7. Vigor and Vitality

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PS: It’s a new week, and Xiaobai is asking for recommendation votes. She wants to climb the rankings, and she’s threatening to pick a fight with anyone who doesn’t vote.

As soon as Zhang Tan arrived at work, he was summoned to the conference room along with nine other colleagues, all of whom were young.

The assistant team leader walked in and said, "You’ve all been with the company for a while now. The longest-serving among you have been here for over three months, and the newest, Zhang Tan and He Chao, have been here for a week. I’m giving you a theme: you have one day to write a story outline of at least 5,000 words. Hand it to me before you clock out."

The group perked up.

"The title is 'The Great Adventure of Little Mud.' It’s about a mud toy named Little Mud that escaped from a toy factory and met a group of other toys, leading to many interesting events. Follow this train of thought as you write..."

The assistant team leader left as soon as he finished explaining, and the meeting was adjourned.

Everyone dispersed. Zhang Tan returned to his cubicle to mull over the plot.

At four in the afternoon, he printed out the finished story outline, stapled it together, and handed it to the assistant team leader.

"That was quick."

The assistant team leader took his manuscript, glanced at it, and placed it on his right, where two others were already waiting. It seemed Zhang Tan was the third person to submit.

After handing in his work, Zhang Tan left. Aunt Huang had called, asking him to come over for dinner.

Zhang Tan bought some fruit and arrived at Aunt Huang’s place, where her husband was also present.

Hearing the commotion, Aunt Huang poked her head out from the kitchen. "Sit for a moment, Zhang Tan, it’ll be ready in ten minutes. Old Huang, why don't you talk to Zhang Tan about that pretentious little novel of yours?"

Old Huang, Aunt Huang’s husband, looked a bit embarrassed at the remark.

"You have no appreciation for it. How is it pretentious?"

Aunt Huang called out from the kitchen, "It’s not pretentious, it’s just that my teeth are aching from the sweetness."

Zhang Tan smiled at Old Huang. "Does Uncle Huang enjoy writing?"

Old Huang looked a bit bashful and chuckled. "It’s just a hobby. I heard you’re working at the Pujiang Film Studio now? Writing scripts?"

Zhang Tan replied, "Still learning the ropes. By the way, is A-Mei back from her business trip yet?"

"Not yet. I heard her trip was extended by two days."

Old Huang looked quite displeased. A single woman sent on a business trip for over ten days, and the company didn't even show any consideration; they were working her like a beast of burden.

The two chatted for a while before sitting down for dinner.

Looking at the table full of dishes, Zhang Tan felt a sudden wave of emotion.

"Thank you, Aunt Huang. You put a lot of thought into this; these are all my grandmother’s signature dishes."

Although Aunt Huang wasn't related by blood to his grandmother, she had grown up under her care, and their bond was like that of mother and daughter.

Perhaps thinking of his grandmother too, Aunt Huang sighed, then immediately put on a smile. "As long as you like it."

She thought to herself that if his grandmother could see how he had changed, she would surely be even happier.

Throughout this week, Aunt Huang had been quietly observing Zhang Tan, discovering that his transformation was genuine and not just for show. The rebellious and unruly attitude he once had was now nowhere to be seen.

"Eat, eat. Zhang Tan, try it and see if you’ve picked up your grandmother’s cooking skills," Uncle Huang urged.

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Zhang Tan tasted a piece of the crystal pork knuckle. "It tastes exactly the same."

...

By the time they were finishing dinner, Aunt Huang said, "I went to the police station today and saw Xiao Mi. The little girl has lost so much weight. She was crying so pitifully when she saw me; it was heartbreaking."

Zhang Tan asked, "Have you still not found her family?"

Aunt Huang replied, "She’s originally from Shandong. We’ve already contacted the police there to look, but so far, nothing."

Old Huang said indignantly, "Parents today are so irresponsible. How can you just lose a child that old?"

Aunt Huang said, "Who’s to say? I’ve seen Xiao Mi’s mother. She’s a frail, thin woman, raising Xiao Mi all by herself in Pujiang. The pressure must have been too much; she probably couldn't take it anymore. She was usually very doting on her, so she must love her daughter. I just don't know what happened to make her walk away."

Old Huang raised his voice. "What kind of 'love' is that? If she loved her, she wouldn't have abandoned her. Is that something a mother should do?"

Aunt Huang shot him a glance and retorted, "Then let me ask, where did the father go? Leaving the mother and daughter behind—how could he? Is that something a father should do?"

Old Huang grew quiet. "We’re discussing the abandonment of Xiao Mi right now."

Aunt Huang pressed on. "Her father is even worse. Not only did he abandon Xiao Mi, he abandoned Xiao Mi’s mother, too. Is he even a human being? Is he a man?..."

With Zhang Tan present, Old Huang felt awkward. "Don't get so emotional. Try to be a bit more restrained and keep to the facts."

Aunt Huang rolled her eyes at him. "I’m not talking to you anymore. I’m heading to the nursery."

It was clear that her status in the household remained at the top.

Zhang Tan rose to his feet as well. "Uncle, I’m heading back too."

Old Huang saw them to the door. "Come by again next time."

On the way back, Aunt Huang suddenly said, "The police officer at the station asked me today if we could take Xiao Mi back for now until they find her family. I didn't give an answer yet; you have to make the decision."

Zhang Tan asked, "Why? Why do they want that?"

Aunt Huang explained, "Xiao Mi has been crying and making a scene at the station. No matter how they soothe her, she won't stop. She’s lost so much weight; if this keeps up, she might get sick before they even find her family. She has many little friends at the nursery—Xiaobai is one of her little sisters. The police think returning to the nursery would stabilize her emotions. They asked for our opinion, and of course, the police would cover the costs."

Zhang Tan replied, "I don't know much about this, but what do you think, Aunt Huang?"

"She’s so pitiful. It’s not a big deal, so I think it’s fine."

"Alright then, let’s bring her back."

If Xiao Mi is back, Xiaobai should stop looking at him with such hostility, right? I hope she stops calling me 'Little Blackie'—if she says it again, I’ll have to spank her.

Just as he thought of Xiaobai, a commotion broke out in the nursery. Xiaobai, looking fierce and wild, was chasing after a chubby little boy, shouting "Little Brat! You big dummy! You silly goose!" while pursuing him all over the yard.

The chubby boy couldn't outrun her and was pinned to the ground. But he was stronger, flipped her over, and the two began to wrestle.

Zhang Tan: -_-||

So fierce, so incredibly fierce. Xiaobai, you really are something else. You dare to take on a boy a whole size bigger than you? Where do you get the courage? And you’re actually managing to hold your own—I have to give it to you.

Teacher Xiao Liu and Old Li rushed over to separate them and ordered them to stand still.

Both were covered in dust. Xiaobai’s hair was a mess, and there was a streak of mud and a scratch on her palm-sized face—she looked exactly like a little wildcat that had just fought a bloody battle.

The zipper of her big "China" jacket was broken, and she kept looking down, fiddling with it. She seemed more concerned about her jacket than the scratches on her face.

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The chubby boy didn't fare much better; his pants had slipped down halfway, revealing his butt crack.

On his pale butt cheek was a clear shoe print, and next to it, a patch of red—that was where Xiaobai had pinched him; Zhang Tan had seen it clearly.

That wasn't all. Inside the chubby boy's pants, a brown-and-white patterned fake snake was stuffed right in the crack! The head was pointing in, the tail was sticking out, and it was vibrating rhythmically. It looked like an electric toy snake, which was just speechless.

Furthermore, the chubby boy’s face was smeared with dirt, as was his mouth. His nose was bleeding, and he was covering it while sobbing, completely terrified.

"Waaaah, Xiaobai hit me~~~"

The chubby boy cried out. After all, he was only a five-year-old; he had never seen such a ferocious little girl.

Xiaobai glared at him. "What are you whining about? You big dummy, you blockhead, you silly goose!"

If Teacher Xiao Liu hadn't been holding her back, she would have charged at him again.

Aunt Huang said with a cold face, "Take Luo Zikang back first. Have Teacher Tang look at him and stop the nosebleed."

The chubby boy left crying. Aunt Huang stared at the indignant Xiaobai in silence, intending to suppress her arrogance with her sheer presence and gaze.

Xiaobai slowly realized things were not going well. She retracted her little claws and fangs, transforming from a bristling wildcat into a docile little kitten.

"Why were you fighting?" Aunt Huang asked.

Xiaobai raised her hand to wipe her face, only to smear even more dirt on it.

"That brat Luo Zikang used a snake to scare Chengcheng..."

"Speak Mandarin!" Aunt Huang interrupted.

Xiaobai obediently switched to Mandarin. "Luo Zikang used a little snake to scare Chengcheng..."

She was articulate, explaining the incident clearly and logically. According to her, she had no fault at all—it was entirely Luo Zikang’s doing.

Aunt Huang was left speechless, while Zhang Tan couldn't help but admire her internally.

In short, Luo Zikang had used a toy snake to scare a little girl named Chengcheng, making her cry. Xiaobai, standing up for her friend, argued with him, and then Luo Zikang started the fight.

Zhang Tan figured Luo Zikang probably couldn't win an argument against her. He had been driven crazy by Xiaobai himself these past few days and had several times wanted to discipline her and give her a lesson.

Aunt Huang asked, "Did Luo Zikang start it?"

Xiaobai nodded repeatedly, looking so innocent and cute that one couldn't associate her with the fierce creature from moments ago.

Seeing she wasn't about to change her story, Aunt Huang said, "Xiao Liu, take her and wash her face. Clean her hair and clothes, too. There’s a scratch on her face; handle it carefully so it doesn't leave a scar. Once that’s done, bring her and Luo Zikang to my office."

As Xiaobai was led away by Teacher Xiao Liu, she didn't forget to shoot a fierce, glaring look at Zhang Tan.

Zhang Tan: -_-||

"Make sure there’s no scar, or I won't be cute anymore."

Xiaobai kept her head held high, nagging at Teacher Xiao Liu as she walked away.

Zhang Tan thought to himself: Should I tell her she’s already not cute?