Her parents were not her biological parents; they were her adoptive parents. She remembered everything clearly from when she joined them at the age of six. During the Qingming Festival that year, her parents returned to their hometown to visit her grandparents’ graves and never returned. The bus they were on had an accident, and both parents perished.
Coping with grief and growing up
Initially, she couldn’t understand the gravity of their parents’ death and often cried for them. Her brother, Dong Xiaobao, who was 14 at the time, became her sole guardian. Despite his young age, he took on the responsibility of caring for her, trying to fill the void left by their parents. Though he struggled with his own grief, he consoled her, holding her tightly until she fell asleep. Though not perfectly, he managed the household chores and tried to provide some semblance of normalcy. Despite her initial resistance, she began to depend on him as her sole family member, afraid that he, too, might leave her.
The sudden disappearance of her brother
One weekend, Dong Xiaobao spent a joyful day with her, indulging her with treats and a ride on a merry-go-round, making her forget her fears and grief. However, she woke up in a neighbor’s house the next morning, and Dong Xiaobao was gone. Her neighbor informed her that he had left to find work, leaving her in their care. Feeling abandoned, she believed he had sold her and run away with the money.
Though kind and caring, her new guardians could never replace the sense of family she had lost. She adapted quickly, learning to do household chores and accepting that she no longer had the right to be willful. She found a new brother in the household, but he often teased her. Despite the care she received, the years of growing up felt painfully slow.
A new resolve
At 11, when her adoptive mother mentioned Dong Xiaobao, she was filled with hatred, refusing to talk about him. Her academic success brought pride to her adoptive family, but she overheard a conversation about financial constraints, deciding to forgo her own higher education so her adoptive brother could go to college. However, her adoptive mother revealed that Dong Xiaobao had been sending money for her education all along.
Years later, she learned that Dong Xiaobao had left because he knew he couldn’t care for her properly. He sold their house and gave the money to their adoptive parents, promising to return for her one day. He worked tirelessly, sending money regularly to ensure she could continue her education.
The search for her brother
Determined to find him, she moved to Guangzhou for university and took up a job selling insurance to aid her search. Her efforts seemed futile until she stumbled upon a series of news photos online: a skinny man using his mouth to hold tools, repairing a bicycle with his only hand in front of a small newsstand. When she saw the close-up of the man’s face, she felt dizzy and her blood surged — it was Dong Xiaobao! His eyes were still as clear, and the expression on his brow was still so familiar.
Reading the entire news article, she felt an unbearable heartache: the Dong Xiaobao she had hated for over 10 years had lost a hand in a construction accident at 19 and had been wandering the streets ever since, trying to make a living — picking up trash, selling newspapers, distributing fliers. Three years ago, he opened a small newsstand where he sold newspapers and repaired bicycles. His only motivation for living optimistically was his sister.
A heartfelt reunion
When she finally found him, he was busy changing a bicycle tire: holding a wrench in his mouth, positioning the tire with his right hand, tightening it, and then transferring it to his right hand. He did all this skillfully. Sweat streamed down his rough face, but he showed no signs of bitterness. Watching his calm and even slightly smiling face, she felt as if she had traveled through time back to 18 years ago, to the moment when a 14-year-old boy held her on the carousel.
Overcome with emotion, she approached him, revealing her identity. After nearly 20 years, the siblings were reunited, their bond stronger than ever. Despite the hardships ahead, they faced the future with renewed courage, knowing they had each other.
Translated by Katy Liu
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
