The entire family in the courtyard fell into silence, with only the crackling sound of burning wood breaking the stillness.
The children who were playing and chasing each other sensed that something was off and stopped, looking eagerly at the adults around them.
"Dad, what should we do?"
Qi Ercai broke the silence, asking his father.
As he spoke, everyone else turned to look at the old man.
Qi Zheng held his smoking pipe, unsure whether to take a puff or to knock it out and put it away.
After a long while, Qi Zheng beckoned to Qi Manman, "Manbao, come to Grandpa."
Qi Manman glanced towards the woodshed and then, without looking back, shuffled his short legs and ran towards Qi Zheng.
Yi Meng, worried about the poor light at night and the child tripping, followed along.
Qi Manman threw himself into Qi Zheng's arms, looking up with big watery eyes, as if about to cry at any moment.
That little expression made Qi Zheng instantly decide, "We'll take all the firewood!"
