I Ran Away With His Child novel · Chapter 3 of 24

Chapter 3: Powder

Dong Wei offers to buy the shop, Fan Yue films the broth-base tubs behind his banner, and Xu is found at the school gate holding Ran's hand.

On Wednesday morning Mu Qing lit the stove before dawn and did not think about Xu Zhengyuan until the first pot boiled.

Then he thought about nothing else, and he broke a bowl.

"You've got a face on," said Fan Yue, sweeping up the pieces. "Is it him? Table four?"

"It's no one."

Fan Yue snorted. "He ate your noodles and went quiet for ten minutes. You closed the shop early. Ran called him Uncle Xu."

"Ran calls the postman Uncle Postman."

"The postman doesn't have those eyebrows," said Fan Yue.

Mu Qing put a fresh bowl on the shelf and said nothing, and Fan Yue, who was kind under the noise, let it go.

By mid-morning a round man in a camel coat came through the door with his hand already out.

"Boss Mu," said Dong Wei. "Dong Wei, of Dong's Old Broth House, the chain opening at the foot of the lane. We've met."

They had met twice, both times in the lane, both times with Dong smiling.

He was forty-six, with a gold watch and a very clean white collar, and he owned eleven noodle restaurants in three cities.

He sat down at table four without being asked.

"I'll be quick, because I respect a man with a pot on," said Dong.

"I'm opening on Sunday in the new Terminal Plaza, down at the end of your lane. Thirty seats, a banner, a ribbon, the district officer."

"I saw the hoardings," said Mu Qing.

"Then you know the lane is going to be busy. And I'd like the corner."

"This corner."

"Three hundred thousand," said Dong, warmly. "For the fixtures, the name and the goodwill. You keep the recipe. A man like you could cook anywhere."

"It's my grandmother's shop."

"It's a nice shop," said Dong. "It's also eight tables on a lease that runs out at the end of the year."

"I hear leases in this lane may not be renewed." He tapped the table once. "I'd hate for you to be caught out."

"Who told you that?"

"Everyone hears things," said Dong.

His smile did not move at all.

"The answer is no," said Mu Qing.

"Think about it until Sunday."

"I've thought about it."

"Think about the boy," said Dong gently, rising. "Eleven restaurants, Boss Mu. I can feed a child better than a lane."

He left a business card on the table and a smell of expensive cologne in the shop.

Mu Qing stood very still until the door had closed.

Then he tore the card in half, and in half again.

"That man," said Fan Yue, in a high furious whisper, "is a liar."

"I know."

"No, I mean I can prove it," said Fan Yue. She pulled out her phone with both hands.

"I was at the Plaza yesterday for the corner shop's tofu. They were unloading his kitchen."

"I filmed it, because the van was so big," she said.

She held the screen up.

A white van stood at a service door with its back open.

Two men were carrying out white plastic tubs, large ones, waist high, with a red label on the front.

The label was clear enough to read.

It said Pork Flavor Instant Broth Base, 20 kg.

"Dong's banner says fourteen hours of bones," said Fan Yue. "I walked past it. In gold."

"He's pouring it out of a tub with a scoop," she said.

"Keep it," said Mu Qing.

"Keep it?"

"Don't post it and don't say it to anyone. Keep the video."

"That's not a plan," said Fan Yue.

"No," said Mu Qing. "It's a video. We use it when I say so, and not before."

She looked at him, and then, solemnly, she saved the video three times.

Mid-afternoon, the shop phone rang.

Mu Qing wiped his hands and picked it up.

"Mr. Mu? It's Ran's teacher."

She had a firm, pleasant voice, and it was firmer than usual.

"Ran is fine," she said. "I wanted to check something with you before I let him go."

"Go where?"

"A gentleman is at the gate," said the teacher. "Very well dressed, very polite."

"He says his name is Xu Zhengyuan and that he is Ran's father. Ran says he's right."

"But he's not on the collection list, and I will not release a child on a child's word."

Mu Qing's hand went white on the receiver.

"Is anyone with him?"

"He's alone," said the teacher.

"Don't let him leave," said Mu Qing. "I'm coming."

He tore off the apron, and Fan Yue was already holding out his jacket.

It was a short run along the river wall.

He did it in less.

The kindergarten gate was painted yellow, and the pavement outside it was crowded with grandmothers and umbrellas.

In the middle of them, in a black coat that was too good for the pavement, stood Xu Zhengyuan.

He had a little boy by the hand.

He was holding it with great care, and the boy was swinging their joined arms with great energy.

Ran saw his father running and waved with his free hand.

"Papa!" he called. "It's Wednesday, but Uncle Xu says he can do Wednesdays. I told him it wasn't in the minutes."

Xu looked up.

He did not let go of the child's hand.

← Chapter 2 · All chapters · Chapter 4 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend