Chapter 173 - 173 The Astute First Born
173 The Astute First Born
The four little ones thought of the worms inside their belly and nodded. Their mommy had taught them to be hygienic and clean. If they should not eat dirty food, and should always wash their hands before eating, then naturally, they shouldn’t use their used chopsticks to get other people food.
“Mommy, we got it.”
Lu Jiao smiled and gestured for them to eat.”
After dinner, Lu Jiao pushed Xie Yunjin back inside to rest.
“Though it’s okay to use the wheelchair, you still need to rest in bed.”
Xie Yunjin listened to Lu Jiao’s kind reminders and immersed himself in her care. The deep emotions he felt came pouring out.
His eyes went soft and his usual cold and solemn demeanor evaporated. Now, he was so bright it was like he was injected with sunlight.
“I understand.”
Lu Jiao leaned down and picked him up to put him on the bed.
For a moment, Xie Yunjin felt the urge to place his arms around her neck. In the end, he felt shy and controlled the heat he felt inside his body.
After Lu Jiao put him down, he felt ashamed of his thoughts. He immediately faced the inside of the bed and pretended to be asleep.
Lu Jiao figured he was tired and didn’t overthink it. She went back outside to clean up.
The four little ones got Soot and Marble some food.
Lu Jiao ignored them. They normally don’t just leave their home so she wasn’t worried.
After cleaning, Lu Jiao went to practice writing in the east bedroom.
Xie Yunjin appeared asleep at this point. He appeared peaceful and tranquil while he slept.
Lu Jiao studied him and remembered the ending he received in the novel. Looking back at him, she felt like she should’ve done enough to change the ending for him and the four little ones. Given how bright and optimistic they were now, they shouldn’t still follow the path they took in the book.
The four little ones in particular… Since Xie Yunjin had granted her custody, she vowed to raise them into four righteous and brave boys.
Lu Jiao grinned and started to write. She was completely unaware of the fact that the man on the bed was too afraid to move all this time given that she was staring.
In the middle of her writing, the First Born sneakily came inside and handed Lu Jiao a piece of paper, “Mommy, this is one of the pieces of paper you practiced on. Do you still need it?”
Lu Jiao shook her head, “No. Why?”
The First Born mysteriously smiled, “I have my uses.”
He then ran back out with that piece of paper. Given how mysterious he appeared, she looked out the window to see what he was up to.
He saw that by the trellis, Xie Lan was there with an object that she traded the First Born with for the piece of paper.
Lu Jiao was confused but quickly it became clear to her. Xie Laogen and Lady Ruan had signed a contract with the leaders. Was Xie Lan trading something with the First Born for it?
The First Born knew the paper he took wasn’t it, yet he still went to give it to Xie Lan.
That little boy sure was astute. Lu Jiao found it funny and didn’t say anything.
Xie Lan took the piece of paper and ran off.
Behind the First Born, the other three went to the First Born and looked at the candy in his hand.
“We are not eating her candy. She’s a bad person.”
The First smiled at the other three, “We don’t have to eat it. We can give it to our friends. The candy doesn’t bite.”
The other three agreed with that.
However, they were very curious about what the First Born gave to Xie Lan.
“What did you give her?”
“A piece of paper mommy used to practice writing. She said she had no need for it anymore.”
The First Born put away the candy Xie Lan gave him, satisfied. This afternoon, he’ll be able to give his friends candy. These days, so many kids from the village wanted to be their friends.
Xie Lan had no idea she’d been scammed and happily went home with what the First Born gave her.
At home, Xie Lan snuck her way to Lady Ruan, “Mom, I got it.”
Lady Ruan grabbed the paper with excitement. Sadly, neither of them could read it and didn’t know what it said.
Though Lady Ruan couldn’t read, she felt that something was off.
The contract they signed didn’t have as many characters as this one did. Plus, that night, both her and Xie Laogen stamped their thumbprints on the piece of paper. The ink they used was red. But this piece of paper didn’t have those thumbprints.
Lady Ruan knew then they had fallen for a prank. She slapped Xie Lan on the back of her head.
“You idiot. You were scammed by a four-year-old! This isn’t the contract we signed. It’s something else. That day, we left red thumbprints. See, they aren’t on this piece of paper.”
Xie Lan was in disbelief and lost it, “That bastard dared to lie to me?! I am going to teach him a lesson! I even gave him candy…”
Xie Lan snapped her body around, “I’m going to get back at him.”
Lady Ruan stopped her, “What are you going to say when you see him? If your third brother and sister-in-law find out, your dad and I are going to get scolded. We cannot do this thing like this.”
With much hatred, she added, “Tomorrow, I will go visit them. I don’t believe that I cannot get my hands on that contract.”
Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao weren’t aware of what was happening. One of them slept while the other practiced writing.
After some time, Lu Jiao went to wash up the four little ones and asked them to take their afternoon nap.
As for her, she went to brew more deworming medicine. Today, she made two giant gots. When the children arrive this afternoon, she’ll be ready.
Today, the villagers dropped off their kids. They also each brought a bowl.
This was instructed by Lu Jiao. She said she could make the medicine if they brought their own bowls. So each family brought their own to get their children medicine.
Last night, Tong Xiaoyu wasn’t the only one who was dewormed. Some other children also found worms. Therefore, everyone believed in what Lu Jiao had said.
“Thank you for this, Yunjin’s wife.”
“Thank you Yunjin’s wife. You’re our savior.”
Everyone chatted with friendliness. Though the children hated medicine, they all drank it thinking about the worms inside their bellies.
After that was done, the villagers came over with a group of men.
Since there were too many people to fit into the bedroom, the group spilled out to the living room. Some even went to listen by standing outside the window.
Outside, the four little ones taught the village kids Three Character Classic.
Lu Jiao knew that there was no way the children could study in peace today and said to the four little ones, “Let’s end the lesson for today. You can continue tomorrow. Today, mom and your uncles have business to discuss.”
The four little ones were obedient and asked the children to go play with their toys in the west bedroom.
Everyone was already intrigued by their toys. The invitation from the four little ones made them run with anticipation.
Lu Jiao didn’t mind them and asked everyone to come in.
Xie Yunjin sat on the bed while Lu Jiao sat beside him on the edge. All eyes were on them.