"Hey, Grandpa, drink this." Old Chen picked up the medicine bowl and drank it all in one gulp. Even though the medicine was incredibly bitter, he had to drink it even while holding his nose. However, the medicine didn't taste very bitter; it even had a hint of sweetness.
“Grandpa won’t take it, this medicine isn’t bitter at all. Hao’er, you can eat the candy yourself!” Old Chen couldn’t bear to see his grandson suffer. Other children his age were being pampered by their parents. But Hao’er was so young, yet he had to be so sensible, even cooking porridge for his grandfather when he couldn’t move!
At this moment, Chen Laohan changed his mind and started worrying about what to eat that night. Even if he had taken his medicine and didn't need to take any more, his dog still needed to eat! If necessary, he could borrow some from his brothers, and when he recovered and was able to earn money, he would make it up to them.
Before Chen Laohan could figure it out, he heard a sharp female voice.
"Emma, what time is it? There's still no smoke coming out of the chimney! Is Big Brother dead?"
"Say it! How dare you talk nonsense!" A male voice followed, reprimanding the woman in a tone that was neither too harsh nor too gentle.
"Grandpa, it's Second Grandpa and Second Grandma." Hao'er looked at Chen Laohan in fear, his eyes full of worry.
"Oh? Isn't that your relative?" Fatty asked, peeking out. She sensed that the attitude wasn't very friendly. Although she wasn't very quick-witted, she was familiar with this tone. Her grandmother and second aunt used to talk like that, and her mother was always afraid of it.
Hao'er nodded. Seeing Fatty's strong body, he weighed it in his mind and figured she could rival Second Grandma. He instantly grasped at her like a lifeline!
“It’s my grandfather’s brother. They’re planning to sell Hao’er!”
"What did you say?!" came a startled exclamation, shouted simultaneously by Fatty and Old Man Chen.
Old Chen paused for a moment, then asked softly, "Haor, tell your grandfather, who's planning to sell you?"
Seemingly unable to believe that his younger brother would have such thoughts, Chen Laohan wanted to confirm it again.
"Grandpa, I overheard this. That day I went to my second grandfather's house to borrow some money to see a doctor for you. He and my second grandmother were discussing that after you arrive, they would sell me to someone else as their son. Grandpa, where are you going?" Hao'er's black eyes gleamed, filled with panic.
Although he didn't know where his grandfather was going, he understood what it meant to sell him.
Hearing Hao'er's words, Old Chen remembered. A few days ago, he had been coughing badly and had asked Hao'er to borrow a few copper coins from his second brother. He thought there was a traveling doctor in the neighboring village who could prescribe some herbal medicine to help him recover—that's how he used to treat illnesses when he was young, right? But Hao'er hadn't brought anything back, only saying that his second uncle and aunt had no money. It turned out that the news had frightened him! And rightly so! They were planning to sell Hao'er after he died; how could they possibly have money to lend him?
Old Chen was furious. When he was young, he had made a lot of money because of his excellent skills. His younger brother was still a child then. After their parents died, he raised him single-handedly. He had also helped with everything from his brother's marriage to his children. Now that he was terminally ill, this man not only didn't want to treat him, but also wanted to sell his only son!
"They're bastards! Don't be afraid, Hao'er, your sister Fatty won't let you be sold! If she dares to sell you, I'll beat her up!" Fatty hated people who sold children the most, and said indignantly.
Before they could finish speaking, the woman kicked open the half-closed door of the thatched hut. The sight of the burly woman standing in front of her made the low thatched hut seem even more cramped, and she took two steps back in fright.
Squinting and looking closely, I realized that it was actually a young girl!
"Oh my god, that scared me to death! What are you doing here so quietly, you fatso?" the woman said, patting her chest. Seeing that there was no sound inside and that little brat Hao'er was standing next to the fat girl, she couldn't help but imagine what was going on and exclaimed in surprise.
"Oh dear, Mouse, could it be that your grandfather was slapped to death by this fat girl?! My God, is there no law anymore?! You...you...you have to pay! Let me tell you, if you don't pay, you can forget about leaving Shiligou! You'll have to go to the government office, and it'll be a life for a life!"
The woman's eyes darted around, and she thought to herself, "Didn't the doctor say that Old Man Chen wouldn't live past the end of the month? It's almost the end of the month, he should be dying soon! They were planning to take Hao'er back with them, to nurse him back to health for a few days, so he could be plump and healthy and fetch a good price!"
A family in the city, who said they had no sons, were willing to buy a boy to raise! Now that an unlucky girl has come along, why not take this opportunity to make some more money and frame the fat girl for Old Man Chen's death?
"Yes, what are you doing here, you fat girl? You want to take my grandson away? You're utterly reckless! You want to take my eldest grandson for nothing!" Chen Erjun chimed in. His elder brother was dead, so wasn't his grandson his own? He couldn't let this fat girl steal him away. Did his brother entrust Hao'er to her? No way. If she wanted to take the child, she had to pay money. Otherwise, how would his son get married? The bride price was two taels of silver!
"What are you saying? I'm not your grandson, I'm my grandfather Chen Laohan's grandson! This is Sister Pangya, she's not a human trafficker! You two are the bad guys who wanted to sell Hao'er!" Chen Hao'er jumped up, how could this second master say that he was his grandson? He absolutely wouldn't allow it!
"What did you say, you little brat? You're a member of the Chen family! Your grandfather is dead, so I'm your grandfather now, understand? You'd better behave and come with me, and maybe I can find you a good family!" Chen Hao'er hadn't mentioned his grandfather earlier, so he was probably already dead! Great, all the money he owed before can be wiped clean!
The woman rolled her eyes again, an idea forming in her mind. The light had been dim before, so she hadn't looked closely, but now that she realized it, she noticed the chubby girl's clothes were made of fine cotton. She thought, "This must be a wealthy family's chubby child! Of course, otherwise how could she be so fat?"
She approached with a smile and said to the chubby girl in a kind tone, "Girl, look, we really are related to this little mouse. This child is a good boy, and quite handsome! Don't you like him?"
"Yes, Hao'er is quite cute." Fatty likes children, and all the children in the family like her too.
Hearing this, the woman smiled even more broadly! Good thing she likes it!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com