Xu Mu’an returned home and heard Xiao Xiaodong talk about Wang Erhu’s matter, immediately tensing up with worry.
Xu Mu’an had also heard about the Zhou family recruiting young servants. It was said that the Zhou family’s young master had a bad temper, and many of the children who entered the Zhou family disappeared without a trace – even their bodies couldn’t be found.
The Zhou family was powerful, and the young servants they recruited were mostly from poor, powerless families. Once the children entered, they signed contracts of servitude. When children disappeared, those adults didn’t dare come to the door to cause trouble.
Thirty taels – even a third-level Tusk Pig was only worth this price. If the Zhou family was spending such a large sum to recruit child servants, there was probably something wrong with it!
“Your father didn’t agree to that person, did he?” Xu Mu’an asked.
Xu Mu’an had seen Wang Erhu before. In Xu Mu’an’s eyes, this person was treacherous, cunning, and hypocritical – really not a good person. But this person was skilled at pleasing others and had a very good relationship with Xiao Jingting.
“No, but father said he would consider it,” Xiao Xiaodong replied.
“Recently, watch over your little brother carefully. Don’t let your brother be alone with him, and you be careful too,” Xu Mu’an instructed.
Xiao Xiaodong nodded solemnly and said, “Father, I understand.”
Xu Mu’an pressed his lips together, thinking about the gambling debts on Xiao Jingting. Even if Xiao Jingting didn’t want to sell the children now, if the gambling house people came to collect the debt, things would be hard to predict.
When Xiao Jingting woke up, he found the door next door was locked. When Xiao Jingting called for the two little ones to eat, there was no response.
“Big brother, he’s calling us to eat,” Xiao Xiaofan said, licking his lips.
Xiao Xiaodong glared fiercely at Xiao Xiaofan and said, “Eat, eat, eat – all you know is eating! Aren’t you afraid he’ll catch you and sell you?”
Xiao Xiaofan puffed out his cheeks and said, “Daddy isn’t that kind of person. Daddy treats me so well.”
Xiao Xiaodong said irritably, “A little favor here and there and you’re completely bought off. Really hopeless.”
Xiao Xiaofan climbed onto the wooden table by the window and secretly peered through the window to see what was happening outside.
“Ah!” Xiao Xiaofan exclaimed.
“What did you see?” Xiao Xiaodong asked.
“So many, many grapes.” The grapes had already fruited before, but they were all green and small. Xiao Xiaofan had secretly picked two to eat and they were so sour his teeth nearly fell out. For several days, he had kept his distance from the grapes.
“Just grapes. There were already many before,” Xiao Xiaodong said dismissively.
Xiao Xiaofan blinked and said, “Before they were green, but now they’ve turned purple.”
Xiao Xiaodong rolled his eyes and said, “Even if they’ve turned purple, they’re still sour.”
Xiao Xiaofan blinked and said, “But now they look very delicious.”
After Xiao Jingting had accelerated the grape growth, he went out.
Seeing Xiao Jingting leave, Xiao Xiaodong felt relieved, but also a bit melancholy.
Xiao Xiaodong sat dejectedly on the edge of the bed, while Xiao Xiaofan clung to the window, just staring at the grapes outside and drooling.
When Xiao Xiaodong wasn’t paying attention, Xiao Xiaofan slipped out and picked a bunch of grapes to bring back.
Seeing the grapes Xiao Xiaofan had picked, Xiao Xiaodong’s face turned iron-blue with anger. “What did you pick his grapes for?”
“It doesn’t matter. Daddy’s not here, and there are lots of grapes. He won’t notice,” Xiao Xiaofan said carelessly.
Xiao Xiaodong said bitterly, “When he comes back, he’ll definitely notice.”
“Daddy loves me the most. He won’t hit me,” Xiao Xiaofan said.
Xiao Xiaodong said bitterly, “You little thing who only remembers food and forgets pain – you’ve forgotten how he beat you before, haven’t you?” The most serious time before, Xiao Xiaofan had nearly been beaten to death by Xiao Jingting.
Xiao Xiaofan pursed his lips and burst into tears with a “Waa!”
Seeing Xiao Xiaofan crying pitifully, Xiao Xiaodong softened and comforted him.
When Xu Mu’an returned in the evening, he found that the food he had left for Xiao Xiaofan and Xiao Xiaodong had barely been touched. There were grape skins all over the floor of the room, and two bunches of grapes still on the table.
