The Blessed

Ling Jingxuan’s house was very remote, Zhao Dalong’s was no better, also in the middle of nowhere. Those Ling villagers are funny. Anyone they don’t like, they’d kick him out of the village. But do they really think they don’t exist since they wouldn’t see them? For this, Ling Jingxuan felt so speechless. If it hadn’t been that the location of Ling village was not bad, not far from Datong Town where it extended in all direction and both the waterway and land routes were pretty convenient and at least transportation wouldn’t be a problem if he wanted to do something, he would have already considering about moving. Being neighbors with those unbelievable people, what if some day he also got ‘infected’?

All right, that was only for fun. Compared with Ling Jingxuan’s thatched house that no one could tell when it would fall down, Zhao Dalong’s house was a lot better. Though the walls were made of mud, the roof was carpeted with tiles. At least they needed to worry about leakage of rain or what. On left and right of the principal room were the small kitchen, pighen and other things, and in both front and back they got big yards. All in all, at least it could be rendered as comparatively country construction.

“Jingxuan? What brings you here? You are such a rare guest! Come on in! Come on in!”

As he opened the gate and saw it was Ling Jingxuan, Han Fei warmly welcomed him in. Passing through a broad and clean yard, they directly came into the living room. Zhao Dalong, wearing shorts, was sitting there, sweating all over, who should be having some rest there after being done with some farm work. And Tiewas was sitting on a small stool beside sorting beans. Although this family was poor and often got excluded by the villagers, their life was still ease.

“Brother Zhao, is Tiewa helping Brother Han? Such a good little hand.”

After saying hello to Zhao Dalong, Ling Jingxuan walked over and stoked Tiewa’s head. For kids, especially those well-behaved and cute kids, he had the least bit of resistance.

“Uncle, didn’t Xiaowen and Xiaowu come?”

Perhaps having been familiarized with him, Tiewas was no longer that shy and craven like before, with that pair of eyes glancing behind him. After quite a while, he sat back disappointedly, mouth twitched. He is Ling Wen and Ling Wu’s only friend. But in turn, Ling Wen and Ling Wu are also his only friends. They are all lonely kids.

“Hehe… We plan to raise some piglets. So Xiaowu went to the market at the village entrance with his uncle. Xiaowen is at home practicing calligraphy. Later you can go with me and hang out with them in the afternoon, OK?”

Seeing that his pouted lips could even hang a chamber pot, Ling Jingxuan could not help feeling funny, also think of his little buns. Isn’t Ling Wu often behaving that way?

“OK, uncle, I also want to practice calligraphy with Xiaowen and Xiaowu. Last night Xiaowen taught me to practice ‘人’ (Literally means human in English), and I know how to write it now.

As he heard he could go to their house to play, Tiewa immediately beamed with smiles, and started to brag holding Ling Jingxuan’s hand. Han Fei couldn’t help laughing, “You kid, Uncle Ling is very busy. You shouldn’t add to the trouble.”

In his opinion, Ling Jingxuan had to catch so many fish every day, of course he was supposed to be very busy.

“But…”

“It’s OK. I also got nothing to do recently. By the way, brother Zhao, brother Han, do you have a plan to send Tiewa to a private school?”

Seeing that little guy was going to be disappointed again, Ling Jingxuan quickly picked him up and looked at Han Fei and Zhao Dalong. Actually he was here for this.

“Oh…of course we have thought about it a lot. But you know, around here only has your…I mean a private school Lord Ling opened. Last time we went to visit him taking two jin of meat, wanting to ask him allow Tiewa to study there. I don’t expect him to bring glory on our ancestors, but only wish he wouldn’t be illiteracy like us. But the village head rejected without even a second’s thinking. Then we also secretly went to Lord Ling. He said we can send our kid there for a test to see if he is that material. But as you know, Tiewa is very shy before strangers and no one has ever taught him something. When Lord Ling asked him questions, he couldn’t answer any. So finally we could only bring him back.”

Speaking of this, Han Fei could not help sighing deeply,, while Zhao Dalong besides also tightly wrinkled. Other kids only had to pay the tuition, while their kid had to… Of course they were lying if they wouldn’t complain. But what could they do? They could only blame themselves for not being able enough.

“Hum, a test? I think he was only trying to pick on you.”

Ling Jingxuan gave a disdainful snort. Given the fact that the old man could even throw his own grandson who had a tongsheng title for the sake of the dignity of the family, it would be only strange he would be that kind-hearted to someone else’s child.

“Yeah, Tiewa has never received any formative education, what does he know? He…”

“Fei!”

“There are no outsiders here, why can’t I say it? Long, it’s not I am blaming you. You are over cautious, afraid of this and afraid of that. But this concerns about the future of our kid.”

Before Han Fei could finish his words, Zhao Dalong already tried to shush him. But this time, Han Fei didn’t not concede, but only looking at him with a pair of red eyes. Tiewa’s mother died young, only less than two years old when he married into this family. All these years, it was he who brought him up. In his heart, he had already taken him as his own son. On thinking that the kid might be like them, he felt like someone was cutting his flesh with a blunt knife.

Getting satirized to his face, Zhao Dalong couldn’t help darkening his face, but he no longer argued back stubbornly. A seven chi tall man hang his head down, no one could tell what he was thinking, but also felt sorry for the kid. Ling Jingxuan looked at them, smilingly pushed Tiewa in his arms. The little guy was smart and immediately understood. He then pounced over and grabbed Han Fei’s arm.

“Daddy, don’t cry. Let me blow your tears dry..”

Speaking of which, he clumsily climbed into his arms and sat down, blowing into his face with his puckered lips.

“Poof…”

“Hahaha… The kid is so cute!”

The depressed Han Fei couldn’t help laughing out, Ling Jingxuan beside also put on a bright smile. Even Zhao Dalong’s face softened a little. And the awkward atmosphere instantly was gone. Except Tiewa who was sitting there having no idea what was going on, the three adults all resumed the former relaxed state.