the messy hair of the little girl, "Let's spend time together in the future, okay?"

"...Okay," the little girl nodded weakly.

Aunt Zhao, who witnessed everything in silence, took a lollipop from the checkout counter in her supermarket, "Little girl, do you want to eat candy?"

The little girl subconsciously shrank into Liu Yan's arms, like a frightened little quail.

Liu Yan introduced to the little cub, "This is Aunt Zhao."

The little girl looked at her and then at Aunt Zhao, and whispered softly like mosquito's sound, "Hello, Aunt Zhao."

Aunt Zhao responded with a smile and handed the lollipop forward again.

The little girl looked at the candy, gulping, but she still held back her head.

Liu Yan took the initiative to take the lollipop, "It's okay, just take it."

"Thank you, aunt," The little girl took it hesitantly.

"What to say to Aunt Zhao?" Liu Yan smiled.

The little girl blinked and said in a milky voice, "Thank you, Aunt Zhao."

Aunt Zhao smiled and praised, "good girl!"

She was unmarried and childless, but it didn't mean that she hated children, more so an adorable and sensible child like Baobao.

Encouraged, Baobao pursed her lips and was a little happy, "Auntie is beautiful."

Aunt Zhao was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed, "Oh, what a cute little girl!"

Baobao habitually looked at Liu Yan, with joy in her big eyes.

Some people say that Baobao is cute!

Auntie won't leave cute Baobao behind!

After Baobao calmed down, Liu Yan put her down and opened the door.

The rented building space was nearly 100 square meters. It operates downstairs and lives upstairs. It was also spacious.

The moment the lights came on, the completely unfamiliar world was unveiled for Baobao to see for the first time.

She raised her head and exclaimed, "So many tables!"

The wooden tables and chairs inside were clean and tidy, and the floor was spotless, as if the first wave of guests could be welcomed at any time. The room was filled with Chinese decorations like red lanterns and good luck stickers, giving a more amiable and warm impression.

Liu Yan pulled out a chair, "Auntie is going to get some vegetables for dinner. Baobao will wait here, okay?"

The little girl volunteered, "I can help!"

Liu Yan looked down at this beansprout, which was not as tall as a green onion, and raised her eyebrows.

Aware of the doubt in her eyes, the little girl was a little anxious and jumped up and said, "I really can!"

"...Okay."

Being allowed to participate in adult activities was equivalent to a great sense of trust and achievement in the heart of the cub, which was of great significance.

The little girl began to exude a sweet and sour happy breath again, and she jumped and followed to go out.

After walking two steps, she ran back again, put the little bear on the chair carefully, patted its chest lightly, and said, "Little Bear, Little Bear, I'm going to help auntie. Can you wait for me here?"

She jumped up and down in front, and Liu Yan followed her to collect emotional fruits, like an old farmer who had a good harvest.

One big and one small came to the supermarket next door, where several high school students were buying ice cream.

It was dinner time, and the students, who had been trapped for a day, were struggling to escape the cage called "school" and rushed to the nearby shopping street for comfort.

Seeing Liu Yan come in, Aunt Zhao greeted her first, and then her eyes dropped suddenly, "Yo, there is a little helper."

Baobao puffed her chest proudly, "Yes! Baobao is a little helper!"

Aunt Zhao and the high school students burst into laughter.

Liu Yan asked for the location of the vegetable, and the little helper took the initiative to pick up a cauliflower.

The cauliflower was not small at all, but it was even bigger in her hands.

But the little girl was very excited and strode impatiently. She almost tripped her left foot on her right when she passed the pastry area.

"Woah," after regaining her footing, the frightened little girl smirked, "It's dangerous, it's dangerous!"

A group of people were amused by her.

The high school students covered their chests one after another.

"Fuck, I also want such a cute little sister!"

"Wake up, your brother will be able to fight with you in two years."

"...Cuteness is justice!"