"Father—" Mingzhi called softly.
"It should be the person you're talking about."
Mingjue sighed.
Mingzhi felt even more distressed.
He had initially clung to a sliver of hope that this was all a setup by the new emperor to frame him, but now, that hope was shattered.
Mingzhi took a deep breath, concealing the pain in her heart.
It's okay, didn't he already prepare himself mentally?
"Grandma—didn't my brother tell you not to do heavy work?"
Ning Anuo stepped forward and helped Grandma Ning up.
"Grandma's fine, this isn't heavy work," Grandma Ning said with a smile. "We can't let the two of you do everything, Grandma wouldn't want that."
Grandma Ning stroked Ning Anuo's head.
Although she really disliked that woman, she was also grateful to her for giving her two well-behaved and sensible children.
"Grandma, you have to listen to what your brother says."
Ning Anuo puffed out her cheeks.
"Listen, listen, Grandma is listening. It's just that it's too hot today. If we don't water them, these vegetables will all dry out."
Grandma Ning tugged at Ning Anuo. "Anuo, who are they?"
This young master looks so much like her son.
"Grandma, this man is the son of the uncle that my brother rescued a few days ago."
Ning Anuo explained.
"Oh, that's quite a coincidence." Grandma Ning turned to look at Mingzhi. "Young master, would you like to stay for a meal?"
"I--"
Is this his biological grandmother?
He looks very kind.
"Don't ask him. Our family eats simple food, he doesn't care about that."
“Who said that, Grandma? If you don’t mind, I’d be happy to stay for dinner.” Mingzhi said, nodding vigorously as she spoke.
"That's wonderful, Duoduo. Come on, come inside with Grandma to cook."
Grandma Ning was in a good mood. Looking at the young man's face, it was as if she were seeing her son when he was young.
"Hmph." Seeing Grandma Ning's excited expression, Ning Anuo was not happy, but he did not object anymore. He just felt strange. Did this person really look so much like his father?
"Brother, do I look nothing like Dad?"
Why doesn't he look like him?
If he looked like him, Grandma wouldn't be so happy to see other people's children.
Ning Anuo thought with disappointment.
“This person’s appearance is something he can’t control.” It wasn’t that Ning Hong didn’t want to tell him the truth.
However, as of now, the real Ning Hong should not be aware of the truth of this matter.
He could only pretend he didn't know.
Mingzhi opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak.
He really wanted to tell Ning Anuo that it was impossible for him to look like a member of the Ning family.
Because he wasn't a child of the Ning family after all—but the words stuck in his throat.
When he died in his previous life, he was already in his early thirties, a fully mature man.
However, suddenly returning to his childhood made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Especially when both parents are alive and well, they can't help but want to act cute and affectionate towards them.
They're already quite old.
Yet they still couldn't control their emotions, not to mention Ning Anuo, who was a genuine child.
“Your appearance is actually quite good,” Mingzhi said to Ning Hongze, trying to comfort her.
"Of course he looks good, he looks so much like his mother," Mingzhi thought bitterly.
"That's true. Actually, thinking about it, it's better to not resemble anyone than to look like that woman."
Ning Hongze: "..."
Mingzhi: "..."
Just how much does this guy despise his own mother?
The Ming family father and son, along with Jiang Cha, had a meal at Ning's house.
Knowing that Ning Anuo was his biological son made him extremely curious about him.
But there are many things that I can't ask.
Learning about this family's situation from Jiang Cha made her feelings even more complicated.
His father died and his mother abandoned him; he was raised entirely by his grandmother.
After that, it was thanks to his older brother, who wasn't that old, that—
No wonder Anno is so protective of his brother.
I wonder how he would feel if he found out that this brother wasn't his biological brother.
Mingzhi's gaze also fell on the courtyard.
He looked at the boy whose life he had stolen, who was now surrounding his brother, looking at him with adoration. His expression was complicated.
Although he was also innocent, after all, the two children were just infants when they were switched at birth and knew nothing about it.
But while he enjoyed all the riches and honors in the Marquis's mansion, he could only follow behind his brother, digging for wild vegetables and picking up withered branches.
They might not even have enough to eat.
he--
This was supposed to be his life.
"Brother, what is this?"
Ning Anuo held a piece of Panax notoginseng and asked.
"This is Panax notoginseng. It is mainly used to disperse blood stasis, stop bleeding, reduce swelling, and relieve pain."
This was an unexpected delight.
He hadn't expected that there would be so many Panax notoginseng trees near Dashan Village.
He could make some hemostatic powder to sell; that should bring in a good amount of silver.
"Brother, you picked so much Panax notoginseng, are you planning to sell it for money?"
Ning Anuo looked at Ning Hongze with bright, sparkling eyes.
"Brother, let me help you."
“Alright, once we sell it and get the money, I'll send you to a private school,” Ning Hong said with a smile.
"I'm not going. I'm too old." The children studying at the private school are only six or seven years old, and the oldest is only eight or nine. He is already eleven years old. How could he possibly go?
"Reading and learning to read and write is beneficial regardless of age. If you go to school, you'll earn more money when you come back. Knowing more words is always helpful. Of course, if you have the talent, your brother will definitely support your education."
"Brother, I don't want to. I'd rather study medicine with you."
"Even if you want to study medicine, you still need to be literate."
Ning Hong then turned the Panax notoginseng over.
"Otherwise, you won't even be able to understand the most basic medical books."
"But you didn't go to school either, brother."
"Nonsense, I attended for a year." In fact, the original owner's studies were excellent.
She was often praised by her teacher, but the Ning family was too poor, and studying was an expensive affair. In addition, the original owner of this body couldn't bear to let her grandmother suffer any more, so she stopped going and frankly said that she didn't like studying.
That time, no matter how much Grandma Ning hit him, he refused to go again.
Grandma Ning knew exactly what her son was thinking.
It's both heartbreaking and painful.
She felt even more guilty for being useless.
This almost became a major worry for Grandma Ning. Later, the original owner of the body gradually learned to recognize more characters.
She gradually calmed down.
"It's only for a year."
"Then you should go for a year too."
“Brother, don’t waste your money. I can learn from you.” Ning Anuo shook her head again.
“You still need to study. Reading makes one wise. How about this, if you don’t have the money, I’ll pay for it. Consider it repayment for saving my life.”
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