Both of the children were led into the house with swollen eyes and tears, but they remained silent.
Xu Ran laid the two children side by side on the bed and dried their tears with his sleeves, only to notice that the children's faces were turning steadily red due to the clothing's bad fabric. Xu Ran has no choice but to withdraw his hands, a little upset.
Tangtang and Guoguo both noticed that their dad was acting strangely today. When they were bullied in the past, their dad would run out and defend them, but he would never hug them or wipe their tears. Tangtang and Guoguo were both very happy, even though their dad made their faces hurt badly.
Tangtang jumped off the bed and said, "Dad, don't cry. I'm not hurt."
Just as Xu Ran was about to say something, Guoguo also jumped down, "Dad, I'm not hurt as well."
Xu Ran's heart was weakened when he thought the two children were genuinely thoughtful.
He knelt down and carefully wiped the two children's faces "You're both very well-behaved. It was all because I was useless, causing you to be bullied. But you two don't have to be bothered any more. Because I'm by your side, no one will be able to bully you in the future."
Regardless of whether or not what Xu Ran said was accurate, the two children both nodded heavily, placing their complete faith to their dad.
Xu Ran made the two kids wash their faces before taking Tangtang's clothing to see if he had been wounded earlier.
Then Xu Ran was astounded to see Tangtang's body, which was black and bruised and covered with several wounds that seemed to be bruises.
The weather had turned hot, and the children were wearing less clothing. Even if the children were shoved heavily on a muddy field, it was certain that they would be seriously injured, particularly because their skin was vulnerable.
Seeing Tangtang's physical state, Xu Ran removed Guoguo's clothing as well, only to discover that Guoguo was also wounded. Fortunately, Guoguo's fracture was not almost as serious as Tangtang's. Tangtang seemed to have been guarding Guoguo at all times.
Xu Ran could only spit on the wound because they didn't have any medication at home. Xu Ran was even much sadder by the fact that the two boys were courageous enough not to cry out of pain.
Xu Ran put their clothing on after applying saliva to both children's bruises. "Tangtang, Guoguo, listen up, I have something really important to tell you," he said, staring at the two children with a serious expression.
The two kids exchanged looks before turning to Xu Ran and nodding. "Dad, we're listening," Tangtang said.
"So, I'd like to tell you the truth and say that I'm no longer foolish, but we can't tell anyone else. It's just you two who are sure of it. After that, I'll try to split up with Grandpa and his family, and we'll be on our own. Is that all right?"
"Dad, can't we tell daddy?" Guoguo hurriedly asked Xu Ran as soon as he ended his speech.
Xu Run rubbed his temples and patted his head gently "I'll inform him. What you have to remember is to keep it a secret."
"Alright, dad, we get it.."
Tangtang and Guoguo were both too young to truly comprehend the difference between foolish and not foolish, so there was no evidence of them being overjoyed. Xu Ran's thoughts about being together on their own were all they cared about.
Liu Tong arrived home about midday, holding a pheasant in one hand and two packets of medicine for Xu Ran in the other.
Zhang Yue happened to see Liu Tong enter the house and was pleased to see the pheasant in Liu Tong's hand. They've been so busy in the fields lately that Liu Tong hasn't been able to go hunting in the hills, leaving them without meat for a long time.
As Zhang saw the medicine in Liu Tong's other hand, he immediately collapsed. "Why did you go out and buy the medicine once more? It's pointless. Instead, you should go out and buy more meat."
"Get out of my way, or I'll sell this pheasant in my hand as well," Liu Tong said, his face expressionless.
When Zhang Yue heard Liu Tong's words, he was about to react, but he eventually backed away, considering the chicken in Liu Tong's hand.
Liu Tong took the pheasant to the kitchen and then to his room.
The Xu Family's life was extremely difficult. Xu Cheng sat around doing nothing all day, while Zhang Yue sat around waiting for food to come. It was the family's elderly members and Liu Tong who were still planting fields. However, when the couple of elderly Xu in the Xu Family grew older and were unable to help, Liu Tong was forced to shoulder the responsibility. Even so, the Xu Family hated Liu Tong, claiming it was his job to do everything.
No matter how much rage and hardship Liu Tong had endured for the sake of Xu Ran and his two children, he had been knuckled under.
Xu Family had five rooms, while Liu Tong and his family, which numbered four people, only had one. The elderly Xu couple were given one bed, while Xu Cheng and his family were given two. The remaining one was used as a storage space. Only a thatched shed separated the kitchen from the rest of the house.
When Liu Tong entered their home, Xu Ran was telling their two children a story with a tender expression on his face. He didn't believe there was something unusual about Xu Ran, far less that Xu Ran might instantly stop being foolish. After all, he'd been looking after Xu Ran for seven years and all he could remember was that he was a complete fool.
Liu Tong stood in the doorway, watching them, and thought it was a lovely sight Whatever he was doing outside, he would be happy in this room with his family.
"Hey?"
"Daddy, you are back."
Liu Tong, who was standing at the doorway, was immediately recognized by the two children. They then leapt from their stools and dashed over to him.
Liu Tong held the two children who were rushing towards him "Yes, I've returned. Did you get bullied today?"
"No, we weren't bullied," the two kids replied, shaking their heads together.
Xu Ran sadly turned his head at this moment. It was all because he was so frail and worthless, so when Liu Tong went home, the first thing he did was ask the kids if they had been bullied. That caused Xu Ran a great deal of distress.
"Tongtong..." said Xu Ran as he walked to the entrance, reaching out his hand for a hug for Liu Tong.
In his memories, Xu Ran referred to Liu Tong as "Tongtong," and he was the only one who did so. Liu Tong was able to be good to him for seven years, probably because of that calling. It was his turn to be nice to Liu Tong from now on.
Before embracing Xu Ran, Liu Tong put the two children down and then placed the medicine in his hand on the empty table in the room.
"Ran, Tangtang, and Guoguo, I just got back from hunting a pheasant, so we'll have meat to eat today!"
The two kids were overjoyed to discover that they would be eating meat, while Xu Ran frowned at the medicine on the table.
Liu Tong ushered the two children into the room and shut the door behind them, pulling a packet of dessert from his inner pocket, which contained just four pieces. Liu Tong divided the dessert into three parts, giving one to each of the two children and the other to Xu Ran.
The dessert was exquisite and expensive, and the two kids were happy to try it, but they didn't eat it right away. Instead, they cut it in half, keeping one for themselves and giving the other to Liu Tong.
Liu Tong didn't resist, probably because it had become a habit, and took both small pieces from his twins. He didn't, however, eat them. Instead, he took a cloth from his inner pocket and properly wrapped them.
Xu Ran knew that it was kept for the two children to eat the next time.
Xu Ran handed one of the two dessert pieces he had to Liu Tong as well. Then he cut the other one in half, stuffing half into his mouth and the other half into Liu Tong's mouth.
Liu Tong had no choice but to eat the dessert because it happened too quickly.
The entire family happily shared two bits of desert. Then Liu Tong stowed the rest and said that he was going to cook. Xu Ran was left in the care of the two brothers.
03.13.21