Chapter 162: The Little Fool in the Group Favorite Story – Part 5

After thoroughly washing the little one, Xie Hui carried him back and rolled up his sleeves. He checked the child’s pulse but found nothing unusual.

Under the child’s bewildered gaze, Xie Hui led him to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

If a cure was possible, that would be ideal. But if not, as the Client had said, Xie Hui would do his best to care for him throughout his life. Even if Ning Ning couldn’t live to a ripe old age, Xie Hui would ensure everything was settled for him before his own time came.

A few days ago, while trimming the fence, Xie Hui also made two stools, one large and one small.

When Ning Ning saw his father open the cabinet where the rice was stored, he sat on the stool, placing his small hands on his knees, and watched his father intently, quietly swallowing his saliva.

The Xie Family’s conditions were considered relatively good in the village, yet Ning Ning rarely had enough to eat. When he was hungry, it was easy for Xie Kangli to trick him into eating things that weren’t edible.

Previously, at the village chief’s house, the chief’s elderly wife knew that children of this age got hungry quickly, so she constantly found ways to feed him. Occasionally, when she couldn’t manage, her eldest daughter-in-law, remembering Xie Hui’s past kindness in saving her son and father-in-law, would secretly give Ning Ning pastries sent from her own family.

Even the village chief’s youngest son, who was soon to marry, would bring Ning Ning some wild fruits after finishing his work in the fields or chopping wood on the mountain.

For someone who was always hungry, the feeling of a full stomach became increasingly desirable.

While lighting the fire, Xie Hui noticed the child with large, clear eyes watching him under the moonlight. When Ning Ning realized he was being watched, he quickly lowered his head like a startled young animal.

After a while, unable to suppress his curiosity, he looked up again to see what his father was cooking.

The current situation was quite challenging, so Xie Hui only cooked one dish and, considering the child, steamed an egg custard as well.

When the aroma of the food wafted out, Ning Ning took a deep breath, his expression of enjoyment inadvertently caught by Xie Hui, who couldn’t help but smile.

His expression was just like a cat contentedly swaying its tail after receiving a whole fish.

Once the food was served, Ning Ning focused solely on eating. Xie Hui had to place food into his bowl for him to eat, as Ning Ning never took the initiative to serve himself.

Xie Hui wasn’t sure if it was because Ning Ning was too naive to know how to help himself or because, back at the Xie Family, the Old Madam only gave him a single steamed bun each day.

After dinner, Xie Hui tidied up the kitchen and took Ning Ning to the courtyard.

The child was so thin, it seemed he was just skin over bones.

“Ning Ning, repeat after me. Ning Ning.”

Fortunately, when others called him, this familiar sound let him know he was being addressed. He stared at Xie Hui for a long time, his eyes still full of confusion.

“Ning—Ning.”

Xie Hui patiently repeated the words slowly. Finally, the child seemed to understand and tentatively tried to say:

“Ning…”

His voice was so soft that if Xie Hui hadn’t been focused on him, he might not have noticed at all.

Despite the imperfect pronunciation, Xie Hui reached out to ruffle his hair, then pulled him into his arms, his voice full of laughter as he praised:

“Ning Ning is amazing.”

That night, the freshly bathed child lay in bed, and as Xie Hui lay down, he could still hear Ning Ning softly repeating the word ‘Ning’.

For Xie Hui, this was a promising start.

Whether or not he was a fool, as long as he could understand a little, it was enough. He didn’t expect the child to be exceptionally clever.

Xie Hui set his expectations as low as possible, so every bit of progress the child made was a delightful surprise.

After settling into their new home, Xie Hui busied himself with the farm work. It was spring planting season, and though the village chief’s two sons offered to help, telling Xie Hui not to rush, he knew he couldn’t take advantage of their kindness.

Moreover, the village chief’s family had a lot of land, and even though the two young men didn’t complain, it was clear they were exhausted from working for two families.

Leaving Ning Ning alone at home made Xie Hui uneasy, so he decided to take him to the fields.

The village was located neither too far north nor south, so there was only one rice-growing season.

Before, the village chief’s sons had helped prepare the fields and selected a patch for seedling cultivation.

The seedlings were growing well, and it was time to transplant them.

Before heading to the fields, Xie Hui made a pair of straw sandals for Ning Ning, setting him under a large tree and instructing him to behave.

Though uncertain if Ning Ning could understand him, Xie Hui left nothing unsaid.

He hoped the child wouldn’t remain in his current state forever, so from the beginning, he refused to treat him as a child with issues.

The tree was close to the fields, allowing Xie Hui to keep an eye on him.

In the paddy fields, Xie Hui worked barefoot, the conditions leaving him no choice.

The Client had been like a tireless ox in the Xie Family, shouldering most of the farm work.

Xie Hui was efficient, keeping an eye on Ning Ning without slowing down.

After finishing his tasks, he saw there was still time, so he planned to gather more seedlings. He wiped his sweat and walked to the tree, noticing Ning Ning picking wildflowers.

The small blue flowers were easy to pluck, and Ning Ning was gently picking them, placing them in his little palm.

“Ning Ning, come help Daddy gather more seedlings.”

“Uh…”

The little one seemed to realize someone was calling him. After a soft response, he continued with his task.

“Ning Ning?”

Hearing Xie Hui call again, Ning Ning puffed his cheeks, looked up, and offered his free hand to his father, allowing Xie Hui to lead him to the other side.

At noon, back home, Xie Hui prepared an egg with some wild onions and sesame oil given by the village chief’s wife. He mixed it with a wooden spoon and handed it to Ning Ning, who was sitting on a stool.

Xie Hui himself made do with a steamed bun from the previous night, hurrying to the fields with no time or patience for a proper meal.

For a child as young as Ning Ning, Xie Hui couldn’t be so careless. The boy was already malnourished, and he needed to eat well.

The child was so thin, almost skin and bones. Xie Hui thought chubby children were cuter.

Ning Ning could entertain himself with a small patch of flowers by the field for a long time, spending the entire afternoon there.

Before evening, Xie Hui finished his work for the day. While washing off the mud, he unexpectedly spotted a few loaches.

In the village, people sometimes caught these to eat. During tough times, even leaves were plucked clean for food.

After the current emperor ascended the throne, the weather became favorable, and harvests were plentiful.

There were rumors that the emperor was a deity sent to save the people.

Though not everyone could eat their fill, a little diligence with the allotted land ensured no one starved.

Xie Hui waved at Ning Ning, who was busy picking flowers. The child, perhaps tired of playing all day, ran over when he saw his father beckoning.

“Come, watch Daddy.”

Xie Hui swiftly caught a loach. The wild loach was strong, wriggling vigorously in his hand.

Ning Ning bent over, watching the field with curiosity, mirroring his father’s actions.

Seeing the creature, he was so startled he fell back onto the ground, frozen in place.

Xie Hui found a large leaf, added some water, and placed the loach on it.

Then, he took Ning Ning’s hand, encouraging him to try.

The startled child was reluctant, pulling away when Xie Hui held his hand.

“If Ning Ning catches the loach, Daddy will make soup for you tonight.”

Realizing the child might not understand, Xie Hui added:

“Eat.”

The mention of food made Ning Ning’s eyes light up. He stopped resisting and softly repeated:

“Eat?”

Xie Hui nodded. This time, when he guided Ning Ning’s hand, the child didn’t refuse.

Initially, the loach’s movements scared Ning Ning into pulling back, but as he realized it wouldn’t bite, his courage grew.

While other families were still working, the Xie Family’s fields, once connected, were now tended by the Xie Family themselves.

They had grown lazy, spoiled by the Client’s hard work. Even after Xie Hui left, their laziness persisted.

The family bickered, and even the Old Madam’s favorite, Xie Kangli, had to help with chores.

They were bent over with fatigue, while Xie Hui and his son caught loaches.

The child’s laughter and Xie Hui’s praise were particularly grating to the Xie Family.

The Old Madam reminisced about when Xie Hui managed all the farm work, allowing her to simply pull weeds and think about what to cook for her beloved grandson.

Now, she was so exhausted she couldn’t straighten her back.

“Xie Hui, since you’re done, come over and finish this work too.”