Chapter 22: I Adopted a Son

and headed home. Along the way, he saw many people chatting and taking a cool breeze at their doorsteps. He kept hearing words like "drought," "famine," and "rising food prices," which made him incre...Before the tea had finished steeping, the person was gone. If it weren't for the blood on the ground proving that a robber had just been there, and Xu Huaiyi's calm demeanor, anyone passing by would have thought nothing had happened at all.

He wiped clean his chopping knife and was just about to leave when suddenly a... child, looking about four or five years old, walked out from the small grove of trees beside him. He wore simple hemp clothing, but his face was as delicate as jade, resembling a beautiful doll from a New Year painting.

However, what surprised Xu Huaiyi the most was that the child was dressed in rags, like a commoner's attire, yet he had an aura about him that one couldn't ignore.

Let his mind flash instantly with the phrase, "Do not bully the poor youth."

He was almost certain that this child was no ordinary one, and would surely amount to something when he grew up.

The child was carrying a bag. He walked up to him and looked at him intently, head tilted upwards.

Those eyes, black and white.

Hi, sensing something was up, Xu Huaiyi couldn't help himself and asked, "Is something the matter"

He asked casually, but his heart secretly raised its guard again. Since he had the dream of being a chivalrous knight and traveling the world, he had read many books about this aspect and summed up a rule: women and children should never be underestimated, otherwise, one might suffer a huge loss.

If he's not mistaken, that kid has been hiding in the woods watching them all along, who knows what he's up to.

Is he waiting for them to both be defeated and injured before he jumps out to take advantage of the situation

Moreover, the calmness on his face as he walked out was not at all like that of a four or five-year-old.

That boy pursed his lips, the emotions in his eyes finally becoming more complex. It seemed like he was extremely reluctant yet helpless, or perhaps there was a sliver of reckless determination. "Do you want a son"

"What" Xu Huaiyi was stunned.

He is no ordinary person, his words are earth-shattering.

That boy seemed to be annoyed by his astonishment, he frowned and repeated, “Do you want a son”

Xu Huaiyi tentatively asked, "You, you are volunteering for this"

That kid nodded and said, "Yeah."

Xu Huaiyi twitched the corner of his mouth. Someone dared to recommend themselves as someone's son

Or, is this a new kind of scam

He shook his head, refusing. "I have children,"

Who knew that boy would say, "A son never has too many things, the more the merrier." After finishing his sentence, he added, "Besides, I'm smarter than most people."

What you're trying to say is that even if you had a son, he wouldn't be as good as me.

Xu Huaiyi laughed, arms crossed, and looked at him, "Boy, don't beat around the bush. You saw it in the woods just now too, I'm not someone to be trifled with. If you have something, just say it. If I can help, I don't mind lending a hand. If I can't, then I'm sorry, go find someone else. We walk our own paths."

"I have nothing else I need you to help with. I just want you to be my son."

Xu Huaiyi let out a smirk that wasn't quite a smile and said, "Heh," with a look on his face that clearly said, "Believe it or not."

That kid, seeing the situation, pondered for a moment. When he spoke again, he revealed his background: "Before my parents died, they entrusted me to another family. That family took my parents' money but treated me cruelly, beating and berating me. They even cruelly wanted to sell me to those filthy places. If I stayed in that home, I would eventually die. So, I decided to find a way out for myself."

Xu Huaiyi listened, feeling quite complex inside. He asked hesitantly, "So you're saying you escaped"

That kid nodded. "I guess so."

Xu Huaiyi furrowed his brows, this was going to be difficult. The boy's story wasn't without holes, but inexplicably, he didn't seem bothered at all. Even now, the slightest bit of wariness in his heart had vanished.

One big and one small, both remained silent.

Half a moment later, Xu Huaiyi looked serious and said, "I sympathize with your situation, but I really can't help you. I can't just take you away like this out of the blue If your adoptive parents found out, they would accuse me of kidnapping! I don't want to get involved in such trouble, besides, I'm not short on sons..."

"Hearing this, the boy wasn't flustered at all. Instead, he confidently said, "Don't worry, they wouldn't dare, and they don't have the energy to come looking for me, so you won't be in trouble."

Xu Huaiyi curiously asked, "Why don't they have the energy to come find you again"

"That kid said nonchalantly, 'Because they got into trouble with the law and are busy saving themselves, they can't even take care of their own children, let alone remember me They'd rather I was gone so they could openly seize the silver my parents left behind to bribe people and get them out of jail…'"

He spoke clearly and logically. Xu Huaiyi listened in amazement, wondering if he was too smart or if children in ancient times were simply precocious. Look at his ability to respond! He's almost as good as an adult. In his previous life, a child of this age was still in kindergarten, clueless and playing dumb. This child can already save himself calmly in a crisis.

This is way cooler than running away from home.

Xu Huaiyi sighed for a moment, then asked, "What if I don't help"

That kid blurted out, “Then I’ll go to the county office and say that you injured someone.”

Xu Huaiyi burst out laughing, "Alright, kid, are you threatening me now You're all bark and no bite. Come on, try being tough! But sorry, that doesn't work on me!"

That boy pursed his lips and said, "I will definitely repay you in the future. You taking me in will never be a loss."

Xu Huaiyi hummed, "I don't care. Get out of the way, you're blocking the road. Go find someone else."

After finishing his words, he hurried away in his donkey cart without hesitation.

The boy didn't move, just kept staring as he gradually

Far away, a pair of beautiful phoenix eyes held complex emotions that were difficult to fathom.

Xu Huaiyi walked far away, turned his head to look back, and the boy was still standing there. He looked like a stray dog abandoned by its owner, pitiful and yet with a certain stubbornness.

It's still heartbreaking.

As soon as this feeling came over him, Xu Huaiyi quickly slapped himself in the face and muttered to himself, "Don't be soft-hearted, now is definitely not the time to be merciful. What qualifications do you have to bring a child home"

Another voice piped up, "But the child is so young and has no parents. How pitiful it is! If we leave him alone, how will he survive in this world Don't you remember what you do for a living Police officers are here to help people when they need it. That's what we're supposed to do."

Then he pinched himself hard again, "No, absolutely not. If you dare to take it back, your wife will definitely scold you something awful."

Two voices kept switching back and forth, tormenting him to the point of restlessness. He fidgeted in his seat, unable to find comfort. Finally, he cursed and drove the mule cart away, turning around and heading back.

As he came closer, the child's eyes seemed to flicker with a glimmer.

Xu Huaiyi was very agitated, "What are you still standing there for, get in the car"

That boy quickly climbed up and said seriously, "Thank you!"

Xu Huaiyi let out a grunt, tossed him a steamed bun, and asked, "What's your name"

That boy lowered his head and mumbled, "From now on, I'll be your son. Give me a name, will you Let the past be the past."tient but his eyes firm and calm. The people facing him clearly did not seem afraid.When the villagers saw this, they were strangely soothed.What's even more incredible is that they didn't think Xu Hu...