Xu Qiu naturally had no reason to refuse such a small request. Besides, it was just a minor favor, and he genuinely liked little Xiao Yi.
The child was obedient and sensible, never throwing tantrums; how could anyone not like such a kid?
Knowing the plot, Xu Qiu understood that Lin Qu’s two younger brothers were not the types to wander casually into someone else’s home. Perhaps Xiao Yi coming over also signified Lin Qu’s tacit approval.
Did Lin Qu already decide that he still wanted to be with him?
Xu Qiu could not suppress the growing joy in his heart, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward. Even though he had explicitly told Lin Qu to think things over carefully, upon returning, Xu Qiu realized he was not as indifferent as he claimed; deep down, he had actually been eagerly hoping that Lin Qu would agree.
Seeing Lin Qu’s younger brother come over now, he felt a huge weight lift from his chest.
It was a very good thing for a child to want to learn characters. Xu Qiu asked, but Lin Chi did not yet know what he wanted to learn. Learning such things could not be accomplished in a day or two and required perseverance. After pondering for a moment, Xu Qiu said, “Then how about we start by teaching you the names of your parents, older brother, and younger brother?”
“Okay,” Lin Chi agreed immediately.
He hadn’t really thought much about how he wanted to study, nor did he have any genuine interest in reading books. In a village like theirs, the only person who truly wanted to study for the imperial examinations was probably Xu Qiu himself.
Still, learning to write his own name and the names of his family members was something Lin Chi found quite delightful.
Xu Qiu guided Lin Chi into the correct posture for holding the brush, then took the boy’s small hand in his own to teach him how to write. After writing a couple of times and making sure the child understood the stroke order of the characters, he released his hand and let the boy practice writing a few times on his own. Just as he finished teaching a few characters, a sudden commotion arose outside. Someone rushed into the courtyard, dashed straight up to Xu Qiu, and grabbed his arm, attempting to pull him outward. “Xiao Qiu, something has happened. Hurry up and come with me.”
Xu Qiu was momentarily caught off guard. Hearing the visitor speak like that, his first thought was of his own parents.
Instinctively, he took a few steps forward following the person.
“What is it? What happened?” he asked.
However, the person who came did not answer him, only pulling his arm and hurrying him outward with considerable tension and urgency.
This person was none other than Third Uncle Lin.
Aside from the initial moment when Third Uncle Lin’s expression of anxiety seemed genuine, causing Xu Qiu to fail to react in time, after being pulled along for a few steps, he began to feel suspicious. Just at that moment, a child’s startled cry rang out from behind him. Xu Qiu turned his head and saw Lin Chi clutching his stomach, his face contorted in pain.
In reflex, Xu Qiu shook off Third Uncle Lin’s hand and rushed back. “Xiao Yi, what is wrong? Did your stomach suddenly start hurting?”
As he spoke, he reached out to take Lin Chi’s hand. “Let your older brother feel your pulse.”
Lin Chi thought to himself: Oh no, I messed up. I completely forgot that Older Brother Xu is a doctor.
And not just any doctor, but one about to open a medical clinic in town.
Lin Chi wanted to pull his hand back, but after all, he was just a child and could not match Xu Qiu’s strength. Within a second or two, his arm was firmly caught by Xu Qiu.
Xu Qiu took Lin Chi’s pulse, then furrowed his brow. This… seemed entirely fine?
He was confident in his medical skills; he should not be failing to detect even this minor issue.
He looked up at Lin Chi, not missing the flicker of guilt in the child’s eyes.
Xu Qiu suddenly realized what was going on.
Meanwhile, Third Uncle Lin, whose hand had been shaken off, lunged forward again, desperately wanting to drag Xu Qiu toward the riverbank. By this point, the time for his own family’s Ge’er to fall into the water had arrived. Parents always doted on their own children, and both he and Mrs. Zhao deeply cherished Lin Qiong as their only child. The mere thought of their child struggling in the water made him frantic with worry.
He was dying to grab Xu Qiu right this second to go save him.
Realizing that something was deeply amiss, Xu Qiu naturally refused to follow him blindly. He asked directly, “Third Uncle Lin, if something is actually the matter, tell me clearly. Otherwise, I am not going anywhere.”
Third Uncle Lin was indeed somewhat quick-witted. He knew that if he bluntly stated that his Ge’er had fallen into the water, Xu Qiu might not necessarily go to save him and would instead summon others. After all, Third Uncle Lin was a man himself; if he were in Xu Qiu’s shoes and someone he disliked kept scheming to force him into a marriage, he would rather stand by and watch than ever lift a finger to save them.
That was why he had changed his story: “Your mother fell into the river! Hurry up and come!”
“What?!” Xu Qiu was startled. At that moment, he could no longer process anything else; without waiting for Third Uncle Lin to pull him, he bolted toward the gate.
Seeing this, Lin Chi panicked. Watching Xu Qiu sprint away, he shouted at the top of his lungs, “Mother Li didn’t fall into the river! Third Uncle and Third Aunt pushed Cousin Lin Qiong into the river themselves so that Older Brother Xu would have to go save him!”
A child’s panicked voice was sharp and carried a loud volume.
Xu Qiu heard it instantly. His footsteps ground to a halt as a realization hit him: his mother had mentioned earlier that she was going to the fields to pull pigweed, and those fields were not even anywhere near the river.
Seeing Third Uncle Lin glare fiercely and menacingly at Lin Chi, Xu Qiu knew at once that what Lin Chi said was likely the truth.
Realizing the scheme had completely fallen apart, Third Uncle Lin couldn’t help but snap, “Xiao Qiu, you better remember today!”
With that, he turned and bolted frantically toward the riverbank.
By this time, some villagers who had heard Lin Chi’s earlier shouting were already approaching, calling out from a distance, “Who fell into the river?”
Seeing someone arrive, Xu Qiu shouted, “Auntie, I do not know the details, but could you please help call some people to head toward the riverbank? If someone is truly in trouble, we can all lend a hand.”
“I will go over and take a look first.”
“All right.” Hearing this, the woman nearby readily agreed.
Xu Qiu grabbed the hand of the running Lin Chi and began walking toward the riverbank as well. After a few steps, realizing the child’s stride was short and he couldn’t run fast, he scooped the boy right up into his arms.
Looking at the path they were taking, Lin Chi couldn’t help saying, “Older Brother Xu, it really was Third Uncle and the others who pushed Lin Qiong into the river, and Mother Li is completely fine.”
“Mm,” Xu Qiu asked, “Where is your older brother?”
For some reason, he had a lingering sense of foreboding.
Regardless of whether it was true or not, he still had to go over and check. In any case, other people were already helping to spread the word and gather help. If it truly was just Lin Qiong in trouble, waiting a moment longer would bring others to assist, ensuring that life and death did not rest solely on his shoulders alone.
Lin Chi answered, “Older Brother went down to the riverbank to wash clothes.”