“Si Konghuai! Where have you been hiding him all this time!”
“You unfilial descendant! Have you been mistreating my precious great-grandson!”
While scolding Si Konghuai relentlessly, Sikong Old Master kept planting kisses on Tuantuan’s tender little cheeks.
The bond between grandparents and grandchildren is truly special, and it becomes even stronger with great-grandchildren!
He had practically kissed Yuanyuan’s cheeks out of shape.
Tuantuan felt uncomfortable from the prickling of the old master’s beard. He couldn’t help but frown, cupping his little face with his small hands as he made a soft request.
“Grandpa, could you please not kiss me so many times?”
“My face can’t take much more!”
“You can kiss here instead.”
Tuantuan generously extended his small hand – the skin there was thicker.
He helped weed the vegetable garden, and even when thorns pricked his hands, he never cried.
“My dear, did Great-Grandfather hurt you? I’m sorry, I’m sorry, my precious. Great-Grandfather will reflect on this!”
Sikong Old Master, who had been stern and unyielding his entire life and had never apologized to anyone, found himself apologizing multiple times since Tuantuan’s arrival.
After saying this, he still couldn’t resist giving Tuantuan’s small hand another kiss.
He had been hoping for a granddaughter-in-law, but now a great-grandson had suddenly appeared! The Si Kong Family had an heir for the 19th generation – how could he not be excited?
Si Konghuai watched his grandfather’s undignified behavior and couldn’t help but sigh helplessly, rubbing his forehead.
“Grandpa, you were a retired Head after all. Could you please show some restraint and not embarrass yourself like this?”
If Si Konghuai told him that Tuantuan had a twin brother, he feared the old master might faint from excitement.
“Mind your own business.”
“You’d better explain to me quickly – where did this child come from!”
Sikong Old Master glared at him. A mere junior Head thought he could boss him around!
“My dear, Great-Grandfather wasn’t scolding you, don’t be afraid. Would you like some candy? Great-Grandfather will get some for you.”
“How about biscuits? And those dark chocolates too.”
“There aren’t any children’s toys at home. Shall Great-Grandfather take you shopping? Whatever you want, Great-Grandfather will buy it for you!”
Worried he might have frightened Tuantuan, Sikong Old Master gently rubbed his ears and softened his voice to comfort him.
He was so eager to give Tuantuan everything he owned, his generosity knew no bounds.
However, Tuantuan didn’t know the old man before him was his biological great-grandfather. He obediently shook his head.
“No need, Grandpa. My brother saved some candy for me, I can have it when I go back.”
“Uncle saved me, I shouldn’t cause you any more trouble.”
“I’ll just stay for a little while, then I need to go home soon.”
In these times of scarce resources, when everyone was struggling financially, Xia Mingyu had taught him since childhood not to casually accept food from others, and Tuantuan remembered this lesson well.
Moreover, many adults would offer things insincerely – Tuantuan had learned this the hard way when he was younger.
Now, no matter how enthusiastic others might be, he would never accept.
Of course, Si Konghuai was an exception.
The two looked almost identical, creating a natural sense of closeness. Besides, he had been so hungry at the time that he couldn’t resist eating the meal Si Konghuai offered.
Tuantuan kept track of all these things in his mental notebook. When he returned home, he would tell his mother about them and make sure to repay Si Konghuai.
“What? You have a brother too? How old is he!”
Sikong Old Master was utterly astonished.
Had this rascal secretly started a family behind his back and had so many children?
“We’re both 4 years old.”
“We’re twins! Not only do we look exactly alike, but we’re the same age too.”
Tuantuan proudly lifted his chin.
Having a well-behaved younger brother who looked exactly like him was something Tuantuan felt extremely proud of. None of the kids in the commune had one like this – they all had dirty, mischievous younger brothers!
“What!”
“Twins!!!”
Sikong Old Master was ecstatic!
He had two great-grandsons now!
He had initially worried that the other child might not be his grandson’s son, but twins – there was no mistaking it!
“It matches!”
“Wasn’t your mother a twin too! Our family has this gene!”
Sikong Old Master laughed heartily to the sky. There was no need for any doubt – they were definitely the Si Kong Family’s bloodline!
The excited old master tossed Tuantuan high into the air, then caught him again.
“Good child, where’s your younger brother? Grandpa will go bring him over right now!”
“And your mother too!”
His grandson’s wife and great-grandsons – none of them should remain outside the family!
“Wow!”
Tuantuan wasn’t scared at all when thrown into the air; instead, he found it thrilling. He couldn’t help but cheer happily, his round little face becoming even more endearing.
This grandpa was really nice, though he spoke a bit strangely, like those crazy old men people in the commune talked about.
“Grandfather, please calm down.”
“I need to take Tuantuan home tonight.”
Si Konghuai tried to make the old master calm down and listen to the whole story.
“What!”
“I don’t care what you say! If you dare send my great-grandson away, I’ll die right here and now!”
“Hurry up and call your parents to come back! Let them see what their unfilial son has done!”
Sikong Old Master held Tuantuan tightly, refusing to let go. He glared warily at Si Konghuai, already descending into a frenzied state.
What was wrong with the old master?
He was already over 80 years old – he just wanted to hold his great-grandson! After all the contributions he’d made to the country, what was wrong with being a little willful now?!
They say old people become like children again – how true that was.
Si Konghuai rubbed his temples in frustration and simply shut his mouth.
He turned to go back inside.
This instead made Sikong Old Master unhappy.
“Where are you going!”
“You haven’t even told me where my great-grandson came from! You need to explain this clearly – were you being a scoundrel in secret outside?”
Sikong Old Master chased after him while holding Tuantuan. He wanted both great-grandsons – how could he not get to the bottom of this?
“Getting some food for Tuantuan.”
Si Konghuai kept his words brief. How could he not feel sorry for the child?
Although Tuantuan looked fair and tender with chubby cheeks, that was just baby fat typical of young children. In reality, he was quite thin – you could even feel his bones when holding him.
Moreover, Tuantuan’s clothes were very old, covered entirely with patches, some even made from different colored fabrics.
If not for his delicate and adorable appearance, dressed like this he would be mistaken for a little beggar on the streets.
Just from his clothing alone, one could infer that the mother and her two children weren’t living well.
Si Konghuai felt even more guilty, thinking he was the worst of scoundrels, completely inhuman!
“Yes, yes, yes, get some food first.”
Hearing this, Sikong Old Master immediately returned to normal.
He looked down at Tuantuan, who remained silent, just watching the two of them curiously with his big, dark eyes.
He didn’t need to do anything to be exceptionally likable.
Sikong Old Master felt his heart melt just looking at him.
He carried Tuantuan and went to the living room with Si Konghuai. The two gathered all the food in the house and placed it before Tuantuan, encouraging him to eat heartily.
“Thank you, Uncle, but I won’t eat…”
Seeing the pile of delicious treats, Tuantuan couldn’t help but swallow, yet he still shook his head and refused in his childish voice.
“Be good, take it if you like it.”
“You’ll understand later—Uncle isn’t a stranger, so no need to be polite with him.”
Si Konghuai gently stroked Tuantuan’s soft little face, gazing at him tenderly as he spoke in a low voice.
The emotions in his eyes were complex, something Tuantuan couldn’t understand, but he sensed that this uncle seemed a bit sad at the moment.
How strange—this was the first time someone had ever begged him to eat.
Without realizing it, Tuantuan nodded his little head and agreed.
“Okay.”
At this, both Si Konghuai and Sikong Old Master were delighted. They happily opened numerous snack packages for Tuantuan to enjoy slowly.
Then the two walked a short distance away, where Si Konghuai briefly explained the whole story and his suspicions to the Old Master.
Sikong Old Master couldn’t help but frown.
“That really is troublesome…”
He truly had no right to keep Tuantuan forcibly—this matter was Si Konghuai’s fault toward the child’s family.
However, difficult as it was, it had to be done! Even if they had to seize him, he was determined to have both great-grandsons and his grandson’s wife—he would claim them all!
“Alright, first you…”