Chapter 4

Grandma Sun was from the neighboring village. During the **** era, her relatives were killed by the little devils, leaving her alone. One time, Grandma Sun was captured by the little devils, who were about to dishonor her. Grandma Sun, armed with a kitchen knife, resisted and was prepared to take her own life when she was saved by Grandpa Mo, a guerrilla fighter at the time.

Since ancient times, beauties have loved heroes. In her youth, Grandma Sun was known as a beauty throughout the local villages. Ever since Grandpa Mo saved her, she had eyes only for him. Heroes too are helpless to beauty's allure, and Grandpa Mo also had feelings for Grandma Sun. As time passed, the two got married and lived a loving life together, which was celebrated by everyone.

Unfortunately, fate was unkind. During a mission to intercept the little devils, Grandpa Mo never returned, leaving Grandma Sun a young widow without any children by her side.

Grandpa Mo's brothers considered adopting a child for her, but Grandma Sun did not agree. Empathizing with other parents, she understood no one would willingly let their child call someone else their parents. Bound by deep love for Grandpa Mo, she could not bear to leave their home, fearing no one would offer incense on his memorial days, thus she stayed, living alone in their home.

Lan Tian was truly frightened of hunger. At only six years old, he was skinny, only skin over bones and looked smaller than other four or five-year-old children in the village. Having encountered much indifference and coldness during his wandering, he broke down crying while eating the rice pudding offered by the kindness of Grandma Sun. After finishing the rice pudding, Grandma Sun did not send him away, and so Lan Tian ended up staying.

Having roamed from a young age, he had seen the harshness of the world and was very adept at reading situations. He was always sensible and clever, after staying, he took on any household task—sweeping, laundry, cooking, and tending to chickens and ducks—fearing he might be chased out for being unable to work.

At meals, he only ate a small half-bowl, more liquids and less solids. Grandma, seeing his young age and sensible nature, discussed with relatives and decided to adopt him as her own grandson.

The night Grandma told him about the adoption, Lan Tian cried with his face covered in tears and mucus, gratefully grasping at grandma's trouser legs and bowing deeply. During his days there, he was always anxious because the two were not blood-related, and he feared being thrown out one day. Now things were better; he was grandma's grandson, and here was his home. He remembered he was too caught up in crying that he couldn't even speak, and he slept the most peaceful sleep he had ever had that night.

It rained continuously for a while, making it impossible to do any fieldwork, but then it cleared up the next day, with red clouds in the east in the morning and clear skies by noon—the sunlight was brilliant, a great sunny day. Grandma expressed her hope that his life would always be filled with sunshine like the blue sky, hence naming him Lan Tian.

The grandmother and grandson lived depending on each other for many years. Although life was a bit hard, it was far better compared to his earlier wandering days of hunger and cold. He was genuinely happier and did not disappoint Grandma, living with a grateful heart, being obedient, sensible, and hardworking, keeping both home and fields well-maintained.

In his past life, his greatest regret was not serving Grandma well during her lifetime, causing her concern even after his marriage until her passing. Many nights, he would think about how he could have taken care of her if she were still alive, but sadly, there are no "what ifs" in life, and now he is here…