Chapter 502: Chapter 502, Competing (6 Updates)
“Excellent!”
They selected a fine spot by the roadside to stop; there seemed to be no end to the surroundings, and even a small village was some distance away. Fortunately, there was a path making it quick and convenient to fetch water with a horse-drawn carriage.
Now with two more water jars, they could store even more water.
The boatmen weren’t very particular. To eat clean and tidy food was already a kindness from the master; but they hadn’t expected this new mistress’s compassion, offering them meat, fish, chicken soup, and rice – luxuries they wouldn’t dare to even imagine before.
What mattered most was the respect the mistress showed them, making them willing to follow such a master and obey all her commands from the bottom of their hearts.
They were straightforward men, knew some Martial Arts, but they were without family and oblivious to where home was. If the master was good, they gave their all; if not, they just did what was expected of them and ignored all else.
Xie Zhinuan had no idea of the boatmen’s thoughts, as she was busy feeding Xie Yi.
“I want to eat by myself, Mother,” Xie Yi whispered.
Seeing Qin Mao across from him still needing to be fed, he felt he must distinguish himself from Mao.
He would start by eating on his own.
“Of course!” Xie Zhinuan handed the spoon to Xie Yi, teaching him how to hold it, scoop up rice, and put it into his mouth before praising, “Well done!”
Xie Yi’s eyes crinkled into a smile.
Qin Mao watched and then looked toward his mother. “Mother, brother is eating by himself; I want to eat by myself too!”
“Ah…”
Zhao Xiuya hesitated.
But seeing Xie Yi so small and eating on his own, and recalling her own son’s illness, she finally decided, “Let Mother feed you, okay?”
“…”
Qin Mao pursed his lips.
When Zhao Xiuya tried to feed him, he pursed his lips and refused to eat.
“…” Zhao Xiuya felt sad.
She doted on her son, but he seemed completely unappreciative of her kindness.
Qin Yu quickly suggested, “Just let Maomao eat by himself!”
Zhao Xiuya pursed her lips, struggling to maintain her stance, but ultimately handed the spoon over to Qin Mao, “Mother will teach you, okay?”
She felt her child was still too little, unable to do many things, or had never had the chance to try.
But what she didn’t know was that, in places beyond her awareness, Qin Mao was already slowly maturing.
He shook his head gently. “I’ll eat by myself!”
If Xie Yi, who was even younger, could eat by himself, Qin Mao thought he could too.
He reached for the spoon, his hands trembling as he scooped the porridge and slowly put it to his mouth.
It was fragrant.
The porridge was wonderfully fragrant.
He swallowed it slowly, enjoying the painless sensation in his throat and relishing the ability to eat.
After one spoonful, Qin Mao took another.
But due to years of being bedridden, his body was weak, and his hands shook violently while scooping the porridge.
Unable to bear the sight, Zhao Xiuya covered her mouth and ran toward the foredeck.
“…”
Qin Mao’s hand holding the spoon stiffened slightly.
He slowly put it back into the bowl, suddenly losing any appetite to continue.
Perhaps, he should have let his mother feed him.
Qin Yu was concerned for his wife, yet couldn’t neglect his son; caught in a difficult position.
Xie Zhinuan set down her chopsticks, patted Xie Yi’s head, and got up to walk towards the foredeck.
Seeing Zhao Xiuya curled up in a corner crying, she sighed softly, stepped forward, and offered her a handkerchief.
Zhao Xiuya looked up, her eyes red as she gazed at Xie Zhinuan, “Miss Xie, I, I…”
“What’s wrong?” asked Xie Zhinuan softly.
“I feel like such a failure as a mother. I wasn’t able to give my son a healthy body and could only watch helplessly as he suffered. I couldn’t do anything. Now that he is a bit better, I’m happy, but I’m also scared. Scared that this is all an illusion, afraid it’s just a dream, and when I wake up, he will have left me, I…”
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