Chapter 34 - 034 The Suffering Little Tender Feet
Jianguo felt extremely guilty in his heart. Mama had said before that Sisi was the little princess of the family, who had never suffered hardship, but now she had endured such great suffering for the sake of her three brothers. Jianguo was deeply moved, yet his affection for Tian Sisi grew even warmer. Without realizing it, Tian Sisi had gained three loyal younger brothers.
Tian Sisi was led by Jianguo, staggering forward. She didn’t know how long it had been; it felt like several hours had passed. "Why hasn’t Daddy come yet?" Tears swirled in Tian Sisi’s eyes. However, with Jianguo by her side, she held back and did not cry.
A bike bell rang in the distance, like music from heaven. "Daddy, I’m here, Daddy, why did you take so long? Oh, my feet are broken." Seeing the familiar figure ahead, Tian Sisi couldn’t hold back any longer, and her tears flowed down.
At that moment, Tian Sisi’s hair was half undone, her face was red from the cold, her clothes were stained with mud, and she was crying messily, a sorry sight. Poor Ah Nan, she had never suffered like this before. Tian Manjin’s heart felt as though it was sliced apart by a knife, throbbing with pain. He quickly draped his cotton coats on Tian Sisi and Jianguo; the two children had endured so much.
"Ah Nan, be good, it’s Daddy’s fault. Let’s go home quickly, we’ll soak our feet in hot water. Jianguo too, after walking so far, be careful not to get hurt." Tian Manjin hurriedly lifted Tian Sisi onto the bike’s front bar and placed Jianguo on the rear seat. After making sure they were seated safely, he rode the bike back home. Daddy, Mama, Ai Qing, and the rest at home must be so anxious.
Weiguo and Bao Guo timidly followed Tian Xinhua into the yard, not daring to enter the house when they reached the door. They had been here a few times, and Granny had been very kind to them, as had their uncles and aunts, who always gave them treats. But Grandpa didn’t like them and always prevented them and Mama from entering the room. Each time Mama returned from here, she would cry late into the night.
Children often feel more sensitive when they’ve experienced neglect since a young age, especially Weiguo, who has always been sensitive. He, holding Bao Guo’s hand tightly, softly called "Granny" as Granny Zhao emerged from the house, intending to check on her granddaughter after hearing some noise, unexpectedly finding her two little grandsons instead.
"Weiguo, Bao Guo, why have you come? Where is your Mama and elder brother? Xinhua, did something happen to Ah Nan and your aunt?" Granny Zhao was shocked and blurted out a barrage of questions, worried that something had befallen her daughter’s family and Ah Nan as well.