“All this shouting and yelling—what kind of behavior is that!”
Liu Cong’s furious roar echoed, his gaze fixed on Liu Zhao with bitter disappointment.
The boy was already thirteen, yet he remained as mischievous as ever, showing no sign of maturity.
Then, glancing at Chen Xinghe standing behind Liu Zhao, Liu Cong sighed inwardly. Why couldn’t his son learn even a little from Xinghe’s example?
“Father, I was just too excited,” Liu Zhao replied, completely unfazed. Grinning, he scurried behind his father and began massaging his shoulders obsequiously while curiously eyeing Xiao Ying.
“Greetings, Master.”
Chen Xinghe stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and then stood quietly to the side. Only when his eyes fell upon his three siblings did a faint ripple of emotion stir within him.
Seeing their sallow, thin faces and the tattered clothes worn by his elder brother and sister, he clenched his fists slightly.
But then something struck him as odd. Xingyue was dressed in clothes from the Zhao Residence. He remembered she had been sold into service there half a year ago—why was she here now?
“Xinghe, your mother has come,” Liu Cong said, looking at the boy. “She says she wants to buy you back.”
Liu Cong felt a pang of reluctance. This child was both clever and sensible, fully capable of passing the imperial examinations and achieving scholarly honors. If he were taken back now, his path to education would be cut short, and his future would likely end there.
“I won’t go back.”
To everyone’s surprise, Chen Xinghe refused outright, not even sparing Xiao Ying a glance.
“Xinghe…”
“Second Brother…”
Chen Xinghai and Chen Xingyun exchanged uneasy glances, stunned by his reaction. How could he not want to return with them?
All three siblings turned their eyes to Xiao Ying, worried she might be angered—they were all too aware of her background and temperament.
She had come with good intentions to redeem him, yet he had rejected her outright before she could even speak. Even Chen Xingyue felt her second brother’s behavior was somewhat improper.
Xiao Ying, however, showed no sign of anger. In truth, she had anticipated this the moment she saw Chen Xinghe.
Faced with a choice between a detestable, impoverished family and a place where he could study and enjoy a comfortable life, anyone would know which to pick.
“Madam Xiao, as you see…” Liu Cong was relieved but also somewhat embarrassed.
Xiao Ying fixed her gaze on Chen Xinghe. “If you’re worried about not being able to continue your studies after returning, I assure you—you can still study as much as you wish.”
Everyone was taken aback. Did she have the means to support Xinghe’s education? That was no small expense.
Chen Xinghe was also startled. For the first time, he looked directly at her and noticed she seemed different from the vicious woman he remembered.
Yet he refused to believe such a promise. Leopards don’t change their spots—who knew what scheme she was hiding?
The thought only hardened his expression further.
“From the day you sold me here two years ago, I never once thought of going back.”
No one knew how heartbroken and desperate he had felt back then. He would rather have stayed with his siblings, eating tree bark and grass roots, than be sold off like livestock.
But he had no say in the matter. He was sold into the Liu family like an animal.
Fortunately, the town magistrate’s family treated him well. Though Liu Zhao was somewhat unruly, he rarely scolded or beat him, and the two had become more like friends.
From that day on, he had sworn to himself: even if he died out in the world, he would never return to that woman, never call her “Mother” again.
He didn’t know what had come over her now, why she suddenly wanted to buy him back, or where she had gotten the money.
All he knew was that his loathing and resentment for her had never faded—and at the sight of her, it had surged to its peak.
“Second Brother, Mother has already…”
Chen Xingyun felt wronged on their mother’s behalf, but it was truly difficult to speak of their mother’s affairs, making him somewhat anxious.
“Xinghe, do you no longer acknowledge even us?”
Chen Xinghai looked at him with disappointment, never having imagined that Xinghe would be unwilling to return with them.
Chen Xingyue spoke even more directly: “Just look at him – he’s clearly eating well and dressing well here. He definitely doesn’t want to go back to a life of hardship.”
Chen Xinghe’s young face tightened, a trace of pain flickering in his eyes. He wasn’t that kind of person.
He simply hated that woman too much, not wanting to lay eyes on her ever again.
What surprised him was that these three were actually speaking in that woman’s defense. Had they forgotten how she had treated them?
“Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister, have you forgotten how she treated you?”
“Little Sister, have you forgotten how she sold you into the Zhao Residence last year after losing money gambling?”
The three exchanged glances. Chen Xinghai deliberately hinted: “We haven’t forgotten, but Mother has reformed. She’s not the same mother she used to be.”
Chen Xinghe responded with a scornful laugh, feeling sorrowful for the three of them.
His siblings were truly too kind-hearted, each having forgotten the pain once the wound healed. People don’t change that easily.
“Sorry, she’s not my mother.” His gaze swept over each of them in turn before adding: “But you will always be my eldest brother, eldest sister, and little sister.”
All three felt their noses sting with emotion, wanting to say more, but Xiao Ying interrupted them.
“Since this is your choice, I won’t force you.”
As she spoke, she stood up and bowed to Liu Cong in thanks.
“We’ve disturbed you today. We’ll take our leave.”
“Mother…”
The three still wanted to persuade her. Mother was clearly angry – could it be their family would never be reunited?
“Second Brother, are you really not coming back?” Chen Xingyun asked dejectedly.
Chen Xinghe didn’t respond, but his attitude was already quite clear.
Seeing that Xiao Ying had already left the main hall, the three siblings had no choice but to follow, their hearts filled with sorrow.
“Xinghe, are you really not going back? She is your mother after all, and she said you could continue your studies.”
Liu Zhao, who was usually quite casual, asked in confusion, feeling he was going a bit too far.
“Go back so she can sell me again?” Chen Xinghe’s tone was icy.
Liu Zhao felt embarrassed. Well, it was someone else’s family matter after all.
If Chen Xinghe didn’t return, he could continue attending school with him.
Meanwhile, Xiao Ying had already led the three out of the mayor’s residence, the atmosphere unprecedentedly somber.
After a long while, Chen Xingyun said quietly: “Mother, don’t be angry. Second Brother doesn’t know you’re not the same person you used to be. If he knew, he’d definitely be willing to come home with us.”
Xiao Ying said softly: “I’m not angry. Everyone has their own choices.”
“But…”
The three still felt she was angry, yet didn’t know how to console her.
“It’s getting late. Let’s get something to eat first.”
Xiao Ying truly didn’t feel anything particular, though her stomach was somewhat hungry.
Passing by a noodle shop, she brought the three inside.
This was the siblings’ first time eating in town. Setting aside the matter of Chen Xinghe for the moment, they were quickly drawn in by the noodle shop’s aroma.
The shop sold more than just noodles – there were also buns, steamed buns, dumplings and other foods. Xiao Ying let them order for themselves.
In the end, each ordered a large bowl of noodles and a meat bun. Xiao Ying also ordered over ten additional buns and steamed buns to take back with them.
After taking a bite, Chen Xinghai and Chen Xingyun felt it couldn’t compare to what they had at home, or rather, it wasn’t as good as what they’d eaten these past two days—none had the fragrance of the spices their mother had brought them.
Having eaten and drunk their fill, plus the steamed buns and mantou they were taking home, the final bill came to over seventy wen, making all three of them ache with regret—such extravagance.
“Mother, shall we head home now? I’m afraid there might not be any ox carts left.”
Chen Xingyun patted his full stomach. If they hadn’t eaten lunch, they might have caught the last one.
Xiao Ying laughed and said, “Then we’ll just buy one ourselves.”