Chapter 170: The Little Fool in the Group Favorite Story – 13

“Mother, if life has really gotten that hard for you and you’ve come here to beg, then of course I’ll give you something.”

Xie Hui set down what he was holding, trying his best to speak calmly to the Old Madam.

The Old Madam had already felt that, as a mother, she was lowering herself by apologizing to her own son. She hadn’t expected him to keep clinging to this matter.

“It’s just a few pastries! Who even wants them?!”

After saying that, the Old Madam couldn’t be bothered to keep going in circles with Xie Hui. Even glancing at her granddaughter standing beside her irritated her, and right in front of Xie Hui, she snapped:

“There’s no girl in this whole village as greedy as you!”

“Xie Hui, your younger brother has been found. He broke his leg, and now our family doesn’t have enough silver. I see you still have spare money to make clothes for that foolish son of yours. Give me some, so I can buy medicine for your brother.”

Xie Hui had already been wondering why the Old Madam had come knocking. Now that he knew the reason, he gave a faint smirk.

“Brother? We’ve already split the family. What does he have to do with me?”

In the client’s memories, this younger brother wasn’t a good person either. Because he was younger, he often teamed up with Xie Kangli to bully Ning Ning.

“Mother, how about this—have him come over, kowtow to me, and call me ‘Father.’ Then I’ll give him a few copper coins.”

After Xie Hui said that, the Old Madam’s face turned green.

Just then, Ning Ning reached out and gently poked the rooster squatting beside him with his fingertip.

The rooster flapped its wings and charged at the Old Madam and Xie Kangli, pecking at them furiously.

This rooster had been well-fed and looked rather handsome. Now, as it attacked, it was fiercer than a goose, driving the Old Madam right out of the courtyard.

Already fuming from what Xie Hui had said, the Old Madam stood outside and cursed for a while before dragging Xie Kangli and her eldest son back home.

After they left, Xie Hui looked at the rooster still strutting and shaking its feathers in the yard, suspicion rising in his heart.

“Rooster, come here.”

He waited a moment after calling, but the rooster just kept pecking around the yard for bugs, tail in the air.

Xie Hui turned his head and saw Ning Ning, who had just finished his pastries and was about to wash his hands. He reached out and tugged on the boy’s clothes, saying:

“Ning Ning, tell the rooster to come here.”

“Huh?”

“Tell the chicken to come here.”

Xie Hui slowed his speech, and only then did Ning Ning understand.

“Come here…”

As if receiving a command, the rooster immediately ran over after Ning Ning spoke, then settled in a new spot to continue hunting for bugs.

Ning Ning had been staring at the hand Xie Hui used to tug his clothes. Xie Hui looked at the rooster for a moment, then at Ning Ning’s little frown. He let go and softly said sorry.

By midday, Xie Hui had finished making a set of clothes for Ning Ning. After helping him change, the fit was perfect.

Seeing the little one lift his chin with a hint of pride, Xie Hui didn’t have the heart to make him take the clothes off again.

After lunch, Xie Hui took Ning Ning out, planning to visit the Village Chief’s house. He wanted to find out what had happened with the Xie family that made the Old Madam come begging.

A broken leg shouldn’t require that much silver, should it?

Wearing his new clothes, Ning Ning walked with a bit of a swagger. Whether he was showing off or just being playful, he couldn’t walk properly.

When they arrived at the Village Chief’s house, Xie Hui let go of Ning Ning’s hand and went inside to chat.

Sometimes, Xie Hui didn’t even need to ask. Given his relationship with the Xie family, the old Village Chief would often bring things up on his own during casual conversation.

“Not sure if you’ve heard, but your younger brother—he broke his leg while running off somewhere!”

“Everyone in the village is saying it’s because he offended a lucky star, so Heaven punished him.”

Xie Hui didn’t really believe in that kind of talk, and before he could respond, he heard a child crying.

The familiar voice made Xie Hui instinctively stand up. As he stepped outside, Ning Ning came running toward him, shouting “Daddy!” at the top of his lungs.

Seeing Xie Hui at the door, he threw himself into his father’s arms.

His little hands clung tightly around Xie Hui’s neck, and Xie Hui could clearly hear him whispering in his ear.

“Daddy, it bit me… sob sob… it bit me…”

There was a small canal in front of the Village Chief’s house. Families nearby often let their ducks or geese float on it.

Just a moment ago, Ning Ning had been standing by the canal, reaching for a flower, when he disturbed a goose laying eggs. The goose, furious, pecked him on the leg.

Xie Hui gently patted his son’s back. Just then, the goose waddled over, honking loudly—louder than Ning Ning’s cries.

Even though his son was crying quite miserably, Xie Hui couldn’t help but think, This kid sure can run fast…

The old Village Chief, leaning on his cane, came out a bit slower. After hearing what had happened from Xie Hui, he saw Ning Ning’s tear-streaked face and raised his cane, pretending he was about to whack the goose.

Ning Ning, who had been crying into Xie Hui’s shoulder, immediately perked up when he saw the cane raised. He craned his neck eagerly, clearly wanting to see the goose get what it deserved.

Xie Hui sighed and gently pressed Ning Ning’s head back down with his palm.

The goose didn’t belong to the Village Chief, so he was only putting on a show. If his son kept staring like that, it’d just ruin the act.

“Waaah… Daddy…”

Cradled in Xie Hui’s arms, Ning Ning forgot all about what had just happened and focused solely on crying.

Xie Hui carried him back inside. When Ning Ning had stayed at the Village Chief’s house before, he often played in the area and knew the surroundings well. The canal was shallow—if he fell in, half his body would still be above water.

Earlier, Xie Hui had left him outside because he still had things to discuss with the Village Chief and hadn’t expected any trouble.

Who would’ve thought that this normally well-behaved little one would go and provoke someone’s goose?

After closing the door, the Village Chief brought up that previous matter again with Xie Hui.

These days, most families in the village weren’t particularly busy. The Village Chief, now getting on in years, had two capable sons. Unless there was something urgent, he rarely did any work himself.

“A while ago, the neighbors on your parents’ side were all badmouthing Xie Kangli again. But ever since that incident, it’s been days since anyone said a word.”

Offending a lucky star and then getting punished by the heavens—like breaking a leg—sounded ridiculous, sure. But most people still believed it was better to be safe than sorry, and they all had a bit of superstition in them.

“I heard his leg didn’t heal right and it cost quite a bit of silver. Most of the money that was supposed to go toward Xie Kangli’s dowry has already been spent.”

The Village Chief knew some things weren’t really his place to say, but he owed Xie Hui a favor and decided to give him a heads-up anyway.

“I asked the doctor myself. If they’d just let him stay lame, it wouldn’t have cost much. But it’s your mother—she insists on curing him. I heard she’s even thinking about selling the land.”

“If your mother comes to you asking for silver, don’t be foolish.”

Xie Hui knew the Village Chief was looking out for him, so he nodded seriously.

“I understand, Village Chief.”

By now, Ning Ning had finished crying in his arms. The Village Chief noticed the child wiping his tears with the back of his hand and found his attention unconsciously drawn to him.

“Xie Hui… have you taken this child to see a doctor?”

The Village Chief had long suspected that this child had been mistreated by the Xie family, which might explain why he seemed so dull and slow.

“Ning Ning is still young. If you’ve got some silver, it’s best to have a doctor take a proper look at him. If you’re short on money, I’ve got some saved up.”

Xie Hui hadn’t taken the child to see a doctor. In his opinion, there were few doctors in this small county town whose skills surpassed his own.

If even he couldn’t find anything wrong, it was unlikely anyone else could.

“I’ve had him looked at. They all said there’s nothing wrong.”

The Village Chief looked at Ning Ning again, still wiping away tears.

The boy had long lashes, and after crying, they were soaked with tears. His eyes were wet and slightly red around the edges, making him look pitiful beyond words.

The Village Chief had grown especially fond of good-looking children in his old age. He reached out a hand toward Ning Ning, but the boy didn’t even notice it. The old man sighed helplessly.

If the boy really turned out to be mentally challenged, Xie Hui’s life ahead would be tough.

“It’s fine while you’re still young. But what about when you get older? And what if, one day, you’re no longer around? Who’ll take care of him then?”

Xie Hui thought about how the child still didn’t know how to use a spoon properly and felt a headache coming on.

Sure, he could feed himself, but if Xie Hui didn’t correct him, he’d keep using the spoon vertically like that forever.

“In the future, I’ll save up more silver and take him to the capital to see a proper doctor.”

“If he can be cured, that would be best. But if he really can’t… then I’ll take care of him for the rest of his life.”

The Village Chief’s smile faded a bit. He truly wanted the best for Xie Hui.

Raising a mentally challenged child wasn’t as simple as it sounded.

Xie Hui couldn’t still be looking after this child when he was as old as the Village Chief himself.

Just as Xie Hui was about to leave, the Village Chief suddenly stood up, even forgetting to grab his cane.

“Xie Hui…”

“Hm? Village Chief, what is it?”

Xie Hui turned around with Ning Ning in his arms. Under the gaze of father and son, the Village Chief said,

“Have you ever thought about taking Ning Ning to see a master?”