DLRC – Chapter 26 He Didn’t Want to Be a Bad Kid

In a good mood, Yu Wei was about to head out to buy the rest of the things they needed. But this time, she didn’t plan to bring Yu Hui with her. After all, he’d already been out all morning, and if she dragged him around again in the afternoon, his little legs wouldn’t be able to take it.

But little Yu Hui really didn’t want to be apart from his mom. He never felt secure when he was alone. Especially when he sat by himself in a dark room—the loneliness would suddenly come crashing down on him, threatening to drown him in its weight.

His tiny, almost translucent hands clutched tightly onto Yu Wei’s fingers. He didn’t want to be separated from his mother.

He was obedient in every other way, but this one issue seemed to have no solution.

No matter how Yu Wei coaxed him or tried to comfort him, the little guy stubbornly held on. His stubbornness left Yu Wei helpless, and in the end, she could only take him downstairs with her.

“In a bit, Mama’s going out to buy some things. You be good and stay with Auntie Jiang, okay?”

The little guy didn’t respond, just followed beside her with a sulky expression.

Jiang Aihua was sitting under the eaves, fanning herself with a palm fan. When she saw Yu Wei come down with her son, she waved and called out from afar.

“Heading out again?”

“Mhm. Still have a few things I need to get,” Yu Wei replied with a smile. “Auntie Jiang, is there somewhere around here that sells gas for stoves?”

To Yu Wei, a gas stove was a necessity—something she definitely needed. But while staying at the Yu family house, she’d noticed that everyone cooked using coal briquettes.

Those things were far less convenient than a gas stove. More importantly, Yu Wei didn’t know how to use them. She never had, and she wasn’t even sure if gas stoves were still a thing these days.

To her surprise, Jiang Aihua looked at her with some astonishment. “Gas? Why would you buy something like that? It’s dangerous—you never know when it’ll explode!”

Although she had never used one herself, the neighbors often talked about gas as this new, curious thing. Since no one had any actual experience with it and all agreed it looked dangerous, she had naturally come to believe it was unsafe.

Yu Wei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She didn’t understand where this misunderstanding had come from, but also didn’t know how to explain it. She simply said, “That’s not true. If gas is being sold openly, that means it serves a purpose. If it were truly dangerous, would the government allow it to be sold? That’d be treating people’s lives like a joke. It’s actually very safe.”

Sure, there were occasional issues, but as long as you followed safety guidelines, it wasn’t likely to cause problems.

Jiang Aihua found this explanation reasonable and nodded thoughtfully, but she still frowned. “But gas is expensive! A single canister costs a ton. Using it to cook? What a waste! Not nearly as nice as our coal briquettes. Besides, if you want to use those, I’ve got the number of the young guy who delivers them. Next time he comes by, I’ll have him drop some off for you!”

Yu Wei smiled wryly and declined politely. “That’s okay, Auntie Jiang. I still want to get a gas stove. I really don’t know how to use coal briquettes.”

Jiang Aihua looked a little disappointed but glanced at little Yu Hui, who was clinging tightly to Yu Wei’s clothes, and nodded. “Alright, whatever makes you happy. That delivery guy’s coming later this afternoon, so I’ll ask him for you!”

“Okay, thank you, Auntie Jiang!”

Relieved to know that gas was available, Yu Wei turned to the more pressing matter and nudged Yu Hui forward.

“Auntie Jiang, I need to head out to buy some things now. It’s really not convenient to bring him along. Could you help me look after him for a little while? I’ll be quick.”

Before Jiang Aihua could say anything, Yu Hui suddenly started crying, fat tears dripping down his cheeks. The soft sound of his sobs filled the air, making Yu Wei’s heart tighten painfully.

“Oh, sweetie, don’t cry! Don’t cry! Your mama’s coming back. What are you afraid of? Stay with Grandma Jiang.”

Jiang Aihua walked over with a gentle smile and tried to take Yu Hui’s hand. Yu Wei let go for just a couple of seconds, and already the little guy had latched onto her pinky.

“Mama…”

He looked so pitiful and tearful, clinging to her as though she were his entire world. Jiang Aihua tried to lead him away but couldn’t, and suddenly felt like a villain for tearing mother and child apart.

Chuckling awkwardly, she waited until Yu Wei gently freed her hand again, finally managing to get the little guy to her side.

“You’re making Mama sad, you know.” Yu Wei stepped forward and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. His round little nose was red from all the sniffles, and his pitiful appearance tugged at her heartstrings.

He blinked up at her, and as Yu Wei looked into his eyes, more tears slipped out like strings of broken pearls. He looked up at her, voice hoarse, and asked cautiously, “Mama, can I go with you?”

Yu Wei sighed. “It’s not that I don’t want to bring you. It’s just not convenient. I don’t know how long I’ll be out, and it’s exhausting. Your feet will start to hurt.”

“They won’t hurt.” The little guy was stubborn, another tear rolling down his red nose.

“Be good, okay? Stay home and wait for Mama. Don’t you love looking at books? I’ll bring you back a picture book, alright? Or do you want candy instead? I’ll bring you some, okay?”

“Aiyo, your mama’s gonna bring you candy!” Jiang Aihua chimed in. “Yu Hui, your mama’s buying you candy. Stay with Grandma Jiang and you’ll get to eat it soon!”

But Yu Hui wasn’t moved by these typical tricks for calming children. His little lips stayed pursed, refusing to budge.

Still, time was ticking, and Yu Wei had to go. She let out a breath and turned to leave, ruffling his soft hair before she did.

“Be good. Mama will be back soon with something yummy for you.” She looked up at Jiang Aihua. “Auntie Jiang, do you happen to have any books?”

“Books?” Jiang Aihua glanced at Yu Hui, thinking for a moment. “Yes, I do. Do you want one?”

“Oh, not for me. My son likes flipping through books. I thought it might keep him from getting too bored.”

“Alright, I’ll go grab one.”

While Jiang Aihua went inside to get the book, Yu Hui finally got the chance to throw himself into his mom’s arms, and his tears disappeared in an instant.

Yu Wei barely held back a laugh. “Little guy, are you doing this on purpose?”

Yu Hui blinked at her, not understanding what she meant. He tried to dive back into her arms again, but Yu Wei, teasing done, took him to the wooden bench under the vine trellis in the courtyard.

Jiang Aihua soon returned with a book. Yu Wei thanked her with a smile and saw that it was Family by Ba Jin. The book was in fairly good condition and thick enough to keep a little guy flipping through it for a while.

Yu Wei set the book in front of him and opened the first page. “Mama’s putting this book here. You flip through it one page at a time. When I come back, you tell me how many times you went through it, okay?”

“Yes, good boy, Yu Hui! Reading’s fun! And your mama’s going to get you candy!” Jiang Aihua encouraged him.

Understanding what his mom was trying to do, Yu Hui fiddled nervously with the fabric on her shoulder but didn’t resist anymore. He sat on the bench, little legs dangling restlessly.

Finally, Yu Wei could leave with peace of mind. Jiang Aihua sat down beside Yu Hui to sort out the vegetables for dinner and gently patted his shoulder as she waved goodbye to Yu Wei.

“Alright now, don’t worry. Hurry along. I’ll keep an eye on Yu Hui—he’s not going anywhere!”

“Okay. Thanks again, Auntie Jiang.”

As Yu Wei turned to go, the smile faded from her face. Yu Hui rubbed his sore eyes and glanced sideways at Jiang Aihua, who gave him a reassuring smile. But his mom’s figure was already gone.

When Yu Wei stepped out of the courtyard, she couldn’t resist looking back—and sure enough, her son was watching her with that same pitiful expression.

Seeing his mom turn around, he raised his little hand and waved at her. Only then did Yu Wei smile again and mouth “bye-bye” with a gentle grin.

Once she was truly out of sight, Yu Hui’s tears began falling again, silent and steady like a string of pearls slipping from a broken necklace. Jiang Aihua rushed to wipe them with the back of her hand, but her calloused skin scratched lightly against his soft cheeks, making him wince at the sting.

He gently avoided her, picked up the book on the table, and began flipping through it page by page. He still had the little panda—Mama had bought it for her, and now it was hidden in the large pocket of his pants. It felt like Mama was with him, and that made everything a little less painful.

Just now, he suddenly remembered something his grandma used to scold him about. She always said he was a burden to Mama.

He knew what a burden meant—it meant a child no one liked. He didn’t want to be the kind of bad kid that Mama would hate.

So he had to be good, to listen, and not stubbornly insist on going out with Mama. Mama said she’d be back. She said she’d be back very soon.

That’s why, in the end, Yu Hui forced himself not to follow her. He was being good. He wanted to be a good baby, not Mama’s burden…

Even though he felt a bit sad now, Mama had said, once he flipped through the book a few times, she’d be back.

So he wiped his tears seriously and started turning the pages one by one.

A few tiny teardrops fell onto the pages, blurring the character for “home.”

Yu Hui puckered his lips and gently blew on it. The round, glistening droplet was blown slightly askew, turning into an oval-shaped tear before slowly seeping into the paper.

Meanwhile, Yu Wei had finally stepped out the door. She didn’t know if the little guy was still crying the moment she turned around, or if he was even more aggrieved now. Her mind was filled with the pitiful image of his little face, and suddenly she felt like a cruel, heartless mother.

Her son’s emotions hadn’t stabilized yet, and now she was being so harsh, leaving him with Jiang Aihua. Was that too cruel?

Forget it—she couldn’t think about it anymore. She still had things to buy. Jiang Aihua had already agreed to look after him; she couldn’t turn around and take him back.

Yu Hui would have to learn to stay at home by himself from time to time. She couldn’t take him with her everywhere.

Thinking this helped ease the knot in her chest. Before long, she arrived at the address she had been given: a private carpenter’s shop.

The owner was said to be a well-known craftsman with excellent skills in furniture making. After opening his shop post-reform, business had been good—most customers were neighbors.

But the shop didn’t carry finished products; everything had to be custom made.

Yu Wei asked the owner, who said he could deliver the furniture, but a deposit was needed. He was also quite kind—not only did he not overcharge her, he even gave her a slight discount.

In the end, she ordered three stools, a small table, and a bedside cabinet, all for a total of 12.6 yuan.

The owner wrote her a receipt, had her sign her name, and stamped it with a red seal, telling her to come pick them up in two days.

Yu Wei happily tucked the order slip away, then rushed off to a grocery store to buy a set of bowls and chopsticks. She hadn’t bought them earlier at the department store for fear they’d break under the weight of everything else.

She vaguely remembered seeing some tableware in the exchange mall, but they were all exquisite and a bit pricey. She didn’t plan to use them for daily meals. She thought she could redeem them later for food livestreams—to use as presentation props.

There was no time to waste. Little Hui Hui was still waiting at home. Once she finished shopping, she hurried back, hoping the little guy wasn’t still crying by the time she got back.

He was such a handful, this sensitive little thing.

Today’s spree had cost her nearly 100 yuan. Her phone balance was now under 100.

By the time Yu Wei finally made it back, Yu Hui was asleep on Jiang Aihua’s bed.

The little guy was sleeping soundly. Jiang Aihua smiled as she led Yu Wei in. Right away, she saw his pale, soft little belly. His short top had ridden up from all his tossing, his chubby little hands were resting on his cheeks, and his legs curled slightly inward.

His tiny body rose and fell gently with each breath. Yu Wei walked quietly to the bed and sat down at the edge, gently rubbing his warm back with her palm.

The little guy’s forehead was covered in sweat, and his short hair was soaked.

After about two minutes, as he felt the gentle patting on his shoulder, Yu Hui slowly woke up.

His misty, deer-like eyes fluttered open, with tiny teardrops still clinging to the corners. The first thing he saw was Mama.

“Mama…”

“Hui Hui’s awake.” Yu Wei picked him up and patted his back as she held him against her shoulder. He was drenched in sweat, soaking through his clothes. “You really do sweat a lot.”

Yu Hui rubbed his sleepy eyes and snuggled his soft little head into the crook of her neck, his gentle breaths tickling Yu Wei and making her itch.

She stood up with him in her arms and smiled as she bid farewell to Jiang Aihua, still carrying the cloth bag with bowls and chopsticks.

“Thank you, Auntie Jiang. I’m so sorry to trouble you.”

“Oh, don’t say that! No need to be polite.” Jiang Aihua waved her hand. “Your son’s such a well-behaved boy. Didn’t cause any fuss at all.”

Yu Wei smiled and ruffled the little guy’s hair, then carried him upstairs.

The happiest thing in the world must be opening your eyes and seeing Mama. Right now, Yu Hui was the happiest person in the world.

“So, how many pages did our Hui Hui flip through?” Yu Wei asked softly as they walked through the corridor.

Still dazed from his nap, Yu Hui couldn’t remember at all. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her neck and buried his face in it, hoping that hiding his face would stop the shyness.

In his soft baby voice, he whispered in her ear, “Mama, I forgot.”

Yu Wei suppressed a smile, her heart melting at his cuteness.

“Oh? Since you forgot, Mama has to punish you…” Yu Wei took out the key with one hand and unlocked the door. “Now, what should the punishment be?”

Yu Hui blinked nervously as he heard her continue, “Since you kept Mama company all morning, I’ll punish you by making you eat an extra bowl of rice tonight!”

Yu Hui had been a little anxious at the mention of punishment, but when he realized it was just eating more rice, he blushed and muttered, “I like rice.”

He meant that Mama’s punishment didn’t count because he liked it.

Hearing her son’s innocent words, Yu Wei put him down with a chuckle and closed the door behind them. “Alright, since you like it, eat as much as you want. We’re not cooking at home today. Mama’s going to clean the kitchen a bit. We’ll eat out later.”

She went into the kitchen, put the new bowls and chopsticks away, tidied up, then asked him, “What does Hui Hui want to eat tonight?”

She turned on the tap, soaked a towel, and wiped down the stove until it was spotless, even cleaning the wall above the sink.

Still, some black grime remained on the wall—probably from the previous tenant. The scattered dark spots looked unpleasant, so she made a note to buy some wallpaper to cover it later.

Yu Hui leaned on the kitchen doorway, watching Mama busy herself. He tilted his little head, thought carefully, then said, “Rice.”

Rice? Yu Wei couldn’t help laughing again.

That answer was as good as no answer. What meal didn’t include rice?

Well, she had originally considered making noodles tonight, but it looked like they’d go to the state-run restaurant for a proper meal instead. Tomorrow she’d scout out the local market and start cooking at home.

After dinner, Yu Wei took the little guy for a stroll around the neighborhood, both to help digestion and to familiarize herself with the area.

In the evening, Changqing Road was unusually lively. There weren’t many factories nearby, but quite a few workers lived in the area.

The living conditions here were good, and many families with children lived nearby. Some kids were walking with their parents; others ran around in little groups.

Glancing down, she saw her own son gazing longingly across the street. Following his gaze, she spotted a few little girls jumping rope under a big tree.

Yu Wei teased, “Wanna go play with the older kids?”

As soon as he heard that, Yu Hui tightened his grip on her hand and moved closer to her with his short legs. “No.”

He shook his head firmly, afraid Mama would really send him over to play with the others.

Yu Wei sighed inwardly. The road ahead was long—he would need time.

For now, all she could do was create a warm environment for him. Maybe then, his wounded heart would heal faster. One day, he’d blend into a normal life. After all, humans were social creatures. He couldn’t cling to Mama forever.

When they walked back to their building, they overheard voices coming from the landlord’s unit on the first floor. As Yu Wei passed by the door holding her son’s hand, a sweet, girlish voice piped up.

“Oh Auntie Jiang, I didn’t mean to. My boyfriend just has a loud voice. Please try to understand, okay?”

“Don’t give me that,” Jiang Aihua snapped. “It’s not me you’re disturbing. Go talk to Du Yuerong yourself. Stop making me the go-between—you think I’ve got nothing better to do every day?!”