Jiang Tingjun cried and reached out for Ye Yunniang to hold him, but Pan'er blocked the way, refusing to let her.
Ye Yunniang crouched down and negotiated with Pan'er, "Pan'er, I'm your mother. That will never change. Look at how pitiful the little brother is crying—he must be hungry. Let get him sothing to eat, alright?"
Hearing Jiang Tingjun's growling stomach, Pan'er reluctantly agreed.
"I knew it—Pan'er is the best." Ye Yunniang first hugged Pan'er, then picked up Jiang Tingjun.
"Shh, don't cry anymore."
Jiang Tingjun nuzzled against Ye Yunniang's neck, clearly seeking milk.
Ye Yunniang had none left, so she coaxed him into the kitchen and scooped a bowl of leftover rice porridge from lunch.
"Let's have so porridge, okay?"
Jiang Tingjun clutched the bowl with his tiny hands and gulped it down hungrily.
After finishing the bowl, his belly was full.
Jiang Tingduo still wanted more.
But Ye Yunniang didn’t give him extra, afraid of overfeeding him. She boiled water, washed him clean, and finally laid the drowsy Jiang Tingjun on the bed.
Throughout this, Pan'er stayed close to Ye Yunniang.
Ye Yunniang hugged Pan'er.
"Pan'er, what would you like for dinner?"
"at!" Pan'er declared his favorite.
"You want at? How about braised pork? And so scrambled eggs—your other favorite?" Ye Yunniang planned the al.
Pan'er nodded eagerly and added, "And a big chicken leg!"
"We can’t have chicken legs tonight. There’s no chicken at ho. Tomorrow, I’ll buy a big rooster and cook it for you, alright?" Ye Yunniang bargained.
"Two chicken legs!" Pan'er held up two fingers.
"Fine, tomorrow both legs will be yours." Ye Yunniang clasped his two little fingers.
"Mom, you're the best." Pan'er threw himself into Ye Yunniang’s arms, reassured that she still loved him most.
"You’re my most precious treasure." Ye Yunniang patted Pan'er’s back soothingly, easing his unspoken unease.
Satisfied, Pan'er ran off to play with Da Lei and Er Lei next door.
Ye Yunniang packed so egg cakes, escorted Pan'er to the Xu family, then returned ho to busy herself in the kitchen.
anwhile, Liang Maimiao asked around but found no one who knew where the child had co from. She rushed to the noodle stall to tell Cai Dai about the abandoned child.
Cai Dai hurried ho upon hearing the news.
"That child is…?"
"Yes." Ye Yunniang nodded heavily, confirming Cai Dai’s guess.
"He—" Cai Dai struggled for words before slapping her own thigh in frustration. "How could parents just… abandon a one-year-old? Throw him away like he’s nothing?"
Disbelief laced her voice.
Ye Yunniang once wouldn’t have believed it either, but now she had no choice.
"Mom, I want to go to Sheep Dung Alley." She needed to see Jin Huifang—to ask why she’d sent the child here.
"Let go. You have two children to care for." Cai Dai stood and strode out.
Ye Yunniang wanted to follow, but Jiang Tingjun’s cries from inside stopped her.
She rushed into the room.
Jiang Tingjun lay on the bed, wailing.
"Awake and crying because you couldn’t find ?" Ye Yunniang smiled as she approached.
Jiang Tingjun flung his arms around her, burying his face in her neck as he sobbed.
Ye Yunniang carried him to the kitchen, where she had stead egg custard, drizzled with sesa oil.
"No more tears. Let’s eat soft, fragrant custard." She fed him spoonfuls.
At the sll of food, Jiang Tingjun stopped crying and ate eagerly, almost too fast.
When the bowl was empty, he peered inside, confirming nothing was left before letting go.
After playing with him for a while, Ye Yunniang checked the ti—it was almost dinner.
She sat Jiang Tingjun on a small chair. "I need to cook now. Be good, okay?"
Jiang Tingjun stared at her for a long mont before nodding.
"Good boy." Ye Yunniang stroked his cheek and started cooking.
Dinner was ready, but Cai Dai hadn’t returned.
Ye Yunniang fetched Pan'er from next door.
She fed both children, tucked them in, and soothed them to sleep.
Jiang Tingjun clung to her, and Pan'er insisted on sleeping beside her too.
Balancing both, Ye Yunniang finally got them to sleep, exhausted and sweaty.
Stepping outside, she gazed anxiously toward the alley’s entrance.
Her heart was torn—she wanted to search for Cai Dai but couldn’t leave the children.
Then a figure appeared at the alley’s end. As it neared, she recognized Tie Xiong—carrying Cai Dai on his back!
"Mom!" Ye Yunniang rushed forward.
Tie Xiong sidestepped her helping hands and carried Cai Dai into the main room, settling her onto a chair.
Once seated, Cai Dai spoke weakly, "Tie Xiong, thank you."
"It’s my duty. How are you feeling, Aunt Cai? Should I fetch a doctor?"
"No need. I’m fine—just shaken. I’ll rest and recover." She grabbed his arm to stop him.
Ye Yunniang brought tea, which Cai Dai gulped down.
"Another cup, please."
After two cups, Cai Dai looked better.
"Yunniang, thank heavens you didn’t go. It was horrifying." She patted her chest, still rattled.
"What happened?" Ye Yunniang’s stomach twisted.
"Jin Huifang is dead," Tie Xiong said, voicing Ye Yunniang’s worst fear.
How? Just two days ago, she’d seed fine.
"I saw her myself," Cai Dai confird.
"Who killed her?"
"Initial signs point to suicide," Tie Xiong answered, shocking Ye Yunniang again.
Suicide?
Rembering Jin Huifang’s hollow, lifeless eyes at the market, it made a terrible sense.
"What did you two discuss when you t?" Tie Xiong asked.
Ye Yunniang glanced at Cai Dai, who nodded for her to speak freely.
After hearing her account, Tie Xiong noted it down and prepared to leave.
"Stay for dinner," Cai Dai insisted, gripping his sleeve.
Unable to refuse, Tie Xiong stayed.
Ye Yunniang served braised pork, scrambled eggs, stir-fried greens with mushrooms, stead buns, and a pot of congee.
Still shaken, Cai Dai only nibbled eggs and sipped congee.
Ye Yunniang helped her to bed, then returned to find Tie Xiong had cleaned every dish.
He ate a lot!
"I’ll handle the dishes," she said, taking them before he could.
"I’ll head ho. Call if you need anything." Tie Xiong excused himself.
Ye Yunniang saw him out, locked the gate, cleaned up, and heated water for washing.
After freshening up, she checked on Cai Dai—sleeping peacefully, no fever—then returned to the children’s room.
Both had shifted in their sleep—Pan'er’s arm draped over Jiang Tingjun, whose tiny foot now rested on Pan'er’s face.
Ye Yunniang separated the two children and settled them back into bed. With a yawn, she lay down to rest.
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