Yan Qingqing instructed Yuan Huiniang to register the gifts before returning to the backyard.
Xiao Mochen was sitting at the table practicing calligraphy. Yan Qingqing looked at him from afar and felt that the child had a natural noble temperament. Just sitting there still gave people a feeling of inviolability.
When Yan Qingqing got closer, she saw that not only was the handwriting neat and the strokes sharp, but it even had a hint of murderous intent. Yan Qingqing felt that it would take at least ten or eight years to master such handwriting. But Xiao Mochen was clearly only six or seven years old.
Yan Qingqing sighed and said, "Don't worry so much at such a young age, or you'll easily suffer from heart failure and die prematurely!"
Xiao Mochen then raised his head and his expression softened considerably when he saw that it was Yan Qingqing. Although Yan Qingqing's words were not pleasant, he knew that she meant well.
Seeing this, Yan Qingqing spoke up again, "Do you want to go home? I can ask someone to send a message to your family first."
Yan Qingqing didn't want to startle him like this anymore. After all, she knew nothing about the child, and she was worried that something might happen to him one day and catch him off guard.
Just when Yan Qingqing thought Xiao Mochen wouldn't speak, he said, "I have no home and nowhere to go now."
Don't worry, I remember your kindness and will repay you a thousandfold in the future.
This was the first thing Xiao Mochen said after arriving at Yan Qingqing's house.
Yan Qingqing saw that he had finally spoken, but she also knew that she might have picked up a big problem. However, if she drove him away now, this favor might turn into enmity.
So he sighed helplessly and said, "Since that's the case, then you can stay here, but you have to abide by my family's rules."
We don't have servants in our family; we have to do our own things.
I have a large family to support, and we usually eat simple meals.
My family also runs a small business, and you'll need to help out when you have free time.
If you think you can do all of these things, then stay.
Seeing that Yan Qingqing was willing to take him in, Xiao Mochen immediately nodded in agreement.
Xiao Mochen thought Yan Qingqing would ask about his background again, or at least try to probe him a few more times, but he didn't expect Yan Qingqing to walk out after she finished speaking.
Xiao Mochen, as if possessed, called out to her, "Aren't you going to ask me where I'm from and what my social status is?"
Yan Qingqing didn't turn around and calmly replied, "None of that matters. But I would be happy if you were willing to tell me your name, since then we'd have something to call each other."
Xiao Mochen said, "Xiao Mochen! My name is Xiao Mochen!"
Yan Qingqing: ……
Xiao is the imperial surname, so this child's identity is quite impressive; he's at least a member of the royal family.
Yan Qingqing knew that the larger the family, the more dirty and shameful things there were.
Xiao Mochen, despite his young age, lay injured in the snow without anyone to serve him, indicating that he was either unfavored or persecuted within his family.
Sometimes danger and opportunity go hand in hand, so she has no way of sending the child away now.
Yan Qingqing took a deep breath and said, "The surname Xiao is too conspicuous. I'll have to make do with my surname Yan for now."
From now on, you can call me aunt in front of others.
After saying that, she walked out without waiting for Xiao Mochen's agreement. She needed some time to process Xiao Mochen's identity.
When it was time for dinner that evening, Xiao Mochen unexpectedly came out and ate with everyone.
Yan Qingqing also came to terms with it. Since she was already there, she might as well make the best of it. It was just a matter of dealing with whatever came her way.
So she smiled and introduced him to everyone: "This child is named Mo Chen, surnamed Yan. He is a distant relative of my mother's family and grew up in another place since he was a child."
It was by sheer coincidence that Erlang and I ran into him on the road. He'll be staying with us for a while. You older siblings must take good care of him."
Yan Qingqing's fabricated stories left the children completely bewildered; they had no idea whether what she was saying was true or false.
Then Yan Qingqing introduced Li Xiangping and his siblings to Xiao Mochen.
Xiao Mochen also had the good sense to greet them one by one.
Yan Qingqing couldn't help but marvel at how different this worldly-wise child was; just look at his adaptability.
The whole family, including Xiao Mochen, enjoyed their meal together in a harmonious and joyful atmosphere.
The next day was Li Xiangkang's day off, and Yan Qingqing instructed Li Xiang'an to buy some good food for Li Xiangkang when he returned to improve his meals.
Xiao Mochen looked at Yan Qingqing with some envy. Although the Li family was not extremely wealthy, they were a harmonious family, and Yan Qingqing, as a mother, was able to take care of each child's feelings.
Perhaps it was because Xiao Mochen's gaze was too intense that Yan Qingqing couldn't ignore it even if she wanted to. So she looked at him and asked with a smile, "What does Mochen like to eat? I'll have your second cousin buy it for you tomorrow."
Xiao Mochen has eaten all sorts of good food, and even if he ordered from this small place, they might not have it.
All he wanted was to feel cared for, so he said, "I don't care what we eat, as long as it's made by Auntie."
Yan Qingqing: ……
So they wanted her to cook for them herself? Well, it's been a long time since she's cooked, so she agreed, "Okay, Auntie will cook something delicious for you all tomorrow."
Not only was Xiao Mochen happy, but Li Xiangping and the others were also delighted, as they hadn't had Yan Qingqing's cooking in a long time.
The next day, when Li Xiang'an returned, he not only picked up Li Xiangkang, but also bought a lot of delicious food.
The most delightful surprises were also a piece of beef and a piece of lamb.
Lamb might not be too rare, but beef is not so easy to buy. Yan Qingqing was craving beef and asked, "How come you managed to buy beef today?"
Li Xiang'an laughed and said, "It was a family whose ox died after giving birth to a calf. After reporting it to the government, it was slaughtered."
They couldn't finish their own food, so they came to ask Manager Xue of Yuelaiju if they wanted some. I happened to be there, and since my mother had been craving beef, I asked Manager Xue to give me a large piece.
In an instant, a bunch of delicious foods, such as braised beef, spiced beef, and beef stew with potatoes, floated through Yan Qingqing's mind.
Li Xiangkang stood aside and said aggrievedly, "Mother, all you can see now is the beef. Can't you see your son standing here all this time?"
Yan Qingqing then turned around and saw Li Xiangkang's aggrieved look, and quickly comforted him, "Our Fourth Brother only gets a break once in such a long time, so I was just thinking of making you something delicious."
Li Xiangkang was certain he wouldn't doubt Yan Qingqing's words, which made him happy.
However, remembering what Li Xiang'an had told him on the way, he asked again, "Mother, I heard that a cousin has come to visit. He's about my age and is very good at reading and writing. Can I go and play with him?"
Yan Qingqing didn't ask Xiao Mochen how old he was, but since children of the same age might have more in common, she told him that Xiao Mochen was in her yard and that Li Xiangkang could go find him.
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