Chapter 19: The Feeling of a Family of Three

　　　　

　　

Jiang Ning took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped Huo Zhiqi’s hands clean, both the palms and the backs. “See, now you’re not dirty anymore.”

Once his hands were clean, the child was indeed less resistant.

As Jiang Ning led Huo Zhiqi into the yard, she happened to run into Shen Mo who had just returned.

“Zhiqi,” Shen Mo said, looking surprised at the small figure being led by Jiang Ning.

“Uncle Shen,” Huo Zhiqi greeted him politely.

“What are you doing here?” Shen Mo asked, noticing the dirt on him and the hole in his pants. He furrowed his brow and asked, “What happened?”

Jiang Ning explained, “Some kids were bullying him, so I brought him back.”

Shen Mo frowned and asked, “Who bullied you?”

Huo Zhiqi lowered his head, avoiding the question.

Shen Mo was about to press further.

Jiang Ning interjected at the right moment, “Alright, the child has his own thoughts. If he doesn’t want to talk about it, let’s just eat.”

Jiang Ning first took Huo Zhiqi to wash up, and then they went to the main room to eat.

As soon as they entered the room, Huo Zhiqi was hit by the aroma of meat, and his misty eyes lit up.

At an age where he was growing rapidly, Huo Zhiqi could only eat two meals a day and often didn’t get enough to eat. The meat was always eaten by Wang Xiaotian and Wang Xiaodi, leaving none for him.

The happiest days of his life were when Sister Jiang taught him English. During those days, he didn’t have to go hungry at noon and could even eat meat.

But after learning that Sister Jiang was Uncle Shen’s wife, he didn’t dare to go there anymore.

Sister Jiang and Uncle Shen had their own lives to live, and he, being someone else’s child, shouldn’t disturb them.

While Jiang Ning was getting a bowl to serve the rice, Shen Mo picked up a piece of meat and put it in Huo Zhiqi’s bowl.

Huo Zhiqi stared at the large piece of meat in his bowl, astonished. It was the first time he had seen such a big piece of meat.

At Aunt Wang’s house, they also had meat occasionally, but there was always more vegetables than meat, and the pieces were small, maybe only a fifth of the size of the piece in front of him now.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

Shen Mo noticed that Huo Zhiqi was staring at his bowl without eating, so he asked, “Why aren’t you eating?”

Huo Zhiqi actually didn’t dare to eat it. At Aunt Wang’s house, she rarely gave him meat.

The meat was always given to Wang Xiaotian and Wang Xiaodi first, and only when she was in a good mood would she give him a piece of fatty meat.

Jiang Ning walked into the room carrying a pot of freshly cooked white rice, and saw the little one looking at her with big eyes.

?

Why was he looking at her like that?

Jiang Ning put the pot of rice on the table and then reached for the bowl in front of Huo Zhiqi.

Huo Zhiqi felt a flash of disappointment when he saw her take away the bowl with the large piece of meat.

Just as he lowered his head, a bowl of steaming, perfectly separated white rice was placed in front of him.

Huo Zhiqi stared blankly at the bowl of rice, which was still emitting steam.

Jiang Ning was worried he wouldn’t be full, so she pressed down on the rice as she served it.

“Why aren’t you eating? Hurry up and eat, there’s more if you need it.” Seeing him staring blankly at his bowl, Jiang Ning urged him and added two more large pieces of meat to his already overflowing bowl.

Only then did Huo Zhiqi pick up his chopsticks and start eating.

The meat was steamed until it was soft and tender, melting in his mouth. Huo Zhiqi’s eyes lit up, and he started eating heartily.

While Jiang Ning was urging Huo Zhiqi to eat, Shen Mo had already used a rice ladle to serve her a bowl of rice. Jiang Ning gracefully took the bowl and started eating.

Shen Mo picked up a piece of meat and put it in Jiang Ning’s bowl first before starting to eat himself.

The braised pork was so aromatic when it first came out of the pot that it made people hungry just from the smell. Now, eating it, it was so delicious that it felt like you could swallow your tongue.

The meat was perfect for pairing with rice, and the vegetable soup was there to cut through the richness.

By the end of the meal, all three of them were satisfied.

Jiang Ning didn’t have a big appetite, but since she had made the braised pork herself and it was so delicious, she ate a bit more than usual.

Shen Mo had a large appetite and went through bowl after bowl of rice. Anyone watching would be amazed at how much he could eat and might even wonder if they could afford to feed him.

But Jiang Ning knew that soldiers, who trained year-round, had a certain physique and couldn’t afford to eat less.

Zhiqi also ate quickly, but Jiang Ning soon noticed that the child only picked at the white rice in his bowl and didn’t actively take any vegetables.

Children living in foster homes tended to be more sensitive, and Jiang Ning didn’t want to make him feel more self-conscious. So, whenever she saw that his bowl was lacking vegetables, she would add some for him.

Shen Mo had been enjoying his meal, but when he saw his wife constantly giving Zhiqi vegetables, he suddenly felt that the meat in his bowl wasn’t as tasty.

Looking at the empty plates on the table, Jiang Ning felt a sense of satisfaction welling up inside her.

Having her homemade food completely eaten was the highest compliment for her cooking skills.

After the meal, Zhiqi took the initiative to help Shen Mo clean up the dishes.

Shen Mo didn’t stop him. He believed that boys should be taught to do household chores from a young age.

Jiang Ning wasn’t idle either. She walked around the yard to help digest the food, occasionally glancing towards the kitchen. The sight of the two figures, one big and one small, gave her a strange feeling.

Life has many forms, but in the end, it all comes down to the basics of daily life: food, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea.

Having a husband and a well-behaved child gave the feeling of a family of three.

The high-hanging sun cast its light into the yard, scattering it in a dappled pattern on the ground through the leaves of the big tree, dissipating those thoughts. Jiang Ning took a deep breath of the fresh air.

The air quality of this era was incomparable to the polluted air of the modern world, no wonder people in this era lived longer.

While idly observing, Jiang Ning noticed that the weeds on the newly reclaimed land had not yet been removed. She picked up a winnowing basket, intending to gather the weeds into it.

Just as she was about to start, her hand felt empty.

The winnowing basket had been taken away.

Shen Mo looked at her and said, “When I’m home, you don’t need to do these dirty jobs.”

Shen Mo had intended to handle the weeds himself, but seeing Zhiqi standing there looking lost, he said, “Zhiqi, come over here and help gather the weeds into this basket, then take it to the backyard.”

“No need, I can do it myself, he’s just a child…” Jiang Ning’s words were cut off by Zhiqi, who eagerly interrupted her.

“Coming!” Zhiqi quickly ran over, as if afraid that Jiang Ning would take the job from him.

Jiang Ning’s words were stuck in her throat.

Alright, she might as well enjoy the break.

Then Jiang Ning walked over to the swing and spent some time there.

The weeding task was left to Zhiqi, while Shen Mo left the yard and soon returned carrying a bag.

When he poured out the contents, Jiang Ning saw that it was cement.

Shen Mo quickly mixed the cement and then took off his jacket to start applying it to the water pool.

She could handle weeding, but this task was really beyond her.

As Shen Mo worked, he was efficient and focused. Jiang Ning’s gaze unconsciously fell on him, observing him.

The man had taken off his jacket, revealing a military green vest underneath. Soon, sweat soaked a large area of his chest.

The vest clung to his skin, faintly outlining the curve of his pectoral muscles. His muscle lines were smooth, as if carved, each one exuding masculine charm.

His arms and shoulders moved with his actions, showing firm muscles.

Jiang Ning unsconciously swallowed, recalling the enticing scene she had witnessed early that morning.