Chapter 84
"Auntie! Auntie!"
Shu Shouyi returned to the mountain, and without hesitation broke free from Xun Yi's embrace, joyfully throwing himself into Shu Wanxiu's arms.
Shu Wanxiu smiled and pinched his cheek, teasingly asking, "Did you have fun?"
Shu Shouyi shifted his body slightly, looking very shy but honest, and said, "I'm happy."
Such a young child's subconscious expression cannot lie. Shu Wanxiu did not know where Xun Yi had taken him today or what they had played, but she was truly grateful to Xun Yi for making Shu Shouyi so happy.
"Thank you, Brother Xun." She smiled sweetly and thanked Xun Yi, her eyebrows arching gracefully.
The moment their eyes met, Xun Yi was so captivated by Shu Wanxiu's beauty that his heart pounded like a drum.
"I...no, you're welcome."
After realizing what he had said, Xun Yi blushed from head to toe.
"I misspoke. I meant to say, you're welcome."
Shu Wanxiu felt that Xun Yi looked very different from usual, and was quite lively. In a good mood, she playfully stared at him and enjoyed his sudden blush.
Xun Yi felt his breath catch in his throat under her gaze, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.
Suddenly, a pair of small hands blocked Shu Wanxiu's eyes, interrupting their eye contact.
"Auntie, don't look!"
Shu Wanxiu looked at Shu Shouyi with slight surprise.
Meeting Shu Wanxiu's gaze, Shu Shouyi shook his head very seriously, "You said we shouldn't laugh at others! Uncle Xun just stuttered, but you can't laugh at him!"
Xun Yi was stunned when he heard these childish words.
He never imagined that the friendship he had developed in just one afternoon would lead Shu Shouyi to defend him so fiercely.
At that moment, his heart was enveloped in warmth, and his gaze toward Shu Shouyi became as gentle as when he looked at Shu Wanxiu.
For Shu Wanxiu, these were indeed the words she had once taught Shu Shouyi.
At this moment, Shu Shouyi was learning the rules and principles. Shu Wanxiu did not explain or defend herself, but quickly suppressed her smile. "It was Aunt's fault. Aunt apologizes to Uncle Xun."
She stood up and bowed slightly in Xun Yi's direction, saying, "I'm sorry."
Xun Yi snapped out of his surprise and emotion, clasped his hands in return to Shu Wanxiu's greeting, and said, "It's alright."
Shu Shouyi stood with his hands on his hips, looking at the two of them, feeling proud that he had done something righteous.
"Alright, Auntie won't laugh at Uncle Xun anymore. You've been playing all day, your hands must be dirty, right? Go inside and wash them, and then pour Uncle Xun a bowl of water," Shu Wanxiu said gently.
Shu Shouyi nodded emphatically, said "Okay," and quickly ran into the kitchen.
Just now, in front of Shu Shouyi, Shu Wanxiu only bowed and apologized. Now that he has left, Shu Wanxiu bowed again and explained her situation to Xun Yi.
“Brother Xun, I didn’t mean to make fun of you just now, please forgive me.”
Xun Yi waved his hand, "Don't be so nervous, I haven't misunderstood."
Seeing that Shu Wanxiu breathed a sigh of relief, Xun Yi curled his fingers and took the initiative to explain his whereabouts with Shu Shouyi outside that afternoon.
Finally, Xun Yi confessed with great embarrassment: "I did not find an opportunity to discuss the matter last night."
Shu Wanxiu understood this very well.
“I understand, it’s not your fault.”
Shu Wanxiu was quite surprised that Shu Shouyi was having so much fun today.
Words spoken are like water spilled; Shu Wanxiu's understanding nature only made Xun Yi feel worse.
"I'll look for another opportunity," Xun Yi said.
Following Shu Wanxiu's advice, Shu Shouyi poured a full bowl of water and carried it out.
The two fell silent at the same time, and Shu Wanxiu even stepped aside to make way for Shu Shouyi.
Standing before Xun Yi, Shu Shouyi raised his bowl high and said politely, "Uncle Xun, please have some water."
Thank you.
After spending the afternoon in the mountains, Xun Yi didn't stand on ceremony and drank the whole bowl of water in one gulp.
Shu Shouyi reached out and took the empty bowl with both hands, and immediately said, "Let me pour you another bowl."
"No need."
This time, Xun Yi squatted down and asked, "Do you still remember the twelve zodiac animals?"
"certainly!"
Even now, Shu Shouyi still cherishes and plays with those straw dolls every day.
"Your uncle wants to teach you how to create the twelve zodiac animals. Do you have time? Do you want to learn?"
Shu Shouyi jumped for joy and answered "yes" three times in a row, "I'm free every day!"
Xun Yi nodded calmly, "Alright, then will your uncle come to the mountain to find you again tomorrow afternoon?"
"Um!"
"Then it's a promise, pinky swear?"
In a child's worldview, once you make a pinky promise, you can't go back on your word, and Shu Shouyi couldn't be happier!
He nodded vigorously and extended his pinky finger to Xun Yi: "Pinky promise!"
Shu Wanxiu became a witness to the agreement.
The following afternoon, Xun Yi arrived as scheduled.
In the afternoon, around dusk, Shu Shouyi was safely returned home.
Shu Shouyi was still cheerful as ever, and said, "Auntie, auntie! Today at Uncle Xun's blacksmith shop, I learned how to weave little horses and calves!"
Xun Yi shook his head, just like yesterday, and said, "I didn't say."
Day after day, Shu Shouyi learned to weave all twelve zodiac animals.
"Your uncle has nothing more to teach you."
Xun Yi said it as before.
After spending several days together, and through countless patient teachings and attentive listening, Xun Yi's status in Shu Shouyi's heart had risen infinitely, making him second only to Shu Wanxiu among the adults.
Holding the newly learned monkey, Shu Shouyi asked innocently, "Uncle, can I come and play with you again?"
"Of course. You can even go down the mountain to pick you up if you want to play with your uncle.
Shu Shouyi is a very considerate and empathetic child.
He hesitated and said, "Won't it be tiring for my uncle to climb the mountain to pick me up?"
This is a golden opportunity that has simply come knocking on our door.
Xun Yi frankly said, "Although your uncle is strong, he is not made of iron. If I carry you up and down the mountain every day, as you grow up, your uncle will indeed get a little tired."
He threw out a direct question with piercing eyes: "If you want to make things easier for your uncle, the best way is for you to move down the mountain and live with him, so that neither of us will have to climb the mountain."
"Live with your uncle?" Shu Shouyi thought for a moment, then quickly shook his head. "No, that would leave my aunt alone on the mountain. I can't abandon her."
"You don't have to abandon your aunt."
"Shouyi, do you know that there is a term for an elder in this world, called 'uncle'?"
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