The lingering fragrance of dumplings seemed to still hang in the little courtyard's air. With the children's laughter growing livelier as they recovered, the bleak, oppressive atmosphere of the old courtyard had long since been swept away without a trace.
The warm spring sunshine grew brighter by the day. Under Yao Lao's meticulous treatment and Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi's attentive daily care, the children's newly grown limbs had mostly recovered. Though they were still a little awkward when walking, running, or jumping, the joy of being reborn from despair was beyond anything words could describe. Some even clamored for more dumplings, their former timidity and sense of inferiority long gone. Xiao Yi figured it was time to send these children back to their hometowns.
But that brought a problem of its own. The children's homes were widely scattered, some even in villages on the outskirts of the city. Taking them home one at a time on that battered bicycle would be far too inefficient. Besides, they had only just recovered and could not endure a long, bumpy ride.
Xiao Yi rubbed his chin, his gaze roaming around the courtyard before finally settling on the bicycle in the corner. An idea gradually took shape in his mind. His eyes darted, and he sidled up to Yao Lao, who was resting beneath the eaves with his eyes closed, plastering an ingratiating smile across his face.
Xiao Yi rubbed his hands together and chuckled. "Yao Lao, can we discuss something? Look, these little rascals are pretty much better now. They can't stay here forever. I was thinking of taking them home one by one, but this bicycle of mine can only carry one at a time, and it wobbles all over the place. With your incredible abilities, could those Heavenly Flames of