They'd only been joking when the child's parents put on stern faces.
After all...
The child's parents weren't really angry.
They just wanted the child to understand that what he'd done was wrong.
But the child's apology on her behalf was very sincere.
The old woman felt a pang of emotion.
Without realizing it, the child had become so... considerate.
The child had grown up.
"Auntie, please don't be mad at Grandma, okay?"
The little girl looked up at the woman pleadingly.
"I'll apologize for Grandma."
"I'm sorry."
The child's mother was taken aback.
Then she smiled gently.
"No—"
"I'm sorry."
The old woman interrupted her.
She met the woman's gaze.
"I'm sorry."
"I was too angry just now and did something wrong."
"Mm."
The child's mother slowly curved her lips into a smile.
"Forget it."
"Luckily, neither child was hurt this time."
"Since we've all apologized, let's put this behind us."
"We all have things to reflect on."
"Mm."
The old woman nodded.
"You're right."
At last, the matter was settled.
The old woman led the little girl away by the hand.
Their figures gradually disappeared into the crowd heading up the mountain.
"Let's head up first."
The child's dad returned to the main path first.
Then he reached down and pulled the child and the child's mother up.
"Tao Tao..."
Now that it was just their family, they could speak more freely.
The child's mother looked at the child.
"That snake of yours..."
"Did you sneak it from your cousin Xiao Xin?"
"Does your cousin Xiao Xin not know?"
"...Mm."
The little boy had thought the matter was over.
He hadn't expected his mother to bring it up again, and his nerves tightened.
"I..."
The little boy wanted to explain