He didn’t understand then what being in dire straits really meant. His maternal grandfather had taken him to a household, where there were no men left, only a grandmother and her granddaughter. The old woman’s eyesight was poor due to endless embroidery work, and the little granddaughter was so skinny that a gust of wind might carry her away.
He also visited their kitchen, which had an empty rice bin and not a piece of meat in sight.
Upon leaving, he begged his maternal grandfather to give the grandmother and granddaughter a hundred taels of silver, which his grandfather agreed to.
He was only told that his sister’s circumstances were slightly better than those of the grandmother and granddaughter, but mentally, not so. If this continued, his sister would go mad and eventually die!
If he could, he was willing to be the one abandoned because he was a boy, a strong man.
When those two figures entered, Mrs. Han jumped off her chair, pinching a pastry.
She looked at them, chest out and head held high.
There was scrutiny in her eyes, and also deliberation.
He was a child, but definitely not a naive one.
When the two women saw him, their eyes reddened with emotion, excitement, and joy, but they restrained themselves from coming closer.
The taller one was his mother, and the short, skinny one must be his sister.
Her complexion was fine, just a bit thin.
She looked quite pretty and somewhat like him. She could not be anyone but his sister.
Han Tianci, holding a pastry, took steps towards Yun Jinnian, and extended his small hand, the half-eaten pastry resting in his palm, "Here, for you to eat!"
Yun Jinnian was somewhat flustered, "Thank you!" He took the pastry and stuffed it into his mouth haphazardly.
This exquisite child was her brother, the one who would risk his life for her.
She quickly untied the purse at her waist, "I also have a gift for you!"
"I handcrafted a Colorful String!" Yun Jinnian took out the finished Colorful String.
Han Tianci raised his wrist, "Then put it on me!"
Yun Jinnian carefully put the Colorful String on Han Tianci, and it fitted just right.
"It’s beautiful, I like it, thank you, sister!" Han Tianci looked at the Colorful String on his wrist and found it quite extraordinary.
"As long as you like it!"
Yun Jinnian dared not imagine what her brother looked like when he was younger.
Pudgy and well-behaved.
"You’ve been at home for some time; can you show me around?"
When Han Tianci said this, Yun Jinnian naturally agreed, "Of course!"
Han Tianci reached out to take Yun Jinnian’s hand.
Her hand was delicate, unlike Han Tianci’s, chubby and soft, truly comfortable to touch.
So this was what her brother’s hand felt like.
All of a sudden, Han Tianci looked towards Mrs. Han, "Mother!"
Mrs. Han was utterly astonished.
She had not expected Han Tianci to call out to her like that, "Ah, ah!"
"I like my sister, and I like you too!" After saying this, Han Tianci, somewhat shyly, pulled Yun Jinnian along to leave.
Yun Jinnian felt a warmth in her chest. This brother of hers was already as tall as her shoulder; in another year or two, he was sure to be taller than her.
Watching the departing siblings, Mrs. Han suddenly burst into tears.
Han Xuzi watched, sighing slightly, "You’re already a mother yourself, and yet you still cry like that!"
"Dad, I’m just too happy!" Mrs. Han said as she wiped away her tears with a handkerchief. "Dad, I’m going to cook. What would you like to eat?"
"Anything is fine. Tianci likes meat, so cook a couple of meat dishes!"
The two kids, Han Tianci liked meat, all kinds of meat, he would even dare to eat tiger meat if offered.
He was fearless, laughed heartily, and very easily accepted others.
Yun Jinnian, however, preferred light food, the lighter, the better, with clear porridge and salty vegetables sustaining her for months without issue.
Yun Jinnian was always composed and extremely cautious.
From this, it was evident that the different environments in which the two children lived shaped their distinct natures!