Warm Villagers

All day long, while Xiaoguo was cooking, Zhuang Zhuang would start the fire. When Xiaoguo was washing the dishes, Zhuang Zhuang would pass her the bowls and chopsticks. When Xiaoguo returned to the house, Zhuang Zhuang would lift the curtain and close the door for her. He was very attentive. Even when she got into bed and was about to take her afternoon nap, he lay on his tummy and watched her sleep.

“…”

Xiaoguo felt that it was getting a little creepy.She couldn’t take it anymore and turned over, ignoring Zhuang Zhuang’s burning gaze behind her. She thought that she could sleep in peace, but she suddenly heard a slight noise behind her. Then, she spotted a shadow from the corner of her eyes and detected the sound of breathing right behind her.

Xiaoguo’s instincts told her that Zhuang Zhuang was up to something again.

Driven by curiosity, Xiaoguo slowly opened her eyes. At that moment, her heart almost stopped. She was terribly shocked to see Zhuang Zhuang’s face right in front of her.

“Zhuang Zhuang!” Xiaoguo got up and looked at Zhuang Zhuang, who was puzzled by her reaction. She was feeling angry and helpless.

“Mother? What’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?”

“Good lord, you are turning the tables on me. You brat!”

Xiaoguo took a deep breath and said helplessly, “Zhuang Zhuang, what exactly do you want?”

“Nothing much. I just want to watch Mother.”

“…” Xiaoguo held back the words that were about to come out of her mouth. Instead, she exhaled and said in a negotiating tone, “How about we sleep for a while?”

Zhuang Zhuang shook his head. “I can’t sleep.”

“…”

Just like that, Xiaoguo did not take her afternoon nap. After all, with someone staring at her unblinkingly, there was no way she could fall asleep.

After dinner that night, Zhuang Zhuang changed into his pajamas and got up to shake Xiaoguo. “Mother, Mother…”

“Yes?”

Xiaoguo was woken up by his shaking. “Why isn’t this little cutie sleepy yet?”

“How many days will I be staying at home?”

At this moment, Zhuang Zhuang suddenly remembered to ask. He was so happy about getting to spend time at home that he had forgotten about going to school.

“When do you want to go back?”

Xiaoguo turned around and asked instead of answering him.

“Hmm…” Zhuang Zhuang thought about it seriously. He was thinking of pushing back his return as much as possible, but looking at Xiaoguo’s eyes, he hesitated. In the end, he said in a pitiful tone, “Can I go back at a later date?”

Within the next second, he shook his head. “But I miss you so much. Can I go after I’ve seen enough of you?”

His careful words pierced straight into her heart, making her eyes turn red involuntarily. She immediately reached out her arms to Zhuang Zhuang, and he threw himself into her arms.

Xiaoguo hugged Zhuang Zhuang tightly and said, “Of course. Mr. Kong also said that you should rest at home for a few more days. In that case, you should take this time to enjoy a short vacation before going back to school feeling recharged!”

“Thank you, Mother…”

Zhuang Zhuang was very happy. He leaned forward and rubbed his face gently against hers.

—-

“Mother… I’m going to look for Brother Xiaohu.”

After Zhuang Zhuang finished his breakfast and washed the dishes, he informed Xiaoguo who was in the room, and ran out.

When Xiaoguo heard the commotion, she came out and saw Zhuang Zhuang and Xiaohu running off. She smiled helplessly. Didn’t he mention something about spending more time with her?

Having not been home for the past few days, Zhuang Zhuang was playing harder than Xiaohu. It was not just the two of them playing. Unknowingly, all the children in the village had joined them in their play.

Along the way, he bumped into a lot of villagers. When they saw Zhuang Zhuang, they were very enthusiastic and he felt a little overwhelmed. Although they would also greet him at other times, it was a little different today. Everyone who saw him would stop to praise him. They were also touchy-feely and offered him a lot of snacks. From melon seeds to sugar, his pockets were quickly filled. The group of children walking behind him were looking on, their eyes filled with envy.

At this moment, another old lady stopped him and stuffed a piece of candy into his hands. She even praised him for his capabilities. As she spoke, she didn’t forget to pat his head. Zhuang Zhuang tried to endure the feelings of discomfort. He remembered his mother saying that he shouldn’t accept gifts from strangers, so he shook his head and said no. However, like the others, she ignored him and stuffed the candy into his pocket.

“Wow…”

The other children were very envious.

Xiaohu’s mouth was wide open. He looked at Zhuang Zhuang in disbelief and then looked down at his pockets. “Wow…”

Feeling baffled, Zhuang Zhuang accepted the praise and snacks along the way. In the end, he suggested going to a deserted place, mainly because he was worried that he might have to take off his pants to hold all the snacks if he continued walking around the village.

The group of children had no objections to his suggestion. After all, he had a lot of snacks— they should just go along with his suggestion.

The group of children followed Zhuang Zhuang to the river. Each of them moved a small rock and sat around in a circle.

Zhuang Zhuang took out the snacks from his pocket. “Help yourselves, but please take in moderation.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the group of children looked at each other. No one dared to make the first move.

Zhuang Zhuang’s hands were sore from holding the snacks and no one was coming forward. There was only one person who wanted to get it, but Zhuang Zhuang stopped him. It was Xiaohu, who was now feeling sore with him.

Xiaohu crossed his arms and pouted. He looked at the person beside him angrily and turned his head away, refusing to look at him. “Stinky Zhuang Zhuang, we’re so close, but you actually pushed away my hand. I’m not going to be bothered with you, Hmpf, hmpf!”

After holding the snacks up for a while more, Zhuang Zhuang sighed softly. He stood up and distributed them one by one. By the time he came to the last person, there was nothing left in his hands.

Xiaohu was holding out his hands for a long time, but there was nothing left when it came to his turn. He swung his hand aggrievedly and turned around again, showing Zhuang Zhuang his fuming back view.

Zhuang Zhuang glanced at Xiaohu and chuckled to himself.

The other children looked at the snacks in their hands and ran back to their homes happily because they wanted to show off to their families.

Only Zhuang Zhuang and Xiaohu were left standing at the same spot.

Xiaohu was about to leave when Zhuang Zhuang stopped him. He only let go of his hand after everyone had left.

“What are you doing?”

Xiaohu looked at Zhuang Zhuang, who was looking down and searching for something. He was filled with anticipation.

“Here you go!”

Zhuang Zhuang handed Xiaohu the candies that he had specially set aside in his pocket.

“…Are these for me?” Xiaohu lowered his eyes and lowered his head, thinking about something.

“That’s right. These sweets are delicious. I specially saved them for you. Hurry up and bring them back to share with Sister Xiaohua.”

Seeing that he was still not taking it, Zhuang Zhuang stuffed it into his pocket and patted it. “Don’t eat too much even if it’s delicious. You’ll get a toothache.”

Xiaohu suddenly hugged Zhuang Zhuang tightly and said in a nasal voice, “Thank you, Zhuang Zhuang!”

“No problem, Brother Xiaohu.”

Zhuang Zhuang hugged him back and patted his back to comfort him.

After the two of them parted ways at the door of the house, Zhuang Zhuang ran home and clutched the last piece of candy in his pocket.

“Mother, Mother?”

His voice reached Xiaoguo’s ears before she could see him.

“Your baby is back.”

Mrs. Yang put down her needle and thread and looked at Xiaoguo enviously again. She liked Zhuang Zhuang so much…

When Xiaoguo heard the other party’s words, she was so happy that she almost jumped up. She quickly responded to Zhuang Zhuang.

Just as they were talking, Zhuang Zhuang entered the house. He saw Mrs. Yang and immediately put the candy back into his pocket. It wasn’t that he was not willing to share it with Mrs. Yang, but he had only one piece left.

“Hello, Auntie Yang…”

“Good boy, Zhuang Zhuang…” Mrs. Yang quickly pulled Zhuang Zhuang over and let him touch her stomach. She said anxiously, “Hurry up and impart some intelligence to this little brother.”

Zhuang Zhuang touched her stomach in confusion and looked at Xiaoguo helplessly. “What little brother?”

Xiaoguo couldn’t help but laugh. “Zhuang Zhuang, Auntie Yang has a little brother in her stomach.”

Although Xiaoguo had never taught him about this before, he knew a little about it.