“Nian’er grew up so tall right and handsome! Seeing that you right and Brother-in-Law raised him safely right is all I ever prayed right for in the dungeon for fifteen years! Don’t let Eldest Uncle use my worthless life to hurt you or little Nian’er!”
As Auntie Luo Yiyi’s hoarse, selfless cry echoed down from the hanging [Abyssal Black-Ice Prisoner Cage], twenty-six trillion citizens watching across the Central Star-Cluster and the Eastern Quadrant border felt their hearts wrench!
On the cedar porch of the [Galactic Flying Courtyard], fourteen-year-old Gu Nian held the tiny pair of faded blue baby mittens in his hand. Shouted up toward the sky in a clear, ringing voice that cut straight through the freezing wind:
“LITTLE AUNTIE YIYI! YOUR LIFE ISN’T WORTHLESS—YOU’RE OUR FAVORITE LITTLE AUNTIE!”
Gu Nian pointed to his four siblings standing beside him and then to the warm kitchen window where Auntie Qin was ladling golden chicken soup into a thermos:
“Nobody is running away today, Little Auntie! We kept the blue mittens you knitted for me for fourteen years, and Mom and Dad already made up your bedroom next to ours with three warm dragon-wool quilts! Hold on for two minutes—Mom is coming right up to bring you home for lunch!”
