Chapter 26: How About We Adopt Zhiqi

Jiang Ning briefly recounted what had happened that morning. When she mentioned that Wang Xiaotian had pushed Zhiqi’s head underwater, Shen Mo’s expression darkened.

Since she had met Shen Mo, she had never seen him angry.

Seeing his increasingly intimidating expression, Jiang Ning knew he was genuinely furious.

The bond they shared wasn’t like the superficial relationships in the workplace years later; it was a life-and-death camaraderie forged on the battlefield.

Ever since she learned that Zhiqi’s father was Shen Mo’s comrade, she knew Shen Mo wouldn’t be able to let go of this child.

In fact, she had an idea that Shen Mo probably wouldn’t refuse.

Shen Mo looked at Zhiqi, “Zhiqi, do they often do this to you?”

“Not often,” Zhiqi shook his head, “If I give them what they want, they usually leave me alone.”

Wang Xiaotian and Wang Xiaodi were afraid of water, so they never went in themselves. They always made Zhiqi go into the water to catch fish, which the brothers then claimed as their own catch.

Jiang Ning had witnessed those children’s actions firsthand and felt deeply about it. She clenched her knuckles, making them crack, “These brats today really need a good spanking. A beating would set them straight.”

Seeing her righteous anger, Shen Mo’s anger subsided a bit.

After lunch, Zhiqi volunteered to wash the dishes again, and Jiang Ning happily handed over the task to him.

Seeing someone else taking over his dishwashing duty, Shen Mo went to the door, picked up a bucket and a yoke, and looked like he was about to go out.

Jiang Ning, who was strolling to digest her food, asked him, “Where are you going?”

Shen Mo put the yoke on his shoulder, “I’m going to the river to fetch water. The water at home isn’t suitable for wild fish.”

“I’ll go with you,” Jiang Ning said, wanting to have a private conversation with Shen Mo.

She then turned her head towards the kitchen, “Zhiqi, you watch the house, okay?”

With that, Jiang Ning followed Shen Mo out, leaving Zhiqi alone in the large yard, feeling a bit lost.

The bedroom next to the main room was wide open.

When they were at the Wang family’s house, Grandma Wang was afraid that Zhiqi might steal things, so whenever he was home, the doors to the rooms were always locked.

Even when the Wang family went to visit relatives, Grandma Wang wouldn’t take him along. Instead, she would send him out of the house, making him stay outside until they returned.

Huo Zhiqi glanced over and saw that the gate to the yard was also open.

His eyes darted around, and he moved a stool from the main room to the center of the yard. Zhiqi sat down on the stool, keeping an eye on the gate. He wasn’t going to let any strangers in; anyone who wanted to come in would have to get past him first.

Shen Mo and Jiang Ning, who had gone to fetch water, had no idea that there was now a little guardian at home.

Jiang Ning plucked a piece of grass from the side of the road and played with it in her hand, thinking about how to broach the subject. After thinking for a while, she decided to be direct.

“How about we adopt Zhiqi?”

‘Clang—’

Something fell to the ground.

Jiang Ning watched as the bucket rolled a couple of times on the ground before she stretched out her foot to stop it.

Such a big reaction?

Jiang Ning asked in confusion, “Didn’t you ever think about adopting Zhiqi?”

She thought that since Shen Mo cared so much about Zhiqi and always had the child in his thoughts, he must have considered adopting him.

Before Jiang Ning could bend down to pick up the bucket, Shen Mo quickly grabbed it and put it back on his shoulder, “Are you really willing to adopt Zhiqi?”

“Of course,” Jiang Ning nodded, “Why would I bring it up if I wasn’t willing?”

Shen Mo was taken aback, not expecting her to be genuinely willing to adopt Zhiqi.

He was worried that she might just be acting on a whim.

Thinking about it, he decided to share his true thoughts with her.

“Wife… Jiang Ning…”

The words “wife” almost slipped out, but he stopped himself just in time, fearing that Jiang Ning might feel uncomfortable.

He took a step closer to Jiang Ning, and she had to look up slightly to see his jawline. His face was sharp and serious, with a mix of sternness and solemnity.

He said, “Adopting this child means we are responsible for him until he reaches adulthood. We need to teach him to distinguish right from wrong, to understand good morals. Raising a child is not like playing house; it’s a responsibility that we must carry. Jiang Ning, are you really sure about this?”

Shen Mo stared intently at Jiang Ning as he spoke, waiting for her answer.

He respected whatever decision she made.

Jiang Ning tilted her head back again, this time meeting Shen Mo’s eyes.

Her suggestion to adopt Zhiqi was sincere, but it was also a test.

She was testing whether Shen Mo was willing to adopt Zhiqi. People can be unpredictable, and some only talk without taking action, being deceitful. Shen Mo’s response surprised and satisfied her.

She had studied psychology and was confident in her judgment.

In this special era, amidst all the unfamiliar uncertainties, Shen Mo seemed to always provide her with a sense of security.

These feelings of security came from Shen Mo’s words and actions. Many people can pretend to be something they are not, but if Shen Mo wanted to pretend, he wouldn’t have taken her words seriously or gone to great lengths to find her the courtyard she wanted.

He didn’t have to agree with everything she said.

As a daughter abandoned by the Jiang family, she had no support from her natal family and no valuable possessions. Shen Mo could have easily controlled her if he wanted to.

Shen Mo’s kindness towards her was evident, and she couldn’t deny that she had started to consider the idea of living a good life with this man.

“Shen Mo,” Jiang Ning looked directly into his eyes, “I have really thought this through!”

Shen Mo still had some hesitation, his expression serious, “Taking care of a child requires a lot of effort and attention. Once we take him in, we must educate him well.”

“Zhiqi is already eight years old, not a baby. He can help with household chores and won’t be much trouble. Besides, I’m quite afraid of having children, so raising Zhiqi will be good practice for me,” Jiang Ning said, rubbing her hands together.

Becoming a mother without the pain of childbirth, how wonderful.

Shen Mo: “…….”

This girl’s thoughts were completely different from everyone else’s.

“!”

Shen Mo quickly realized the implication of her words—practice for the future?

Did she plan to have children later on?

He hoped it would be with him.

After fetching two buckets of water, the small pool in the yard was filled. In the afternoon, Shen Mo had to go to the military camp, but before that, he stopped by Commander Li’s office.

*

In the evening, Chief Wang returned home and called Zhiqi to his study.

As a high-ranking official, Chief Wang had the final say in the Wang family and never concerned himself with household matters, leaving them to his wife and mother to handle.

However, today, he received a message from Commander Li that Shen Mo intended to adopt Huo Zhiqi.

Zhiqi had been living with them for three years, and Chief Wang had considered keeping him in the Wang family. Given their current situation, it wouldn’t be difficult to raise another child, and taking care of the orphan of a fallen soldier would also be beneficial for his reputation.

However, his mother kept nagging him, asking when he would send Zhiqi away.

His mother’s personality was such that she wouldn’t stop until she got her way. Tired of dealing with it, he thought giving her more money would resolve the issue.

But even after three years, his mother was still the same.

When Commander Li suddenly told him that Shen Mo wanted to adopt Zhiqi, he didn’t immediately agree. Instead, he decided to ask the child’s opinion first.

After all, Zhiqi had been living with them for three years, and there was some emotional attachment.

“Zhiqi, Uncle Shen Mo has proposed to adopt you. Do you want to go with him?”

Hearing this, Zhiqi, who had been looking down, suddenly lifted his head.

Wang Jianwei finally got a clear look at Huo Zhiqi. In his memory, Zhiqi had always kept his head down at home, even while eating. If there was nothing to do, the child would stay in his room and not come out.

At the beginning of his schooling, Wang Jianwei had been concerned about Zhiqi’s studies. But his wife told him that the child couldn’t focus on his studies and had poor grades, so he stopped paying attention.

Standing in front of the desk was a small figure. Usually, when he went out, he liked to compare the height of his two sons, but Huo Zhiqi was tiny, shorter than his sons by more than half a head. He remembered that this child was about the same age as his two sons.

How could they be so different in height?

Huo Zhiqi asked cautiously, “Is it really Uncle Shen Mo who wants to adopt me?”

Wang Jianwei nodded, “Yes, the adoption report is here with me. If you don’t want to go to Shen Mo’s house, I can help you refuse.”

Huo Zhiqi, feeling the weight of Wang Jianwei’s gaze, soon lowered his head again.

Seeing the child with his head down, Wang Jianwei thought Zhiqi didn’t want to go to Shen Mo’s house. He was about to say, “If you don’t want to go, I will…”

“I want to go.”

Huo Zhiqi spoke up.

Wang Jianwei saw him lift his head again, his eyes bright, “I want to go to Uncle Shen’s house!”

Seeing that the child was willing to go to Shen Mo’s house, Wang Jianwei couldn’t say anything more. He waved his hand, signaling Zhiqi to leave.

Wang Jianwei sat at his desk, his mind preoccupied with the situation. Although his mother had initially suggested that they were only temporarily taking care of Huo Zhiqi, he had come to see Zhiqi as a part of the Wang family.

Moreover, when they had taken in Zhiqi, he had received commendations for it, and those above had always spoken highly of him.

He had assumed that Zhiqi wouldn’t agree to be adopted by Shen Mo, but the child had agreed, which was unexpected.

He usually didn’t involve himself much in child-rearing, leaving it to his wife and mother.

His wife had gone to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy things, so he decided to talk to his mother. Since his mother and wife usually took care of the children, they must be closer to them.

Wang Jianwei was a man of action. Once he made up his mind, he left his study and headed to the kitchen in the backyard to find his mother.

He was usually very busy and never set foot in the kitchen.

As he approached the kitchen door, he heard his mother’s sharp, piercing voice.

“What’s wrong with you today, child? Can’t you even manage to light a fire properly?” Grandma Wang said angrily, pinching Zhiqi’s arm.

She then handed two freshly baked pancakes to her grandsons, who were playing and laughing nearby, “Xiaotian, Xiaodi, the pancakes are cool now, you can eat them.”

Zhiqi looked up, and Grandma Wang, who had sharp eyes, immediately noticed. She gave him a sharp, harsh look, “What are you looking at? Keep tending to the fire, or you won’t get any dinner tonight.”

After the incident earlier, she blamed Zhiqi for causing trouble, feeling sorry for her grandsons who had suffered.

Her precious grandsons, whom she cherished like the apple of her eye, had been beaten by someone else.

So when Zhiqi returned in the afternoon, she hadn’t given him a single kind look.

Wang Jianwei didn’t expect to see such a scene in the kitchen, and his expression immediately became troubled.

A cold, stern voice suddenly rang out in the kitchen, “Mom, is this how you treat the child when I’m not around?”

His sudden voice startled the old lady.

Seeing it was her son, she relaxed a bit, but then furrowed her brows, remembering his question, “What do you mean by how I treat the child? I’m treating them just fine.”

Wang Jianwei, “Then why didn’t you give Zhiqi any pancakes? And why did you pinch him?”

“The child was being disobedient; what’s wrong with pinching him a couple of times?” Grandma Wang didn’t think her actions were inappropriate at all.