บท 5: She recognized them

"Jiejie, are you going to bring the bread?" Shu Yao asked Qianru who was putting several types of bread into a basket. Shu Yao nodded her head.

"I want to ask our mother's opinion about this bread. If she feels that the bread I made is good, I will start selling it at my cake shop," Qianru answered while arranging the bread in that rattan basket. Shu Yao nodded his head.

"Mother will definitely feel happy when meet you today. I can imagine her happiness. She even looks more happy to meet you than meet me," Shu Yao said while staring at a photo which hanging on the wall. That is photograph of a young woman in 90s era clothes.

"Are you jealous of me?"

"Of course I'm jealous of you, Jiejie. I am her son, but she loves her daughter more than her son," Shu Yao answered casually. Qianru laughed. She knew that Shu Yao was not serious about his words.

"Actually I feel jealous of you, Shu Yao. I'm jealous because you have a biological mother who kind and full of love like her,"

"Jiejie, I am and Mother also feel lucky to know you," Shu Yao answered with a serious face.

"If not, I will be lonely and lose the direction of my life," Shu Yao continued his words. Qianru smiled after hearing his words, she then shuffled Shu Yao's hair.

"Let's go now. I don't want to be late there," Qianru said and Shu Yao nodded his head. He came out of the shop. Qianru turned off the air conditioner then locked the door. She also made sure the announcement board was properly attached to the entrance. She had told her cake shop's customers that she was on holiday today, but she still wrote on the bulletin board if she didn't open a shop.

Shu Yao and Qianru walked towards the bus stop. There they sat for a while until a bus arrived. Shu Yao brought the rattan basket into the bus first. They sat near the driver to make them easier when want to leave the bus.

Their journey is quite far. It took an hour to reach their destination. Qianru stared out through the window. See the clear sky. She became reminded of her first meeting with Shu Yao's biological mother. Lihua is a good woman who loves her like her own child. Her attitude made Qianru feel a mother's love, which she never got.

After one hour, they arrived at a bus stop. Qianru and Shu Yao got off the bus. The area is very quiet. There are not many houses in that area. They walked towards a large and unattractive building. A dark atmosphere enveloped the building.

The words 'XXWYZ Prison' are listed near the entrance. Shu Yao approaches a female guard. He put his name and Qianru's name on the guest list. The basket he carried was also examined carefully. Soon after they waited, a guard called them. They walked behind the guard to a room. In that room, Lihua was waiting for them.

"Qianru, Shuyao!" Lihua smiled while touching the glass wall that bordered them.

"Mother," Qianru smiled and touched the glass wall. Shu Yao greeted her with his hands in front of his chest. Lihua nodded her head.

"How are you doing?" Lihua asked enthusiastically.

"I am healthy. Shu Yao too. He registered the song he composed to a contest and entered the second round," Qianru answered cheerfully. Lihua nodded her head. She smile brightly.

"I'm sure that your song is great. I will wait patiently the day when I can see you singing your created song directly," Lihua said while looking at the face of his son. Shu Yao nodded his head. His face flushed red.

"I made several types of bread for you," Qianru interrupted them.

"I will try it later and give a review. I will write my review in the letter and then send it to the cake shop,"

"The cake shop is getting very sellable. I also often help Jiejie serve buyers," Shu Yao told the condition of the shop.

"Is it true? When we last met, you complained that the store was very quiet. You even thought of closing the cake shop," Lihua was impressed and Qianru smiled.

"I really planned to close the shop. However, suddenly a young master rented our little cake shop for his birthday party. The young master's friends and parents loved the bread and cakes that I served. Since then, news about our store has spread on Weibo. More and more people are coming to the store to buy bread and order cakes. I will start employing two part time workers to help me in the shop," Qianru told Lihua about her shop's condition as short and complete as possible. Lihua nodded her head.

"The young master often comes to the shop to help Jiejie. He is a free part-time worker at a cake shop. Jiejie is so lucky," Shu Yao add more story. Qianru elbowed Shu Yao because she feel shame. Lihua smiled.

"Interesting young master. His parents didn't forbid him to go to the store and help you?" Lihua asked and Qianru shook his head.

"Until now his father never contacted me to protest me,"

"How about his mother? Didn't she scolded you?"

"His mother has passed away,"

"Passed away? How old is the young master? "

"Seven years,"

"In his young age he lost his mother. I feel sad to hear that," Lihua sighed and then looked at Shu Yao.

"I remember how Shu Yao went through hard days after I went to jail. The loss of a mother's figure is very hard for a child,"

"However, I have a deceased grandmother who loves me. Now I have Jiejie. Mother don't think of the past and don't worry about me anymore. Soon, Mother will come out of this prison. The three of us will gather and be happy," Shu Yao console his mother who seemed to be crying. Lihua nodded her head.

"Thank you, Qianru because you accompanied Shu Yao. You've been looking him for me since three years ago. I am very indebted to you,"

"Mother, please don't say that. I'm happy because I can to do this for you. Shu Yao is also a good man. I'm lucky to have a younger brother like him,"

"Jiejie and Mother will discuss about me until when? I'm embarrassed to hear your conversation?" Shu Yao protested. However, his protest made the two women before him more and more want to tease him.

"Qianru, what about Shu Yao's girlfriend? What's her name?" Lihua discussed Shu Yao again.

"Her name is Hualing. She often helps me too,"

"Good. She is filial prospective daughter-in-law,"

"Mother, Jiejie. Please stop talking about me, "Shu Yao said and his face was red like a ripe tomato. Lihua and Qianru laughed after seeing Shu Yao's funny reaction.

***

"Jiejie, will you go home right away?" Shu Yao asked Qianru after they left the XXWYZ Prison. Qianru didn't answer Shu Yao's question. She turned and looked at the old building behind her.

Qianru sighed. She remembers the time which she was in the prison. She was there for two years. That place gave many memories in her life. There she met with Lihua. Their meeting changed Qianru's life.

"Jiejie?" Shu Yao held Qianru's shoulder. Qianru was awake from her day dreaming. She smiled.

"What did you said?"

"Do you go home right way or you have another plan?" Shu Yao asked.

"I will meet Yingjie and Ruolan. I have promised Yingjie that if I get a part-time worker then I will meet them,"

"Jiejie has told the young master that you will meet him today?"

"Already. I said I would come to his house this afternoon,"

"Alright," Shu Yao nodded his head. The two of them walked to the bus stop. They are waiting for a ten-minute bus. After the bus arrived, they went up and sat on the rear bench.

"Jiejie has made a doll for Ruolan? Jiejie promised the little girl that Jiejie would make a new doll for her," Shu Yao asked after they sat down.

"I haven't made it yet. I want to invite Ruolan to make it together, "

"That's an interesting idea. The little girl must be happy with your plan," Shu Yao held his own chin.

"I will stop at the next bus stop. From there I just walked for a while to get to the Zhang family's house," Qianru looked out the window. She remembered the address given by Yingjie. That boy even made a map for her so that she knew whre to stop. She also knew she must walk a little far from the bus stop.

"Those two kids seem to like you,"

"I like them too,"

"Why?"

"They are similar to someone I know," Qianru smiled. They were both silent until the bus arrived at the stop which was Qianru's destination. Qianru got off the bus after saying goodbye to Shu Yao. She opened the paper containing a map made by Yingjie. Qianru walked according to the map.

She finally arrived at an elite housing estate. She met the guards at the main gate to explain the purpose of her arrival. The security guard in that housing was very careful and alert. One of the security guards accompanied Qianru until she arrived at her destination.

Qianru was impressed with Yingjie's house. The house looks elegant. Just like any other house in the estate, Yingjie house is in European style. Qianru likes the atmosphere. The security guard who drove her approached the microphone. Not long after the door opened, Li Shu met them.

"Thank you for taking our guests," Li Shu spoke politely to the security officer. After the security guard left, Li Shu invited Qianru to enter. Qianru entered and was amazed by the interior inside the building. Everything looks new and luxury but a bit mess.

"We moved to this home a half year ago. The Old Master latterly buy many new stuff. So maybe there is a bit mess. Please sit down, Miss Jiang," Li Shu spoke casually. Qianru nodded her head. She sat on the sofa in the main room.

"I will tell the Young Master and Young Lady if you have arrived," Li Shu said then left the room after Qianru nodded her head. Qianru looked around. Her surrounding is full of valuable and expensive items. There are old jars and beautiful small paintings. Qianru was sure that the jars she saw were from the Ming dynasty. She also believed that the painting attached to the stairs was the work of a famous painter.

Qianru smiled. This luxurious atmosphere reminds her of her past.

"How long have I not seen luxury items like this," Qianru asked herself. Qianru looked near a flower vase containing tulips on an antique table. Qianru imagined the price. The flower must have been imported from the Netherlands and expensive. Qianru became curious and approached the tulip flower.

She realize that besides the tulips there are rows of photos. Qianru took one of the photos. Immediately her hands trembled. Her chest tightened. She recognized the person in the photo.

"That's my parents' photo when they got ma