Su Yan realized she hadn't bought any mushrooms, so she walked over, squatted down in front of the stall, and asked, "Hello, how much are these mushrooms?"
The little girl, who had been cowering, suddenly brightened up. She looked up, revealing her slightly dirty but very cute face, and quickly said, "Sister, the fresh wild mushrooms are what I picked up on the mountain today, so they're one yuan a pound, and dried ones are fifty cents, is that okay?"
Su Yan stared at that small face for a moment, feeling a sense of familiarity.
After a moment, she laughed and said, "You're the boss, so whatever you say is fine. But it's snowing now, and the temperature on the mountain is so low. How can you still find fresh mushrooms to pick?"
The snow was so thick that you couldn't see anything on the ground, so it was really rare to find mushrooms.
"I marked the trees before it snowed, and you can see them after the snow is cleared away." The little girl pointed to the mushrooms and said excitedly, "Sister, these are golden coin mushrooms and four-spore mushrooms, perfect for making stew during the Chinese New Year."
There weren't many mushrooms in the five baskets, only about two pounds each.
Su Yan thought for a moment, "I'll take them all. Weigh them for me."
Upon hearing this, the little girl's eyes lit up like light bulbs. "Thank you, sister!"
After saying that, she skillfully put the mushrooms into a bag and weighed them.
Su Yan stood up and said, "It's almost Chinese New Year, why are you still going to the mountains to pick mushrooms? Aren't your family worried?"
The little girl shook her head. "My mother is not in good health and often needs to see a doctor. I need to earn money to buy medicine for my mother."
"And what about your father?"
"Dad?" The little girl paused for a moment before saying, "I don't have a dad. I've lived with my mom since I was little, and my mom doesn't know where my dad is either."
Upon hearing this, Su Yan's heart skipped a beat.
She stared at the little girl in front of her, and the more she looked, the more familiar she seemed... that face...
She couldn't remember it for a moment.
She said absentmindedly, "Then why don't you set up your stall in front? Nobody can see you here."
"I don't have a shed, and the mushrooms would be damaged by the wind outside. Here, I can also take shelter from the snow."
"Sister, it's five yuan and eighty-seven cents in total."
"Ayan, what are you buying there?"
Li Juan walked over carrying the couplets she had just bought, and then she saw the little girl's face.
The next second, she opened her eyes wide as if she had seen a ghost and screamed, "Oh my God!"
The little girl was startled by her reaction and took two steps back, looking at her cautiously.
Su Yan said irritably, "Mom, what are you doing? You scared her!"
Li Juan pointed at the little girl, forcing her gaze to shift to her daughter, and stammered, "She...she...she..."
"Stop!" Su Yan gestured for him to stop. "Straighten your tongue before you speak."
The little girl hurriedly said, "Sister, I've never seen you before, and I've never done anything bad. Please don't refuse to buy my mushrooms, I beg you."
The little girl was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes.
She was counting on this money to pay for her mother's medicine.
Before Su Yan could speak, Tao Yue returned from elsewhere, leading Su Lei by the hand.
"Ayan, godmother, what are you doing over there? Let's go buy fireworks."
As Tao Yue spoke, she glanced at the little girl, her pupils suddenly contracted, and she stared intently at her.
A few seconds later, she suddenly said, "Ayan, when did Brother Yu get married? His child is already so big."
Su Yan: ? ? ! !
She finally understood why the little girl looked familiar; her face bore at least a 60% resemblance to her brother!
Especially around the eyebrows and eyes!
Those peach blossom eyes were practically identical to Su Yu's!
"Yes, yes, yes!" Li Juan realized and quickly said, "I was startled just now because this little girl looks like your brother."
But Su Yu has been on missions for five years, where would he find the time to have a child?
He's never even been in a relationship.
Su Yan's thoughts were in disarray, and she asked, "Little girl, how old are you this year?"
The little girl whispered, "Four years old, sister, can you buy my mushrooms?"
Su Yan: "...Okay."
Her brother was on a mission for five years. He had a child at the beginning of the first year, and the baby was born at the end of the year. The child was four years old, which was the right age for the birth.
She took a deep breath. "What's your name?"
"Zhong Nianyu".
Nianyu... Nianyu!
Su Yan closed her eyes, already 80% certain that the child was related to her brother by blood.
She gathered her thoughts, bent down, and asked, "Nianyu, are you in a hurry to go back? My sister has some clothes that she hasn't worn yet, and I'd like to give you and your mother a couple of pieces. Would it be convenient for you to come back with us?"
Zhong Nianyu shook her head. "Thank you, sister, but Mom said I can't just take things from other people."
Li Juan finally came to her senses and chimed in, "It's alright. It's a waste to leave those clothes lying around. Besides, they're down jackets, which are very warm. Your mother isn't in good health, and it wouldn't do if she got cold."
As expected.
Upon hearing this, Nianyu wavered and hesitated, saying, "Then, then just one is fine, I'm not cold."
Li Juan's face lit up instantly. She reached out to touch her head, but then, afraid of startling her, she pulled her hand back and said, "Chengcheng, Grandma will help you get your things."
Before Nianyu could speak, she picked up everything from the stall.
This enthusiastic manner made Nianyu a little uneasy.
Su Yan knew that her mother was certain that Nianyu and her brother were related, which was why she had this attitude.
She took Nianyu's cold hand and explained, "You don't need to be afraid, my mother prefers children."
Zhong Nianyu was surprised that Su Yan would hold her hand, and blinked in surprise.
This woman's hands are so warm and soft.
"Nianyu, where do you live?"
“My home is far away, at the foot of the mountain. My mother built the house herself. Sister, my mother is very capable; she can do everything.”
When her mother is mentioned, Zhong Nianyu's face is full of admiration.
Su Yan's breath hitched, and she had already guessed that Zhong Nianyu and her mother had not been doing well over the years.
They're not in the mood to shop anymore; they just want to get home and find out the truth.
On the way back, Su Yan called Su Yu and said immediately after he answered, "You need to come back right away!"
Su Yu, who was driving, sensed something was wrong from the tone of the voice. "What happened at home?"
There's nothing at home. If something's wrong, come back right away.
"What's wrong with me?" Su Yu asked, puzzled. "I'll only be free to go back tonight."
Su Yan said, "I found a little girl at the New Year's market."
"Are you out of your mind? Why would you pick up a young girl for no reason!"
“She looks a lot like you, which startled my mother and me. We thought she was your daughter.”
Su Yu: "..."
"The key is that she's only four years old this year, which coincides with the time you went on your mission."
"..."
"Her name is Zhong Nianyu. Isn't 'Yu' a homophone for 'Yu'? Her mother is thinking of Yu!"
"..."
"I think she has something to do with you."
"Just tell me, did you do this or not?"
Su Yu remained silent for a while, then said, "I'm going back now."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
