Chapter 431: Why Does This Child Look So Much Like Little Xu?
Gu Yunshen was waiting in the courtyard of the Gu house. When he saw that Gu Qingyao was back, he hurriedly asked, “Where have you been? Why are you so late?”
Gu Qingyao had told him that she was going out, but had not said where she was going.
Now that it was snowing so heavily, Gu Yunshen was naturally worried about his daughter.
If the girl still did not return, he would have to go out and search for her.
“Father, I’m fine. I went out to do something. Hurry up and bring some hot water. These children are almost frozen.”
Gu Yunshen frowned when he saw the child in Gu Qingyao’s arms. “What’s going on?”
“The child is sick, and it’s quite serious. I’ve given him some medicine and I’ll brew some herbs for him later. He should be all right by tomorrow.”
Gu Yunshen looked at the three children next to her. There were a youth and a younger child. Both were almost purple with cold and they gaped at him.
The youth was carrying another child on his back.
Gu Yunshen moved aside to let them in before he remembered who they were. “You’re Jiang Xun? From the Poplar Brigade?”
He had met Jiang Xun, who had come to the Qing River Brigade several times.
Jiang Xun nodded. “Uncle Gu, it’s me, Jiang Xun. The sick one is my younger cousin. His name is Mu Mu.”
They went into the storeroom where there was a fire burning. Jiang Xun and his two younger brothers immediately huddled around the fire. Gu Qingyao tried to put Mu Mu down, but he was clutching her clothes tightly and refused to let go.
The light was much better in the room, and Gu Qingyao was startled when she saw the child’s face.
Why did he look so much like Little Xu?
She had already noticed it when she met them on the road, but it had been too dark and it was snowing heavily. She had only taken a hurried look before bundling the child into her jacket. Now that she could examine him carefully, she saw that he bore an uncanny resemblance to Little Xu.
“Mu Mu, be good. Lie down and take your medicine and you’ll be fine! Be good!”
Gu Qingyao coaxed him for a while before she managed to unclench his fist and place him on a small bed. Gu Yunshen was also startled when he came over to take a look.
“Why… does this child look so much like Little Xu?”
Gu Qingyao glanced at him and shook her head. “I don’t know. Let’s treat him first.”
“Oh, have you eaten?”
This question was directed at Jiang Xun and the others.
Jiang Xun blushed faintly and seemed embarrassed.
“I… I’ve eaten…”
“No!”
Before he could finish, Jiang Jing, whom he had just woken up so he could wash his face, interrupted. Jiang Jing looked at Gu Qingyao and spoke that one word in earnest.
Gu Qingyao laughed. Children were much simpler.
“There’s still food in the kitchen. I’ll go and get it for you. Father, take care of them for a while.”
Gu Yunshen nodded. “All right!”
Gu Qingyao went to the kitchen. Actually, there was not much to eat in the kitchen. But Gu Qingyao had plenty of food. She took a few steamed buns from her interspace and filled a few bowls with seaweed and egg soup, and added a small plate of salted vegetables.
The buns were made of wholemeal flour and not pure white flour. But to these children, the egg soup was already a delicacy.
Jiang Jing’s eyes brightened when he saw the egg soup. But he did not dare to take it. He felt that it was such a rare item that he was embarrassed to take it.
Gu Qingyao smiled. He was so sensible even though he was so young and desperately hungry.
“This is for you. Hurry up and eat it. You’ll feel warmer when you’ve eaten. You can spend the night at my house. Your Aunt Gu is nearby! But she’s probably asleep by now.”
Chapter 432: A Shocking Thought!
Jiang Jing and Jiang Ping looked at Jiang Xun, who nodded. Only then did they take the buns and soup to eat. They even remembered to thank Gu Qingyao.
Mu Mu was still asleep. Gu Qingyao went to the kitchen to brew a bowl of medicine, which was specially formulated for him. The pill she had given him earlier was just an emergency measure.
The child had suffered too much since he was young. If he did not recuperate properly, his health would be impaired in the future.
Gu Qingyao took a white bun, crumbled it, and soaked it in a sugar syrup to feed Mu Mu.
His fever had gone down after taking the medicine, and he must be starving. When she put the food in his mouth, he swallowed instinctively.
After he had eaten some of the bun, she gave him the medicine she had brewed. Only then did Gu Qingyao heave a sigh of relief.
By this time, Jiang Xun had already ensured that the two younger ones had eaten and washed their hands and feet. Gu Yunshen had made the beds where the children used to sleep so that Jiang Xun and his brothers could stay there.
Little Six and Little Nine used to stay there, but it was cold now and Gu Yunshen was worried they would kick off their covers in the night and fall ill. He especially doted on them since their parents were not around.
So he simply brought them to his room to sleep on the large brick bed. It was warm there, unlike this room where there was a bunk bed. In winter, the children were unable to keep themselves warm with quilts.
Gu Yunshen carried Mu Mu and said to Gu Yunshen, “Father, bring them to that room to sleep! Mu Mu is still ill, so I’ll sleep with him. That way I can take care of him more easily at night.”
Gu Yunshen glanced at her. “Can you manage? The child has a cold. Why not let me take him! Or you might catch it.”
“Don’t worry!” Gu Qingyao carried Mu Mu towards her room. “You still have Little Six and Little Nine! They’re young and will catch it even more easily. It’s late, go to bed!”
Jiang Xun was still rather worried as he looked at Mu Mu. “Elder Sister Gu, why don’t you let me sleep with Mu Mu! I can take care of him.”
He had already taken the Gu family’s medicine and eaten their food. How could he trouble them to take care of Mu Mu for the entire night?
Gu Qingyao smiled. “Don’t worry, the child seems to like me. Look, the moment I carry him, he will cling on to me tightly and keep trying to snuggle close to me.
“He’s still young and instinctively wants his mother when he’s ill. It’s better that I take care of him, instead of you. I’m a doctor and can check on him more easily.”
Jiang Xun pursed his lips. His heart was filled with gratitude.
“Thank you!”
Gu Qingyao carried Mu Mu back to her room. When everyone had extinguished their lamps, she brought Mu Mu into her interspace.
There was plenty of light there. She studied the child in her arms and frowned. The child’s resemblance to Little Xu was uncanny.
If they were not related, why did they look so alike?
But Mo Beihan’s older brother had died long ago and Mu Mu looked to be no more than four or five years old, so he definitely could not be his older brother’s child. Then where had this child come from?
Could he be… Mo Beihan’s illegitimate child?
Gu Qingyao was shocked by the thought!
Or could it be that Mo Beihan’s father had an illegitimate child without Jiang Yingqiu knowing about it?
Gu Qingyao looked at the child for a long time, but could not figure it out. She had planned to put him down and attend to her own affairs, but the child really clung to her. He huddled in her arms, his little hand clutching her clothes tightly.
He was quite adorable!
Gu Qingyao sighed. He had probably lost his mother when he was young and became like that because he had no sense of security.
Gu Qingyao gave up the thought of doing anything. She just carried him out of her interspace. Then she lay down on her bed to sleep.
Chapter 433: The Little One Is Especially Well-Behaved
Gu Qingyao’s bed was very soft. It was lined with a thick cotton blanket, and the quilt on top was made of new cotton wool. It was especially warm when she covered herself with it in winter.
This was the first time Mu Mu was sleeping on such a comfortable bed, with a soft, fragrant person to cuddle him. He slept soundly all night.
When he awoke the next morning, he immediately saw a very pretty older sister sleeping next to him and cuddling him.
Mu Mu was unable to respond for a long time.
When Gu Qingyao opened her eyes, she saw that the child was looking at her with wide eyes. She patted his small head. “Good boy! Don’t be afraid, this is Aunt Gu’s house. You were ill last night, so your older brothers brought you here for treatment. You slept with me last night. Don’t be afraid!”
She felt for the watch by the bedside and saw that it was just past six o’clock. It was not yet completely bright outside.
There was not much to do in the middle of winter, so she did not need to get up so early. Her grandparents needed to feed the cows early, but her father and younger aunt would take care of that.
Gu Qingyao could sleep in.
“Be good! It’s still dark outside! Sleep for a while more, and I’ll bring you to look for your older brothers, all right? Your older brother carried you here last night, and he’s exhausted. He’s still asleep!”
It was a new experience for Gu Qingyao to be hugging this soft little bundle. But the child was too thin. If she could fatten him up a little, he would be even more adorable!
Most children would cry if they woke up in the morning and did not see the person they wanted, what more Mu Mu, who had woken to a strange face.
But the child really did not cry.
He looked at Gu Qingyao for a long time with wide eyes. What a pretty older sister!
Was she Aunt Gu’s relative?
Mu Mu cocked his head and remembered that his older brother had told him that the Gu family had a very pretty older sister who looked like a fairy. She had even given them food!
Was she the one?
Mu Mu lay on his stomach, in the crook of Gu Qingyao’s arm. He propped himself up so that he was closer to Gu Qingyao’s face. Had he slept here last night?
Was she the one who had cuddled him?
How lovely!
She was soft, fragrant and warm. It was so nice to cuddle her!
Mu Mu looked at Gu Qingyao and could not help but say, “Mother…”
In a child’s fantasies, this is what having a mother should be like.
Gu Qingyao was shocked and her eyes flew open. Mother…
Gu Qingyao looked at the child, who was about four or five years old. Her lips twitched. How could she possibly have such a big child?
But her heart ached as she looked at the child’s bright, innocent eyes. She patted Mu Mu’s little head. “Good boy! Older Sister Gu will cuddle you and you can sleep for a while more until the sun rises. All right?”
She touched his forehead. Sure enough, his fever had broken.
Gu Qingyao thought that she would have to coax the child for quite a while to calm him, but to her surprise, he obediently curled up in Gu Qingyao’s arms, as if afraid he would disturb her sleep.
Gu Qingyao had just woken up. She was exhausted from digging yesterday and had not had a chance to sleep in her interspace, so she was very tired. She soon fell asleep again.
When she woke again, it was almost eight o’clock. It was a winter morning, and the snow was falling heavily. Eight o’clock was not considered late. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw that Mu Mu, who had been lying in her arms, was now lying on his stomach on the bed. He was staring at her.
Gu Qingyao jumped with fright. When she recovered, she said with a smile, “Mu Mu, have you woken up?”
Mu Mu looked at her and said tenderly, “Are you still tired? If you’re tired, you can sleep a while more!”
Gu Qingyao: “…”
Chapter 434: Mu Mu Smiles Dotingly Whenever He Looks At Gu Qingyao!
She looked at the child for some time.
He was a very handsome child. Although he looked very much like Little Xu, he had finer features. Now he was smiling, and with his big, shiny eyes, he looked especially adorable.
But what surprised Gu Qingyao was that she seemed to see… love… in the child’s eyes??!!
She felt as if she had been struck by lightning. How could a four- or five-year-old child be looking at her dotingly?
She must be mistaken!
But when she carefully observed him for a long time, the child did indeed seem to be concerned about her.
“It’s snowing heavily outside! It’s very cold. If you’re afraid of the cold, you can stay in bed and wrap yourself with blankets. I’ll get you a towel to wipe your face, all right?”
Mu Mu spoke earnestly and was clearly eager to please.
Gu Qingyao: “…”
This… shouldn’t a child make a big fuss when he woke up and found himself sleeping next to a stranger?
Why was this child behaving… in such an unexpected manner?
Gu Qingyao hurriedly put on a smile. “No need. It’s already eight o’clock, I should get up. Mu Mu, do you want your older brother? I’ll ask him to get you…”
“No!” Mu Mu replied decisively.
Gu Qingyao: “…”
Had something gone wrong? Why did she feel that something was amiss?
“You… you’re not afraid?”
“You’re so pretty and so gentle. Why should I be afraid?”
Gu Qingyao: “…”
Are you sure you’re just a little child?
Gu Qingyao could not figure out what the child was thinking, but she still needed to get up.
“All right, it’s late now. Let’s hurry and get up.”
Gu Qingyao got out of bed and put on her clothes. Mu Mu sat on the bed, wrapped in blankets, and watched her.
When she had made herself tidy, she brought Mu Mu’s clothes over.
The clothes he had been wearing were too old and stiff and could not keep him warm at all. So she had found him another set of clothes from her interspace.
She had made these for Little Nine previously but had not brought them out yet. Little Nine was about the same age as him. Although they were a bit too big for Mu Mu, it did not matter.
Underneath, he wore a set of undergarments made of very soft cotton, which would keep him warm. This was the first time Mu Mu was wearing such comfortable clothes. He kept stroking them with his small hand and he looked at them for a long time.
After he had put on his undergarments that would keep him warm, she put a woolen sweater on him. Mu Mu had never seen such a thing before, and his amazement deepened.
After he had put on his sweater, she gave him a small cotton vest, and lastly, she put a quilted jacket on over him.
The quilted jacket was made of new cotton wool and was especially warm. It was made of old cloth on the outside, so no one could tell.
For pants, he had cotton-padded trousers with suspenders. The suspenders went beneath the vest but outside the sweater.
Lastly, she put an overall over his clothes. This covered his cotton-padded trousers and his quilted jacket, making it more convenient to change and wash him.
Lastly, she gave him a pair of cotton, lace-up shoes that were unique to those times.
The little fellow stood on the bed, occasionally stroking his clothes. This was the first time he was wearing such nice clothes. He smiled blissfully.
“They’re so warm!”
Everyone liked well-behaved children. Gu Qingyao stroked his head. “You’re such a good boy!”
After they got up, she brought him to brush his teeth and wash his face. She put face cream on his small face. It was moisturizing so that the cold wind would not sting his skin.
Finally, she brought him to look for Jiang Xun.
Jiang Xun had been waiting for a long time. Since Gu Qingyao did not get up, he did not dare to disturb her either. He finally heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Mu Mu.
Jiang Xun thought that Mu Mu would be lethargic after such a serious illness and would cling to him. But in the end, Mu Mu only came over to greet him. Then he became Gu Qingyao’s little shadow. He followed Gu Qingyao wherever she went and completely ignored his older brother…
Chapter 435: Staying With The Gu Family
But Mu Mu had been seriously ill and he was not particularly energetic. Gu Qingyao made him a bowl of porridge and a hardboiled egg for breakfast, and he had to drink his medicine again.
The child looked so much like Little Xu that Gu Qingyao naturally could not dismiss it. No matter what, she would have to investigate.
Jiang Jing and Mu Mu were brothers. According to Jiang Xun, they had the same father and mother, which meant that if Mu Mu was related to the Mo family, then Jiang Jing would be too.
She looked closely at Jiang Jing’s features and realized that he did look somewhat like Mo Beihan.
He bore some resemblance to the two children from the Mo family, although it was not very obvious. He probably took after his mother.
Gu Qingyao decided not to tell Jiang Yingqiu before Mo Beihan came back. After all, she was not sure whether the two children were related to Mo Beihan’s scumbag father. If she told Jiang Yingqiu, it might reopen her old wounds.
Everything could wait until Mo Beihan got back.
Mu Mu’s health was very fragile. The child was too young and had suffered too much when he was young. If he was not carefully looked after, he probably would not live more than a few years.
So Gu Qingyao did not permit him to go home. She made him stay with her so that she could look after him.
Mo Beihan would be back in a few days. Gu Qingyao could afford to wait that long.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xun did not know what to do. Of course, he thought it was embarrassing to stay with someone else, but Mu Mu was in poor health. His last illness had thoroughly frightened Jiang Xun. Now that Gu Qingyao had forbidden him to go back to his hard life, Jiang Xun really did not dare to bring him home.
But he knew full well that the Gu family had discovered that Mu Mu looked like the other child. The Little Xu they referred to might be Mu Mu’s relative.
Under these circumstances, he did not dare to leave Mu Mu.
So he had no choice but to obey Gu Qingyao and stay.
Jiang Xun was embarrassed to have the four of them living with the Gu family. Both he and Jiang Ping rose early every day to work. Jiang Xun would clean the cowshed with Gu Chonghua and Wen Ruyu, while Jiang Ping did the household chores.
He swept the courtyard of its snow almost every day.
It had been snowing heavily for the past few days. It was impossible to clear all the snow in the courtyard, but the stone pathways had to be cleared, as well as the corridors and the ground below the eaves. Jiang Ping swept these clean every day.
Gu Qingyao saw that these children were unbelievably mature.
Mu Mu was too young and could not do much. He was also in poor health and he enjoyed sticking to Gu Qingyao.
He liked to hug her and lean on her. Even if he did not do anything or say anything, he liked to be around her.
While they stayed with the Gu family, Mu Mu slept with Gu Qingyao every night.
The children seldom went out in winter, especially the Gu family’s children who were strictly brought up. Little Six, Little Nine and Gu Fangting all had to stay home and learn to read and write.
Gu Qingyao also needed to do these things, but with Mu Mu pestering her, she was unable to enter her interspace. So she remained outside and taught the children to read and write together. She herself read the medical notes that Jiang Yiru had given her.
Mu Mu had never studied before. So when he saw that Gu family’s children holding books, he looked on curiously.
When Gu Qingyao saw his bright, dark eyes, she smiled and carried him to sit next to her on a bench.
“Mu Mu, the older boys are learning to read. Shall I teach you how to read too? If you read more, you will be very capable when you grow up.”
Mu Mu’s eyes immediately brightened when he heard that he could become even more capable!