Chapter 121: The Child Who Cannot Speak (Please Subscribe)

Not far from Yang Qing’s “Four Seasons Delicacies” shop, there was a community fitness playground where many young people came daily to exercise, while the older folks gathered there to dance and play chess. Yang Qing had passed by this place many times before, yet he had never once stepped inside.

For those rushing through life’s struggles, sometimes simply lying in bed and enjoying a peaceful sleep could feel like a luxury.

“Wow! So lively! So many people!”

As they entered the large playground, the little ones immediately burst into excited, adorable cries, like innocent babies seeing the world for the first time.

Yang Qing and Bai Zhijun took the children by the hand and found an open patch on the rubber grass. He gently set down restless little Dong’er and said to the three of them:

“All right, you can play some soccer here. Qiu’er, you need to take good care of Dong’er.”

“Okay!”

Little Qiu’er nodded happily, then took Dong’er’s hand. Looking at Xiao Bai and Xi’er, she asked:

“Xiao Bai, Xi’er, how about we play with Dong’er together?”

“Sure thing!”

“Hehe... We’re the big sisters, so we have to protect Dong’er. Hehe... Let’s play soccer!”

“Heehee... Dong’er, we’re going to play soccer!”

“Uh—big sister—kick—kick—”

The three little ones, along with the baby Dong’er, began kicking the small soccer ball on the grass, while Yang Qing and Bai Zhijun sat a few meters away watching them.

Watching them, Yang Qing felt a bit puzzled. He looked at Bai Zhijun and said, “Brother Bai, why do you keep staring at those people dancing? Do you want to join in?”

“Ahem!” Bai Zhijun blushed and coughed awkwardly. “What nonsense! Why would I do that?”

“Really?”

Yang Qing gave him a skeptical glance, then looked back at the happily playing children and smiled. “We left in such a hurry that I forgot to bring water for Qiu’er and the others. I’ll go buy some bottles. Want anything?”

“Buy water?!”

Bai Zhijun’s eyes lit up instantly. He stood up quickly. “I’ll go! I’ll go!”

As Bai Zhijun slipped away, Yang Qing shook his head with a smile and lovingly watched the kids playing soccer.

“Swish!”

Xiao Bai kicked the little soccer ball toward Xi’er, who immediately focused and swept her little foot toward it.

“Wah wah—naughty soccer ball! Don’t let Xi’er kick it!”

The ball slipped past Xi’er’s foot, and the little girl burst into laughter as she chased after it, finally grabbing it in a hug.

“Hehe... Qiu’er, Xi’er’s kicking now. You have to be ready!”

Xi’er laughed and called out in baby talk, then swung her foot again.

“Uh—why didn’t I kick it?”

“Hehe, silly…”

Xiao Bai laughed heartily, and Qiu’er grinned too, which made Xi’er fume with mock anger. She gathered all her strength and gave the ball a fierce kick.

“Swish!”

The ball soared up, flying past little Dong’er who was toddling and wiggling nearby.

“Uh—”

Dong’er looked up, a bit stunned, his large eyes innocently fixed on Qiu’er.

“Be good, Dong’er. Don’t be scared. Xi’er didn’t mean to.”

Qiu’er gently patted Dong’er’s head and comforted him softly. Then she dashed off swiftly to chase the ball.

“Thud!”

Just as she was about to catch up with the ball, a little girl about the same size suddenly ran out from the side.

The girl was like the wind—“swish”—she caught up to the ball and hugged it, then “swish” ran toward Qiu’er.

“%$????#”

The little girl stopped in front of Qiu’er, holding out the ball while babbling in baby talk, her hands gesturing nonstop.

Qiu’er was a bit bewildered, not quite understanding what she meant. After a moment, she guessed:

“Do you want to play with us?”

“&$??#*”

The little girl excitedly babbled a string of baby talk, nodding vigorously.

“Can’t… speak?”

Qiu’er finally understood that this adorable little girl, just like herself, couldn’t talk. She softly said in her baby voice, then took the girl’s hand:

“Come on, let’s play together.”

Qiu’er returned with the new, cute but silent girl in tow. Xiao Bai and Xi’er immediately grew curious and began chattering around her.

“Hehe… I’m Xi’er. You can call me Sister Xi’er,” Xi’er laughed.

“Silly, don’t bully the little friend,” Xiao Bai said. “I’m Xiao Bai. Let’s play soccer together.”

“&$??*^%”

The little girl waved her hands excitedly, babbling baby talk, perhaps trying to introduce herself to Xi’er and Xiao Bai, though they didn’t understand.

But it didn’t matter—they were children, after all. They had no grudges; just happiness and fun was enough.

So the three, along with little Dong’er and the new girl, continued kicking the ball. Xi’er was especially delighted—she no longer had to fetch the ball herself because this new friend was full of energy, running so fast that sometimes the ball couldn’t keep up.

With a professional ball retriever, the four played even more joyfully, the soccer ball rolling back and forth.

Yang Qing sat nearby, watching curiously. Though puzzled, he didn’t want to interrupt the children’s happiness.

“Brother Bai, why haven’t you come back yet?”

After watching for a while, he muttered in confusion and started looking around toward the groups dancing.

He suspected strongly that Bai Zhijun wanted to join the dancing but had no proof—or else…

“Ha ha…”

He smiled to himself as he searched, and then noticed a man and a woman walking toward him. Looking at them and then at the little girl playing with Qiu’er and the others, Yang Qing realized they must be the girl’s parents.

Sure enough, the couple stopped a few meters away from the children, quietly watching with smiles on their faces.

Yang Qing rose with a smile and approached them. When children play together, it’s fate. It’s always good to say hello.

“Hello, is that your daughter? She’s so adorable,” Yang Qing said cheerfully. “Those three little girls are my sisters. They’re having a great time playing together.”

“Swish!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the couple smiled warmly at him. Then the man began gesturing rapidly with his hands.

Yang Qing was stunned, unable to respond for a long moment.

Seeing this, the man’s expression darkened slightly but he quickly recovered and took out his phone. After typing for a moment, he handed the phone to Yang Qing.

Upon reading, Yang Qing was even more surprised—they were both speech-impaired. Moreover, the man’s message explained that their daughter also could not speak yet, and they hoped Yang Qing wouldn’t mind their daughter playing with his sisters.

“No, no, it’s fine. They’re having a lot of fun.”

Seeing this, Yang Qing quickly waved his hand. “Your daughter is very cute and lively. She will be good friends with my sisters.”

At these words, the couple seemed relieved and smiled even more kindly. They then typed on the phone to introduce themselves and their daughter, Dudu.

Yang Qing smiled back, introduced himself and Qiu’er and the others, and the three sat on the grass, watching the playful children and chatting happily.

As they chatted, Bai Zhijun returned with some bear-shaped soft drinks and a few cans of beer.

“Brother Bai, you’re back. Let me introduce you…”

Yang Qing smiled and introduced the couple and their daughter Dudu to Bai Zhijun, then introduced Bai Zhijun to them.

Seeing the couple chatting with Yang Qing and him via phone typing, Bai Zhijun was silent for a moment, then gave a sincere smile. He opened a can of beer and handed it to the man:

“Here, now we’re friends. Next time, bring your daughter Dudu to play with the kids. We welcome you! Cheers!”

The man seemed deeply moved, accepting the beer without hesitation and downing it in one gulp.

“Ha ha… That’s the spirit!”

Bai Zhijun laughed heartily, looking at Yang Qing. “Qingzi, are you in?”

“In!”