Sister Li accepted the items without hesitation, and Chu Xia sighed with relief.

She didn’t stay long, exchanging a few polite words with Sister Li before returning home.

As soon as she entered the house, she saw Cen Huai’an eating a pancake and drinking porridge, his mouth covered in oil.

He slurped his porridge with loud “slurping” sounds, eating like a little pig without lifting his head.

Chu Xia sat down across from him, observing his behavior.

She directly moved the pancake to her side of the table.

Cen Huai’an immediately looked over, his eyes filled with urgency and anger. “Give it back to me!”

“The food was bought by me, carried by me, and cooked by me. How can it be yours?” Chu Xia responded.

Cen Huai’an, angered, reached out to snatch the food.

He was used to grabbing what he couldn’t get, whether from stray dogs or other children.

Chu Xia firmly grabbed his hand, looking at him seriously. “I’ll give you the pancake, and there will always be food for you in the future. But you must promise me to slowly correct your bad habits.”

Cen Huai’an ignored her, his eyes fixed on the pancake with a look of defiance.

He thought the new clothes and shoes were all a lie, and that his mother would never give him any food!

Chu Xia understood that Cen Huai’an was different from normal children and wouldn’t push him too hard.

However, she still needed to address the situation.

“I cooked the meal, right? Yet, before I could eat, you already started. Do you think that’s fair? As a family, we should eat together. Do you understand? Also, did you wash your hands before grabbing food?”

Cen Huai’an’s body stiffened, and his anger subsided.

Chu Xia huffed, “I knew you didn’t wash your hands. I can still see dirt under your nails.”

She pulled him up and placed his hands in the basin filled with warm water she had prepared.

Then she cleaned his hands, using a large yellow bar of soap meant for washing clothes.

She lathered it up and washed his hands thoroughly.

“All done. From now on, wash your hands like this. Clean hands are necessary before eating. Otherwise, dirty things in your stomach can lead to worms, which can make your stomach ache.”

Cen Huai’an immediately covered his stomach, seeming to genuinely believe it would hurt.

He had experienced pain before, rolling on the ground, and wondered if he might have worms or be close to death, like Grandpa Li Xiaopang, who had died and never spoken again.

Chu Xia was unaware of Cen Huai’an’s thoughts.

She suspected he might indeed have worms in his stomach.

She remembered that worm medicine for children was called “Pagoda Sugar” and was very famous.

She planned to inquire and buy some tomorrow.

However, as soon as they started eating, Cen Huai’an forgot about everything else.

Having been hungry for so long, all he cared about was the food.

Chu Xia put the pancake back in the middle of the table.

Cen Huai’an reached out to grab it, but Chu Xia stopped him. “Use chopsticks.”

Cen Huai’an glanced at her but eventually picked up the chopsticks and used them to pick up the pancake.

Chu Xia hadn’t made many pancakes, estimating that there would be just enough for both of them to eat comfortably without being too full.

Overeating or eating too little was bad for the stomach.

While cleaning up, Chu Xia included Cen Huai’an, letting him clean his own dishes.

Perhaps because he had been well-fed that day, he didn’t resist Chu Xia’s instructions.

He followed her lead, clumsily washing his own dishes.

After the meal, the water in the aluminum kettle on the coal stove was ready.

Chu Xia placed the kettle on the ground and began preparing medicine in the pot she had used for cooking porridge.

Boiling medicinal herbs isn’t difficult—first, bring the water to a boil on high heat, then simmer on low heat.

The main thing is to pay attention to the ratio of water to herbs and the cooking time.

While the medicine was simmering, Chuxia prepared a basin of warm water and called Cen Huaian out from the inner room to take a bath.

“Do you know how to bathe yourself?” she asked.

Cen Huaian didn’t respond, his body stiffening.

It seemed he didn’t know how, so Chuxia began undressing him herself.

After all, he was only five years old; there was no need to be overly concerned.

Even though Cen Huaian was young, he was already aware of the differences between boys and girls.

As Chuxia swiftly removed his clothes, he immediately covered his lower half, his head hanging low, ears turning bright red, and he protested in a voice filled with shame and anger, “I can wash myself!”

Chuxia quickly let go of him, clapped her hands, and stood up with a smile, saying, “Alright, you wash yourself then. Make sure you get really clean, and then you can wear your new clothes.”

In truth, Cen Huaian didn’t know how to properly bathe.

The original owner of the body hadn’t paid attention to such things, and most adults at that time didn’t care much about whether children were clean.

It was common for children to go an entire winter without bathing.

In the summer, a quick rinse with water would suffice, and Cen Huaian was no different.

When Chuxia saw that he was about to get out of the basin after just a quick dip, she held him down and said, “This isn’t bathing! Look at the dirt on you—just a touch and it comes off in strips. Don’t move; I’ll wash you.”

He wanted to resist, his little brows furrowing tightly, but his mother’s hands were so warm.

Even though scrubbing with the towel hurt a bit, he didn’t move.

In his few memories, his mother had never bathed him like this.

Although it hurt a little, he could bear it—he was very good at enduring pain.

Chuxia used a towel she found on the washstand.

It was the hardest and most worn towel, with the fabric almost transparent from so much washing, perfect for scrubbing.

She used up two basins of water, draining the kettle, before Cen Huaian was clean.

His skin was quite fair, and dressed in the new clothes Chuxia had bought him, he looked both clean and refreshed, though a bit too thin.

It was all thanks to her hard work, and Chuxia felt a sense of accomplishment, even though giving him a bath left her panting for breath, with her back aching and sore.

Chuxia then checked the medicine on the stove; it was almost ready.

She saw that Cen Huaian was eager to run outside, but she grabbed him and insisted he drink the medicine before going out to play.

There was no clock in the house, so she wasn’t sure of the exact time, but she could hear the sounds of adults chatting and children playing downstairs, guessing that it was around seven o’clock.

Although Cen Huaian’s expression was the same as before, Chuxia could see the excitement in his eyes as he wore his new clothes.

After all, what child doesn’t love new clothes?

Even adults enjoy buying and wearing new clothes—it’s a simple joy.

The medicine had boiled down to a single bowl.

Chuxia wrapped the small pot in a towel and carefully poured the medicine out.

Seeing that Cen Huaian was eager to drink it immediately, she stopped him and scolded him, “Why are you in such a hurry? Do you want to burn your mouth again?”

Except for when they were eating earlier, Chuxia hadn’t spoken to him this sternly before.

Cen Huaian was startled by the reprimand, but instead of getting angry, he felt a strange sensation in his chest.

In the past, when his mother cried and yelled at him, he always felt an urge to hit or yell back.

But this time, he didn’t.

As young as he was, Cen Huaian couldn’t understand why this scolding felt different.

However, Chu Xia knew Cen Huai’an wanted to go out to play, so she quickly cooled the medicine by pouring it back and forth between two bowls.

When it was at a drinkable temperature, she handed it to him.

“It’s a bit bitter. Drink it all in one go and don’t spit it out.”

Chu Xia said this, but she wouldn’t be upset if Cen Huai’an did spit it out; traditional Chinese medicine is indeed bitter.

Cen Huai’an took the bowl, didn’t even frown, and drank it all in one gulp.

He wiped his mouth and looked at Chu Xia.

Chu Xia was stunned. “Wasn’t it bitter?”

Cen Huai’an replied, “It was bitter.”

“Good medicine tastes bitter but is beneficial for curing illness. Your little body needs this medicine. Go and play, but don’t come back too late.”

As soon as Chu Xia finished speaking, Cen Huai’an ran out.

He looked much more energetic than her—indeed, children have boundless energy.

Chu Xia then boiled water, prepared the medicine, and got ready for a bath.

Cen Huai’an ran downstairs.

The space outside the family quarters was a large open area. Beyond it was a road lined with tall trees.

The children from the family quarters were all playing in that open space, while the adults sat on the side, fanning themselves and chatting.

The boys and girls were in separate groups, each playing their own games.

Cen Huai’an walked towards the group of boys, who were lying on the ground playing marbles.

He looked at his new clothes and then at the boys who were all dirty.

He didn’t join them on the ground but stood aside, watching them play.

“Who are you?”

One of the boys noticed him, stood up, dusted off his clothes, and looked at Cen Huai’an’s clothes with curiosity and envy. “That’s a navy collar vest! You’re not from our courtyard. I haven’t seen anyone from our courtyard wearing that!”

The boy reached out to touch him, but Cen Huai’an dodged, frowning at the boy’s dirty hands. “Don’t touch me. Your hands are all dirty, and you’ll dirty my vest!”

“Little raggedy thing! He’s just a raggedy thing!”

The boy shouted, and Cen Huai’an’s face darkened. “Black Dog, I’m not a raggedy thing! My mom bought me new clothes!”

“Hahaha!”

Black Dog (The boy who was playing ) put his hands on his hips and laughed. “You’re lying. Everyone knows your mom has no money. She let your grandma take it all. She wouldn’t buy you clothes! Did you steal them or something?”

The group of children laughed, surrounding Cen Huai’an and chanting, “Raggedy thing, ragged and torn! Stole clothes to wear! Raggedy thing, liar…”

Cen Huai’an glared at Black Dog, his eyes blazing with anger.

He clenched his small fists tightly. “I’m not lying! I’m not a thief!”

Then he charged at Black Dog, pinning him to the ground and biting, scratching, and hitting him.

Black Dog immediately cried out in pain, “Ahh, Ahhh!” The other children, frightened by Cen Huai’an’s ferocity, quickly called for their mothers.

Cen Huai’an had often been mocked and bullied by the children.

He had never fought back like this before; he only reacted fiercely when food was involved.

He had stolen food from them multiple times when they were alone, and his speed made it hard for them to catch him.

The boys from the courtyard looked down on him and disliked him the most, enjoying watching him scavenge for discarded bread and laugh at him.

Nobody expected him to suddenly start fighting like a wild dog, and Black Dog couldn’t fight back against him.

The adults, hearing the commotion, gathered around to separate the two children.

Cen Huai’an bit Black Dog’s hand and wouldn’t let go until one of the adults quickly pinched Cen Huai’an’s mouth shut.

Seeing her child’s hand injured and bleeding, Black Dog’s mother was furious.

She dragged both Cen Huai’an and Black Dog toward Chu Xia’s home.

“Chu Xia, look at what your son has done! You don’t feed him, and now he’s starving and biting my son. How is this fair? I’m telling you, if anything happens to my son, I won’t let you off easily!”