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 me get him something 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 some 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?"
"Meat!" Pan'er declared his favorite.
"You want meat? How about braised pork? And some scrambled eggs—your other favorite?" Ye Yunniang planned the meal.
Pan'er nodded eagerly and added, "And a big chicken leg!"
"We can’t have chicken legs tonight. There’s no chicken at home. 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 some egg cakes, escorted Pan'er to the Xu family, then returned home to busy herself in the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Liang Maimiao asked around but found no one who knew where the child had come from. She rushed to the noodle stall to tell Cai Damei about the abandoned child.
Cai Damei hurried home upon hearing the news.
"That child is…?"
"Yes." Ye Yunniang nodded heavily, confirming Cai Damei’s guess.
"He—" Cai Damei 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 me go. You have two children to care for." Cai Damei 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 me?" 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 steamed egg custard, drizzled with sesame oil.
"No more tears. Let’s eat soft, fragrant custard." She fed him spoonfuls.
At the smell 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 time—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 moment before nodding.
"Good boy." Ye Yunniang stroked his cheek and started cooking.
Dinner was ready, but Cai Damei 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 Damei but couldn’t leave the children.
Then a figure appeared at the alley’s end. As it neared, she recognized Tie Xiong—carrying Cai Damei on his back!
"Mom!" Ye Yunniang rushed forward.
Tie Xiong sidestepped her helping hands and carried Cai Damei into the main room, settling her onto a chair.
Once seated, Cai Damei 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 Damei gulped down.
"Another cup, please."
After two cups, Cai Damei 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 seemed fine.
"I saw her myself," Cai Damei confirmed.
"Who killed her?"
"Initial signs point to suicide," Tie Xiong answered, shocking Ye Yunniang again.
Suicide?
Remembering Jin Huifang’s hollow, lifeless eyes at the market, it made a terrible sense.
"What did you two discuss when you met?" Tie Xiong asked.
Ye Yunniang glanced at Cai Damei, who nodded for her to speak freely.
After hearing her account, Tie Xiong noted it down and prepared to leave.
"Stay for dinner," Cai Damei insisted, gripping his sleeve.
Unable to refuse, Tie Xiong stayed.
Ye Yunniang served braised pork, scrambled eggs, stir-fried greens with mushrooms, steamed buns, and a pot of congee.
Still shaken, Cai Damei 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 home. 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 Damei—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.
