Chapter 27: Space is Too Unnatural!
On the way home, Nie Qiu’s hands were in her pockets, constantly fiddling with the Gold Inlaid Jade in her hand. It was strange; ever since she found this thing, a voice had been echoing in her mind. She had tried calling out in her mind more than once, but no one had responded.
She started to wonder if everything that happened at noon today was just her imagination. But… if it was a hallucination, why did the scratches on her neck from Chen Li’s long fingernails still ache faintly? If it was a hallucination, what was the meaning of the classmates’ whispers she heard after school?
Unable to figure it out, Nie Qiu stopped thinking about it. She returned home and was about to take the key from under a brick to open the door when it was opened from the inside. A man in his thirties came out and, seeing Nie Qiu, said with a smile, “Qiu Qiu, you’re back?”
Who is this person?
Nie Aifang walked out from the kitchen and said with a smile, “Qiu Qiu, this is your uncle.”
Uncle? Nie Qiu’s gaze began to scan the man from head to toe. He looked familiar, yes, very familiar. This person didn’t look like Nie Aifang at all. If he wasn’t familiar because he looked like Nie Aifang, then… what was it? “Have we… met somewhere before?”
Nie Aiwen smiled and reached out to pinch Nie Qiu’s nose. “I’m your uncle, of course we’ve met! You silly child, what are you talking about!”
Nie Qiu covered her nose and stepped back. It seemed she was really a bit dazed and sleep-deprived today. Why had she asked that question without thinking?
“Qiu Qiu, come in quickly. I bought meat, carrots, and scallions as you said. Tell me, how should we cook them.” After speaking, Nie Aifang looked at Nie Aiwen, “Aiwen, don’t just stand in the doorway blocking it. Qiu Qiu is back, so stay for dinner before you leave.”
Nie Aiwen smiled, took out a hundred yuan from his clothes, and handed it to Nie Qiu with a smile. “Qiu Qiu, I didn’t bring you any gifts this time. Take this hundred yuan and buy yourself a skirt. Girls should dress up nicely.”
Nie Qiu looked at Nie Aiwen hesitantly and shook her head.
Nie Aifang frowned and walked over. “Aiwen, I’m not going to mince words, you have children to raise. You can’t spend money so lavishly; you need to be more frugal. Take this money back; Qiu Qiu doesn’t lack skirts to wear.”
Nie Aiwen placed his hands on Nie Aifang’s shoulders. “Sister, you’re like my own sister, and Qiu Qiu is my niece. What’s wrong with me buying her a skirt?” Children? No, he didn’t have children now, not even a place to go.
Like my own sister? Could it be… that Nie Aiwen and Nie Aifang weren’t siblings? Nie Qiu looked at them doubtfully and said nothing.
Unable to refute Nie Aiwen’s words, she smiled faintly and looked at Nie Qiu. “Qiu Qiu, take the money your uncle gave you. Go buy a skirt to wear tomorrow.”
Since Nie Aifang had spoken, Nie Qiu had no choice but to accept the hundred yuan Nie Aiwen handed her, then politely smiled and said, “Thank you, Uncle.”
Nie Aiwen pinched Nie Qiu’s nose again. “Silly child, what are you thanking me for? I’m your uncle.”
“Aiwen, it’s rare for us siblings to see each other. Why don’t you stay for dinner tonight? Qiu Qiu, don’t you think so?” As she spoke, Nie Aifang looked at Nie Qiu.
Nie Qiu nodded. “Yes! Uncle, we haven’t seen each other in a long time. Please stay and have dinner with us!”
“Sister, it’s not that I don’t want to stay, but I have social engagements tonight. Next time! Next time I have time, I’ll come to the west district and visit you again.” Nie Aiwen said, smiling as he pinched Nie Qiu’s nose again. “Well, Sister, I’ll be going now. Take care of yourself.”
Since he had social engagements, Nie Aifang couldn’t insist he stay for dinner. Nie Aiwen smiled and said to Nie Qiu, “Qiu Qiu, Uncle is leaving. I’ll see you again next time.”
Nie Qiu stood at the doorway, waving and smiling. “Goodbye, Uncle. Uncle, take care.” It’s so good to have an uncle!
When she was little, at the start of school, she always envied her classmates who talked about how much New Year’s money they received and how many gifts they got. But she, during the New Year, could only stay in a cold room, eating alone, sleeping alone. During the New Year, the nanny also went home, and no one was there to accompany her.
She never expected the honor of receiving gifts to be realized in this life. Although her nose hurt, it made Nie Qiu’s eyes water.
The previous Nie Qiu would surely regret leaving this body, right? Because Nie Qiu, you are so, so happy!
Nie Aiwen turned his head to look at Nie Qiu. “Okay, I understand. You also need to study hard. When you grow up, your uncle and mom will rely on you!”
Nie Qiu smiled and nodded vigorously, watching Nie Aiwen’s back disappear around the corner of the stairs.
Nie Aifang smiled and looked at Nie Qiu. “Qiu Qiu, do you have homework today?”
Nie Qiu smiled and shook her head. “We took a few exam papers at school today, so there’s no homework.”
Nie Aifang smiled and said, “I bought ingredients. Teach me how to make pan-fried dumplings today. From now on, you don’t have to come with me to set up the stall. You can stay home and study, and I can handle the stall by myself.”
Nie Qiu didn’t agree, only smiling. “Okay, I’ll teach you how to make pan-fried dumplings.” How could she possibly handle it alone? She had to do iron plate, deep-fried, and charcoal grill. How could she possibly be busy enough?
That night, they were busy until very late. Nie Aifang bought ten pounds of meat to make dumplings, but they still couldn’t meet demand. Many people came specifically to eat the pan-fried dumplings. Because they were making pan-fried dumplings, Nie Aifang had thoroughly cleaned the tricycle while Nie Qiu was at school. While it wasn’t brand new, it was a beautiful sight in the night market, as people are naturally drawn to clean things. They didn’t pack up and go home until almost one in the morning.
Back home that night, after showering, Nie Qiu returned to her room to sleep. This was a rented house. The room was just a partitioned space separated by wooden boards. The entire thirty-square-meter house was divided into two bedrooms and a living room, making the rooms even smaller. Besides a single-person shelf bed from school, opposite the bed was a dilapidated four-poster cabinet, which served as her writing desk. This was the layout of the entire house.
Nie Qiu took out books from her schoolbag and read for a while before succumbing to sleepiness and falling asleep. She had a dream; she dreamt of a place resembling Flower Fruit Mountain, like a paradise on earth.
A gentle breeze caressed, a blue sky and green grass, a mountain stream, and shimmering pool water on one side. On the other side, it was shrouded in dense white fog, making it unclear. Occasionally, star-like objects would flash in the white mist, exceptionally beautiful.
