The table, the chairs, the little indoor garden, the
carefully organized shelves, and the repaired kitchen cabinet had become
familiar parts of their life. They were not valuable because they were
expensive or impressive. They mattered because the family had made them
into something reliable in a world where reliability had almost
disappeared.
Lili seemed excited about the journey during dinner, but the excitement
faded when she realized they would not simply drive out and return
before bedtime. She asked whether they would be sleeping in the caravan,
whether the road would be bumpy, and whether Shanghai would be loud. Yan
answered as honestly as she could without frightening her. Bai explained
that they would stop when they needed to, and that everybody would stay
together unless they had a clear reason to separate for a short time.
"What if I get scared?" Lili asked.
Mother Yan reached across the table and took her hand. "Then you tell
