Afraid that her purchases might attract attention, Nan Sheng deliberately covered them with a woven plastic bag to hide what was tied inside.
Thinking of the two children at home, she grew anxious and hurried back, pushing the cart. Though their time together had been short, she genuinely cared for them.
Having been an orphan herself, she knew what it was like to grow up without anyone to shield her from life’s hardships. Even if it was just to make up for her own past, she wanted to be a dependable figure for these two children.
After finishing her shopping, she stopped by the vehicle registration office to get her license stamped—now she officially owned a bicycle.
At this time of year, most villagers were busy working in the fields, so the roads were quiet. Whenever she passed hillsides or overgrown paths, Nan Sheng’s heart raced, fearing she might run into bandits.
After pushing the cart for about half an hour, she was too exhausted to go on and had to stop to rest.
She checked her watch—it was already 11:30. She wondered if the two little ones at home had anything to eat.
Nan Sheng had a simple mindset: since she couldn’t leave the Lin family due to her obligations, and since she’d be living with the children for a long time, she would take on the responsibility of being their guardian for as long as she stayed.
As for Lin Han, he was stationed at the military base year-round, so their paths rarely crossed. She considered him more like an employer—after all, he paid her wages, and in return, she raised his children. Neither of them was at a disadvantage.
Just as she was lost in thought, an ox cart approached from the direction of the town. A kind-hearted elderly woman called out from a distance, "Comrade, which village are you from? Do you need a ride?"
When they got closer, the woman noticed the bicycle and chuckled awkwardly. "Girl, why aren’t you riding your bike?"
Nan Sheng felt a little embarrassed, but the couple seemed honest, so she admitted, "This is the family’s bicycle, but I’m too short to get on it properly."
Riding the ox cart wouldn’t be so bad—slow, but at least it would save her energy.
Hearing this, the old woman immediately guided the cart closer. "Quick, girl! Step on the cart’s edge—you’ll be able to mount the bike from there."
Nan Sheng: ?
Before she could react, the woman had already helped her onto the bicycle, looking pleased with herself. Luckily, Nan Sheng’s feet could reach the pedals, so riding wasn’t too difficult.
The old man watched as Nan Sheng wobbled ahead and muttered to his wife, "Wouldn’t it have been better to let her ride the ox cart? What if she falls?"
His wife swatted his arm. "Just drive the cart. Riding a bicycle is faster and looks more impressive."
Another good deed done—she’d surely earn some merit for this!
Meanwhile, Nan Sheng was struggling. The road was bumpy, with large stones jutting out in places, making the ride uncomfortable. After a while, she managed to pick up speed and estimated she’d be home in another half-hour.
Back at the house, Sizhe and Siqi had finished breakfast long ago and were now starving. Siqi clutched her stomach and whined, "Brother, can’t you make us something to eat?"
Sizhe shot her an exasperated look. Had she already forgotten their stepmother’s temper after just two days of decent meals?
If he dared touch the food supplies, she’d throw a fit when she returned.
"Just bear with it. We used to survive on three bowls of water a day—we’ll manage. I’ll go check the riverbank and see if I can find any duck eggs."
Siqi pouted. That wasn’t the same!
Even if they didn’t always have enough at home, their grandparents and brother would sneak her food. Besides, after eating well these past few days, skipping a meal felt even worse.
She whimpered, "Then hurry back, okay?"
Just as Sizhe stepped outside, he spotted someone on a bicycle approaching from a distance, swaying so precariously it looked like they might topple any second. He sidestepped to avoid being hit.
"Is that you, big kid?" Nan Sheng called out cheerfully.
Sizhe froze. Was that his stepmother on the bicycle?
Before he could respond, Nan Sheng urged him to open the gate—otherwise, she might crash into it. "Stay back! I can’t steer very well."
But Sizhe didn’t move. Afraid she’d ride straight into the house, he followed closely behind her. "Just pull the brakes slowly, and the bike will stop."
Was the problem that Nan Sheng didn’t know how to brake?
No—the real issue was that even if the bike stopped, she couldn’t get off. So she kept circling the yard until even Sizhe couldn’t help but laugh.
"Slow down, pull the brakes, and I’ll hold the front wheel steady so you can step off."
Nan Sheng hesitated, worried he might get hurt, but before she could protest, Sizhe had already positioned himself in front of the bike. She slammed on the brakes—the bike stopped, but she ended up with an unfortunate crotch collision.
The pain was… unforgettable.
Luckily, Sizhe was strong enough to tilt the bike gently to the left, allowing her to dismount safely without either of them falling.
"Big kid, take the things from the bike to the kitchen. I’ll sort them out later."
Sizhe watched as his stepmother hobbled inside, her face twisted in discomfort. He bit back a laugh—this was probably the happiest he’d felt in months.
He parked the bicycle by the door and began unloading the groceries: rice, flour, assorted candies, seasonings, and most importantly—meat!
Though it was just the less desirable cuts like ribs and pig’s feet.
As soon as he finished, he heard Siqi’s excited chatter from the east room. "Mom, you’re back! Did you really buy meat? Can we have some tonight?"
"Sweetheart, please let me lie down for a bit. You can even cook my flesh tonight if you want!" came the exhausted reply.
"Uh… never mind."
Siqi pouted again. She definitely wasn’t eating human meat.
Meanwhile, Sizhe, like any boy his age, was fascinated by the bicycle. His eyes sparkled as he circled it, itching to try riding it himself.
Nan Sheng, drained from exhaustion, hunger, and her recent ordeal, took a long time to recover. Siqi brought her a bowl of cold water, which she gulped down gratefully.
"Come on, let me show you what I bought."
In the kitchen, the rice and flour had already been neatly stored, and the seasonings and baking soda were in their proper places. Sizhe had even placed the meat in cold water to keep it fresh—she was impressed by his diligence.
She took the three types of candy and a jar of moisturizing cream to her room, then handed Siqi two pieces of White Rabbit milk candy. "I bought sweets today. From now on, you can have one piece every day, okay?"
Siqi nodded eagerly, already popping one into her mouth.
Only after arriving home did Nan Sheng realize she’d forgotten something crucial—she’d bought the bike but not a lock. What if a thief sneaked in at night and stole it?
She called out, "Big kid, bring the bike into my room. I forgot to buy a lock."
Sizhe obeyed immediately, wheeling the bicycle inside. As he turned to leave, she grabbed his arm and pressed two pieces of White Rabbit candy into his palm.
His stepmother smiled. "These are for you. Don’t secretly save them for your sister—too much candy will rot her teeth!"
