In less than the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, everyone had fled. If not for the bloodstains on the ground proving that bandits had just been here, Xu Huaiyi’s calm demeanor would have made onlookers think nothing had happened at all.
He wiped his cleaver clean and was about to leave when a child emerged from the nearby grove of trees. By appearance, the child was only four or five years old, dressed in coarse linen clothes, yet with a face as delicate and lovely as a porcelain doll, strikingly similar to the beautiful children depicted in New Year paintings.
But what surprised Xu Huaiyi the most was that despite the child’s shabby, lower-class attire, there was an undeniable aura about him.
Instantly, the phrase “Do not despise the youth for his poverty” flashed through Xu Huaiyi’s mind.
He was almost certain that this child was no ordinary person and would grow up to achieve great things.
The child, carrying a bundle on his back, walked up to him and looked up, staring fixedly at him.
His eyes were clear and bright, black and white distinct.
Well, with such an imposing presence, Xu Huaiyi couldn’t help but ask first, “Do you need something?”
He asked casually, but inwardly, he grew wary again. Having dreamed of roaming the world as a chivalrous hero, he had read many books on the subject and concluded one thing: never underestimate women and children, or you might suffer greatly.
If he wasn’t mistaken, this kid had been hiding in the grove watching the whole time, though it was unclear what his intentions were.
Was he waiting for both sides to be weakened before stepping in to take advantage?
Moreover, the child’s expression as he walked out was too calm, unlike that of a typical four- or five-year-old.
The boy pursed his lips, his eyes finally showing more emotion—reluctance, helplessness, and perhaps a hint of desperate courage. “Do you want a son?”
“What?” Xu Huaiyi was stunned.
Indeed, no ordinary person—opening with such a shocking statement.
The boy seemed somewhat displeased by his astonishment, frowning as he repeated, “Do you want a son?”
Xu Huaiyi probed, “Are you… recommending yourself?”
The boy nodded and said, “Mm-hmm.”
Xu Huaiyi’s lips twitched. Recommending oneself to be someone’s son? Was this some new kind of scam?
He shook his head and refused, “I already have children.”
Unexpectedly, the boy replied, “One can never have too many sons. The more, the better.” Then, he added, “Besides, I’m smarter than most people.”
The implication was clear: even if you have sons, none are as capable as I am.
Xu Huaiyi couldn’t help but laugh, crossing his arms as he looked at the boy. “Kid, stop beating around the bush. You saw what happened in the grove just now—I’m not someone to be trifled with. If you have something to say, say it directly. If I can help, I don’t mind lending a hand. If not, then I’m sorry, but you’ll have to find someone else. We’ll go our separate ways.”
“I don’t need help with anything else. I just want to be your son.”
Xu Huaiyi let out a half-smiling “Heh,” his expression clearly saying, “Do you think I believe that?”
Seeing this, the boy paused briefly before revealing his background. “Before my parents passed away, they entrusted me to a family. That family took my parents’ money but treated me with nothing but beatings and abuse. They even went so far as to try to sell me to a filthy place. If I stayed with that family, I’d be dead sooner or later. That’s why I want to find a way to survive.”
Xu Huaiyi listened, his feelings rather complicated, and asked with a mix of belief and doubt, "So, you ran away?"
The boy nodded. "You could say that."
Xu Huaiyi frowned. This was tricky. The details the boy had just shared about himself weren’t without holes, but strangely, Xu Huaiyi felt no aversion. Even the caution he’d felt earlier had now completely dissipated.
The two of them, one big and one small, fell into silence.
After a long while, Xu Huaiyi said earnestly, "I sympathize with your situation, but I really can’t help you. How can I just take you away without a second thought? If your adoptive parents find out, they’ll accuse me of child trafficking. I don’t want that kind of trouble. Besides, I really don’t need a son…"
Hearing this, the boy remained calm and replied with certainty, "Don’t worry. They wouldn’t dare, nor do they have the energy to come looking for me. You won’t have any trouble."
Xu Huaiyi asked curiously, "Why wouldn’t they dare or have the energy to look for you?"
The boy said calmly, "Because they’re caught up in a lawsuit, busy trying to save themselves. They can’t even take care of their own children, let alone remember me. They’d probably be glad if I disappeared, so they could openly take the silver my parents left behind and use it to bribe their way out of trouble…"
He spoke clearly and logically. Xu Huaiyi listened, inwardly amazed. He didn’t know if the boy was exceptionally smart or if children in ancient times matured early. Look at this ability to handle a situation—it was almost on par with an adult’s. In his previous life, a child this age would still be playing and eating mindlessly in kindergarten, understanding nothing. Yet here was this boy, calmly saving himself in a crisis.
This was way cooler than running away from home.
After a moment of reflection, Xu Huaiyi asked, "What if I just refuse to help?"
Without hesitation, the boy replied, "Then I’ll go to the county office and say you injured someone with a knife."
Xu Huaiyi laughed in exasperation. "Well, well, you’ve learned to threaten people now? Soft tactics didn’t work, so you’re trying the hard approach. Too bad I’m not buying it!"
The boy pursed his lips. "I’ll repay you in the future. If you take me in, you won’t regret it."
Xu Huaiyi snorted. "Not interested. Move aside, don’t block the road. Go find someone else."
With that, he drove the mule cart away without hesitation.
The boy didn’t move, just watched him gradually disappear into the distance. His beautiful phoenix eyes held emotions too complex to decipher.
When Xu Huaiyi had gone far enough, he glanced back. The boy was still standing there, like an abandoned puppy—pitiful yet stubborn.
It was oddly heartbreaking.
As soon as this feeling surfaced, Xu Huaiyi quickly slapped his own face and muttered to himself, "Don’t be overly kind-hearted. This is definitely not the time to soften up. What are your circumstances that you’d dare bring a child home?"
Another voice chimed in, "But the child is so young, with no parents. How pitiful! If you leave him alone, how will he survive in this world? Have you forgotten what you used to do? A police officer—when people are in trouble, they turn to the police. Nothing wrong with that."
Immediately, he pinched himself hard. "No, absolutely not. If you dare bring him home, your wife will scold you until you’re drenched in shame."
The two voices battled back and forth, tormenting him until he grew increasingly restless and uneasy. In the end, cursing under his breath, he turned the mule cart around and headed back.
As he approached, a glimmer seemed to flash in the child's eyes.
Xu Huaiyi was irritated. "What are you standing there for? Get in the car!"
The boy quickly scrambled in and said solemnly, "Thank you, sir!"
Xu Huaiyi grunted and tossed him a steamed bun, asking, "What's your name?"
The boy lowered his head, munching on the bun, and mumbled indistinctly, "From now on, I'll be your son. Please give me a name. Let the past be gone."