Chapter 077: The Wounded Myna

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As the winter break approached, Yang Tian and Huang Juan were preparing to return home. Strangely, this year Bao Yuehong decided not to go back for the New Year. She said she planned to open a tutoring class near the school to earn some extra money.

Before leaving, Bao Yuehong quietly reminded Yang Tian that since she wouldn’t be going home for the holiday, he must come into the city to visit her more often—otherwise, she would no longer consider him her brother.

Yang Tian, having a motorcycle, found it convenient to get into the city, so he readily agreed. After all, Bao Yuehong would be alone during the New Year, which must be difficult. It was only right for him to visit her more often.

“Brother, Sister Juan, you’re back!” When they returned to Daliushu Village, they found Yang Xueling still sitting at the roots of the old willow tree at the village entrance. She hurried over with a bright smile, clearly having waited there for quite some time. This time, however, she was holding a history book, reading as she waited. Her high school entrance exams were coming up later that year, and she was under a lot of academic pressure.

“Here, this is a new hat we bought for you. See if it fits!” Yang Tian immediately stopped the motorcycle, took a fluffy knitted cap out of his backpack, and placed it on Yang Xueling’s head.

Xueling adjusted the hat, holding the two little pom-poms at the sides with her hands, smiling sweetly.

Besides buying a hat for Xueling, Yang Tian also bought down jackets for Yang Bao and his wife. When they saw the new clothes, their hearts warmed, though outwardly they scolded Yang Tian for being too extravagant.

“Oh, this military overcoat is just great! I remember Commander Zhu De used to wear coats like this!” The gift for Yang Qingtang was a thick military coat lined with cotton, both warm and sturdy. Wearing it brought him obvious delight.

In Yang Tian’s memory, he had never seen his grandfather so happy. Even when his parents bought things for the old man, he was never this cheerful. The simple happiness of three generations living together filled Yang Tian with contentment.

“Brother, what’s this?” Yang Xueling fished a golden box out of Yang Tian’s bag and ran over in excitement.

“It’s a camera! Grandpa, Mom and Dad, let’s take a family photo!” Yang Tian grinned. What Xueling had found was his brand-new Kodak camera.

“A camera? A family photo? Xiaotian, where did you get so much money to buy all these things? You’re not getting into trouble outside, are you?” The couple exchanged worried glances and asked in concern, afraid that Yang Tian might be neglecting his studies or straying from the right path.

“No, uncle, aunt, Yang Tian has been working hard at school and supporting himself! He works as a network manager at an internet café and earns quite a bit. But his grades are still excellent—he ranked third in the whole school and first in his class on the final exams. He’s really amazing!” Before Yang Tian could reply, Huang Juan stepped in on his behalf.

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“Network manager? Whatever you do, make sure you keep your feet on the ground, understand?” Yang Bao and his wife didn’t really know what a network manager did, but they still gave him their earnest advice.

The family arranged themselves at the doorway for the photo—Yang Qingtang seated in the center, Yang Bao and his wife on either side, while Yang Tian and Yang Xueling stood behind their grandfather. Huang Juan took charge of the camera, snapping three pictures to ensure at least one would come out well for enlarging and hanging in the central hall.

After the family photo, Yang Tian, Huang Juan, and Yang Xueling wandered around the village, taking pictures as they pleased. Huang Juan, more reserved by nature, always pursed her lips when photographed, dimples appearing on her cheeks. Yang Xueling, on the other hand, was lively and constantly changed her poses—truth be told, the little girl’s poses were quite charming.

“Brother, look—how pitiful that magpie is! Big Dog and his friends are so cruel!” In the pine grove at the edge of the village, they ran into Big Dog and Erhua from next door, who were holding a magpie that was crying out, clearly injured.

“Big Dog is in high school now, isn’t he? Why is he still going around raiding bird nests!” Huang Juan was upset—the magpie looked truly pitiful.

“Brother, can we help that magpie?” Yang Xueling clung to Yang Tian’s arm, on the verge of tears.

Xueling had always been gentle-hearted, never disturbing bird nests—she would simply stand beneath them and watch the fledglings, lost in happy thought.

“Big Dog, let that magpie go—it looks so miserable!” Seeing the hope in Xueling’s eyes, Yang Tian didn’t want to disappoint her and called out to Big Dog.

“You think I’ll just let it go because you say so? It’s not your magpie!” Big Dog shot back, hands on his hips. His sister Erhua stuck out her tongue at Yang Tian.

Yang Tian knew well enough—these past years, Big Dog and Erhua had had a grudge against him and Xueling, because the two of them were always top students and the pride of the village.

Big Dog and Erhua’s parents, Zhou Sheng and Wang Dayue, were very concerned with appearances. Whenever others praised Yang Bao’s children and shook their heads at their own, Zhou Sheng and Wang Dayue would grow frustrated, often scolding or even beating Big Dog and Erhua, saying, “Look at the neighbor’s kids, so accomplished, and all you do is eat!”

So Big Dog and Erhua bore resentment toward Yang Tian and Xueling, believing every beating they suffered was because of them.

Still, Big Dog and Erhua really had grown fatter, probably because their family’s financial situation had improved.

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Yang Tian had long heard that when Zhou Sheng went to work in Guangdong, he’d been lucky enough to get a job at a Taiwanese-owned company and made a lot of money.

What made the villagers even more envious was that the Taiwanese owner planned to open an investment company in Binhai, and Zhou Sheng was the only one familiar with the area. They intended to put Zhou Sheng in an important position, which gave him a sense of superiority. Those seeking his favor now called him “Director Zhou,” hoping he’d help them find work when the company opened.

“How about this—let’s stick to the old rules and have a tree-climbing contest. If I win, you let the magpie go. How about it?” Yang Tian smiled, suggesting the challenge he and Big Dog used to settle things with as children.

“No way! You climb trees like a monkey—who could ever beat you at that! Here’s what we’ll do: let’s arm wrestle. If you can beat me, I’ll let the magpie go!” Big Dog wasn’t stupid—he quickly objected and proposed his own contest, looking smug.

“That’s not fair. You’re so big—how can my brother arm wrestle you?” Xueling protested. Big Dog was not only tall but must have weighed 180 pounds, his arm as thick as Yang Tian’s thigh. Xueling was worried Yang Tian would be at a disadvantage.

“Afraid now? So you admit you’re not as strong as my brother! I’ll kill the magpie right now!” Erhua, seeing Big Dog had the upper hand, stuck out her tongue at Yang Tian.

The other children joined in, always siding with whoever seemed stronger—they now supported Big Dog.

“No, Erhua—how can you be so cruel!” Tears welled up in Xueling’s eyes as she watched the magpie struggle.

“Fine, Big Dog, arm-wrestling it is. But you have to keep your word—if you lose, you must let the magpie go!” Yang Tian stepped forward, voice firm.

“Deal! Whoever goes back on it is the loser’s grandson!” Big Dog agreed readily. He knew he couldn’t match Yang Tian in academics, but he was sure he could easily beat him at arm wrestling.

“Xiaotian, don’t! Can’t you see Big Dog has always resented you? I’m afraid he’ll use this as an excuse to get back at you,” Huang Juan whispered, trying to dissuade him.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine,” Yang Tian replied with a calm smile.