19. A Competent Uncle

“Aunt.” Tang Yiyi walked over to greet her, and Xu Mingjie turned around. “Oh, it’s Yiyi! Where have you been? Why are you back so late?”

“Um... I went... to see a movie. Yes... with Brother Xiaobin.”

“Watching movies is good, young people should go out more. Come on, I’ll walk you over.” Xu Mingjie took Tang Yiyi’s arm.

“No need, I can go myself,” Tang Yiyi hurriedly replied.

“Haha, did you really think I was walking you? I didn’t eat anything at dinner, wasn’t hungry then, but now I am. Let’s go get a bowl of Ran noodles at Baike’s place.” Xu Mingjie smiled.

“I went for pork knuckle noodles yesterday, it was so tasty.”

“Right? I told you it was good. Come on, Aunt’s treating you today.”

“Alright, I am a bit hungry now.”

Xu Mingjie glanced toward where the taxi had disappeared and asked, “Why didn’t Xiaobin bring you back? It’s so late after the movie, he should have escorted you.”

“He’s been running around, so I told him not to. It’s easy to get a cab.”

“That boy still doesn’t quite know how things work,” Xu Mingjie shook her head.

When they reached the magnolia tree, Tang Yiyi bent down and picked up a few petals, playing with them in her hand.

It was still the same wooden table as yesterday, but Xiao Xie lay weakly across it. Xu Mingjie sat down and asked, “What’s up with you, Xiao Xie? Usually you’re lively as a fish, but today it looks like you’ve been hauled onto dry land.”

Xiao Xie lifted her eyelids and called weakly, “Aunt Jie.”

Qin Baike came out of the shop, placing a big bowl in front of Xiao Xie. The dark soup inside was steaming, and Tang Yiyi and Xu Mingjie caught the rich scent of brown sugar. Xu Mingjie gave a sound of approval, looked up at Qin Baike with a smile, and praised, “You’re more attentive than her own uncle!”

Qin Baike managed a rare, bitter smile. “What would you like today, Aunt Jie?”

“Ran noodles.”

“And you?” Qin Baike looked at Tang Yiyi.

“I’ll have the same as yesterday, pork knuckle noodles, but cook it for me in a few minutes. I need to fetch something for Xiao Xie.” With that, she turned and walked a few steps to the medical clinic’s side door, unlocked it, and went inside.

Xu Mingjie laughed, “That girl must be looking for medicine. Kind-hearted and caring, she’s got the healer’s compassion—enough to marry into the Xu family.”

Qin Baike listened to Xu Mingjie’s words and glanced at the open door of the clinic, where the lights had already come on.

He smiled faintly and turned into the kitchen. Liu Xin was washing bowls, and Qin Baike said to Uncle Chen, “Start a bowl of Ran noodles, and later a bowl of pork knuckle.” Uncle Chen nodded.

A few minutes later, Tang Yiyi emerged with a palm-sized metal box in her hand, smoke drifting from the many small holes on top. She slipped the box into a cloth bag, which had two wide straps attached.

“What’s this?” Xiao Xie asked.

“Moxibustion. Smell it,” Tang Yiyi brought the bag close.

Xiao Xie sniffed, “Mm, that’s mugwort. My mom used it to treat my colds when I was little.”

Tang Yiyi took off Xiao Xie’s apron, placed the bag on her lower abdomen, and tied the straps behind her. “There are two acupoints here, Qihai and Guanyuan, both good for treating menstrual pain. After moxibustion, you won’t hurt tonight.”

“It’s warm,” Xiao Xie smiled happily.

“If it hurts next time, I’ll do acupuncture for you. It works even faster.”

“Yiyi, you’re amazing.”

Xu Mingjie chuckled, “Now you know the difference between loving to read and not. Your future will be worlds apart.”

“Aunt Jie, every time I see a book I fall asleep, what can I do?” Xiao Xie looked as if she’d given up hope.

“It’s just fate. I used to doze off at books too, but now I run my own shop well enough. You could open a noodle shop one day.”

“Ha, I never thought about that,” Xiao Xie smiled weakly.

Qin Baike brought the noodles to Xu Mingjie, then said to Tang Yiyi, “Wait a bit, I’ll cook yours soon.” He tapped the table in front of Xiao Xie. “Drink the brown sugar water, then go lie down and rest.”

“Okay.” Xiao Xie obediently drank.

Tang Yiyi explained a few precautions about moxibustion to Xiao Xie, who then took her bowl and left.

Tang Yiyi asked Xu Mingjie, “What kind of uncle-niece relationship do Xiao Xie and Brother Bai have?”

“You know Baike used to be a firefighter, right?” Xu Mingjie replied.

“Yes, I know.”

“Xiao Xie is the child of his comrade’s older brother. His comrade saved him in a fire, but died himself. That was about three years ago, and it even made the news. Baike left the service the following year.”

“When did Xiao Xie start working at the noodle shop?”

“This March. She didn’t like school, fought with her parents, even ran away from home. She was so rebellious her mother couldn’t handle her. Baike happened to visit his comrade’s parents, and the comrade’s father begged him to take his granddaughter, to keep her away from her parents for a while.”

“You’d never guess Xiao Xie was rebellious—she looks so well-behaved.”

“Maybe she just listens to Baike.”

Qin Baike brought the noodles to Tang Yiyi. Just like yesterday: less noodles, clear broth, pork knuckle rich but not greasy, a layer of chives beneath. Tang Yiyi’s mouth watered before she even picked up her chopsticks. She took a sip of soup; it seemed even more delicious than yesterday. She sighed contentedly, “Let’s eat!”

Qin Baike glanced at her, turned away, and a faint smile appeared on his usually expressionless face.

Xu Mingjie stopped him as he was about to leave. “How’s your mother’s health?”

Qin Baike shook his head and sighed, “No real improvement.”

“Don’t worry, brainstem hemorrhage is a near-fatal illness. It’s a miracle she survived, and even more miraculous that she woke up. Now it’s just hemiplegia—take it slow, maybe she’ll regain some independence.”

“Mm, I know.”

“The retirement home you found for her, is it good?”

“Yes, it’s one-on-one special care.”

“Acupuncture works well for paralysis. Is there a practitioner at the home?”

“No, I looked nearby too, but found no real experts.”

“Oh, take your time. Baike, you’ve really worked hard. Find yourself a wife—she could share the burden.”

Qin Baike smiled noncommittally, “We’ll see.”

Watching him turn to busy himself, Xu Mingjie shook her head and murmured, “Waiting for someone who’ll never come—it’s never easy.”