X
Join our Discord server and get release updates for every novel you follow.
Join the Server“Uncle, I know I was wrong.” Xu Hengzhou followed Song Wenbin to a secluded spot, immediately admitting his mistake.
A torrent of words caught in Song Wenbin’s throat, forcing him to swallow them back. He had intended to give his eldest nephew a stern lecture. While capable, he was perhaps too strong-willed for his age. He was still so young, yet he’d traveled so far alone, seemingly oblivious to the anxiety he’d cause his family.
“Uncle, I promise I won’t ever run off on my own again without telling you all. Please, punish me,” Xu Hengzhou declared openly.
Song Wenbin ran a frustrated hand through his hair, a despondent sigh escaping him. “My dear nephew, I know you’re different from other children, and I haven’t tried to restrain you. Whatever you wish to do, I’ve tried my best to support you. To be honest, I’ve been a rather incompetent guardian. Having spent so many years alone in the military, I never raised children and had forgotten what a normal family life was like.”
“No, Uncle, you…” Xu Hengzhou couldn’t help but interject, feeling that Song Wenbin had been more than kind and righteous to him and his brothers.
“Hear me out first.” Song Wenbin raised a hand, cutting him off. “There are many things I haven’t considered or accomplished. You’ve helped me so much over the years. This family, while I am technically the sole adult, you’ve shouldered half the burden.”
“Hengzhou,” Song Wenbin said, patting Xu Hengzhou’s shoulder with profound sincerity. “I ask for nothing else but for you and your brother to grow up safely and soundly. Then, I will have done right by your deceased father. In the future, whatever you plan to do, just inform me beforehand. At least let your uncle have some peace of mind.”
Xu Hengzhou lowered his gaze, only lifting his head after a long moment to meet Song Wenbin’s eyes. “Uncle, I was at fault. This time, I acted impulsively. You’ve probably realized that I’m not one to stay put, and I might do unconventional things in the future. However, nothing like this will ever happen again.”
Song Wenbin’s brows relaxed somewhat. Children who were too intelligent were often too stubborn, and he had worried his nephew wouldn’t heed his advice. It seemed, however, that no matter how clever or headstrong he was, he still valued his family deeply.
After their earnest conversation, the bond between the elder and younger man grew even stronger. Hearts were made of flesh, and though Xu Hengzhou was typically reserved, prolonged interaction had warmed his once stony heart.
****
When the two returned to the ward, their atmosphere harmonious, Xiang Chen, who had been fighting off sleep, watched them. He glanced at his brother, then at his uncle. It seemed everything was fine.
Xu Hengzhou couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Song Wenbin, feigning annoyance, asked, “What? Are you afraid I’d hit your brother?”
Xiang Chen quickly shook his head, offering Song Wenbin an ingratiating smile. “Uncle is the best! He would never lay a hand on Big Brother.”
Song Wenbin was both exasperated and amused. He reached out to ruffle Xiang Chen’s hair, but upon seeing the boy’s pale face, his movements instinctively softened.
“I’ll go back and prepare some food,” Song Wenbin told Xu Hengzhou. “You stay here and look after your brother. I’ll return after I’ve eaten.”
Only then did Xu Hengzhou realize Song Wenbin hadn’t eaten lunch. He quickly responded, “Alright. You can rest for a while after you eat. Just come back for dinner; I’ll go make it.”
“That works too,” Song Wenbin agreed with a nod. “Then I’ll come over a bit later.”
Xiang Chen had been ill, and Xu Hengzhou, as his sole caregiver, hadn’t slept well these past two days. He was indeed terribly fatigued.
Before leaving, Song Wenbin spoke a few kind words to the auntie in the adjacent bed, asking her to keep an eye on his children. The auntie readily agreed, assuring him he could leave without worry.
Once Song Wenbin had departed, Xu Hengzhou told Xiang Chen to close his eyes and sleep. The boy in the next bed had cried himself out and was now observing a halftime break. Seeing Xiang Chen’s listless appearance, Xu Hengzhou wanted to coax him into a nap.
However, Xiang Chen knew the next-door neighbors would soon start up again. He wondered where that child got his energy; he had wailed all night, rested when tired, and then continued wailing after recovering.
People from several adjacent rooms had come to protest, but to no avail. The old woman claimed her grandson was unwell and uncomfortable, asking if he wasn’t even allowed to cry. When someone, exasperated, tried to cover the child’s mouth, the old woman immediately threw herself onto the floor, wailing, “Murder!”
After an entire night of such antics, Xiang Chen had truly gained some ‘experience.’
“Brother, tell me what it’s like outside,” Xiang Chen whispered, tugging at Xu Hengzhou’s sleeve.
Xu Hengzhou leaned against the headboard, half-embracing Xiang Chen, and carefully recounted his journey. He described what it was like on the train, the goods sold in department stores, and the rare and curious items found in the provincial capital and Hai City that their Qingjiang City lacked.
In truth, with Xiang Chen’s knowledge from before his transmigration, he certainly wouldn’t be impressed by the things Xu Hengzhou described. However, since his arrival, his sphere of activity had been very small, and his experiences were confined to a narrow living environment. Now, hearing Xu Hengzhou speak of the outside world, it held a unique charm.
Xiang Chen listened as if to an amusing tale, but the family next door was utterly captivated.
The little girl living next to Xiang Chen was named Zhao Qiqin. She had accidentally fallen off a stool while reaching for something at home, fracturing her arm. She had been hospitalized for almost a week and was reportedly due to be discharged soon.
Her mother, Qiqin’s Mother, held a rural household registration, making it difficult to find work in the city. So, she simply stayed home to care for the elderly and the child.
Upon hearing Xu Hengzhou speak of the outside world, all three members of the Zhao family couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment.
When Xiang Chen heard Xu Hengzhou mention the Overseas Chinese Store and list the items sold there, he couldn’t help but ask, “Do they have Coca-Cola?” Coca-Cola had already entered China at this time.
Xu Hengzhou glanced at him, chuckling, “Want some?”
Xiang Chen grinned at his brother, his desire clearly expressed.
Next to them, Granny Zhao, unable to contain her curiosity, interjected, “What’s that television you’re talking about? Is it like watching a movie?”
China had only recently begun producing black-and-white televisions a few years prior, so televisions were still a novelty for people at the time; many hadn’t even heard of them.
“Not quite the same,” Xu Hengzhou explained to her. “A television screen isn’t as big as a movie screen, but you can watch it in your own home.”
Granny Zhao instantly grew excited. Qiqin’s Mother, the young daughter-in-law beside her, also asked, “Can you watch movies on it too?”
Xu Hengzhou wasn’t sure what content was broadcast on televisions at the time, but he recalled that initially, very few channels were available, though there was definitely a central channel.
So, he told them, “Perhaps you can. It depends on how many channels the TV can receive. The central channel is definitely watchable. If other channels are showing movies, then yes, you can watch movies too.”
The two listened, understanding only bits and pieces, but they grasped that a television was a wonderful thing.
“Then a television must be very expensive, right?” Qiqin’s Mother asked.
“I don’t know the exact price, and you need foreign exchange coupons,” Xu Hengzhou replied. Television production was still very limited. He had visited two major cities and only saw a small black-and-white television in the Overseas Chinese Store in Hai City.
Granny Zhao and her daughter-in-law huddled together, sighing with emotion for a while. Finding Xu Hengzhou easy to talk to, they asked a few other questions, mostly about food and clothing, as they couldn’t conceive of much else.
Their lively conversation continued for a while, even quieting the endlessly noisy grandmother and grandson next door, who listened to Xu Hengzhou in unusual silence.
When Xu Hengzhou mentioned the pastries he bought in the provincial capital, the two children simultaneously swallowed. The little girl was better behaved; she merely tugged at her mother’s clothes and whispered her desire for a treat. The boy, however, immediately burst into tears, demanding cookies.
The old woman tried to coax him for a while to no avail, then turned to Xu Hengzhou, grumbling, “Look at you! Of all things to talk about, you had to mention food and make my precious start crying. What if he ruins his voice? Will you compensate me?”
Granny Zhao spoke up righteously, “Even if he didn’t say anything, your grandson would still be crying. He’s been crying for days, and his voice hasn’t been ruined yet. Are you intentionally trying to cause trouble for this child?”
“You old hag! Are you cursing my grandson?” The old woman instantly began to curse. “I knew it! You’re jealous that I have such a good grandson. You gave birth to a worthless girl, and you still have the nerve to bring her to the hospital and eat sugary egg soup!”
The old woman said this because once, when Zhao Qiqin’s parents weren’t around, she had indulged her grandson in snatching the little girl’s bowl of brown sugar eggs. As a result, when Granny Zhao returned, she nearly smashed all the belongings the old woman’s family had brought. In the end, the old woman had to give up her own bowl for the next day to the Zhao family.
With both old and new grievances, Granny Zhao’s anger flared. With her hands on her hips, her aura was formidable. “You despise girls? You yourself are worthless, and the one who bore your grandson is also worthless! If you’re so capable, why don’t you let your son give birth himself!”
Xiang Chen couldn’t help but laugh, burying his face in his brother’s embrace, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably. He had arrived late and hadn’t witnessed Granny Zhao’s previous display of power, only seeing the grandmother and grandson’s various tantrums and antics.
The old woman on the other side trembled with rage, wishing she could fight Granny Zhao, but she hadn’t won last time and dared not seek another defeat. She could only glare, expressing her fury with her eyes.
Granny Zhao was not intimidated in the slightest. She deliberately sneered, then sat back with an air of composure. “Angry? If you’re so capable, then don’t stay here! Go home, and you won’t see me anymore.”
She was waiting for the old woman to leave quickly so that the ward would be peaceful and her granddaughter could recover properly.
“Pah!” The old woman spat at her. “You wish! I won’t leave. If anyone’s leaving, it’s you! Why shouldn’t we stay?”
Granny Zhao rolled her eyes. This was a hospital; to refuse to leave after recovering was utterly unreasonable!
Xu Hengzhou went to thank Granny Zhao, as she had just spoken up for him. Granny Zhao waved her hand, indicating it was a minor matter; she had never been able to stand that old hag anyway.
After this incident, the two families grew closer. Xiang Chen, kept awake by the boy’s antics, simply leaned against his brother and chatted with the family next door.
Laughing and talking, time passed quickly. By mid-afternoon, Song Wenbin arrived to take over, telling Xu Hengzhou to go home and prepare dinner with Xiang Chen.
Xu Hengzhou pulled Song Wenbin aside and briefly recounted the afternoon’s events. Song Wenbin nodded understandingly, told him to go, and then went in to thank Granny Zhao himself.
Upon returning home, Xu Hengzhou found that the bag he had brought back had been taken to his room by Song Wenbin. However, its contents appeared untouched; Song Wenbin likely hadn’t opened it.
He took out the food from the bag and arranged everything.
After returning, Xu Hengzhou had asked the doctor what Xiang Chen could eat in his current condition and what he should avoid. Following the doctor’s advice, he grabbed a handful of rice to cook porridge for Xiang Chen.
Considering Xiang Chen hadn’t eaten well these past two days, Xu Hengzhou also sliced an apple and added it to the porridge.
While the porridge simmered on the stove, he went to the cupboard to retrieve a few *momos* to steam. He placed a small pot on the coal stove, pulled out a piece of fatty pork belly with skin, processed it, and put it in. Then, he took some large-leaf pickled cabbage from his spatial storage, rinsed and chopped it, and added it to the pot. Finally, he added the vermicelli noodles that had been soaking. He seasoned it, letting it simmer slowly on the coal stove.
Once the *momos* were steamed, the porridge grains had bloomed open, and the stewed pork belly with pickled cabbage and vermicelli was ready. The sauce had almost completely reduced, and the vermicelli had plumped up, glistening with meat juices, looking increasingly appetizing.
Xu Hengzhou took out two insulated containers. The smaller one was for Xiang Chen’s porridge, and the larger one held the entire pot of stewed pork belly with vermicelli. The *momos* were placed in the separate compartments of both containers.
He quickly packed everything, then carried the two full containers of food to the hospital.
He arrived just in time for dinner. The two families next door were already eating. The hospital cafeteria offered noodles or gruel without a food stamp, supplied in limited quantities. Patients whose families had decent means wouldn’t miss out on this benefit.
However, the sparse, half-bowl of noodles was clearly not enough to fill their stomachs, so both families had bought noodles but also prepared other food.
Xu Hengzhou also saw the parents of the crying boy. His father was short and thin, perhaps not very old, but looked aged. His mother was about half a head taller than his father, very robust, with a large build.
The entire family surrounded the boy, serving him as if he were an ancestor.
Granny Zhao saw Xu Hengzhou and quickly said, “You’re finally here! My family sent some sweet potato congee, telling your uncle and brother to eat a little first, but they insisted on waiting for you.”
“Thank you very much,” Xu Hengzhou said with a smile. “I made extra; would you like to try some?”
As he spoke, he opened the large insulated container, and immediately a rich aroma wafted out. The sourness of the pickled cabbage stimulated one’s appetite, mingled with the scent of meat.
“No… well, I’ll try a little.” Granny Zhao was about to refuse, but upon smelling the aroma, saliva immediately filled her mouth, and her words changed course as they left her lips.
Xu Hengzhou smiled, using a clean spoon he brought to ladle a generous half-bowl for Granny Zhao, which also contained a few pieces of meat.
Granny Zhao repeatedly said, “That’s enough, that’s enough.”
She then carried the bowl back, smiling as she approached her granddaughter. “Qiqin, look, delicious food! Quickly thank your brother.”
The little girl swallowed, quickly thanked Xu Hengzhou, then gazed eagerly at the bowl in her grandmother’s hands.
Granny Zhao smiled as she fed her granddaughter spoon by spoon. Zhao Qiqin ate a couple of bites, then nudged her grandmother’s hand. “So yummy! Grandma, you eat too.”
Granny Zhao gave two spoonfuls to her daughter-in-law, took one for herself, and left the rest for her little granddaughter.
Meanwhile, Xu Hengzhou opened the smaller insulated container and poured half a bowl of fruit porridge for Xiang Chen. “You eat this.”
Xiang Chen had just been eyeing the pork and vermicelli in the large insulated container. He had thought he would get a bowl too; it smelled so fragrant!
Taking the porridge his brother handed him, Xiang Chen was dumbfounded. “I don’t get any meat?”
Xu Hengzhou glanced at him. “Not only no meat today, but no meat until you’re fully recovered.”
Xiang Chen silently eyed his uncle, who was already heartily enjoying his own large bowl of fragrant food.
You think this chapter was thrilling? Wait until you read The Cursed Prince and the Marking! Click here to discover the next big twist!
Read : The Cursed Prince and the Marking
