Chapter 168: His Childhood

“Cheng Jingmo, what did they mean when they talked about you and Cheng Shuanchun earlier?”

No wonder Cheng Shuanchun had such strong hostility towards her the first time they met yesterday.

It turns out it was because of Cheng Jingmo!

Yu Xiangnian trusted Cheng Jingmo.

He couldn’t possibly do something immoral; it must be an issue on Cheng Shuanchun’s side.

Cheng Jingmo answered simply, “My family wanted me to marry her, but I refused.”

Yu Xiangnian was even more shocked!

Even if Cheng Jingmo and Cheng Shuanchun were not related by blood, they were still siblings; how could they be together?!

She wanted to ask more, but Cheng Jingmo quickly walked up to an old woman, “Third Aunt.”

Third Aunt scrutinized Cheng Jingmo for a moment, then broke into a big smile, “Baby picker! Third Aunt almost didn’t recognize you!”

“Third Aunt, why didn’t you come for the meal yesterday?”

Third Aunt regretfully said, “There was something at home that I couldn’t get away from. Your Third Uncle told me about yesterday. Baby picker has done well!”

Cheng Jingmo took Yu Xiangnian’s hand and said, “Third Aunt, this is my wife.”

Yu Xiangnian smiled and nodded, “Hello, Third Aunt.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk!” Third Aunt looked at Yu Xiangnian with a satisfied expression, “Baby picker’s wife is really pretty! Baby picker is lucky!”

Cheng Jingmo’s mouth curled into a slight smile, “Third Aunt, I brought some specialties from South City for you. I’ll bring them to you this afternoon.”

“No need to be so polite!” Third Aunt said, “Your Third Uncle said you two should come over for a meal. When do you have time?”

Cheng Jingmo replied, “This afternoon, is that okay?”

“Of course! I’ll go back and start cooking soon.” Third Aunt looked at Yu Xiangnian and asked, “Baby picker’s wife, what would you like to eat?”

Yu Xiangnian smiled and replied, “I’m not picky.”

Mainly because even if she was, there wouldn’t be much to choose from!

She had seen the village’s conditions while walking over, and it seemed that every household was similar to Cheng Jingmo’s.

Cheng Jingmo said, “Third Aunt, she likes noodles. She will definitely love your braised noodles.”

“Alright, I’ll make braised noodles.”

Cheng Jingmo originally planned to visit Third Uncle and his family in a few days, but now he decided to visit this afternoon.

He went back to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy two bottles of liquor and four pounds of pastries.

In the afternoon, Cheng Jingmo took Yu Xiangnian and Xiao Jie to Third Uncle’s house.

They also brought some dried fish and shrimp.

Third Uncle and his children had separated their households, so the old couple lived in an old house.

Third Uncle scolded, “Such precious things, why did you bring so much!”

Yu Xiangnian smiled and said, “Third Aunt didn’t get to eat yesterday, so we brought this for her. We don’t have much else, just a little token of appreciation. Third Uncle, you can’t refuse.”

Third Uncle glanced at Cheng Jingmo, “Your wife is more eloquent than you. Learn from her.”

The meal was simple: a bowl of braised noodles for each person, with stir-fried potato shreds and pickled radishes on the table.

The braised noodles were made with cured meat and some pickled vegetables, giving them a savory and appetizing flavor, much better than the meals at Cheng Jingmo’s house.

In this impoverished mountain village, families only had meat during the New Year; normally, they wouldn’t dare eat it.

Moreover, today’s meal was decided on the spot, so they couldn’t buy meat either.

This was probably the only meat in Third Uncle’s house, usually saved, but today they brought it out for the meal.

Third Uncle opened the two bottles of liquor Cheng Jingmo brought, poured two glasses, and they drank and chatted.

Unexpectedly, Cheng Jingmo and Third Uncle hit it off well.

The two of them finished eating and continued their conversation in the main hall, holding their glasses.

This was probably the second person, besides Yu Xiangyang, who could talk with Cheng Jingmo until they lost track of time.

Yu Xiangnian said to Third Aunt, “I’ve never seen Cheng Jingmo talk so much before!”

Third Aunt glanced at the two engrossed in conversation, “It seems like baby picker and your Third Uncle are kindred spirits.”

Yu Xiangnian then started inquiring about Cheng Jingmo’s past.

From Third Aunt, she learned:

Cheng Jingmo was found by Cheng Huazi on a snowy day.

That day, Cheng Huazi got lost hunting in the mountains and encountered a wolf carrying a child. He shot at the wolf, causing it to drop the child and flee. Cheng Jingmo was brought back.

At that time, Cheng Huazi and Mu Huanzhen had been married for over three years without any children, so they adopted Cheng Jingmo as their own.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? Just two months after they brought baby picker home, your mother-in-law got pregnant, and then she had six children in a row. Cheng Huazi could easily find game in the mountains.”

“Baby picker is the lucky star of the Cheng family, but the Cheng family…” Third Aunt sighed.

Yu Xiangnian’s heart tightened at Third Aunt’s sigh, though she didn’t know why.

Third Aunt continued, “Cheng Huazi’s family was very poor before, without even a proper house. The couple lived in a side room.”

Yu Xiangnian guessed it must be the room where Cheng Shuanqin and Cheng Shuanliu lived.

“When they had their own children, they thought baby picker was a burden and sold him when he was seven.”

“At that time, your Third Uncle scolded the couple, saying baby picker was the lucky star of the Cheng family, and if he was gone, the Cheng family would fall apart.”

“Sure enough, your Third Uncle was right. Just two weeks after selling baby picker, Cheng Shuansuo fell ill, and the doctor told them to prepare for the worst. Cheng Huazi broke his leg in the mountains, and Mu Huanzhen almost burned down the house while cooking!”

“The couple believed your Third Uncle’s words then, pooled their money, and bought baby picker back. But with three children at home and no place to sleep, baby picker was sent to sleep in the cattle shed.”

“At that time, Cheng Huazi was responsible for raising two cows for the village, and baby picker slept with them. We all worried the cows might accidentally step on him!”

Yu Xiangnian felt breathless, Cheng Jingmo’s background was so tragic!

Third Aunt continued, “Baby picker was a sensible child. At seven or eight, he could hunt in the mountains and gather wild vegetables on his own. During those years of famine, even adults couldn’t always find food in the mountains, but he could.”

“Later, when baby picker grew up, there was a recruitment drive in the village, and he signed up. He was selected, but had a problem when registering his name because he didn’t have one.”

“Your Third Uncle knew a few words and happened to be there during the recruitment. He quickly came up with a name, Cheng Jingmo.”

“Your Third Uncle said baby picker was quiet since childhood, so he gave him the name ‘Mo’ (meaning ‘silent’) and hoped he would have a bright future, thus adding ‘Jing’ (meaning ‘bright’).”

The more Yu Xiangnian listened, the more her heart ached, from initial tightness in her chest to a pain like someone was squeezing her heart.

Cheng Jingmo’s childhood was too bleak!

No, he didn’t even have a childhood!

She looked at Cheng Jingmo with eyes full of compassion.

He was chatting happily with Third Uncle, his deep eyes slightly curved, a rare smile on his face.

Third Aunt said, “But when he returned home after the recruitment, more trouble arose in the Cheng family!”