Chapter 6: The Same Scent

The little electric scooter seemed like a weary traveler burdened beyond its capacity, trudging slowly along the road. Its wheels turned with great effort, as if narrating the hardship it endured with every turn.

Seated in the back, Li Ya’s hands were occupied, unable to move freely, so she twisted her head slightly to glance to the side. The biting wind howled across her face, lifting her strands of hair, yet it could not dispel the joy shining in her eyes.

Unlike her classmates, whose parents drove them home in warm, sheltered cars, she had no such luxury. But she had her brother!

Her face still blossomed with a radiant smile full of hope for life, a smile like the warm sun on a winter’s day—gentle and captivating.

“Big brother, if you ever bring your wife home someday, will you still be nice to me?” Li Ya suddenly asked, her eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.

Riding the little scooter and twisting the throttle to the max, Li Ping’an heard this and replied gruffly, “Of course! Who else would I be good to if not my own sister? Besides, your sister-in-law hasn’t even appeared yet.”

At his words, Li Ya felt as sweet as if she had just tasted honey. Her mischievous eyes sparkled, and she teased, “Big brother, your little scooter can only carry one person. Who would you take—your sister or your wife?”

“Hey, once I graduate and make big money, I’ll buy each of you your own car,” Li Ping’an said confidently.

Li Ya couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Haha, big brother, you’re all talk.”

“What? Don’t believe your brother? I’m still a top student at Shuimu University, you know.” Li Ping’an feigned offense.

“All right, all right, I believe you,” Li Ya replied happily, though in her heart, she didn’t take his words too seriously. She knew very well how much harder it was for a family like theirs to become prosperous compared to ordinary ones.

Her tall, handsome, top-student brother had never dated—not because no girls pursued him, but because he rejected all of them. The reason was clear to Li Ya: it was because of her, his “ball and chain.”

She understood that love often required a solid financial foundation. Without their parents’ support, her brother had to shoulder the family alone. He had sacrificed so much for her sake.

“Look, it’s snowing,” Li Ping’an’s reminder snapped Li Ya out of her reverie.

She looked up at the misty sky, where occasional large snowflakes, as soft as goose feathers, drifted down. One landed lightly on her brother’s new down jacket; she blew gently, and the flake instantly melted into a sparkling droplet.

“Big brother, do we have enough food at home?” Li Ya asked with concern.

Li Ping’an smiled. “Plenty. How could I let you go hungry?”

With a creak of the brakes, the scooter slowly stopped in the yard. Passing by their neighbor’s house earlier, the door was closed, but smoke curled from the chimney—no doubt, Uncle Er was warming himself indoors.

Getting off, Li Ya set down her heavy bundles, stomped her feet, and said, “Big brother, open the door quickly—I’m freezing.”

She clenched her fists, feeling her fingers stiff from the cold, eager to switch on the heater and warm up.

At that moment, Li Ya noticed a black wire stretching from Uncle Er’s gate all the way to the second floor of their house. She recognized it immediately.

“Brother, did you get the internet installed?” she asked excitedly.

Li Ping’an nodded, “Yeah, just set it up today.”

“That’s great!” Li Ya exclaimed.

Quickly plugging in the heater, she hugged it tightly, then eagerly pulled out her old phone from her pocket.

“Big brother, what’s the password?”

“12345678.”

Closing the door against the cold wind, the room instantly grew warmer.

Li Ping’an headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner—the braised pork his sister loved.

Suddenly recalling something, he turned back and cautioned his sister, “Don’t touch my computer. It holds important files.”

Still uneasy, he added, “If those files leak online, they’re state secrets. Your brother could go to jail.”

The word “jail” clearly startled Li Ya. She had already lost their parents and couldn’t imagine what she would do if she lost her brother too.

Moreover, in her mind, it seemed natural that her brother at Shuimu University would handle confidential information. So she didn’t doubt his words.

“Don’t worry, big brother, I promise I won’t touch it,” Li Ya said, raising her hand.

Seeing her earnest expression, Li Ping’an rubbed his nose, wondering if he had been too harsh. But the AI code on his computer was crucial to their future, and he couldn’t afford any mistakes.

“All right, you warm yourself by the fire; I’ll cook the braised pork.”

“Great!”

Li Ya’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. In her heart, her brother’s braised pork was simply the best—just like their mother’s recipe.

Dusk quietly fell as the last light faded from the sky, and night descended like a heavy curtain.

Outside, the snow grew heavier. At first, sparse flakes floated softly like drifting willow catkins. Then they thickened, blanketing the world in a pure white quilt.

Within an hour, the ground was covered in a thick layer of snow, transforming the landscape into a silver wonderland.

On such a night, the surroundings fell into deep silence, broken only by the soft rustle of falling snow, adding a touch of lonely beauty.

Not far away, the bamboo grove on the right side of the yard bent under the weight of the heavy snow.

Inside, the warm yellow light spilled over the dining table, casting a cozy glow.

Two pots, a plate of braised pork, and a plate of vegetables—simple yet abundant.

Li Ya gazed at the spread, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Unable to contain herself, she eagerly picked up her chopsticks.

She carefully took a piece of braised pork, which seemed to tremble, as if telling the tale of its deliciousness.

Li Ya slowly brought it to her mouth; as she bit down, the rich aroma immediately filled her mouth.

She narrowed her eyes in delight, her face radiating pure bliss, murmuring, “Mmm—this is the taste.”

Then, as if remembering something, she suddenly gave her brother a thumbs-up and praised, “Big brother, how do you make your braised pork so delicious?”