When Yang Dingbang got ho, he found the old madam sitting in a chair, waiting for him. He quickly recounted the whole affair to her and sighed, "Lin Lan was very brave."
"That bastard, Ye San." The old madam slapped the armrest of her chair. "Poor Lin Lan. She must have been scared out of her wits when she heard that thief break in! I’m going over to keep her company."
Yang Dingbang quickly steadied her. "Grandma, Lin Lan said she’s fine. I think we should just let her have so peace and quiet. You can go over in the morning, alright?"
The old madam wiped away a tear. "Sigh! It’s a hard life for a young widow. When sothing like this happens to a woman on her own, people will gossip. You have to help her! Don’t let the Ye family show up at her door."
Yang Dingbang nodded. "Don’t worry. I’ve already spoken to Brother Zhang. I asked him and his wife not to ntion this to the team for now. We can talk about it after the case is closed."
The old madam nodded, then went back to her room and lay down, still fully clothed.
****
Lin Lan finished making all the pastries for the morning market and went to the bedroom to check on Little Douzi. When she reached his bedside, she saw his face was flushed. His little hands were clutching the thin blanket on his chest as he tossed and turned restlessly.
’Oh no, he was frightened last night.’ Lin Lan quickly picked him up. "It’s okay, sweetheart, Mommy’s here. Don’t be scared..."
Little Douzi opened his eyes and saw Lin Lan. He threw his arms around her neck and burst into tears. "Mommy, I had a dream! I dread a bad guy took you away, and the bad guy killed Dahuang! WAH... WAH... WAH..."
"Don’t be scared. Mommy told you dreams aren’t real. Big boys don’t cry."
Her heart aching, Lin Lan gently patted his back and soothed him with her soft voice. Once he had cald down, she gave him the calming dicine the doctor had prescribed for frights and coaxed him back to sleep.
When he was sleeping soundly again, she went to make so sweet potato congee, scrambled eggs with chives, and mixed in so pickled cowpeas. Just as she was about to wake him up to eat, the old madam arrived.
Seeing Lin Lan up and working with an apron on, the old madam felt relieved. "We don’t go looking for trouble, but we aren’t afraid of it either," she said, pleased. "When trouble cos knocking, you did the right thing by standing your ground and fighting back."
"I know." Comforted, Lin Lan helped the old madam inside. "I’m not scared. I’m not worried about anything else, just Little Douzi. He was so frightened last night that he had a bit of a fever this morning. He’s doing better now that I’ve given him so dicine."
The old madam said worriedly, "Let go see him."
The two went inside and saw him sleeping peacefully. They ca back out and talked for a little while longer.
The old madam stood up. "I’ll go back and tell ihua. I’ll have Little Kai tell the school that Little Douzi is taking the day off. He shouldn’t go to school today."
Lin Lan nodded and picked out a plate of pea cakes for her. "Take these back for Dandan’s breakfast."
The old madam took the plate. "Co get if you need anything."
"I will."
After seeing the old madam off, Lin Lan looked back at the courtyard gate. She could no longer see Dahuang wagging his tail, darting around her feet trying to curry favor. A pang of sorrow hit her, and she closed the gate and went inside, only to see Little Douzi shuffling out in his slippers.
"Mommy, where’s Dahuang?"
Lin Lan hesitated for a mont before picking him up. "Dahuang is gone. Mommy buried him in the bamboo grove in the backyard."
"WAAAH! WAHH..." Little Douzi buried his face in Lin Lan’s shoulder and cried his heart out. "Dahuang... Dahuang..."
Lin Lan stroked his head and said softly, "Don’t cry. When your uncle cos, we’ll get a new dog and na him Dahuang, too."
"It won’t be the sa! It’s not the real Dahuang! Bad guy! My Dahuang... WAH... WAH..."
"There, there. Don’t be sad," Lin Lan cooed to the heartbroken Little Douzi.
"Little Douzi!" Yang Dingbang arrived in the courtyard with Dandan. Seeing the sobbing child, he said, "What’s a big boy like you doing crying like that? Stop crying. Your uncle will get you a little wolf-dog."
"Okay." Still resting on Lin Lan’s shoulder, Little Douzi nodded at him, tears clinging to his lashes.
Dandan hopped off the back of the bike and held out a set of picture books. "Don’t cry. This is your favorite, *Journey to the West*. I’m giving it to you."
"Say thank you to your big brother, Douzi," Lin Lan said, putting him down.
Little Douzi sniffled and took *Journey to the West*. "Thank you, Brother Dandan. I’ll give you my *Railroad Guerrillas*."
"Okay, give it to when I get back from school." Dandan patted his head like a little adult. "No more crying, okay?"
Little Douzi wiped his eyes. "I’m not crying." But before the words were even out, fresh tears stread down his face.
Yang Dingbang said to Lin Lan, "Sister-in-law, I told Sister He’s husband and Eldest Uncle about what happened last night. If the Ye family cos to plead on Ye San’s behalf, you don’t have to deal with them if you don’t want to. If they co looking for trouble, Sister He’s husband and Eldest Uncle will handle it."
Lin Lan nodded. "Okay. Thank you for your trouble, Ding Bang."
Dandan looked at Lin Lan with sparkling eyes. "Auntie, Dad said you were really brave!"
Lin Lan smiled and patted his head. "You little rascal. Quick, get on the bike and go to school."
After seeing Yang Dingbang and his son off, Little Douzi finally stopped crying. He asked to see where Dahuang was buried.
Lin Lan took him there. Little Douzi squatted by the spot for a long ti, then stood up and sighed like a grown-up. "Mommy, Dahuang is sleeping under the ground now, just like Daddy."
"Yes."
A wave of sadness washed over Lin Lan. She ruffled his hair and led him back toward the house. It suddenly occurred to her that she had never once heard him say he missed his father. She had only heard from the old madam that Little Douzi was afraid of his father, saying the man was always cursing and hitting people.
The mother and son had just finished eating when the Wang Zhixue brothers arrived. Seeing Little Douzi’s red, swollen eyes, they asked in surprise, "Auntie, what’s wrong with Douzi? Is he not feeling well?"
Little Douzi went up to them. "Cousin Lin, a bad guy killed Dahuang."
Wang Zhilin’s eyes widened. "Who did it? If I get my hands on him, I’ll rip his arms off."
"What are you yelling for!" Wang Zhixue smacked him. "Let Auntie talk."
"..." Lin Lan told them what had happened the previous night.
"Those sons of bitches from the Ye family! I’m going to find them!" The two brothers grabbed the bar used to brace the door and rushed outside.
"Stop!" Lin Lan shouted, halting them. "If you storm over there like this, we’ll lose the moral high ground even though we’re in the right. Ye San has been taken away by the police. With your uncle on the criminal investigation team, I won’t be at a disadvantage. You two go set up the stall first. As long as his family doesn’t show up here, we don’t need to engage with them."
The brothers replied obediently, "We understand."
Lin Lan gave them the goods for the morning market stall, and the two brothers left on their big Golden Deer bicycle.
Little Douzi went inside, put on his schoolbag, and ca out. "Mommy, I’m going to school," he said to Lin Lan.
Lin Lan crouched down to look at him. "Son, you just took dicine this morning. How about you don’t go today?"
Little Douzi took her hand and placed it on his forehead. "I’m all better. The teacher said kids who skip class aren’t good kids."
Lin Lan felt his forehead and cheeks. His temperature was back to normal. "Are you really okay?"
Little Douzi nodded. "I’m a big boy. I get better fast!"
Just then, Little Kai and Little i arrived. Seeing Little Douzi with his schoolbag on, they asked in confusion, "Yang Xiaoguo, Great-Grandma said you got a scare and were taking the day off. Why are you wearing your schoolbag?"
"I’m all better!" Little Douzi ran toward them. "Let’s go."
Lin Lan had no choice but to let him go with them, deciding she would go to the school to check on him later.
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