The departing figure of the government officer exuded delight.
Meng Yao held onto Ange, her face full of indescribable complexity.
Zhao Dahe was at a loss for words, glancing at Meng Yao, then Ange, sighing and shaking his head.
"What’s with your expression?" Meng Yao was puzzled.
"Mom, you..." Zhao Dahe couldn’t articulate anything, letting out a long sigh instead.
"Ange, be good. Go with your brother, and I’ll make you something to eat, okay?" Meng Yao said.
Ange clung tightly to Meng Yao, shaking his little head vehemently, "Don’t want to go with brother, stay with mom."
Zhao Dahe sighed deeply, lamenting the situation his mother had caused; the child surely had psychological scars from being abandoned.
"Mom, you just hold onto him. Let sister-in-law go and make something for him to eat!" Zhao Dahe suggested.
This hug is owed to him, it’s right to repay it.
Meng Yao could only instruct Song Xiu’er to help cook some rice porridge.
Ange hadn’t eaten for several days, so for now, rice porridge was all he could have.
"Do you know not eating is very damaging to your body?" Meng Yao said, looking at the noticeably thinner Ange, feeling a pang of discomfort.
People need to eat as much as needing metal and steel, missing a meal leaves you starving.
This little guy hadn’t eaten for days, it was impressive how he managed to hold on.
"I know," Ange’s voice was tiny, "But only by not eating would dad compromise, so I could see mom."
Zhao Dahe felt he couldn’t listen anymore.
In the past, mom wasn’t kind to Xiaoshu. But later, mom realized her mistake and treated Xiaoshu very well.
Yet, when she had that revelation, why didn’t she remember this little one?
So young and already resorting to fasting just to see his mother, truly pitiful.
How could mom be so heartless?
And the County Magistrate, even though his looks were rather average, he was still a parental official of the county! He truly underestimated his mom, daring to abandon even a parental official of a county.
That County Magistrate was quite a gentleman, as even now, he hadn’t sought revenge.
Song Xiu’er quickly cooked the rice porridge, adding some minced meat inside.
"Can you eat by yourself?" Meng Yao asked Ange.
Ange nodded, "I can eat, I usually eat by myself. But, today, can I not eat by myself? Mom, can you feed me? I’ve never known what it’s like to be fed by mom. Xiaobao said, when he’s sick, his mom feeds him."
The little one spoke so cautiously, how could Meng Yao refuse? It was impossible.
So, Meng Yao spoon-fed Ange the porridge.
The bowl of porridge quickly reached the bottom.
"Still hungry?" Meng Yao asked him.
Ange nodded, "Still a bit hungry."
"You can only have half a bowl more, you haven’t eaten for days, eating too much at once might upset your stomach." Meng Yao advised.
"Okay, I’ll listen to mom." Ange replied obediently.
During this time, the Zhao siblings and Li Chang’an gathered around, none speaking, but their faces and eyes were filled with confusion.
Why would the son of a County Magistrate be here?
Why would he call their mom/aunt mom?
What exactly was mom/aunt’s relationship with the County Magistrate?
Zhao Xiaohua couldn’t contain herself, "Mom, who exactly is he?"
"Sister, my name is Ren Zi’an. I’m five years old this year, I am mom’s son. You may call me Ange, dad usually calls me Ange. It’s nice to meet you, pleased to make your acquaintance." Ren Zi’an spoke like a little adult.
Oh my, this child is too well-behaved.
Zhao Xiaohua was tempted to hug him and then pinch his cheeks.
"Mom, when did you give birth to Ange? Why don’t I know?" Zhao Xiaohua asked.
Meng Yao: If I said I didn’t give birth to him, would you believe me?
"Mom, regardless of what happened before, since the County Magistrate is willing to bring Zi’an here, let him stay with us moving forward. He hasn’t grown up with you by his side, it’s rather pitiful; from now onwards, focus more affection on him!" Zhao Dahe suggested.
"Mom, there’s no extra room at home, so let Ange stay with you temporarily. When the weather warms a bit, Dajiang and I can make some mud bricks, and we can build another room." Song Xiu’er offered.
"Mom, usually Xiaoshu and I can help you take care of Ange." Zhao Xiaohua also spoke up.
"Ange, do you like rocking horses? Brother will make you one." Zhao Xiaoshu said.
Zhao Xiaoshu felt this little brother was too pitiful, though their mom hadn’t treated him well before, she hadn’t outright abandoned him, whereas the little brother had indeed been abandoned, he felt he should treat him doubly well to make up for it.
At the County Government, Ren Zi’an only had Uncle Apu by his side, with playmates being limited to Uncle arrest officer’s son, Abao. When had he seen such a scene?
The brothers and sisters seemed to like him a lot!
They were all mom’s children, which meant they were all his relatives.
Apart from dad and Apu, he now had so many more relatives, it made him very happy.
Ren Zi’an’s big eyes curved into crescents, his lips curled up, and his little face was brimming with happiness.
"Mom, when dad comes to take me back, can you ask him to let me stay here? I don’t want to live at the government office." Ren Zi’an cautiously asked Meng Yao.
"You are your dad’s only child, if you don’t go back, he won’t see you, he’ll certainly be sad." Meng Yao replied.
"When he misses me, he can come and see me. Besides, I have always been by dad’s side, never by mom’s. It’s time for me to accompany mom!" Ren Zi’an said seriously.
Meng Yao didn’t know how to explain to Ren Zi’an.
To say directly she’s not his mom, if he could believe that, he wouldn’t be here before her now.
After all, the County Magistrate surely explained to him.
"Mom, stop thinking about sending the little brother away. We have enough for him to eat and wear, he’s young, youthful companionship is important." Zhao Dahe said.
In his view, his mom simply didn’t want to keep little Zi’an.
Though not the same dad, but having the same mom means they’re real brothers.
He felt a bit uncomfortable, but the little Zi’an was so well-behaved and understanding, he could still accept him.
Meng Yao glared at him, puzzled by how determined he was to consider the County Magistrate’s young son as his brother? Clearly, he wasn’t this kind of person!
"Mom, second brother is right." Zhao Xiaohua rarely sided with Zhao Dahe.
Now that the government officer had gone, Meng Yao indeed couldn’t send him away at the moment and could only let him stay for now.
"Come, I’ll take you back to the room, and tidy up your things." Meng Yao said gently to Ren Zi’an.
Zhao Dahe automatically picked up Ren Zi’an’s luggage and brought it to Meng Yao’s room.
Meng Yao unpacked the luggage, it contained a few sets of clothes, and the rest were writing materials.
"Last year dad started my education; dad says even at mom’s place, I mustn’t neglect my studies." Ren Zi’an explained, "Dad mentioned mom likes children who are good at studying."
Meng Yao ruffled Ren Zi’an’s hair, "Ange, you are really great."