Zhou Xuan reached for the embroidered shoe, but his fingers passed through without hindrance, grabbing nothing.
He said again, "She really came back…"
"Uh…" Feng Xigui stared blankly at the young man squatting on the ground.
Zhou Xuan stood up and waved to the boy, "Take me to see your sister."
The little boy met Zhou Xuan for the first time, yet he wasn't frightened. To him, this adult who said "sister is back" was more trustworthy than his own father.
He wriggled out of Feng Xigui's arms and took Zhou Xuan's hand, leading him to the outer courtyard.
Passing through two doors, the little boy stood on the stone steps, pointed to the pomegranate tree in the middle of the outer courtyard, and excitedly said, "Sister is right there."
The pomegranate tree in July bore clusters of fruit. There was no wind in the courtyard, yet the rather dense leaves rustled softly.
