In the courtyard, the boy stood at his original spot and looked at Lu Sheng obediently.
The sparse yellow leaves rolled on the ground with the wind, and a few leaves rolled to the boy’s feet.
He lowered his head and kicked them twice before continuing to look at Lu Sheng.
Lu Sheng smiled at him and asked, “You must be Ah Tai?”
Ah Tai’s expression paused. He did not expect Lu Sheng to know him.
“Who are you?” he asked warily.
He had seen many people, but Lu Sheng was a complete stranger to him.
He was certain that he had not seen this person before.
“I’m your father’s friend’s… child.”
Lu Sheng pushed open the gate and entered.
Ah Tai frowned and took a step back. “My father has passed away for many years.”
“I know.”
Lu Sheng scanned her surroundings and asked in a low voice, “They’ve all gone out to the wedding banquet. Why didn’t you follow them?”
“Aunt doesn’t allow me to go.”
Ah Tai lowered his head and replied with pursed lips.
Lu Sheng had heard the grandma mention Ah Tai’s aunt on the way. Hence, she was not surprised to hear his reply.
“What did you eat this morning?”
Ah Tai shook his head and did not speak.
“What do you want to eat? Shall I bring you to town to eat?”
Lu Sheng felt like she was a human trafficker, trying to tempt a child.
However, she forgot that she was only four years older than Ah Tai.
Ah Tai shook his head. “I don’t want to eat. I want to go home.”
He felt that he was living the same life as before.
It was just another person who continued to despise him and order him around.
“Why? Doesn’t your uncle treat you well?”
“Uncle treats me very well, but he has no say in this family.”
Ah Tai said with a cold face, “In this family, even my cousins look down on him. Aunt scolded him for being a good-for-nothing. Her parents also scolded him for being a good-for-nothing.”
His uncle could not protect him even if he wanted to. His uncle was used to such a life, but he was unwilling.
After his mother died and his stepfather was taken away by the officials, he did not feel sad. Instead, he felt relieved.
The reason why he was willing to follow his uncle over was that he was a bit scared back then.
“When Uncle comes back, I’m going home.”
He woke up early this morning and packed his things. He intended to go back after his uncle returned.
Lu Sheng nodded. “Then, I’ll wait with you.”
Anyway, Liang Ping said that he would take the ox cart back to the village himself and that she did not have to go back to fetch him.
Ah Tai looked at her, then at the carriage outside the door. He did not agree or disagree, but just turned around and walked back.
Lu Sheng brought the carriage into the courtyard, took a stool, and sat under the roof.
“Ah Tai. Ah Tai!”
After a while, a burly man walked in with two bowls.
“Huh?”
Da Zhuang glanced at the horse carriage in the courtyard, his face full of doubts.
When Ah Tai heard the voice, he ran out. When he saw Dazhuang, he shouted, “Uncle.”
“You must be hungry. I’ve brought food back for you. The banquet has not started yet. Make do with this first. I still have to go back and help chop the meat.”
As Da Zhuang spoke, he took a bowl of rice and a bowl of pig offal.
“Thank you, Uncle!”
After thanking him, Ah Tai received it. He looked at Dazhuang, who was still smiling foolishly, and said, “Uncle, I’m going home.”
Da Zhuang’s smile froze, and his face was full of guilt.
“I’m useless. I caused you to suffer as well.”
With a sincere expression, Ah Tai said, “Uncle, when I have money in the future, I’ll bring you over and provide for your old age.”