Chapter 84 Suffering Leaves Traces
Since he had agreed to visit the child, no matter how busy he was, Wei Fengyan still dealt with military affairs urgently, leaving himself half a day free. He set out at dawn and returned to Zhenyang Pass just after dawn.
So he somewhat awkwardly straightened out his relatively neat coarse linen clothes, bought a few freshly-baked mutton-stuffed naan on the street, wrapped them in oil paper and walked towards the general's mansion.
Xingxing sat under the eaves with a small notebook on her knees, reading while watching her brother practicing martial arts in the yard.
Yesterday, Uncle Li began to teach my brother how to recognize and use various weapons, but in the end, the one my brother used most often was still a long sword.
There was a red tassel hanging on the handle of the knife. It was a killing knife that ordinary soldiers would carry on the battlefield. The blade was very long, but the blade was blunt. Xingxing tried to lift it, but it was very heavy. But now his brother held it in his hand and used it with great vigor.
Uncle Li was also watching Xiaowu practice his sword skills. He was an expert swordsman in the army. Even with a broken arm, he could still hold the handle of the sword with one hand and unleash considerable power.
He was very satisfied with Xiaowu's self-discipline and seriousness, and he paid more attention to Xiaowu's physical growth. He would pay for the two children's snacks out of his own pocket on weekdays, always saying that they were in the growing period and needed to eat more meat to grow strong.
Xiao Wu was also grateful for his efforts and teachings, so a few days ago, under the witness of the stars, he sincerely worshipped his master. He did not look down on Uncle Li because he was an ordinary soldier who was injured and retired. Instead, he respected him even more.
The days passed one by one. With the care of the General's Mansion and Uncle Li, the two children were able to live a stable life, even though they had just arrived in this unfamiliar frontier area. It was not as difficult and rough as they had imagined.
Even the chaotic scenes they had seen along the way seemed to have drifted away from them.
After reading for a long time, Xingxing closed the book at the reminder of Qiuqiu and prepared to continue watching his brother practice martial arts to rest his eyes.
At this moment, the door that was originally closed was knocked from outside.
The two children stopped what they were doing. Xiaowu tightened his grip on the knife in his hand more vigilantly, and with his other hand he grasped the dagger-like fruit knife at his waist.
Uncle Li used his only arm to press the boy's tense shoulders, walked over and opened the door, but his body blocked the view from outside.
However, when he saw who was knocking on the door, his vigilance and protection suddenly relaxed, and he quickly opened the door and invited the person in.
After the door was closed, Li Shucai knelt on one knee respectfully, saluted and called out "General".
He had retired long ago, but the look he gave Wei Fengyan at this moment was burning and bright. He was no longer as steady as an elder as usual, but instead looked like a young boy who was meeting the person he admired for the first time.
When Wei Fengyan entered the room, his eyes were first locked on the two children in the yard, so he didn't have time to stop Uncle Li's actions. At this moment, he smiled and bowed to pull the man up, patting his shoulder, "Thank you for helping to take care of the two children. Did they cause you any trouble?"
Uncle Li couldn't hide his excitement and shook his head to refute his question. After chatting for a few more sentences, he made an excuse to go outside, leaving space and time for the two children who really needed to reminisce.
From the moment Wei Fengyan walked in, his inner voice continued to flow into Xingxing's ears.
A bit noisy.
But it’s okay, Xingxing doesn’t find it annoying.
Especially the look this human gave him, it was very gentle, like a thick but warm cloud.
When she was picked up by the other person, that kind of heavy warmth became more obvious. Xingxing was held in his arms obediently and looked into the eyes of this uncle from a close distance.
Before she could say anything, Xingxing felt something strange, so she lowered her head and curiously reached out to touch the place where she felt particularly warm.
Then I felt a thick, hard layer of naan under my clothes, which was very warm.
Xingxing was confused.
It turns out that the heavy warmth is not just a feeling, but a real naan in my arms.
Noticing his actions, Wei Fengyan remembered that he had bought some breakfast and put it in his arms. His dark and thin face didn't blush too obviously, but he was still a little embarrassed. He coughed lightly and put the little guy he had just held in his arms back down, then took out a thick stack of naan from his arms.
"Have you had breakfast?" he asked as he took out a piece of naan and broke it into two pieces, giving the small half to Xingxing and the larger half to Xiaowu who was standing not far away and looking at him.
This means that no matter how you answer, you have to eat.
Xingxing took the naan and said thank you along with her brother. Then, in the other's expectant gaze, she gently called out "Uncle".
"Be good~" Wei Fengyan rubbed the child's head, "Eat it while it's hot first, eat the filling inside, don't eat the outside of the cake if it has no taste, uncle will be able to finish it in two or three bites later, so it won't be wasted."
As he was speaking, Xiaowu, who was taking a bite nearby, suddenly froze.
The arc of his movement was very small, but Wei Fengyan was extremely perceptive and immediately turned his head to look at him.
Xingxing also held the hot naan and looked curiously at her brother who suddenly became dazed.
What's wrong?
The child raised his fair little face, and his black and white eyes reflected the image of his brother, as well as a bit of doubt.
Xiao Wu: “…”
Under the gaze of two pairs of very noticeable eyes, he tried to chew stiffly, but froze suddenly when he realized something was wrong.
Xingxing realized something was wrong, so she stuffed the naan back into her uncle's hand, ran over and grabbed her stiff and stupid brother, asking him to squat down and spit out the food in his mouth.
Xiaowu, who had been starving since childhood, was reluctant to give it up, so at Xingxing's request, he chewed it foolishly, and finally lowered his head and spit out a bloody hard object into his hand.
A tooth that has long been worn out and rotten.
Qiuqiu, who had been following beside him with the same confusion for a while, saw this and helplessly said to Xingxing, who was also confused: "Don't be afraid, kid, your brother is fine. He just made up for his physical foundation and finally started to change his teeth after getting enough nutrition."
He only started to change his teeth at the age of eight, which was a bit late, but there was nothing he could do. He had to be a beggar since he was born, and he had to go hungry all day long, chewing on tree bark, eating grass roots, and soaking in Guanyin soil. At such a young age, his teeth were rotten.
It is a good time to replace teeth now. New teeth can replace old rotten teeth, so that you can have a good set of teeth in the future and you won’t suffer too much when you are older.
Xingxing and Xiaowu saw the tooth.
Wei Fengyan naturally saw it as well.
His eyes narrowed, and he immediately asked Xiaowu and Xingxing to open their mouths so that he could check the two children's teeth one by one.
Xiaowu's teeth are not in good condition, especially those near his cheeks, which are so rotten that they are unsightly.
Xingxing was relatively okay, but her little teeth, which should have been white and clean, now had many wears and tear.
In addition to checking the dentist's teeth, Wei Fengyan also measured the height of the two children, touched the spines of their hands and feet, and finally, with a depressed mood, he held Xingxing in his arms and did not speak for a long time.
Suffering leaves traces.
Even after more than half a year of intensive care, the past sufferings could not wash away all traces of the two children.
Height, bones, teeth...
What hurt Wei Fengyan the most was the knee and leg bones of his two children.
Because of long-term kneeling, both children's knees are in bad condition. They can feel pain even with the slightest touch. Their calf bones are also obviously underdeveloped and deformed, which does not match their upper body.
There were also large patches of bruises on the body that had not yet faded. They were not caused by beatings, but by years of freezing in the cold winter. Some of the skin looked like it was frozen to death, and even if you touched it very hard, you could hardly feel anything. But in this hot weather, it would be itchy and unbearable.
However, all these tortures were regarded as the most normal feelings by the two children, especially Xiaowu. If Wei Fengyan had not seen and touched them and specifically pointed them out, Xiaowu would not have thought that there was anything wrong.
Just from the scars and wear visible to the naked eye, Wei Fengyan could imagine what a hard life the two children had lived through during those years when they depended on each other.
He felt guilty and wanted to make amends, but when the words came to his lips, he had to swallow them back.
What can he compensate for?
I am now in a very difficult situation and have no choice but to take good care of my two children in this small piece of land. This is the best compensation I can give.
Thinking of this, Wei Fengyan stroked the thin back of the child in his arms through the clothes and said in a deep voice: "Although Zhenyang Pass is poor, if you and your brother need anything, you can tell me and your brother. Don't treat yourselves badly, understand?"
He didn't have any good gifts to offer, so he could only give an unattainable promise.
He promised to protect the two children well while he was alive.
He promised that when he was about to die or after his death, he would do his best to arrange a future for his two children so that they would not be implicated by the feud between him and the Wei family.
Xingxing listened to his heavy breathing and nodded obediently.
After being let go by his uncle, the child took his brother's rough big hand, picked up the tooth that had been washed clean of blood residue with sand, and put it in the uncle's palm.
Children, please ask for the first important thing:
"Uncle, can you help my brother throw his teeth onto the roof?" Xingxing held his brother's hand, and the two children looked at the tall Wei Fengyan eagerly.
Wei Fengyan suddenly understood why his boy, who was always free-spirited but had extremely high demands, liked Xingxing so much.
Because the little guy is really lovable. From the time we met until now, he has never complained about any grievances, never said any big words, never been too ambitious, and never been timid and inferior.
No matter what you say to him, he listens quietly and responds obediently, without any flattery. Instead, people feel that he takes every relationship seriously.
Although he grew up in a displaced environment, Xingxing gave Wei Fengyan the feeling that he was a child who grew up with the care and love of his family. He was well-educated, not timid, small, well-behaved and calm.
Looking at the relationship between Xingxing and Xiaowu, we can find that although the two children are one big and one small, the older one will unconsciously rely on the younger one.
In his behavior and dealing with things, including when he asked something, Xiaowu would subconsciously look at Xingxing before answering, and then, with Xingxing's silent encouragement, he would seriously express his own unique ideas.
In just one morning, what Wei Fengyan observed from the two children was enough to shock him.
These two children don't seem to be simple.
Beneath a seemingly young, gentle, well-behaved and quiet appearance, perhaps there is a certain calmness and ease that even adults may not possess.
The other one seems young and reckless, but he is determined in his goals, has a light in his eyes, appears honest, but has his own ideas and opinions in his conversation.
One was not yet four years old, and the other was just eight years old.
They have only been in school for a little over half a year.
Just like two seedlings that had been exposed to wind and rain in the wild and were almost dead, after being transplanted into the garden, they no longer needed overly fertile soil and careful care, and naturally grew stronger and more outstanding than most plants in the garden.
This is unreasonable, but there are traces to follow.
Wei Fengyan felt sorry for the two children's past, but compared to the heartache and guilt, after spending half a day with them, he was more optimistic about their future.
Their future will definitely not be too bad.
Wei Fengyan has this ability to judge people, and he trusts his own vision and intuition.
So he was even more delighted, because one was the only remaining bloodline of his younger brother, and the other was also closely related to Xingxing.
In other words, these are all our own children.
Our children will have great potential in the future, and if we restrict them in this small courtyard for their safety, it will not be protection but damage.
So before leaving, he promised the two little guys standing hand in hand in front of him that as long as they studied hard, in two years, Xiaowu would be allowed to go to the military camp for training.
As for the stars, he would make better arrangements by then.
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