"How childish of me! What am I even thinking?"
Ning Hong scoffed; he should have understood her choice long ago.
"Ah Ze, this—" The aunt next door looked a little embarrassed. She originally thought that since the child's father was gone, the mother would definitely take the child back to raise him, but she did not expect this to be the result.
"It's alright, Auntie, I already thought of that."
In some ways, Lu Xiu is a very cruel person.
She loved her child dearly, but when that love was compared to her own future, she chose her future without hesitation.
Just like in her past life, because of him, she couldn't escape, and in the end, she chose to die in front of him, giving him nightmares for several years.
Perhaps this is also a form of revenge.
"Little friend, what's your choice... do you want to come with us to the orphanage?" The policeman was somewhat embarrassed. Even though the child's mother and many relatives were there, not a single one was willing to adopt him.
"I'm not going. I can live a good life on my own."
"Do you want to appeal? We can help you, after all, parents have a responsibility to their children."
Even if they can't get him to stay with them, they can still get some alimony.
With this alimony, he can live a good life no matter who he lives with.
“No need, I don’t want to get too involved with them.” Ning Hong shook her head. “You don’t need to worry about me, I can really manage.”
The money may still need to be settled, but the debt of gratitude for raising the child is much harder to repay.
He's not short of money, so it's best to avoid any further involvement.
"Ah Ze, why are you so stubborn?" The aunt next door was having a bit of a headache.
She genuinely cared for him, but the mother was unreasonable, and the son didn't appreciate it at all.
"Auntie, don't worry, I can live a good life." Ning Hong smiled at it.
"..."
Of course she knew he could survive, but the village was full of people, and with all of them around, he wouldn't starve to death.
However, there are certain rules to follow when it comes to living.
The fact that his biological mother's family could mobilize so many police officers, and judging from their tone of voice, clearly shows them great respect for his so-called uncle, is enough to demonstrate that Aze's biological mother's family is well-off.
It's fortunate that Ning Fengshou is already dead; if he weren't, he would probably have suffered an even more terrible fate.
But then again, she's a perfectly good young woman, and he lured her here to be his wife, yet he doesn't treat her well...
This woman seems to have forgotten that many wives in this village were bought and brought home—
Among this group of police officers was a man named Fang Liang, who had only recently graduated and was still a passionate young man.
Hearing about Ning Hongze's situation, I couldn't help but feel some sympathy.
He followed Ning Hongze all the way home, and seeing him cooking by himself with practiced ease, he felt inexplicably sad.
"You seem to be quite skilled at cooking."
"Yeah, I'm used to it now." Ning Hong didn't even turn her head. "Would you like some?"
"Well—that's fine too. I'll have some with you."
Ning Hongze: "..."
That's just him being polite, nothing more.
I didn't really want to invite this guy to dinner.
However, the inexperienced young policeman clearly couldn't understand the complex emotions in his eyes.
In the end, he stayed and ate.
They praised Ning Hongze's skills highly.
"My goodness, did a child really cook this?"
"Your cooking skills are absolutely amazing."
"OMG!"
Fang Liang was stuffed.
He originally just didn't want to disappoint him, and even thought he would just have some food with him.
After all, it's perfectly normal for a child, a child who has lost their parents, to crave companionship.
He must not want to eat alone, that's why he invited him.
But to his surprise, the child's skills were so good that he couldn't stop making them.
Ning Hongze: "..."
He was really just asking politely that this guy was eating too much.
He wasn't even full.
Ning Hong stared intently at Fang Liang.
"Poor child—Uncle will come to have meals with you often from now on."
They were all so moved that tears welled up in their eyes.
"It must feel great to have someone to eat with!"
Ning Hongze: "..."
After the whole incident was over, the village returned to peace. Some of the women left alone, while others left with their children.
Of course, there aren't many like him.
After all, those children still have their fathers and grandmothers.
October, the golden autumn month, is the harvest season.
Ning Hong didn't want to farm, and his physique wasn't suitable for it anyway, so he contracted out his three acres of land to his neighbor.
He only needs 20% of his grain allowance each year.
However, this aunt and her family were honest people. It took a lot of persuasion to get them to give up the idea of giving him 40%.
"You're such a fool. I'm offering you 40%, letting you take advantage of me, and you still won't take it."
"Auntie, I can't finish it all either."
Ning Hong then smiled.
If you call him stupid, then what about this auntie? Isn't she stupid too? She only wants 20%, letting her take advantage of the situation, and she still has something to say about it.
There are many bad people in this society, but when you are most desperate, there will always be someone who gives you some warmth. Perhaps their abilities are limited and they can only help you with small things, but without a doubt, they can warm your heart.
That's just the kind of person my aunt is.
In his fading memory, this aunt's life was not easy.
Later, in order to get a wife for his son, he seemed to have been swindled out of a lot of money.
He wanted to help them.
Ning Hong sat by the river fishing, his large straw hat completely covering his head.
The small, thin body sat motionless.
When Fang Liang arrived, he saw Ning Hong sitting quietly by the river.
I felt a vague sense of unease.
How can this child be so composed?
How can a normal child sit for such a long time?
"Little Aze, Brother Fang Liang is here. Would you like to treat him to a meal?"
Fang Liang sat down next to him and said with a smile.
"Uncle, be quiet, don't disturb me while I'm fishing. This is our lunch today. If we don't catch this fish, we might not have lunch."
"It's okay, I can buy you a fish."
"I'd rather catch a fish," Ning Hong said, resting her chin on her hand, looking utterly bored.
"Ah Ze, it's not right for you to just drift through life like this every day. How about this, I've already talked to the people in town, and they've arranged for you to be a transfer student?"
"I'm not going."
“Aze, you’re still just a child. How can you not go to school? You can stay at my house while I live alone.”
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