The ponies of Ponyville were known for being exceptionally warm and hospitable. As country folk who lacked the overcomplicated airs of city dwellers, their warmth was practically enough to roast the moon—well, except for Big Macintosh, whose personality still leaned toward the shyer side.
In contrast to Applejack's fiery warmth, Apple Bloom's enthusiasm was practically solar. Ever since they left the diner, apart from Applejack occasionally chiming in with a remark or two, Apple Bloom had kept up a steady stream of questions directed at her new cousin.
"Bingtang Xueli cousin! Can I call you Xueli cousin? Why does your name sound kind of like a filly's name? Did you always live with Grandpa before? Do you grow pear trees too? Are pear trees and apple trees grown the same way? What does your Cutie Mark mean? Can you play musical instruments with pears? And also, also..."
"Alright, alright, Apple Bloom, slow down a bit. Your cousin can't remember that many questions all at once. Let me answer them one by one first."
With that, Bingtang Xueli reached out a hoof to pat Apple Bloom on the head and said, "My name was chosen by my mom before I was born. When she was pregnant, the checkups suggested it was very likely going to be a girl, and when it turned out to be a boy, my mom loved the name so much she just didn't change it. As for my Cutie Mark..."
He paused slightly before continuing, "I actually don't know how to do farmwork at all."
"Huh?"
Judging by the expressions on the three siblings' faces, they were clearly quite surprised.
"I was born in Canterlot. My mom married and moved to Canterlot, and I grew up there. I only occasionally visited the orchard to see Grandpa, and my actual expertise is in music, which is why I have this musical note."
Clearly, they were indeed still quite taken aback by this revelation.
"I thought you were a country pony just like us," Applejack said, looking Bingtang Xueli up and down before glancing at Big Macintosh, who was built wide enough to fit two of Xueli inside. "Though now that you mention it, you do look a bit on the thin side."
"I'm not thin, I'm lean and fit," he retorted, raising his right hoof to display the muscle on his foreleg. The meager bump of muscle looked thoroughly useless, but it successfully made Applejack burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, sorry, I couldn't hold it in. But if you're not a farm pony, what have you been up to?"
"I've been a wandering musician," he declared proudly. "Ever since I left home nearly three years ago, aside from the occasional letter home to my mom, I haven't gone back. I spent two and a half years traveling the world with my precious guitar and my fine voice, until I decided two months ago to find a place to settle down in peace. That's when I went to the pear orchard, learned all about this from Grandpa, and rushed over here with him."
"Xueli cousin, you're so cool!" Applejack said with an expression of pure admiration.
"Keep it down, keep it cool," he said, waving his right hoof downward in the air. "Once the family reunion plan is finished, I'll give you all a demonstration."
Chatting as they walked, the four siblings soon arrived at the trading market on the north side of Ponyville, where one particular stall stood out quite remarkably.
Because it was surrounded by a long line of waiting ponies.
"Hah, business is booming. Though it should wrap up pretty soon," Bingtang Xueli said. "I didn't let him bring too much. I told him our trip here was for a family reunion, not to run a market stall."
And indeed, it was just as he said. Before long, the ponies gathered in front of the stall dispersed, revealing an old, whiskered fellow collecting golden bits.
"Hey! Grandpa!" Bingtang Xueli shouted as he jogged over. The remaining three siblings looked a bit nervous, unsure of what to do, while Grand Pear turned his gaze toward them.
When Grand Pear's eyes swept past Bingtang Xueli and landed on the three Apple siblings, he seemed to freeze.
"All done," Bingtang Xueli said, running up to Grand Pear and waving a hoof to signal the three siblings to come over. "I've already explained the gist of everything. Now it's time for a heart-touching reunion hug."
The three siblings slowly walked over, and Grand Pear looked at them with a smile breaking across his face.
"Grandpa... hello," Applejack said somewhat cautiously. "We've already heard the whole story from Xueli. We're so glad to have another family member, to have a grandpa. We really are."
Hearing Applejack's words, Grand Pear's eyes welled up with tears.
"I'm sorry, my dear children. I haven't been a good grandfather, not coming to see you all these years," he said, walking toward the three siblings. "Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Big Macintosh, right?"
The three of them nodded.
"Such a pretty young mare and handsome young stallion. You look identical to your mom and dad—especially Apple Bloom, I almost mistook you for little Pear Butter when she was small."
Just as the atmosphere reached the kind of emotional peak where a good cry was the only way out, Bingtang Xueli cut in. He pulled everyone together, and the five ponies locked themselves in a tight, collective embrace.
"Alright, alright, let's not have a big crying fest right here. We still need to go find Granny Smith and clear the air with Grandpa, right?"
"You're right," Applejack said, wiping her eyes. "On such a happy day, we shouldn't be blubbering like little fillies—well, except for Apple Bloom, since you actually *are* a little filly, so that's fine."
"I am not a little kid!" Apple Bloom protested, stamping a hoof. Her adorable reaction made everyone laugh.
——Twenty minutes later.——
Everyone had been chatting quite pleasantly along the way, right up until they got close to Sweet Apple Acres, at which point the three siblings started to grow a bit nervous.
They were still somewhat afraid that Granny Smith wouldn't be willing to let bygones be bygones and share a moment of friendship with Grand Pear.
"Um, why don't we go inside first and call Granny Smith out, and you guys should mentally prepare yourselves or something," Applejack said nervously. Grand Pear and Bingtang Xueli nodded cooperatively.
The three siblings went into their house, and before long, they emerged with Granny Smith in tow.
"What on earth are you little rascals up to?" Granny Smith said in an annoyed tone. "Can't you see an old lady was taking a nap? What kind of guest is in such a rush to see an old bat like me?"
Granny Smith shuffled forward as she spoke.
"Let's see who we have here," Granny Smith muttered, squinting as she approached. "I feel like I've seen this old timer somewhere before?"
"Granny, how come you're already losing your memory? Hahaha."
Grand Pear chuckled happily, while the four family members nearby didn't look quite as cheerful.
"Oh? That voice? Grand Pear?"
Granny Smith's voice sounded laced with a mixture of surprise and slight annoyance.
"Granny Smith, this next to me is Bingtang Xueli, our cousin. He's already told us what happened with our mom and dad," Applejack said nervously.
"Is that so? You know all about it now." Granny Smith shifted her gaze to Bingtang Xueli and looked him over carefully. "Pear Butter's boy, I presume? Those eyes are an absolute spitting image."
"That's right. Every time I look into those eyes, it reminds me of when Pear Butter was little, staring at me with those big, watery eyes asking for candy," Grand Pear said. "She went to Canterlot to do business twenty years ago, and while she was there, she married a..."
"Old blockhead," Bingtang Xueli interjected dismissively.
"Don't talk about your father that way, Bingtang Xueli," Grand Pear scolded with a glare, then continued, "She married into Canterlot, and even after having this kid, she kept right on doing business. Now she owns several chain supermarkets right there in Canterlot."
"I see," Granny Smith said thoughtfully. "So this means you've come back for good?"
"I'm back. I shouldn't have left," Grand Pear said, lowering his head dejectedly.
At that moment, Apple Bloom walked up beside him and offered a comforting pat.
"Finding you, and learning the story of Mom and Dad, makes me feel like a missing piece of my life has finally been found."
Applejack smiled as well and said, "Hearing their story makes me feel even closer to them."
"I'm sorry," Granny Smith said apologetically. "I should have told you all sooner."
"And I should have come back sooner too," Grand Pear added. "I can't believe bitterness kept me apart from my family for so long."
As he spoke, tears welled up and spilled from his eyes.
"It doesn't matter now. Nothing can keep us apart anymore. Let's never miss out on each other again."
Applejack stepped closer and said softly, "Applejack is right. Welcome back."
Granny Smith walked over and extended a hoof. "Stubborn old partner."
Grand Pear extended a hoof as well, touching it against hers.
"Thank you, Granny Apple."
"So pony-touching. Don't you think, cousin?" Bingtang Xueli said to Big Macintosh beside him.
"Yup."
Big Macintosh gave a heavy sniff to keep his nose from running.
"Honestly, if Pinkie Pie were here right now, she'd definitely let out a huge gasp and instantly throw a party," Applejack said with a smile.
At that moment, Grand Pear suddenly remembered something. He seemed to have something on his mind, though he didn't quite dare to say it out loud.
"What is it, Grandpa?" Applejack noticed that something seemed off with her grandfather and asked cautiously.
"Well, um... I'd like to go see your mother."
Once he said those words, the atmosphere grew cold once again.
Everyone knew that the only thing left of Grand Pear's daughter to visit was a slab of stone.
"I'll take you, old timer. We can catch up on old times," Granny Smith said, walking toward Grand Pear. "You three go tidy up the rooms; there should still be some empty ones."
"You got it! We're on it!" Apple Bloom suddenly perked up with excitement. "Maybe this time I'll finally get my Cutie Mark in house cleaning!"
"Right, I won't need to trouble you with a room," Grand Pear said. "I'll be leaving in a little while."
"He has to go back to Canterlot to see my mom later," Bingtang Xueli explained, fearing the others would misunderstand.
"You're not going back to your old pear orchard?" Granny Smith asked curiously.
"I've already leased out my orchard. I don't have any ponies over there to help me do the work anyway—for the past few years, I've had to hire ponies just to harvest and plant the pears. Bingtang Xueli said rather than doing all that, it's better to just lease the orchard out permanently," he replied. "His mom is very supportive of the idea too, saying it means I can move in with them in Canterlot."
"So you're leaving right away?"
Apple Bloom's big, pitiful, watery eyes flicked back and forth between Bingtang Xueli and Grand Pear.
"Not exactly," Bingtang Xueli said, scratching his head with a hoof looking somewhat sheepish. "I *do* want a place to settle down, and if it's not too much trouble, I was hoping I could stay here at Sweet Apple Acres?"
"Of course you can!" Applejack said with a bright smile. "You're part of our family now too. Welcome to the family!"
Apple Bloom bounced up and down with joy.
"Well then, you three lead Bingtang Xueli to go pick out a room. I'm going to take this old fellow to catch up, and we'll be back shortly." With that, Granny Smith and Grand Pear slowly walked off in the direction of the orchard.