Another day, after eating breakfast, Xiao Jingting got up to prepare to go out.
“Dad, where are you going? Going out to play?” Xiao Xiaofan rushed over and hugged Xiao Jingting’s leg.
Recently Xiao Xiaofan had been getting along well with Xiao Jingting. Xiao Xiaofan had developed quite a fondness for this father who always provided delicious food.
Xiao Xiaodong had repeatedly told Xiao Xiaofan to be wary of Xiao Jingting, but Xiao Xiaofan was simple-minded and forgetful. Whenever he saw Xiao Jingting, he would completely forget Xiao Xiaodong’s warnings.
“Play, play, play—that’s all you think about,” Xiao Xiaodong said, grabbing Xiao Xiaofan’s arm irritably.
Xiao Jingting rubbed Xiao Xiaofan’s face and said, “Daddy is going to the fields to water the crops.” Over the past couple of days, their meals had improved considerably. Xiao Xiaofan seemed to have gained some weight, but he was still thin, making Xiao Jingting feel somewhat heartbroken.
Xiao Xiaodong secretly observed Xiao Jingting, thinking to himself: Xiao Jingting used to hate farming most of all, but now he’s becoming increasingly diligent.
“I want to go too,” Xiao Xiaofan said.
Xiao Xiaodong glanced at Xiao Xiaofan and asked, “What would you do if you went?”
Xiao Xiaofan’s face reddened as he said, “I’ll show Daddy the way.”
“Do you even know the way?” Xiao Xiaodong said.
Xiao Xiaofan’s face turned bright red as he said, “I do know it.”
Xiao Jingting looked at Xiao Xiaofan and said, “If Xiaofan wants to come along, then let’s go together.”
Seeing Xiao Jingting’s attitude, Xiao Xiaodong puffed out his chest and said, “I’ll go too.”
Xiao Jingting looked at Xiao Xiaodong with surprise.
Xiao Jingting took a few more steamed buns and put them in his basket. He had only brought food for one person, but if the two children were coming with him, he would need to prepare more.
Xiao Jingting glanced at Xu Mu’an and said, “I probably won’t be back until afternoon. Cook some more of that pork.”
Xu Mu’an nodded and agreed, but felt somewhat uncertain in his heart. After the Tusk Pig was brought back, Xiao Jingting had handled all the preparation. The meat he cooked tasted much better than what Xu Mu’an made. Xu Mu’an’s cooking skills were adequate for making meat edible, but making it delicious was somewhat challenging.
While Xu Mu’an was feeling anxious here, Xiao Xiaofan and Xiao Xiaodong had already left with Xiao Jingting.
Xu Mu’an looked at the three figures’ retreating backs and smiled warmly.
Xiao Xiaofan tugged at Xiao Jingting’s robe, bouncing happily. Xiao Xiaodong walked behind the two with a stern face.
Looking at the intimate father and younger brother, Xiao Xiaodong felt sour in his heart. Previously, Father had favored him more, but now he seemed to prefer his little brother more. Still, preferring his little brother was better than preferring other people’s children. When they were with the Xiao family before, Father had been very good to those nephews and nieces but had found their brothers disagreeable.
Qiu Bai saw Xiao Jingting walking along chatting and laughing with Xiao Xiaofan and Xiao Xiaodong, and his expression couldn’t help becoming somewhat strange.
In Qiu Bai’s memory, Xiao Jingting really disliked the two little children. He had even told him that Xiao Xiaofan was a bastard child born from Xu Mu’an’s affair with someone else, that he was being cuckolded…
“Jingting,” Qiu Bai came out.
Seeing Qiu Bai, Xiao Xiaodong quickly stepped forward to Xiao Jingting’s left side and grabbed Xiao Jingting’s clothes. He and Xiao Xiaofan flanked Xiao Jingting on left and right, surrounding him in the middle.
Xiao Jingting looked at Xiao Xiaodong’s appearance as if facing a great enemy and found it somewhat amusing. “Qiu Bai, is there something you need?”
Qiu Bai shook his head and said, “Nothing much, just congratulating you on hunting such a big pig. It must have sold for dozens of taels.”
Xiao Jingting immediately understood Qiu Bai’s intentions—he had his eye on the silver from selling the pig. “It wasn’t dozens of taels—just over ten. I needed to eat that pork too.”
“Over ten taels is still quite a lot—enough to last a long time,” Qiu Bai said, looking at Xiao Jingting with envy, then lowering his head to show a dejected expression.
If it were the original owner, seeing Qiu Bai like this, he would definitely ask what was troubling Qiu Bai. However, Xiao Jingting kept his mouth shut and said nothing.
Qiu Bai had been waiting for Xiao Jingting to ask so he could continue smoothly, but when Xiao Jingting remained silent, he could only say, “Jingting, my older brother wants to take a wife. His in-laws are demanding twenty taels of silver as a betrothal gift. Our family really doesn’t have enough money. Could you lend me five taels of silver?”
“Silver? I don’t have any,” Xiao Jingting shook his head.
Qiu Bai’s face darkened as he said, “Jingting, if you’re unwilling to lend it, just say so. Why claim you have no money? Didn’t you just sell a pig?” There was absolutely no way Xu Mu’an hunting a wild boar could be hidden from Xiao Jingting. Given Xiao Jingting’s nature, the money from selling the pig must have already fallen into his hands.
“I owed quite a bit in gambling debts before. The money from selling the pig went to paying debts, and I still have much more to repay,” Xiao Jingting said with a sigh.
Qiu Bai said resentfully, “What can we do then? Without that much silver, my brother won’t be able to marry a wife.”
“Tell your brother to find a cheaper wife to marry!” Xiao Jingting said nonchalantly.
His own life was already very difficult—where would he find the leisure to worry about someone else’s brother getting married? What did other people’s wives have to do with him? He hadn’t even sorted out his own wife yet.
Qiu Bai looked at Xiao Jingting and said with full resentment, “But my brother really likes that girl.”
“Oh, if your brother likes that girl so much, then he’ll surely find a way. I still have things to do, so I won’t chat anymore.” Xiao Jingting led Xiao Xiaofan and Xiao Xiaodong away.
