Chapter 25: Miss…
Just as Madam Xie and Zhao Lanhua were chatting happily, Ji Zhao was busy in the kitchen.
The rice in the rice jar was almost empty. There was not much flour left in the bamboo basket hanging on the beam.
Ji Zhao was very worried.
She remembered that the Ji family in the original novel was in decline. Old Master Ji’s son and daughter-in-law passed away many years ago, and Old Master Ji passed away not long after she got married. Old Madam Ji had no choice but to bring her only grandson along to beg on the streets…
Ji Zhao thought for a moment and took out the silver tael hidden at her waist.
No matter what, the old couple in the Ji family raised her.
“Sis… Sis…”
Just as Ji Zhao made up his mind to turn around, he happened to see a small round black head.
“Chenchen?” Ji Zhao asked softly when she saw the little face.
The six-year-old boy was as thin as a matchstick. The hair on his head was even more messy. He had a pair of big black eyes on his fair face. His flickering appearance made one’s heart ache.
Ji Chen was the only grandson of the Ji family. He had been quiet since he was young. Ji Zhao had heard from her grandfather that Ji Chen had an illness. He did not cry or make a fuss. Even if he was beaten by other children, he would not feel any pain.
If Ji Zhao was not wrong, Ji Chen’s illness should be child autism.
Moreover, the reason why something happened to the Ji couple back then was because they had heard that there was a divine doctor who specialized in treating chronic illnesses in the neighboring county. In the end, they encountered bandits on the way and both of them died.
“Sister… Sister… Chen… Chen… misses you…”
“Chenchen, good boy!” Ji Zhao felt her heart melt when she heard this.
“Mss…” Ji Chen looked at her with his big black eyes.
Ji Zhao slowly squatted down and kept her gaze parallel to his. She rubbed his head and smiled gently. “Chenchen, are you hungry? I brought some pastries home. Do you want to try them?”
Ji Chen nodded.
When Ji Zhao brought him into the central room, he happened to hear Zhao Lanhua’s voice. “Ah Tao is very good. I like her very much. The weather is not good now. My third son accompanied his father to the fields early in the morning to work, so he couldn’t accompany Ah Tao back to the house. Anyway, don’t worry. Our Shen family will take good care of Ah Tao.”
At this moment, Ji Zhao was very touched.
“Mother, thank you.” Ji Zhao walked into the central room and bowed to Zhao Lanhua. “From now on, I will treat you as my own mother.”
“Silly girl, get up quickly!” Zhao Lanhua hurriedly went forward to help her up. “Alright, it’s getting late. We should go back. Ah Tao, I’ll wait for you outside.”
The attentive Zhao Lanhua quickly gave the space to the two of them. She turned around and took out two Nougats from her sleeve and handed them to Ji Chen, who was hiding behind her. “Nougats, do you want some?”
Ji Chen blinked blankly. In the end, he carefully reached out and grabbed the two candies.
“Thank… thank you!”
“Good boy!” Zhao Lanhua asked happily, “Can you take me to see your grandfather?”
Ji Chen subconsciously looked at Madam Xie. Seeing her nod, he let go of Ji Zhao’s sleeve and turned to walk out of the room.
Madam Xie glanced at Ji Zhao and suddenly approached her to hug her waist. She cried bitterly, “My Ah Tao, I’ve let you down! Boohoo! I really had no choice but to marry you off in a hurry!”
“Grandma, wipe your tears first.” Ji Zhao pushed her away expressionlessly and sighed softly.