Chapter Forty-Three: Reunion

Banxia immediately threw her arms around him. "Gansui..."

Gansui gently patted her back. "You're all grown up and still crying? People will laugh at you. Don't cry, alright?"

"Sister..." Anzi, hearing the commotion, rushed out. Seeing his sister hugging someone and crying, he dashed over, intent on giving the man a good kick. But before he could reach them, a pair of large hands blocked his way.

"Little bean, if you interrupt a couple pouring out their hearts to each other, the big bad wolf will come and get you," came a mischievous voice—if it wasn't Linyou, who else could it be?

"Let go of me..." Anzi struggled in Linyou's arms.

Banxia, realizing she was sobbing in Gansui's embrace, felt terribly embarrassed. "Put him down," she said. Linyou, holding on tight to Anzi, could sense he was close to tears.

Linyou set Anzi on the ground, and the boy promptly bit him hard before darting behind Banxia for safety.

"Hey, you little rascal..."

"Alright, alright. Who told you to bully him just now? After all that traveling, you must be starving. Come, let's eat."

Linyou never had much dignity when it came to food. He rushed over, grabbed a piece of lamb, and exclaimed, "Ah, now this is what a proper meal tastes like." He was nearly moved to tears. Only after swallowing that mouthful did he begin to speak: "You have no idea—we’ve been traveling for half a month non-stop. This Gansui is relentless; insisted we must arrive before the New Year, said he couldn’t let you spend it alone. We traveled day and night these last few days. I honestly thought I’d drop dead. Look at me—don’t I look much thinner now?"

But Banxia ignored him and looked straight at Gansui. "You really do look thinner. You didn't have to push yourself so hard." She piled more meat and vegetables into Gansui’s bowl. "Eat more. Later, I’ll heat up more water for you to soak and relax."

"Banxia, why can you only see Gansui? I’m still here, you know."

"Alright, alright, you eat too." Banxia dropped a big chunk of meat into his bowl and gave Anzi a piece of yam. "It’s hot! Blow on it before you eat."

"Banxia, I didn't know you had the makings of a good mother. You and Gansui should hurry up and make a plan."

"Isn't your mouth full enough with all this food?" Banxia snapped, half embarrassed and half amused.

"Don’t mind him," Gansui said quietly. "He just hasn’t learned the meaning of ‘too many words invite trouble.’"

Linyou was suddenly reminded of his painful lesson, and looked at Gansui with a pitiful expression, not daring to say another word.

The meal was filled with laughter and warmth. The house had only two rooms: Banxia and Anzi shared one, while Gansui and Linyou took the other.

On New Year's Eve, it was customary to stay up all night, but since Gansui and Linyou had traveled for so long, Banxia urged them to bathe and rest early. Both were exhausted; only their determination had carried them home. After their baths, they fell asleep quickly, their snores shaking the rafters.

Banxia bathed Anzi as well. In winter, she wouldn't let him do it alone for fear he'd catch a chill. After she finished washing up, she climbed into bed. Anzi was unusually clingy that night—seeing Banxia lie down, he immediately wrapped his arms around her.

"What is it?" Banxia patted his head. This wasn't like him. Just a few days ago, Linzi had come to her to complain that her parents wanted her to sleep alone and she was scared. Xiaozhu immediately retorted that only little kids were afraid, saying big kids slept by themselves. That very night, Anzi insisted on having his own room. Banxia had checked on him several times, worried he wouldn’t settle, but he slept soundly.

"Sister..."

"Yes?"

"Does brother-in-law not like me?"

Banxia was puzzled. What made him think Gansui didn’t like him? "Did he scold you?"

"No. He just never smiles at me, and he doesn’t talk to me."

Banxia finally understood—Gansui’s reticent nature and stern face had probably frightened the child.

"How could your brother-in-law not like you? You're so well-behaved. He just doesn’t know how to be friends with you—he’s afraid you won't like him. Tomorrow, why don't you talk to him a bit, alright?"

Anzi was silent for a moment before agreeing, "Alright." After a while, he asked, "But if he really doesn't like me, will you send me away?" He’d heard Xiaozhu say the other day that the little girl from the tofu seller’s family had been sent away by her stepmother, who didn’t like her; her father had sent her to work as a servant in someone else’s house. Being a servant, Xiaozhu said, was miserable—never enough to eat or wear, and always getting hit. Anzi wasn’t afraid of hardship; he was only afraid that his sister would abandon him.

Only then did Banxia realize—little Anzi was deeply insecure. He was always afraid of being sent away, which was why he was so obedient and never threw tantrums like other children, always studying hard, always helping out—his efforts all born from fear. Banxia felt guilty for not understanding him sooner. She pulled Anzi up from the bed, looked into his eyes, and said, "Anzi, I told you before I would never send you away. I’ll say it again: no matter what happens or who we meet, as long as you don’t want to leave, I will always be your sister. As long as you have me, you will have a home. You don’t have to be perfect or do lots of things for me to love you. Remember last time you accidentally broke something? The first thing I did was ask if you were hurt. That’s because you’re my family, and you’re what matters most to me. I truly, truly love our little Anzi."

Little Anzi clung tightly to her neck, burying his face and sobbing. "Sister... I’m scared... Don’t leave me."

"Don’t be afraid. I’m here. I’ll never leave you."

After crying himself out, Anzi soon fell asleep. Banxia gently patted his back, softly comforting him.

Many people think children don’t understand, but in truth, they understand a great deal. With their pure hearts, they sense all the emotions around them—so sensitive, yet so innocent. Banxia was grateful she could learn what worried little Anzi, so she could protect him even better.

As expected, Gansui and Linyou slept in late. Gansui came downstairs after washing up; Linyou clung to the bed, unwilling to leave its warmth. Their clothes from last night had already been washed and hung in the courtyard, where two wintersweet trees were blooming. Inside, salted meat hung from the rafters. Gansui took a deep breath—this was what a home should smell like.

"Good morning, brother-in-law. Wishing you peace in the New Year." Anzi, remembering his sister’s task, hesitated for a long while before approaching Gansui.

Gansui looked at the child—so small, gazing at him with a mixture of anxiety and hope. He scooped Anzi up into his arms. "Anzi, wishing you peace in the New Year, too." Then he fished out a prepared red envelope from his pocket. "May you be safe and sound in the year to come."

Little Anzi beamed. His sister had been right—brother-in-law didn’t dislike him after all.

"Sister went out to buy groceries. The porridge is still warm in the pot; she said to remind you to have some when you wake up."

"Will you show me where the porridge is?"

"Alright." Brother-in-law’s arms were strong indeed.

When Banxia returned home, she saw the tall and the small one reading by the window. At last, her worried heart could rest—her two favorite people getting along at last. It was rare to see Gansui so gentle; he must be telling a story. Banxia crept over to listen.

"You see, this here is the human stomach. When you cut it open, you can see..." What on earth? Shouldn’t he be telling the child stories about Little Red Riding Hood, or a brave little white rabbit—something enlightening and beautiful?

"What are you two looking at?" Banxia asked in a dark, menacing tone.

"Sister, brother-in-law is teaching me to read detective stories. There’s a headless—mmmph—" Anzi’s mouth was quickly covered by Gansui.

"He’s only five! What are you thinking, showing him that? What if he gets nightmares?" Banxia recognized the book at once as the ‘Bedtime Stories Collection’ left by Shangzhi. Trust Gansui to dig that out.

"You’re not allowed to have any meat for lunch today. Too much—telling scary stories to a child!"

Banxia marched off to the kitchen, disgruntled.

"Brother-in-law, isn’t sister fierce? Don’t be afraid—at lunch, I’ll give you my share of the meat."

"Shh, not so loud, or your sister will hear you."

"I already heard you, stinky Anzi! No meat for you at lunch, either!"

At noon, the table was indeed set with nothing but vegetables. Linyou, having slept until noon and expecting a feast, sat down and exclaimed, "Banxia, are we out of grain? Why so bland?" This wasn’t bland—it was practically water and greens.

Banxia shot him a glare. "Eat if you want. If not, don’t."

"I can’t eat this stuff; I’m going home for a proper meal. See you!" He grabbed some pastries from the table, dashed out, and rode off on his horse.

Banxia felt even more stifled—when suddenly, she felt a warm rush between her legs. Oh no...

"You all eat, I’m not hungry," she said, rushing upstairs in a panic. Her period had come.

"Brother-in-law, is sister really angry?"

"It’s alright. I’ll go comfort her. You eat first, alright?"

Anzi wiped away his tears and began eating quietly.

Gansui took some dishes upstairs for Banxia and found her rummaging for her sanitary cloths.

"Your period came?" No wonder she was so irritable.

Banxia nodded awkwardly, then remembered she was supposed to be angry with him, and turned away.

"I’ll go make you some red date and brown sugar tea. Lie down and rest for a while."

With Gansui being so gentle, Banxia couldn't stay angry. She lay on the bed. Every month, her period pains were excruciating, but after an afternoon’s rest she’d recover. She curled up on the bed like a little shrimp.

Gansui soon returned. "Is it very painful?" Seeing the cold sweat on her forehead, he said, "Here, drink this brown sugar tea." Banxia forced herself to sit up and finish the tea.

"I’ll get you a hot water bottle for your stomach. Let’s see if that helps."

Gansui brought the hot water bottle, placed it on her belly, and gently massaged her stomach.

Banxia soon drifted off to sleep.

It seemed she should see a doctor and get properly treated—this constant pain was no way to live.