After following road signs and streetlights through many twists and turns, Qi Yan stopped in an area filled with low brick houses. He checked a simple map. "We're here. It should be nearby!" he said.
A woman in a light blue dress and yellow high-heeled sandals was sweeping by the door. She kept glancing around. Spotting Qi Yan and Qi Ran, her eyes lit up. She jogged over without dropping her broom. "Oh my! You're finally here! Are you Xiao Yan and Xiao Ran? I've waited so long. I was worried you'd get lost. I wanted to pick you up but feared missing you. Still, you made it—that's wonderful!"
"Is it Aunt Chunxiang?" Qi Yan asked uncertainly. It had been too long. He only had a vague outline of this woman in his mind. And wasn't she too young? He faintly recalled she had a daughter the same age as his sister. Had his memory gone haywire?
Aunt Chunxiang nodded warmly. "Mm-hmm. You've really grown. It's been six or seven years..." She placed a hand on her head, tiptoeing to compare heights with Qi Yan. "Ah! Xiao Yan's taller than me now. And Xiao Ran's become such a beauty!"
Up close, Qi Yan could almost smell the faint perfume on Aunt Chunxiang. Qi Ran timidly grabbed Qi Yan's sleeve, hiding behind him. After the accident, she struggled with strangers.
"Sorry. My sister's shy," Qi Yan said. His palm stung sharply—Qi Ran had pinched him hard. What was she doing? Was she that nervous?
Aunt Chunxiang stepped back two paces, waving her hands with a laugh. "It's fine. You were little when you left. Not remembering me is normal. But I'm so glad you grew up healthy." She patted Qi Yan's shoulder. "Especially you, Xiao Yan. You've become a real man. It must've been tough these past two years..."
Qi Yan gripped his sister's small hand tightly. "Not tough at all." The hard part belonged to his sister. Perhaps the truly difficult life was just beginning.
"Ahh... Your parents were good people. Such bad luck! Who'd expect this?" Aunt Chunxiang sighed, head bowed in regret.
Yeah. Bad luck... Misfortunes never come singly. The accident happened on a mountain road during their trip. Their car's tire blew out without warning while climbing. The oncoming car's brakes failed. Otherwise, his parents—stopped by the roadside waiting for help—would've been safe. Five lives were lost. Only his barely alive sister survived. The other family—parents and a ten-year-old boy—were also traveling. Their daughter had escaped by visiting a friend. No one to blame. Both sides were victims. They only got a small insurance payout.
No one adopted the siblings. Qi Yan was nearly an adult—he'd fend for himself. But his paralyzed sister? No one wanted that burden. Not even a glance. Their family ties were strained too. His father was an adopted son. His mother had married against her own mother's wishes.
Sensing the gloomy turn, Aunt Chunxiang slapped her cheeks lightly. She switched to a bright smile. "Ah! Let me take you home! Your past, present, and future home."
The scene matched his memories: a row of narrow, low red-brick houses topped with black tiles. "Here's the key for Room 101," she said, placing two keys in Qi Yan's palm. "The movers already brought your luggage inside." She'd prepared thoughtfully. Not just one key despite Qi Ran's condition—a silent comfort for his sensitive, observant sister.
Qi Yan handed one key to his sister. He bowed deeply. "Thank you so much."
"Nonsense! Open up! But don't expect much. It's an old country house. Nothing like big-city apartments." Aunt Chunxiang nudged him playfully.
Qi Yan inserted the key. *Click*. The door creaked open slowly. No choking dust greeted them. No empty room filled with boxes. Tables and chairs stood in the corner. An induction cooker and fridge sat in the kitchen. Even the bed frame was ready—truly move-in ready. The crystal-clear windows showed careful cleaning.
"The cooker and fridge are last year's hand-me-downs from us. A bit old, but solid. I promise. Don't mind that. The bigger issue is no water heater. You'll need to boil water for baths. It's still warm now, but winter will be tough." She pointed next door. "Room 102 has an old man and two kids around ten. Their village school was too remote. Too young to board alone, so they rented here. Room 103 opposite? A young lady working night shifts at the town's KTV. She comes home at dawn."
"Really no extra rent? Such a good place..." Qi Yan asked nervously. It was an open-plan room—kitchen, living area, bedroom, and bathroom combined. Only half the kitchen wall had tiles. Basic furniture. Even in DongSui Town, rents weren't cheap. The town was booming. Land prices were soaring.
"No charge. Ping and Xue already paid for you." Aunt Chunxiang meant Qi Yan's parents—Qi Ping and Yan Hanxue.
"But prices have changed."
"Exactly! Money was worth more back then, silly. Just settle in." She gently ruffled Qi Yan's hair. "It's late. I must water my vegetable babies. Oh! The bok choy is ripe. I'll bring some over. Unpack before dinner. Eat something warm." She pumped her fist energetically—youthful vigor unbecoming her age. Probably to lift their spirits.
For Qi Yan, this long-lost friend of his parents was far kinder than those so-called relatives. The meager insurance payout barely covered his sister's treatments. He'd begged estranged kin for help. Signed a contract with his unknown "grandfather": learn traditional painting under him, and he'd cover Qi Ran's medical bills. The contract died the moment the old man did.
Qi Ran tugged Qi Yan's sleeve from her wheelchair. She jingled the key in her hand.
"Want to try opening the door?"
Qi Ran nodded.
"Then let's go!"
Qi Yan wheeled her out. But Qi Ran didn't move. She picked up a small notebook and pen.
"What's wrong? Just insert the key. Turn it half a circle."
*[Brother, wait inside for me.]* She tapped the notebook.
"Okay, okay. I'll wait inside."
Qi Yan stood by the door. *Click*. It creaked open slowly again.
"Welcome home, Xiao Ran," Qi Yan said, arms wide.
Qi Ran held up her notebook. It read: *[I'm home.]*
Qi Yan pulled her tightly into his arms. Their new life—thorny and sweat-soaked—had just begun.
