The more obedient they were, the more uneasy Hong Xiaoduo felt. In particular, while the children's tattered clothes were temporarily fine, none of their shoes were intact.
Some shoes had toes sticking out, while others had half the sole worn away. During the morning break, Hong Xiaoduo checked and found that although the children's shoes were all worn out, their feet were wrapped in rags; otherwise, their feet would have been blistered long ago.
Remembering that the man on horseback said there would be a village ahead, I thought that when I got to the village I could ask how much a horse-drawn carriage would cost, or an oxcart or a donkey cart would also be fine.
After traveling for about an hour, Hong Xiaoduo suggested that everyone stop and rest.
The children thought they had misheard and looked up in the direction of the sun.
Hong Xiaoduo pretended not to see and sat down on a tree trunk by the roadside.
The children, boys and girls, went to relieve themselves in the bushes on both sides of the road, while the youngest girl stayed with Hong Xiaoduo.
"Mom, are you hungry? Here, have some." The little girl said, handing her something wrapped in leaves.
Curious, Hong Xiaoduo took it and felt that it was still warm. She parted the leaves and recognized it. It should be the first prey she had when she entered the forest, that bird.
They also cleaned up the bird, roasted it, and gave it to the youngest child.
“I’m full, I’m not hungry. You can save it for when you’re hungry. By the way, can you tell me who suggested that you all call me Mom?” Looking around, the children hadn’t returned, and Hong Xiaoduo asked.
She did have a guess in her mind, but she wasn't sure.
I think it must have been a very young child who started shouting, and then the other children followed suit.
Another possibility is that it was the eldest boy's idea.
The little girl looked at Hong Xiaoduo without saying a word, her little mouth pursed tightly, and she seemed a little uneasy.
"Tell me, it's okay. I just want to know who's so smart to think of calling me 'Mom'?" Hong Xiaoduo coaxed with a smile.
She dared not frighten such a small child; how would she comfort him if he cried?
"It's my older brother, he's so clever." The little girl was still young and easily fooled; she immediately betrayed her brother.
She could already see a child walking back. "Did he say why? He could have called me 'sister' too," Hong Xiaoduo quickly pressed for more information...
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