Xiao Li poured two bowls of water and slowly fed them to the brother and sister. After a while, they woke up.
"Children, what happened to you? Why did you faint at my doorstep?" Yun Yu Niang asked gently.
Chen Niang glanced at his younger sister, sensing she was alright, then looked at Xiao Li. Seeing no displeasure from her, he honestly told her the truth. He subconsciously avoided mentioning that he knew Xiao Li.
After Xiaoli left in the morning, the brother and sister packed their bags at home, planning to sell the house and live with Xiaoli. Who knew that just as they were about to eat, that scoundrel Chen San arrived. He first said he wanted to take the brother and sister home to live, which the brother and sister naturally disagreed with. Later, in a fit of anger, he directly grabbed them, trying to forcibly take them back and then find an opportunity to sell them to a slave trader.
The Chen family was in chaos. It was only thanks to the neighbors who stopped Chen San that they were able to escape. The brother and sister left the city and headed towards Mojia Village. They were anxious and hungry, and it took them two hours to get there. As soon as they arrived at the door, they collapsed and fainted.
"Madam, my father is gone, my mother is gone, and now only my brother and I are left, barely surviving. Please take us in, we are willing to sell ourselves into slavery." Chen Niang knelt down again and kowtowed to Yun Yuniang. The clever man realized that this lady was in charge of this family.
"My brother and I can do anything, we just need a bite to eat. Please, Madam, please, Master, Young Master, Miss..."
Xiaoli was furious. This Chen Santai was a scoundrel, and he was a distant uncle who was completely preventing the brother and sister from surviving.
Yun Yuniang quickly pulled Chen Niang up from the ground and helped him sit on the bed. "Don't talk about selling yourself. We're not masters or mistresses. Just call me aunt. You two rest for a bit. I'll go make you some food." After saying that, she glanced at Mo Qingshan and walked towards the kitchen.
Mo Qingshan followed, sensing the danger. Xiao Li's eyes darted around, and she said to Mo Yunxiao, "Brother, are you hungry? I bought some flour this morning, and I want to eat noodles. Go tell Mother to make some extra. We can have a bowl too."
Mo Yunxiao looked at his mischievous younger sister and tapped her forehead. "Why don't you go and tell her yourself?" After saying that, he resignedly went to get the flour.
Xiao Li then looked at Chen Niang and his sister. Well, things have changed.
It turned out that Xiaoli planned to rent a shop in town. She could do business in the front and have Chen Niang and his sister live in the back so they could clean and do housework, essentially hiring help. So she was going home to discuss it with her parents. Who knew that the brother and sister would come knocking on her door?
“You can’t go back to town now, lest Chen San find out. You should stay here for now, and we’ll think of something else.”
Chen Niang lowered her head in shame. "Sister, I'm sorry, we've caused you trouble."
"Alright, you rest for a bit, I'll go get you some food." After saying that, Xiaoli went to the kitchen.
Xiao Li had just left when Xiao Jiu'er woke up.
Inside the kitchen, Yun Yuniang was kneading dough and rolling out noodles while discussing something with Mo Qingshan.
"Brother Qingshan, what do you think?" Yun Yuniang asked expectantly. Since giving birth to Xiaoli, her belly had remained flat, and now seeing the two little ones, they were truly adorable. Especially Xiaojiu'er, who looked so pitiful and cute.
Mo Qingshan stuffed more firewood into the stove. "It's fine to leave it, but I'm afraid it might cause trouble later. After all, their mother is still alive, and that Chen San is also a problem."
"However, the child is still young, so it's not difficult to cover it up. If Yu Niang wants to keep the child, then she can."
Yun Yuniang glanced at her son, who was eavesdropping nearby, and asked, "What do you think, Xiao'er?"
Yunyu's mother made the decisions on the small matters at home, while they discussed the big ones together. Mo Yunxiao looked at his father, then at his mother, and thought about the two little ones.
"Father, Mother, I have no objections. You can decide for me. But they are quite pitiful too."
This is because they want to keep them here.
Xiao Li also walked in and happened to hear the last sentence.
“Father, Mother, I heard about them in town last time. They’re not bad people. Why don’t we keep them here?” Xiaoli chimed in.
Yun Yuniang hesitated for a moment, then decided to keep Chen Niang and his sister. She would tell everyone that Yun Yuniang's younger sister had run into trouble, leaving only the two siblings to seek refuge with her. From then on, they would call Yun Yuniang their aunt, and Xiao Li would have two more cousins.
Yun Yu Niang cleaned up a small, unused room behind the east wing for them to live in. Logically, they should have been given two rooms, but Xiao Jiu'er didn't want to be separated from her brother, so they would stay in one room for the time being, and they would make further plans once they had calmed down. She also altered Xiao Li and her brother's old clothes that were too small for them to wear, and made them a new set of clothes to change into.
The next day, Mo Qingshan secretly took Mo Yunxiao and Chen Niang to the house in town. The house was in a mess, and there was nothing left. It must have been taken by Chen San.
The three of them picked up the usable items and brought them back. The house couldn't be sold, but luckily Chen Niang had the deed with him and Chen San hadn't taken it.
Life settled into a quiet routine. The Chen siblings also developed some childlike traits, but they were ultimately different.
Chen Niang is only ten years old, but he is calm and steady. He always takes the initiative to do the work at home and in the fields. He is polite to people, but he is quiet and doesn't talk much.
Little Jiu'er is much more cheerful now. Having endured the torment of hunger, she likes to collect food, especially small fruits and pine cones from the mountains—things that can be stored. Xiao Li feels sorry for her and often secretly gives her some food, like a piece of fruit or a corn cob.
Xiao Jiu'er is also very attached to Xiao Li. Besides her brother, she loves following Xiao Li around the most, practically like a little shadow. Not only does Xiao Li have lots of delicious food, but Xiao Li also saved the two siblings, and she will be grateful for the rest of her life.
"Sister Li, you're amazing! You caught prey with all these traps. Even Uncle San praised you." Little Jiu'er's eyes were practically sparkling as she looked at Xiao Li with adoration.
Xiao Li proudly raised her chin, "That's right, following me means I'll have plenty to eat."
*Snap*
"Don't you have any manners at all? You'd better tone it down. What will you do if you can't get married in the future?" Mo Yunxiao couldn't stand her sister's arrogant attitude.
Mo Yunxiao patted her head, and Xiao Li jumped up unhappily, stuffing all her prey into her brother's arms. "Brother, if I don't grow taller in the future, it'll all be your fault." After saying that, she grabbed Xiao Jiu'er and ran away quickly.
Chen Niang silently took the prey, and Mo Yunxiao only gave him half, jokingly saying, "Take less too, so you won't stunt your growth later."
Chen Niang shook his head and smiled, "These aren't heavy. Brother Yunxiao, let's hurry up and catch up. Sister and Xiao Jiu'er are about to disappear from sight."
Mo Yunxiao nodded, hummed in agreement, and quickened his pace.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com