The Tyrant's Little Bean Bun

A sweet story about raising a child

When Chuchu, who lived in seclusion in the mountains with her parents, woke up, she was the only one left in their thatched hut.

Her parents had vanished overnight.

Five-year-old Chuchu wasn't strong enough to carry anything, and, worse still, she knew nothing about how to survive.

Just as she was on the verge of starving to death, someone suddenly collapsed unconscious at her door.

So hungry that she was hallucinating, Chuchu mistook him for a whole roast lamb and took a bite.

The dying boy sucked in a sharp breath from the pain, and somehow came back to life.

When Tantai Xu opened his eyes, he saw a filthy little wolf cub who was in even worse shape than he was. He asked her, "What's your name?"

Chuchu shook her head, sending her dirty hair flying. She didn't know.

Tantai Xu asked again, "Then where are your parents?"

Chuchu's dirty hair flew about again, and this time she even managed to blow a snot bubble.

Tantai Xu refused to give up and asked her one last question: "Where's your home?"

This time Chuchu knew. She pointed behind herself at a dilapidated, empty thatched hut.

This was her home.

Tantai Xu came to the conclusion that she was a pitiful little dumpling with no parents and not much sense, either.

Tantai Xu was a prince of Great Sheng, hunted by political enemies. He had fled all the way here with serious injuries.

Staying here in seclusion to recover was the best option he had.

So he told Chuchu that if she wanted to eat meat, she should take good care of him. Once he recovered, he'd go hunting in the mountains and bring her meat.

At the mention of meat, Chuchu's eyes lit up. She did her very best to look after him.

Tantai Xu lounged on a straw bed and gave orders. "Little dumpling, go chop some firewood."

"Little dumpling, heat some water. I'm thirsty."

"Little dumpling, go pick some fruit. I'm hungry."

But Chuchu didn't know how to chop wood. She nearly split her own head open with the axe.

She didn't know how to heat water, either, and nearly set the thatched hut on fire.

She was too short to reach the bright red fruit. If she could reach it, she wouldn't be going hungry in the first place...

After that chaotic mess, Tantai Xu realized he could only rely on himself if he wanted to stay alive.

He told Chuchu to lie on the straw bed while he chopped wood, heated water, and picked fruit.

Life was much more comfortable for Chuchu with Tantai Xu around.

He could do just about anything, and best of all, she got to eat meat.

But Chuchu was unlucky, and her comfortable days never lasted long.

A crowd suddenly appeared in front of the thatched hut and knelt as one when they saw Tantai Xu.

Chuchu knew they were the big brother's family. He was going home.

She waved her little hand goodbye. "Goodbye, big brother."

Tantai Xu looked back at the little dumpling he'd taken care of, now clean and neat with a little more meat on her bones. The words "goodbye" made his heart shudder.

He knew that once he left, they would never meet again.

He had always been cold and indifferent, never interfering in other people's fates or karma, but this time he hesitated.

A few days earlier, he had discovered a secret: the little dumpling he'd always thought was a boy was actually a girl.

It was easy to imagine what could happen to a five-year-old girl in the wilderness.

She had saved him, so he decided to save her in return.

Chuchu waved goodbye to big brother through her tears.

The meat in the house and the vegetables in the cellar would last her ten days. The ladder by the fruit trees was sturdy, so she could pick fruit whenever she wanted.

Big brother didn't need to worry about her. He could just go home.

But why had big brother, who'd already gone so far away, suddenly come back?

Tantai Xu walked up to Chuchu, bent down, and held out his rough palm, inviting her to come with him.

"Little dumpling, come with big brother. I'll take you home to eat meat!"

After going home with Tantai Xu, Chuchu really did get to eat meat. But years later, the big brother who had always taken such good care of her suddenly said he wanted to eat her!?

Chuchu burst into tears. How was big brother going to eat her?

2025/9.12

Theme: Stay positive and persevere through hardship.