Stone nodded as if he understood, but felt that he might have friends in the future.
Actually, he hadn't thought much about it at first; he just felt that since he was taller, he might be able to help his younger siblings.
"You're still young, so you might not understand what Auntie is saying, but you will in the future. A child as capable as you will definitely grow up to be a remarkable adult."
Stone sat on the small stool somewhat nervously. Was he really that good?
But his stepmother said every day that he was a burden and that he had brought death to his own mother.
Now even the children in the compound say that. After a while, even he himself began to doubt whether he really was the crow that brought bad luck.
Liu Xiulan handed over the pancake: "Eat up, so you can grow tall and protect yourself when you grow up."
Shi Tou swallowed hard, took the pancake with both hands, and politely thanked him before eating.
"Thank you, Auntie."
Zhang Hongxia's heart almost melted. As a mother herself, she was deeply moved that the child could be so polite without any parental guidance, which meant he was a wonderful child at heart.
"Eat slowly, don't choke. Here's some fruit your aunt brought. Let me peel an orange for you."
The three adults surrounded the child with eyes full of love. The atmosphere in the yard was relaxed and comfortable. Shuying would wipe the crumbs off Shitou's mouth from time to time.
She deliberately sat on the sunny side to shield him from the strong sunlight: "Shitou, you're a little benefactor of mine. If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, please come to me, okay? Your uncle and I will help you."
Although Shu Ying hoped she was overthinking things, the scars on her child's body made her worry excessively.
Even though she knew it was none of her business, as a mother of two, she couldn't bear to watch her children get hurt.
A strand of Shuying's hair fell onto Shitou's shoulder. When he looked up, he saw Shuying's beautiful eyes, and the gentleness in her eyes was exactly the same as the one he remembered from his mother.
The little guy nodded blankly.
When he plays on the playground, he often hears other women in the yard saying that this pretty woman has a bad heart.
They say she's a capitalist who only exploits people, and that her children have been taught bad habits.
He had always thought Shu Ying was a scary aunt, but this beautiful aunt was clearly not as scary as others said. Not only did she gently bandage his wounds, but she also spoke to him with a smile.
Last night, my stepmother was yelling at the east wall of the house, saying that a vixen had come here and only knew how to seduce men, while he was hiding in a corner trembling with fear.
Although he was young, he knew that his stepmother was making veiled criticisms.
She was always worried that her father's gaze would linger on other women for even a moment, so whenever other women came to the compound, she would vent her frustrations.
But after a brief encounter, Shi Tou could tell that this aunt had a clear sense of right and wrong, and was not as extreme as others had described. He didn't know where the rumors came from, but if you want to understand a person, you can't just rely on what others say.
Little Stone smiled as he ate the best meal he'd had in days, even though it was just a meat pie. He was glad to have something flavorful to eat.
He usually eats cornbread buns. His stepmother said that he is still growing and eating too refined food would only make him spoiled and weak.
He ate the meat pie in small bites, reluctant to swallow it. Although the pie was cold, the outer crust was crispy, and the meat inside was juicy. The aroma of the meat filled his entire mouth. Shi Tou ate with great satisfaction, and his heart couldn't help but tremble.
Liu Xiulan placed the peeled orange in his hand. The orange was very juicy. With a gentle bite, it burst in his mouth, and the sweet taste went straight to his heart. Shi Tou savored the sweetness in his mouth. It was sweeter than sugar, and sweeter than when his father came home.
A pang of heartache flashed in Shu Ying's eyes, and she could only sigh helplessly.
Ordinary children wouldn't be so careful when eating.
Anyone who is loved by their family will wolf down any delicious food they eat.
She suppressed the sadness in her heart and gently patted Shi Tou's head. "If you're ever hungry in the future, come to Auntie's house. Your younger brother and sister have lots of snacks. It's a secret between us, and Auntie won't tell anyone, okay?"
Little Stone paused for a moment, but quickly nodded.
His stepmother didn't want him to go to other people's houses to play, but as long as he did it secretly and wasn't discovered, it was fine.
Liu Xiulan turned her back and wiped her reddened eyes with her sleeve.
As the group was talking, they saw someone walking out of the alley. Shu Ying looked up and saw the sinister look in the woman's eyes.
With a smile on her face, Lü Jie waved to Shi Tou: "Shi Tou, I've been waiting for you at home for a long time. Look at you, child. Didn't I say we shouldn't trouble your aunt? Come home with me now."
She gritted her teeth inwardly, wondering if these people had discovered the wounds on Shi Tou's body.
Lu Jie wore a smile, but her anger was rising inside. Her expression twisted even more when she saw the meat pie and orange in Shi Tou's hand.
Although she was smiling, it was too deliberate, and her gaze was focused on the stone's hand, making her look strange no matter how you looked at it.
Stone's back trembled involuntarily. He turned his head stiffly, his innocent smile replaced by fear, but he quickly regained his composure.
He glanced at the meat pie and orange in his hand, unsure whether he should return them.
Liu Xiulan noticed the child's embarrassment and gently patted his shoulder, "Your aunt gave you this, eat it quickly."
Lu Jie stood outside the door without coming in, her teeth almost grinding to powder. "I'm so sorry, this child just has no manners. I've taught him so many times, but he just can't remember. Being a stepmother is tough. People who don't know better would think I don't feed him at home."
Shu Ying's expression didn't change much. She just looked at Xiao Shitou gently and said, "Being a stepmother is indeed not easy. But if you do things right, you don't need to care about other people's opinions. No matter what others say, in the end, you have to be true to your own conscience, right?"
Her words were loaded with meaning, making Lü Jie feel uncomfortable, but she couldn't show it to her face. Then she saw the half-eaten orange in Shi Tou's hand, which he hadn't finished eating, and her heart was in turmoil.
Fruit has been very expensive lately, and she herself is reluctant to eat it, yet these people are giving fruit to this brat.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
