Chapter 5: The Test of a Big White Rabbit Milk Candy
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An An’s gaze was like a slender needle, piercing precisely into the softest part of Zhou Susu’s heart.
It hurt—deep, relentless pain.
Zhou Susu knew it wasn’t the child’s fault.
The psychological shadow left by the original owner was like an iceberg, impossible to melt overnight.
She had to be patient.
When dealing with a child so severely lacking in security, any forced closeness would only push her further away.
“Good morning, An An.”
Zhou Susu feigned ease as she greeted her, as if unaware of the fear lurking in the child’s eyes.
She didn’t approach, nor did she spare her a glance. Instead, she quietly dressed and neatly folded the blanket.
An An still curled up in the corner of the bed like a wary little beast, wrapping herself in the quilt like a silkworm cocoon, only her big, dark eyes peering out, watching Zhou Susu’s every move.
Zhou Susu walked to the only shabby little square table in the room and pretended to reach into her pocket.
The next moment, a beautifully wrapped “Big White Rabbit” milk candy appeared in her hand.
This was the “hard currency” of the 1980s, a supreme luxury in the eyes of children.
She leisurely peeled off the wrapper, revealing the milky white candy emitting a rich milky fragrance.
Then, she gently placed the unwrapped candy at the edge of the little table, within easy reach for An An to grab as soon as she got out of bed.
Having done all this, she still didn’t look at An An, turning instead to leave the room.
“Hungry, aren’t you? Just a moment, the meal will be ready soon.”
Her voice came from outside the door, gentle and calm, carrying a soothing power.
Inside the room, An An remained in her defensive posture.
Yet her gaze was irresistibly drawn to the plump, white candy on the table.
So fragrant...
That sweet, milky aroma seemed to have tiny hooks, teasing her heart again and again.
She had never tasted candy before.
Before, when she saw other children in the compound eating candy, she drooled with envy and asked “Mom” (the original owner) for some, only to be met with merciless scolding and beating.
“Eat, eat, eat! All you want is to eat! You worthless burden, you want candy? Go eat shit!”
Terrifying memories surged up, making An An’s small body tremble. She quickly buried her head in the quilt, too scared to look at the candy again.
But...
From the kitchen soon floated a new, even richer aroma.
It was the unique, tender scent of steamed eggs, mingled faintly with a trace of meat fragrance.
“Gurgle—”
An An’s small tummy protested honestly.
The delicious bowl of meat porridge from last night had been completely digested, and now her little stomach was empty.
So hungry...
And so fragrant...
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Inside An An’s little head, it felt as if two tiny voices were fighting.
One said: Run! That woman will beat you! Don’t eat her food!
The other said: But... it smells so good... and my tummy is so hungry...
She quietly poked half her head out of the quilt, her big dark eyes darting between the closed door and the candy on the table.
In the kitchen, Zhou Susu hummed an off-key tune as she busied herself.
She took out two freshest native eggs from her space, cracked them into a bowl, and whisked them with chopsticks.
She picked a tiny bit of leftover minced meat from last night and stirred it into the egg mixture.
Most importantly, she added two drops of spirit spring water known to improve constitution.
This was her secret weapon.
She poured the mixture into a pot for steaming over water, and soon a bowl of golden-yellow, smooth-as-mirror, fragrant “Steamed Egg Custard with Minced Meat” was ready.
She also cooked a small pot of aromatic millet porridge, then carried the food into the room.
Inside, An An still curled up in the corner.
But the Big White Rabbit candy on the table was gone.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved Zhou Susu’s lips.
Good—this was a promising start.
She set the tray down on the table: a bowl of golden egg custard, a bowl of yellow millet porridge, and a small dish of crisp, refreshing pickled cucumbers she had made from space-grown cucumbers.
“Time to eat.”
She made no demands, only arranged the food and sat down nearby, slowly sipping her own bowl of millet porridge.
She ate with relish, occasionally picking up a piece of pickled cucumber with a crisp “crack” sound.
An An, still hidden beneath the quilt, secretly swallowed her saliva.
The aroma, so close, intensified the temptation severalfold.
It was pure torture!
Her little stomach growled even louder.
Zhou Susu seemed oblivious, eating at her own pace, and after finishing, sighed contentedly.
“Ah, so delicious. This egg custard is so tender, like tofu pudding.”
Her voice was half to herself, half a tease aimed at some little glutton.
An An could no longer hold back.
Her tiny body wriggled under the quilt, then, with extreme slowness, she inched down from the bed.
Her bare little feet touched the cold concrete floor, and step by step, cautiously, she moved toward the table.
She dared not look at Zhou Susu, only lowering her head, her eyes fixed firmly on the bowl of irresistibly tempting egg custard.
Zhou Susu put down her bowl silently and nudged the bowl of egg custard toward her.
This silent gesture felt like permission.
An An hesitated for a full thirty seconds before finally stretching out her thin, claw-like hand to pick up the small spoon.
She scooped a tiny spoonful of egg custard, blew on it, then, like a sneaky little mouse, quickly popped it into her mouth.
“Mm!”
An An’s eyes widened again!
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Smooth! Tender! Fragrant! Fresh!
The custard melted instantly on her tongue, rich with egg aroma and a hint of savory meat—so delicious she wanted to swallow her own tongue!
Fear was forgotten entirely as the little spoon danced rapidly, one spoonful after another, devouring the entire bowl of egg custard with whirlwind speed, scraping the bowl clean three times.
After finishing, she even licked the spoon with lingering delight.
Zhou Susu watched her, heart aching but amused.
What kind of life had this child endured before...?
“Want more?” she asked gently.
An An looked up at her, then shook her head quickly.
She was full.
Her small belly was already a little round.
Zhou Susu smiled, stood up, and began tidying the dishes.
An An remained where she was, watching Zhou Susu’s busy back, the wariness and fear in her little eyes gradually melting away, replaced by a complex emotion even she couldn’t name.
This ‘mother’… really seemed different from before.
Just then, a sudden raucous clamor of children outside the door shattered the quiet inside.
“Lu An An! You worthless burden!”
“Come out! Give us your steamed buns!”
“If you don’t come out, we’ll smash your door!”
It was those notorious troublemaker kids from the compound!
The ringleader was Wang Xiaohu, son of Officer Wang from logistics, a burly boy who ruled the neighborhood children.
They used to bully An An mercilessly—stealing her things, pushing her down, calling her a “jinx.”
The original owner never cared; she even thought An An deserved it.
Hearing those familiar voices, An An’s body instantly stiffened. The small face that had just relaxed turned pale as death.
She resembled a fawn hunted by a predator, her eyes filled with sheer terror as she turned to crawl under the bed.
“Don’t be afraid.”
A warm hand suddenly pressed on her shoulder.
An An turned to see Zhou Susu.
Zhou Susu’s face still wore a gentle smile, but her bright eyes flashed with icy resolve.
The shouting outside continued.
“Worthless burden! You hear me? If you don’t come out, we’ll unleash something big!”
“One, two, three!”
An An trembled all over, clutching tightly at Zhou Susu’s clothes, hiding behind her, too scared to make a sound.