Peaches and Plums Don’t Speak – Chapter 9

The Auntie of Another Family

Yan Xi, like every young person fresh into society, had brilliant visions and boundless drive for her work. Once the TV segment topic was finalized, they had only a week to shoot. The timeline was tight and the workload heavy; the group of newcomers worked from dawn to dusk every day, so busy their heads were practically spinning.

Often, after a full day of shooting, they would still meet in the early hours of the morning to share insights and summarize their experiences and shortcomings. Yan Xi got along well with them. Those overtime nights were spent in late-night cafes, 24-hour KFCs, and at roadside barbecue stalls.

In the wee hours of Bei City, the lights were waning, yet the crowds were dense. Young people were talking and laughing freely, raising glasses of wine, brimming with hope for the future.

It was only in these moments that Yan Xi could relax a little, and inadvertently, her thoughts would drift to Anzhi.

That little girl who had lost her closest relatives at a young age. She thought she would live with her mother, but was pushed onto her father, treated with cold indifference, and finally brought home by Yan Xi.

She had never truly settled down. Like a rubber ball¹, she was kicked from this side to that, bouncing in circles before Yan Xi finally took her in. Yet Yan Xi hadn’t been able to stay by her side, effectively placing her in a strange environment all over again.

In her young heart, would she fail to understand what “work” meant and think of Yan Xi as someone who didn’t want her either?

Yan Xi thought, If I were her, I’d probably think that too.

No, she couldn’t fully stand in Anzhi’s shoes. Although she had also lost her parents and a Gege² when she was five, she hadn’t been very sensible back then. Many memories had blurred with time, and she had grown up almost entirely under the care of her grandparents and brothers.

How could it be the same?

Auntie Xin comforted her over the phone: “Anzhi is very good. She showers by herself, eats by herself, and even dares to sleep alone. She gets along well with Grandpa and Grandma too.”

“Your sister-in-law, Da Pang, and Xiao Pang came back… the house is lively again…”

“They haven’t really played together… Anzhi is too quiet, a bit shy…”

Despite what Auntie Xin said, Yan Xi still couldn’t rest easy.

After several consecutive days of overtime, from Sunday afternoon to Monday evening, she finally had a day off. The girls who had joined the TV station at the same time invited her to go shopping, but Yan Xi declined and immediately drove back to the suburbs.

The front gate of the Yan Family Old Residence had a large garden where Grandpa Yan loved to plant flowers. When Yan Xi arrived, it was afternoon. The last bit of light hadn’t fully faded, and the courtyard was filled with chrysanthemums in thousands of postures—white as snow, yellow as gold, ink-black revealing red. It was extremely beautiful.

Yan Xi had just come from the garage when a little chubby boy ran out from the inner room. He had red lips and white teeth, shouting as he trotted up: “Auntie! Little Auntie is back!”

As if in a duet, an identical chubby boy ran out, his mouth also yelling: “Auntie! Little Auntie!”

Yan Xi was well-versed in this welcome mode. She bent her legs slightly, extended both hands, and mimicked the accent of Sun Da Sheng³ from Journey to the West. “Children, I, Old Yan⁴, have returned!…”

The two little fatties howled and pounced on her, each aiming for one of Yan Xi’s arms. They hung on like monkeys, laughing loudly. One said, “Auntie, it’s Old Sun! It’s The Great Sage Equaling Heaven⁵!”

The other retorted, “Our family isn’t named Sun. Auntie is Old Yan, we are Xiao Yan⁶…”

“But Auntie calls us Da Pang and Xiao Pang…”

“Aren’t you two Da Pang and Xiao Pang! Two little pigs! You’re heavy as death…”

Yan Xi bounced them a bit. After not seeing them for a few days, they felt several pounds heavier.

“Auntie! I am Yan Qi⁷! Brother is Yan Ji⁸!”

“Right! Great-grandpa said our names mean fine horses⁹! Not pigs!”

“Alright, then it’s Yan Da Ma¹⁰ and Yan Xiao Ma¹¹…” Yan Xi absentmindedly teased them, but her gaze was fixed straight ahead.

Anzhi had originally trotted out behind them. Although she was over a year older than the Yan twins, her body was at least a size smaller. She wasn’t as fast as them either. She ran a few steps, but when she saw Yan Xi holding one boy in each arm, she froze, standing there timidly. Seeing Yan Xi looking at her, she slowly revealed a smile.

Yan Xi’s heart suddenly felt pricked by something. She wanted to call out to her, but the twins clung to her relentlessly, chattering away. “Little Auntie, where are our toys? The robots, the robots?!”

“Little Auntie, where are my blocks…”

“In the trunk. I’ll give them to you later… get down first…”

The twins cheered and jumped down. Yan Xi was just letting out a breath when her hands were grabbed by them again, pulling her inside. Yan Xi only had time to cast a glance backward.

Anzhi’s tiny figure followed slowly behind.

“Anzhi…”

In the living room, the Yan twins were excitedly unboxing their toys and gesturing wildly.

Their mother, Xiao Yutong¹², said to the twins, “You’re only focused on playing. Did you say thank you to Auntie?”

The twins spoke in unison: “Thank you, Little Auntie!”

“We want another one next time!”

“Buy for us again next time!”

…

Everyone in the room laughed.

Yan Xi looked at Anzhi beside her and saw her sitting properly, her small hands folded on her knees.

She had been too careless. The gifts for Da and Xiao Pang had been bought a month ago and left in the trunk. In her rush to come back just now, she forgot to buy something for Anzhi. Now she was empty-handed, giving her nothing. She didn’t know what Anzhi was thinking.

Yan Xi apologetically touched her soft, fine hair. The little girl looked up as if sensing something and smiled at her. There was a shallow smile in her clear, dark eyes. Yan Xi discovered she seemed to really like having her head patted. She didn’t show it obviously, but her dimples would always sweeten when she smiled.

Yan Xi couldn’t help but touch the top of her head and the side of her ear a few more times, feeling the little girl gently nuzzle her palm like a cautious little rabbit wanting to be spoiled.

Yan Xi felt her heart soften and faintly ache.

Over there, Yan Da Pang saw his mother helping Yan Xiao Pang set up blocks and noticed his Little Auntie ignoring him. Unwilling to accept this, he slipped over to Anzhi, pointed his toy gun at her face, and went: “Peng peng peng…”

Anzhi screamed in fright and hid behind Yan Xi. Yan Xi hugged her, her face darkening. “Yan Qi!”

Yan Da Pang froze. His Auntie usually only laughed and called him “Yan Da Pang” or “Yan Da Horse.” She had never scolded him so seriously. His little mouth twisted, a wave of grievance surged in his heart, and he opened his throat to wail loudly!

Hearing the noise, Xiao Yutong came over. She glanced awkwardly at Yan Xi and hurriedly tried to comfort Yan Da Pang. “Alright, alright, look, you scared Jiejie…”

Yan Da Pang cried even harder. “She’s not my Jiejie… Little Auntie…”

Seeing his twin brother crying so lively, Yan Xiao Pang also started wailing. For a moment, the living room was like an exploding pot.

Yan Xi held Anzhi with one arm. “I told you that toy guns can’t be pointed at people, don’t you remember? You promised me before, that’s why I bought it for you! And you still do this. I won’t buy you any more in the future.”

Yan Da Pang didn’t remember any promise he had made. He only heard “won’t buy any more in the future.” Now his fake crying turned into real crying, his small face flushing bright red. Yan Xiao Pang, sharing a telepathic link, joined him in a crying duet.

Xiao Yutong couldn’t comfort them at all. She let out an “Ay,” and looked at Yan Xi and Anzhi with a hint of complaint. “Auntie is joking… alright, don’t cry… You can’t point the gun at Jiejie, right…” Yan Da Pang cried until he was convulsing. Xiao Yutong turned helplessly to Yan Xi.

“Xiao Wu, say something…”

Yan Xi sighed. “Alright, stop crying… Auntie will buy for you again…”

Auntie Xin walked in just in time. “Alright, alright, stop crying. Time to drink milk. Come, come, here’s your favorite…”

Yan Da Pang and Yan Xiao Pang finally sniffled, bit their straws, and started sucking noisily. Auntie Xin handed a bottle to Anzhi, and Anzhi took it.

Pure milk for children. The brand Da Pang and Xiao Pang loved.

Anzhi held it for a few seconds. Actually, she didn’t like pure milk. In the countryside, they didn’t drink milk. Sometimes her grandfather would get some fresh milk, boil it, and add sugar for her. Sweet, fragrant, and hot. She liked drinking that kind.

She handed the milk to Yan Xi. Yan Xi blinked and asked, “What’s wrong?” Then she casually unwrapped the straw for her, pierced the seal, and handed it back.

Anzhi took it and took a slow sip.

Actually, it was okay.

At dinner, the twins started making a fuss again. For dinner at the Yan house, Grandpa and Grandma Yan usually ate on the second floor because of their age, and also to avoid being disturbed by the noise of the younger generation.

At the Yan dinner table, everyone had a small plate in front of them. The adults picked food for themselves, while the children had food placed in their plates by the adults. Since the twins were learning to use chopsticks, they absolutely couldn’t pick food themselves. So whenever they were present, the meal was bound to be chaotic.

One moment they wanted Mom to feed them, the next they wanted Auntie to feed them.

“Don’t eat bitter melon! Don’t eat bitter melon!”

“No mushrooms! No mushrooms!”

Xiao Yutong got angry. “You must eat vegetables. Look how good Jiejie is… she’s not picky at all!”

“She’s not our Jiejie…”

“Not…”

Yan Xi frowned. Did this scene have to play out at the dinner table every day? In contrast, Anzhi was quiet, holding her child-sized chopsticks and shoveling rice into her mouth in small bites.

Yan Xi turned her head to glance at the small plate in front of her. The bitter melon hadn’t been touched.

Her mind stirred: Maybe she doesn’t like it either?

Fortunately, she hadn’t finished the milk from earlier either.

Just as she thought this, she saw Anzhi suddenly extend her chopsticks to the bitter melon, pick up a tiny piece, pause for several seconds, and slowly put it into her mouth.

Her small, delicate nose wrinkled, and she lowered her head to stuff a mouthful of rice in.

Yan Xi understood.

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