Chapter 22: It’s Great to Have Friends

Chapter 22: It's Great to Have Friends

Lin Jinrui set the whole box on the bed, took out the glass ball, and placed it in a special little box. She crouched by the bed, carefully telling the two of them the story behind each treasure.

Cheng Miao and Lu Yu listened quietly. This was a little girl's dream—no pretty dresses, no cute Barbie dolls, not even a warm home.

But she still did her best to keep going. The trash other people threw away was the treasure she carefully collected, and the run-down, abandoned courtyard was the palace she'd built for herself.

As it got late, Lin Jinrui shoved the box back under the bed and said goodbye before heading home. She still felt bad about not giving Cheng Miao the glass ball, so she insisted on bringing him bread tomorrow to make up for it.

Cheng Miao nodded half-heartedly. He walked along in silence, looking down, with Lu Yu carrying his schoolbag beside him. After a long pause, Lu Yu spoke up. "What's wrong?"

Cheng Miao stopped, feeling a little down, and leaned against the wall by the side of the road. He turned his head to the side, quietly staring at the moon, and said, "Why does it have to be this courtyard? I can't even imagine—what was she feeling when she died in her secret base?"

"I really wish this weren't a dream, that she could have another chance to start over." Cheng Miao's expression was heavy, every word tinged with sadness.

Lu Yu looked at his lowered lashes, a single crystal tear trembling at the corner of his eye, about to fall.

He let out a soft sigh, ruffled Cheng Miao's hair, and took his hand. "Come on, it'll be okay."

The two figures slowly faded into the distance in the moonlight.

"Lu Yu, I'm a little sad."

"Yeah."

"I really want to help her."

"Yeah."

"Should I..."

"We're home!"

"Oh!"

Early in the morning, Lu Yu shut off the blaring alarm and quickly got up. By the time he was dressed, Cheng Miao was still fast asleep. Remembering how the other had tossed and turned until midnight before finally falling asleep, Lu Yu couldn't bring himself to wake him, so he went to wash up first.

After washing his face and setting out hot water for Cheng Miao, he walked over to the kang and gave Cheng Miao a push. No reaction. He pushed again. Still nothing.

Lu Yu leaned in close to his ear and called, "Time to get up."

The guy seemed to stir a little, mumbling, "Let me sleep a little more, just a little."

Lu Yu glanced at the clock and figured there was still time, so he went to heat up the food first. In winter, charcoal briquettes smoldered in the kang hole, burning faintly on limited oxygen—not too hot, but not going out either.

Lu Yu opened the flap on the kang hole, and the rush of oxygen brought little flames dancing to life. Copying what Mother Cheng did, he fed some firewood in, and the fire slowly grew stronger. The food in the pot was already half-warm; it just needed a quick reheat.

Lu Yu put down the firewood and turned around to see Cheng Miao still wrapped up in his quilt, dead to the world. He pushed him again, telling him to get up. Cheng Miao mumbled something back but didn't move an inch.

Lu Yu suddenly understood why this kid got smacked for not getting up in the morning. So he just yanked Cheng Miao's quilt off and shoved it aside. Exposed to the cold air, Cheng Miao curled up.

He curled into a ball, still cold, but couldn't find his quilt no matter how he patted around. Squinting around, he turned his head and saw Lu Yu staring at him with a flat, unbothered look—and instantly woke up.

He said sheepishly, "Morning!"

Lu Yu shot him a look and said flatly, "Not that early anymore!"

Cheng Miao gave an awkward smile. "You've been calling me for a while, huh! Next time, next time you..."

"Get hit too?"

"Next time, just take my quilt away, and I'll freeze awake." Cheng Miao instinctively covered his butt.

"Alright, go wash up and eat." Lu Yu turned around to check on the food.

There was porridge in the pot, already boiling. Three big buns sat nestled in the white steam. Lu Yu carefully poked them with his chopsticks—soft. He picked up two buns, put them in a bowl, and ladled out two bowls of porridge.

Cheng Miao had washed up, and the table was already set. He glanced at it, grabbed another bowl, and trotted off to the east room. A moment later, he came back with a small bowl of pickled veggies and set it next to Lu Yu. "Try these—my mom pickled them. They're really good."

"These peanuts aren't as fragrant as fried ones, but they're tangy and really appetizing. The celery stalks, and these peppers—they've got a unique flavor when pickled."

Lu Yu tried each one, and they really were all delicious. Cheng Miao took a bite of pickles, a sip of porridge, then a huge bite of bun, stuffing his cheeks full. After finally swallowing, he complained, "Why is it pork and cabbage?!"

Cheng Miao preferred chive and egg filling. He loved chives—the only problem was the strong smell, so Ms. Ma Lianhua usually didn't make chive buns. One bun and you'd have chive breath all morning.

Cheng Miao rubbed his round, stuffed belly and swallowed the last bite of bun. "So full!"

A small bowl of porridge plus buns the size of an adult's fist was still a lot for two third-graders. Lu Yu also struggled to finish his.

After clearing the dishes, there was no time to wash them. Cheng Miao shoved them all into the hot water simmering in the pot, then quickly wrapped the leftover bun in a plastic bag—still a bit hot to the touch.

He handed the bun to Lu Yu. "Bring this one for Lin Jinrui." He told Lu Yu to hold it while it was still warm.

The frostbite on Lu Yu's hands was still red and swollen, probably wouldn't heal until spring. The warmth of the bun made his whole hand toasty, then came a faint itch. Lu Yu didn't scratch, didn't even care—he was used to enduring.

By the time the two got to class, most of the students were already there. Lin Jinrui sat quietly at her desk, watching Cheng Miao expectantly as he walked in, her eyes unconsciously drifting toward his desk.

Sure enough, Cheng Miao found two pieces of bread in his desk. Lin Jinrui discreetly pointed at Lu Yu behind him, meaning one for each of them.

Cheng Miao smiled at her, put one bread on Lu Yu's desk, and whispered, "Give the bun to Lin Jinrui."

Lu Yu put the bun back in his hand. "Give it yourself." Then he stuffed the bread into his desk and started tidying up.

Cheng Miao had no choice but to do it himself. Using a book to hide it, he walked over to Lin Jinrui and quickly handed it over.

Third and fourth grade was a key time of boy-girl opposition—boys looked down on the girls as fake, and girls thought boys were dirty and smelly. They were like oil and water.

Cheng Miao and his friends' friendship could only be carried out in secret.

Lin Jinrui was really surprised when she got the bun, her face unable to hide her joy. The whole bun was still warm.

It had been a long time since she'd had a hot breakfast. When she left home, her parents were still fast asleep, and no one had made her breakfast.

Lin Jinrui had munched on a piece of bread on the way to school. Now she took small bites of the bun, her mouth full of the rich, savory pork flavor. Lin Jinrui thought, having friends is really great.