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Published at 11th of November 2021 07:02:43 AM


Chapter 35

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Chapter 35 – Babysitting Bao’er

Bao’er insisted that Long San carried her up to let her look into the mirror and after looking left and right, she said.  “Mother doesn’t comb my hair in this way.”

“This is a new hairstyle that Uncle combed for you.  Your mother doesn’t know how to do this.”

Bao’er’s small face was pulled taut as she seriously thought about this and Long San finally could not stand it and had to trick her.

“Is Bao’er hungry?  Would you like to eat yesterday’s soup dumplings for breakfast?  There are also noodles with chicken sauce, peach-heart crisps, and sugar-coated tapioca balls.  Uncle will take you there and after you have had your fill, we can quickly buy the medicine for your mother.”

After all, Bao’er is only a child and her eyes brightened up when she heard there would be delicious food to eat.  She nodded vigorously and then said.  “We have to feed Mother as well.”

“Mm…….”  Long San responded.

However, he was thinking that it was all because your mother had eaten too much, so she cannot eat anymore.  Carrying Bao’er, he went to the medicine hall first and left the prescription there for them to prepare the medicine.  Then he carried Bao’er to the restaurant and ordered the few dishes that he had told Bao’er earlier.  Taking advantage when the food was not served yet, they went to the clothing shop next door to make some clothes for Bao’er.  Long San also bought some new clothes for himself and finally changed out of the clothes that were stained with the child’s urine.  He thought to himself that Fengning would be tired for the next few days, so he bought more clothes for Bao’er to change then Fengning need not have to work so hard to wash the soiled clothes.

After the measurements were taken, it was agreed that the clothes could be picked up at dusk.  Long San then carried Bao’er back to the restaurant again and it was just in time for the dishes to be served.  Bao’er was very happy and kept on asking whether the beautiful fabrics just now were to be tailored into clothes for her and the pattern of the clothes.

Long San answered patiently and imitating Fengning’s actions yesterday, he fed Bao’er the breakfast.  By now, it was almost lunchtime.

Bao’er fed herself a few mouthfuls and allowed Long San to feed her a few mouthfuls and the meal was considered as smoothly completed.  Facing this child, Long San’s temper had totally vanished.  This little child was more difficult to handle than Fengning and he was afraid if he did not serve the child well, Fengning would be unhappy.  He did not eat much at this meal and concentrated all his attention on her.  He could not help but sigh when he thought of Fengning’s ability yesterday.  She was able to feed Bao’er a full meal and also ate a full meal herself.  Yesterday, he did not feel anything when he watched them but today, when he experienced it himself, he found that it took a bit of skill to accomplish it.

He quickly swept all the leftover food on the table into his stomach and then instructed the restaurant to send a pot of porridge to Fengning’s small courtyard.  After leaving behind the silver, he took Bao’er to pick up the packet of medicine and also bought a medicine pot before going back home.

On the way home, he asked.  “Why were you all alone at the gate of the courtyard early this morning?”

Bao’er replied.  “Auntie and Yiyi were not at home and no one was in the courtyard.  Mother was in so much pain that she couldn’t move.  Bao’er was afraid and wanted to go to the gate to see if Bao’er can find someone to help.”

Long San’s heart ached for a while.  For a little child to encounter such a problem, she must be very frightened.  He tightened his arms around Bao’er and blamed himself.

“It was all Uncle’s fault.”

If he had not used food to entice Fengning, she would not have lost control and overate and as a result, fell ill.  In the first place, if he had not planned to abandon both the mother and child, they would not have ended up here causing Fengning to fall sick.

Naturally, Bao’er did not know about Long San’s thoughts.  She shook her head and said.  “Uncle is here, so Bao’er will no longer feel afraid.  Mother will also get better.  Last night, Mother said that Uncle is the person she likes most in this world.”

Long San was overjoyed and hurriedly asked.  “Really?”

Bao’er nodded and he asked again.  “What else did your mother say?”

Bao’er lifted her little face and thought carefully.  “Mother also said Uncle always smiles…….annoying…….”

The smile on his face froze.

Just now, didn’t Bao’er say that she likes him?  But why is he annoying now?

Then Bao’er said again.  “Mother said that she is afraid but because she has Bao’er, she doesn’t feel afraid anymore.”  Speaking up to this point, the little child’s face showed a smug look.  “Bao’er is very powerful.”

Long San smiled bitterly and lowered his head to touch Bao’er’s little face.  “That’s right, Bao’er is very powerful.”  Her words had made him flustered and distressed.

After they returned to the courtyard, Fengning was awakened by the noise they made.  Long San put Bao’er beside the bed and leaned over to touch Fengning’s face.

“Feel any better?”

Fengning nodded and still felt very weak.  She could not help but rub her face against his big hand acting like a spoiled child.

“What should I do?  I can’t eat anything these two days, right?”

“Still thinking about food?”  He glared at her.  “I will stew the medicine for you in a while, so you can take the medicine.”

Fengning pursed her lips and was unhappy.  Just at this moment, someone was calling at the door and it was the restaurant delivering the porridge.  Long San went out to pick it up and when he turned back to look, he saw Bao’er had kicked away her shoes and climbed onto the bed.  She had cuddled up to Fengning and both of them were talking in whispers.

As soon as Long San entered the house he heard Fengning ask Bao’er.  “Why did you go out without combing your hair?”

Then Bao’er answered honestly.  “Uncle said that this is a new hairstyle……..”

The moment Long San heard, he quickly picked up the packet of medicine together with the medicine pot and went to the kitchen to stew the medicine.

When he came back with the medicine, he was shocked to find Bao’er alone on the bed.  “Where is your Mother?”

“The latrine.”  Bao’er answered in her crisp voice.

He frowned, put down the bowl of medicine, and went out to look for Fengning.  As soon as he stepped out of the house, he saw Fengning coming back with her body curled up moving slowly one step at a time.  She had a short cloak wrapped around her and a hood covering her head.  She did not change her clothes nor clean up and only wrapped herself with the cloak before going to the latrine.  Long San quickly went up to her and carried her back to bed.

“Why didn’t you place a chamber pot inside the house?”  Long San was angry upon seeing Fengning suffering such hardship.

“The house is too small and the ventilation is not good.  Putting a chamber pot inside will be too smelly.”  Fengning wrinkled her nose as if she was smelling the stink and Bao’er who was at the side chipped in.  “Bao’er and Mother don’t like it.”

While he was handing the bowl of medicine to Fengning, he was thinking…….that’s right, both of you don’t like it because you like to run to the latrine!

When Fengning saw that his face had turned dark, she dared not complain about the medicine’s bad smell, so she pinched her nose and drank all of it in one breath.  Only then did Long San’s complexion become better and as he caressed her face, he praised her.

After the medicine was drunk, the three people in the house seemed to have nothing else to do.

Long San looked at the pot of porridge on the cabinet top and said to Bao’er.  “Let Uncle know if you’re hungry.  Uncle will heat the porridge for you.”

Bao’er nodded and Fengning who was hugging the quilt could not accept it.  “Isn’t that for me?”

He pulled the chair over, sat down beside the bed, and stared at her.

“You are already in this condition, so it’s better to get a good rest.  When you feel more energetic later, you can have it.

Fengning muttered under her breath.  This time, she had indeed fallen very sick and did not have the slightest bit of strength.

Sure enough, in this world, food doesn’t fall straight from the sky without having to pay a price for it.

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She closed her eyes and after thinking about it she refused to give up.  “Is there meat in the porridge?”

Long San replied with a humph and was too lazy to talk to her.

At this moment, Bao’er twisted her body slightly on the bed and Long San became alert instantly when he noticed it.  “Bao’er, what’s the matter?”

Bao’er blushed and spoke in a soft voice.  “Uncle, I want to poo-poo.”

Her words were extremely powerful.  Fengning immediately opened her eyes and Long San bounced up on his feet with a ‘swish’, scooped up Bao’er, and rushed out.  When Bao’er let out a cry ‘Wa’, Long San had already disappeared from the house with her.

Fengning blinked and had the urge to laugh and cry at the same time.

What should she do?  She seems to like Long San more and more.  What should she do if he decides to leave her and Bao’er?

While she was struggling internally and feeling sad, Long San returned with Bao’er in his arms.  Fengning hurriedly hid her smile and said.  “It’s done?  Is she cleaned up?”

Bao’er had a red face as she shook her head solemnly.  With an embarrassed expression, he put Bao’er back on the bed and said.  “If you want to do it, tell Uncle again.”

Bao’er nodded then got under the quilt and hid her small face in Fengning’s arms.  Fengning felt it was odd and asked hurriedly.  “What’s the matter?”

Bao’er whispered into Fengning’s ear.  “Uncle ran very fast like the wind – ‘swish’…….”  At the same time, Bao’er’s little hand motioned like a gust of wind blowing.

“Then?”  Fengning asked.

Bao’er blushed.  “Bao’er felt it was fun and when we reach the latrine, there was no more poo-poo.”

Fengning was stunned for a while and then she understood instantly.  She could not control herself and burst into loud laughter.  When she laughed, her stomach started to ache again and she shrank her body into a ball.  When Bao’er saw her mother laughing, she did the same as well.

While Fengning was laughing, she rubbed Bao’er’s belly and said.  “Bao’er mustn’t do this.  It’s not good to hold back.”

Long San looked at both the mother and daughter as they rolled into a ball on the bed while laughing incessantly and his face turned green.

How would he know that the child is so difficult to handle?  Walking at a slow pace would result in peeing on him and running too fast would hold back the poo?

Fengning was laughing so much that she was out of breath.  When she looked at Long San’s expression, she found it even funnier.  Imitating Bao’er’s voice, she said in a high-pitched tone.

“Uncle, using qinggong to poo doesn’t work.”

Bao’er hugged her head and giggled with shame while Long San’s face was turning from red to white.  He looked at Fengning’s mischievous expression while she was still sick and finally, he pounced over to hug her into his arms.

“You’re a troublemaker!”

Fengning screamed then laughed and kicked up a ruckus while in his embrace while Bao’er desperately tried to squeeze in between the both of them calling out ‘Uncle’ and ‘Mother’ repeatedly.

All of a sudden, the small house was filled with the happy sounds of laughter.

In the hearts of Long San and Fengning, all the sadness, grievances, hatred, enmity including the mystery’s suspense were all temporarily thrown far away.

 

In the afternoon of the next day, Long San completed a troublesome task with extremely high efficiency……..moving house.  He did not move into Fengning’s small dilapidated house but he, Fengning, and Bao’er moved into a new enclosed courtyard house* that he found.

(Enclosed courtyard house is a typical ancient house with an enclosed courtyard divided into sections and surrounded on all four sides with rooms. )

The courtyard was not big but it was neat and clean.  The house was twice the size of Fengning’s original rented house.  The main house and wing houses were equipped with side rooms used as toilets, bathrooms for washing up, and storage rooms.  It became much more convenient when they needed to move around to get water for washing up.  There were also two servants in the courtyard, a little maid called Xiao Zhuzi and an older woman called Auntie Cao.

Fengning and Bao’er shared a house, Long San had his own house while Auntie Cao and Xiao Zhuzi lived in a side house.  Long San had even turned another house into a study room.

In fact, Fengning did not want to move and was very apprehensive over her and Long San’s future.  He had chased after her and had stayed behind with her but whatever happened in the past could not be undone.  Even if she ignored the past, she felt that she could not overcome the grievances, hatred, and troubles between the Long and Feng families.

She just wants to live a comfortable life in peace and happiness.  She is not afraid of suffering hardships but her heart is too fragile and cannot bear the shame of the past and the contempt of everyone.

However, Long San did not give her a chance to refuse.  He took advantage when she had taken her medicine and was in deep sleep, he secretly carried her and took Bao’er to the new house in a carriage.  When Fengning finally woke up, she was already in the new house.

Bao’er ran around the courtyard and liked it very much.  Taking advantage when Fengning was still sound asleep, he already made Bao’er feel that the place was their new home.  When Fengning saw Bao’er feeling so happy, she recalled the hardships that Bao’er had to go through with her recently and her heart tightened.  Since someone was willing to pay for everything, then it would be a waste if she did not make use of it and she can still decide later after the current situation had passed.

She had truly forgotten about the pain after the scar had healed……therefore, she had also forgotten about that day when she had overeaten after thinking that it would be a waste if she does not finish the food which resulted in her falling sick.  Now that she had decided that it would be a waste not to stay since everything was paid for.

This time, it is not known what kind of retribution she had to bear.

Fengning’s health had always been good but this time, her sickness was very severe and only became better after several days.  During the past few days, she had been thinking about how to deal with the problem between her and Long San.  Chase him away?  To be honest, she could not bear to do it.  She missed him very, very much and felt so happy when he came.  It was especially so this time when she fell ill and she realized how good it felt to have him around.  When she was living with Bao’er, she had to force herself to be strong every day, dared not fall sick, dared not be weak, and dared not cry.

However, now with him around, even if she is to lie in bed all day, she will still feel at ease.

Fengning was thinking that perhaps she might have been forcing herself over too long a period, so she felt extremely exhausted when she fell sick this time.  But this also alerted her…….Look, facts proved that he is the source of her weakness.  She has been shouldering on for so long and nothing happened to her, so why did she fall ill as soon as he arrived?  Will her strength weaken the longer he remains here?

The more she thought, the more she felt it was right to drive Long San away.





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