The child is called Tong Yao, living with his grandparents, and now he is the only one left.

There's no other way, I can only bring him back home.

I asked him how old he was, and he said he was nine years old.

Then he added, "Our family grows late, my grandfather said he suddenly shot up at sixteen or seventeen!"

I laughed, "Okay, I wish you grow to 1.88 meters."

I actually find children annoying, but Tong Yao is different, he is not annoying.

Ask him a random question, and he will open up, perhaps because he had no one to talk to before.

His parents divorced, his mother sent him here to work, his grandparents are old, he didn't want them to be overworked, so he took the initiative to take on the responsibility of cooking.

After saying this, he looked proud, like "Aren't I amazing and awesome?"

That got me going, I said, "I started cooking when I was nine too. I can stir-fry vegetables and roll out dumpling skins."

Tong Yao didn't back down, "I can do those too!"

He really reminds me of myself.

He is often bullied for being too short, but he dare not tell the teacher, let alone his grandparents.

I asked him, "How do you deal with that?"

He said, "I endure... I keep telling myself that it'll be alright when I grow up."

"No, that's not good." I said to him seriously, "I know enduring is the easiest way, but it's not the best for you."

Then I relaxed, "You will have a new beginning."

Knowing that we shared similar experiences, Tong Yao treated me like his life mentor.

I patted his little head, "Life motto: What am I, what are you, and what are they."

Tong Yao had a big question mark on his little head.

Just then, Grandma came over, Tong Yao seemed a bit nervous, probably thinking about his grandfather eating him.

"It's time to sleep, what time is it."

I was about to get up, but Tong Yao grabbed my hand, "Big sister."

I knew what he was worried about, so I comfortingly patted his hand, "Just sleep peacefully. After I leave, just lock the door."

Grandma and I went back to the east room.

Grandma asked me, "What are you going out for?"

I was annoyed, "I woke up and you weren't here, so I went out to find you."

"Do you think you're still a child? If you wake up in the morning and no one answers you, you'll just cry and run out naked."

Me: ... Let's not bring up such things now.

"I'm afraid you'll leave." Grandma said.

"Where can I go if I leave, go to sleep." I said.

This was our most familiar conversation. After going through so much in one night, I was tired and quickly fell asleep.

The next morning, the kang was warm, I stretched lazily and stared at the ceiling.

Today is the ninth day since Grandma turned into a zombie.

It didn't seem any different from before or after that.

Except for Tong Yao, this little brat who came early in the morning, sadly telling me, "Sister, so you have mental illness."

This kid is really asking for a beating.

He continued, "It's okay, sister, you saved me, I'll take care of you in the future."

I sarcastically said, "I killed your grandpa, you should hate me."

"I don't hate you." He shook his head vigorously, "I'm not the kind of person who can't distinguish right from wrong. When I grow up and earn money, I will find the best doctor for you."

"Well, thank you very much." I said.