Shen Siyuan encountered a bit of trouble because a little one, similar in size to Dou Dou, was now clinging to his leg and refusing to let go.
She seemed not to understand what Shen Siyuan was saying, only tilting her head up and giving him a silly smile.
This incident was, indeed, quite strange.
Shen Siyuan had arranged to meet Zhong Xiaonan at a café by the seaside, just across the road from a sandy beach.
The weather today was good, so there were groups of children playing on the beach, looking like a mixture of students led by a teacher and participants of an offline event.
Then, a little toddler caught sight of him.
She looked about Dou Dou’s age, similarly chubby, but a bit dirty, with a cracked face like that of a wild child.
She wore a round-neck top with ruffled edges and floral puffed short sleeves, washed rather pale and stained with drool marks around the collar, making her look somewhat grimy.
Her lower half was clothed in black capris, with originally frilly edges that were now frayed from wear, leaving little left.
It seemed that the little girl’s family conditions weren’t very good, and what puzzled Shen Siyuan even more was the absence of any adults.
There were, however, a few elderly people and young women who seemed more like nannies or kindergarten teachers, attending to the children.
Ordinarily, even if a school organized activities, parents generally accompanied such small children.
Additionally, some older children were present, clearly primary or secondary school students. Thıs content belongs to 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩•𝗳𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝕟𝕖𝕥
They also helped look after the children, but still, with so many little ones running all over the beach, it was difficult to keep an eye on them at all times.
The toddler Shen Siyuan mentioned was one of the quieter ones; she sat on the beach, across the street, constantly grinning at Shen Siyuan, smiling like a little Maitreya Buddha, oblivious to the drool dripping onto her collar.
Her smile was very infectious, with the corners of her mouth rising, her eyes curving as if the whole world was celebrating with her.
While Shen Siyuan and Zhong Xiaonan were talking, she just kept staring...
Even when Shen Siyuan picked up his coffee, she continued to stare...
She was like a little frog squatting there, watching Shen Siyuan from across the road.
It was clear both Zhong Xiaonan and the highly perceptive Shen Siyuan had noticed.
"Do you know her?" Zhong Xiaonan asked curiously.
Shen Siyuan shook his head; how could he possibly know such a little one?
Shen Siyuan stood up and walked across the road.
After finishing chatting with Zhong Xiaonan, Shen Siyuan, out of curiosity, walked over.
Seeing Shen Siyuan coming, the "little frog" immediately stood up, stretched out her arms, and stumbled towards him, then clung to his legs.
Her dirty little face rubbed against his pant-legs.
And she kept making silly "ha... ha..." sounds from her mouth.
Seeing this, Zhong Xiaonan, who followed over, chuckled and said, "Mr. Shen, you really are popular with kids."
"Is that so?" Shen Siyuan was also puzzled.
It seemed to make some sense though, as both Dou Dou and Duoduo appeared to be quite fond of him.
Thus, he looked down at the little one clinging to his legs, sitting on the top of his shoes, and asked, "What’s your name? How old are you this year?"
The little toddler didn’t respond, just raised her head to look at him, continuing to smile innocently with her eyes curved, making sounds resembling "ha~ha~."
Zhong Xiaonan by his side slightly furrowed her brows, sensing something was off.
Shen Siyuan knew what she was about to say, glanced at her, and bent down to try and pick the little one up, but the tiny thing clung to his trouser leg and wouldn’t let go.
Shen Siyuan didn’t dare to pull too hard, afraid to hurt her.
The little one let out another sound from his small mouth as Shen Siyuan leaned closer.
"Is he unable to speak?"
Given the child’s size, he should be able to talk by now.
For instance, Dou Dou is like spilling beans when he talks, clear and fast.
But this little baby can only make some simple sounds, obviously there’s a problem.
"Little mute~ Little mute~"
At this moment, a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old ran over while shouting on the beach.
But the little baby hugging Shen Siyuan’s leg showed no response, still grinning and squinting, smiling foolishly at Shen Siyuan.
Seeing her smile, Shen Siyuan felt as if he was infected, his lips unconsciously curled upwards.
He bent his knee and lifted his foot upwards, and the little baby also rose with the movement of his foot, not scared at all, her little short legs swaying back and forth, as if she was using his leg as a seesaw.
Just then, the boy ran over and hugged the little baby from behind, pulling her off Shen Siyuan’s leg.
"Uncle, I’m sorry, Little Mute... Tang Tang dirtied your clothes."
The boy noticed the obvious stain on Shen Siyuan’s pant leg and apologized somewhat awkwardly.
But the little baby still grinned foolishly at the side, looking at Shen Siyuan, then at her older brother beside her.
"It’s okay, her name is Tang Tang?" Shen Siyuan asked curiously.
The boy nodded, "Yes, Granny Zhang named her, saying her smile is as sweet as candy, but Tang Tang can’t speak."
"She can’t speak? Or hear?"
Shen Siyuan recalled that when the boy called Tang Tang earlier, she seemed to have no reaction at all.
Generally, mute people are caused by congenital deafness. Because they can’t hear sounds, they can’t learn to speak.
As expected, the boy nodded, "Tang Tang can’t speak either, but she is very well-behaved."
He finished speaking and lowered his head to take a glance at the still foolishly happy little baby, scratching his head in confusion, "I don’t know what’s wrong today, she usually doesn’t run around ..."
"Is this a school, or...?" Shen Siyuan looked at the group of children on the beach, asking curiously.
At that moment, a middle-aged aunt seemed to notice something was amiss here and started walking over.
"We are the children of Granny Zhang from Sun Village," the boy said.
"Sun Village?" Shen Siyuan was puzzled, unsure what that place was.
"Granny Zhang adopted us. Today is Saturday, and Granny Zhang said we shouldn’t always stay at home, in the yard, so she let other grandmas and aunts take us out to play..."
Shen Siyuan vaguely understood; it seemed to be a community care institution similar to an orphanage.
By this time, the plainly dressed middle-aged aunt arrived.
"What’s the matter? What happened?"
After understanding the situation, she quickly apologized to Shen Siyuan, looking very polite and courteous.
Shen Siyuan also learned from her that so-called Sun Village was actually a small rural courtyard. Granny Zhang, originally named Zhang Xiufang, is a retired teacher who initially wanted to provide a home for the underage children of convicts and children from very poor families, providing them with food, drink, and education.
The aim was for these children to not endanger society in the future, and to be self-sufficient.
Gradually, they also started taking in some children from welfare homes.
For instance, Tang Tang, who was both deaf and mute and needed care; Granny Zhang, pitying her, had taken her in.
Shen Siyuan looked down at Tang Tang.
Tang Tang was also looking up at him, her eyes exceedingly beautiful, clear as if they were starry, making Shen Siyuan lose himself for a moment.
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