Chapter 58

Chapter 58

Sure enough, the next morning, Yang Yao knocked on the neighbor's door. It seemed as though he hadn't slept all night; his face looked ten years older, haggard and sallow with greasy skin, his hair was unkempt, and his eyes were weary.

He took his just-fed son away.

Fang Min didn't ask many questions. Seeing his dispirited appearance, she could guess that he hadn't found Zhao Yun and her daughter.

Not knowing what to say, she then went to Jin Xiuzhu with her son in her arms.

Jin Xiuzhu was at home painting. She had suddenly been inspired and planned to finish it to give to Wang Ling in a few days. She wasn't sure if Wang Ling had visited the hospital as she'd suggested last time.

When Fang Min arrived, Jin Xiuzhu put down her brush, got up to wash a cup for her, and let her taste the flower tea she had just steeped.

The flower tea was sweet. Fang Min wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but she felt that her skin had improved significantly and her complexion was rosy. Thinking about it, the only difference from before was drinking the flower tea Jin Xiuzhu prepared regularly.

Jin Xiuzhu took the child from her arms. Liu Liu was sleeping in the room, and seeing Fanfan wide awake and energetic, she didn't take him to sleep. Instead, she gently played with his little hand. The little guy glanced at her, then turned his head to look at the painting on the table, moving his arm as if trying to grab it.

Fang Min took a sip of tea, then told Jin Xiuzhu about Yang Yao's return. "He didn't find Zhao Yun and her daughter. He must not have found them."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded, unsurprised. "Since he could leave his little son behind, it's clear he's made up his mind."

What mother would be willing to abandon her own child?

Fang Min frowned. "That child is so young, how will he survive?"

Jin Xiuzhu silently thought, Isn't this why they've come to you?

Fang Min worried about the child. "He's still breastfeeding. It's truly cruel."

But she couldn't bring herself to scold Zhao Yun. For Zhao Yun to do this, she must have been utterly disappointed. It wasn't just one person's fault.

At noon, Yang Yao came down again with the child. This time, he didn't knock on Jin Xiuzhu's door but went straight to Fang Min, asking her to feed the child again.

Fang Min looked at the untidy child in his arms, who had fresh tear tracks on his face. That morning, she had clearly washed his face and applied clam oil.

The child was still wearing yesterday's clothes, which were dirty and stained across the chest, looking like they hadn't been taken care of.

Fang Min wondered how Yang Yao was taking care of the child and couldn't help but ask, "Why haven't you changed his clothes?"

Yang Yao was taken aback, looking down as if he hadn't considered this. A hint of embarrassment crossed his face, and he hurriedly said, "I'll change him this afternoon. I forgot."

Fang Min took the child, but when her hand touched his bottom, she found it cold and wet.

Yang Yao apologized. "Sorry, I have something to do. I'll pick him up this afternoon."

With that, he rushed off.

Fang Min frowned, watching him go, then looked down at the child in her arms.

Jin Xiuzhu heard the commotion and opened the door. Seeing Fang Min holding the child, she sighed.

Fang Min tried to reassure her. "It's okay, I'll just feed him."

However, Fanfan wouldn't be so generous. When Fang Min opened the door, he woke up, whimpering. Zhang Qiulai carried him out to look for Fang Min, and then saw his mother holding someone else's child. He burst into tears.

Seeing this, Fang Min was at a loss, looking between her son and Jin Xiuzhu.

Jin Xiuzhu quickly took the child from her arms. Fang Min gave her a grateful glance before holding her son to comfort him.

Fanfan burrowed into his mother's embrace, feeling wronged.

The child in Jin Xiuzhu's arms started crying at the sound of the weeping. Jin Xiuzhu patted his back gently, but the child cried even louder.

Yang Yingxiong, who was eating in the living room, heard the commotion. Gripping his chopsticks tightly, he eventually put them down and walked over, silently looking at his younger brother.

Jin Xiuzhu turned to him and smiled. "Go eat your meal. It's fine, everything will be alright soon."

Yang Yingxiong's eyes were slightly red. "Auntie, give him to me. He's my brother, he should be with me."

He reached out his hand.

Jin Xiuzhu pretended to glare at him. "What nonsense? Go eat your meal. This child is too young, you wouldn't know how to take care of him."

Yang Yingxiong bit his lip.

Jin Xiuzhu told him to finish his meal and go to bed quickly. Then, smiling, she went to the neighbor's house with Fang Min. After calming her son, Fang Min took out a set of small clothes to change Yang Yao's son.

Afterward, she carefully filled a basin with warm water to wash the child's face, making him clean and tidy.

Jin Xiuzhu waited until both children were asleep before returning home.

To her surprise, upon arriving home, she found Yang Yingxiong already packed and waiting for her. He stood up upon seeing her enter.

His face bore an unusual maturity and stubbornness for his age.

He Yan stood somewhat confused beside him, completely unaware of what was happening.

Only Fu Yanyan looked between Yang Yingxiong and Jin Xiuzhu.

Jin Xiuzhu sighed. "What's the point? Although he's your brother, you're still young. You shouldn't bear these responsibilities. Stay here, and someone will take care of your brother."

In truth, Zhao Yun wasn't foolish. The reason she left her son behind and took only her daughter was because she knew there were many soft-hearted military wives in the unit who couldn't bear to see such a young child neglected. No matter whom Yang Yao asked for help, his son would survive, though life might be difficult, he wouldn't starve.

And that's exactly what Yang Yao did, bringing his son to seek help. Perhaps in his eyes, she and Jiang Mingchuan were kind and easy to talk to. Since they could adopt the elder son, adding another younger one wouldn't be a problem.

But he never considered the harm this would cause Yang Yingxiong or whether it would make him feel unwanted by her and Jiang Mingchuan.

Upon hearing this, He Yan hurriedly said, "Yeah, don't go. Even if you go home, you can't help much."

Yang Yingxiong didn't listen this time. He knew Aunt Jin was trying to comfort him. Aunt Zhao had left, and with Dad busy, there was no one to take care of his little brother. They could only trouble others, but it was fine once or twice; over time, it would become a burden for them as well. He didn't want to keep troubling others. Aunt Jin and Aunt Fang were good people who shouldn't have to sacrifice themselves for his family. Yang Yingxiong picked up his schoolbag and coat. He had brought these items when he arrived, and he didn’t want to take too much with him when he left. "Aunt, I can manage. You don’t need to worry. I’ll take good care of my little brother." Knowing that Aunt Jin felt sorry for him, he deliberately joked, "Aunt, next time I come over for a meal, I might bring my little brother along." Jin Xiuzhu's nose tingled. "You silly child, whenever you come over, Mom will cook your favorite dishes for you." Yang Yingxiong barely held back tears, which instantly filled his eyes. He didn’t have a mother, and he longed for one. Although Aunt Jin and Uncle Jiang said they were his godparents, he didn’t dare call them that. Yang Yingxiong had often imagined what his mother would be like. He couldn’t picture her before, but now, when he thought about her, Jin Xiuzhu’s face always appeared in his mind. He wanted to call Jin Xiuzhu "Mom" like He Yan did, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. Even now, he still couldn’t. But in his heart, he silently called out, "Mom, Mom…" With his schoolbag on his back, he walked out. The moment he stepped outside, Yang Yingxiong paused and took a deep breath. He knew clearly that from today onward, they wouldn’t be a family anymore. But he didn’t regret his decision. Staying here for so long had been the happiest time of his life, giving him the courage to face everything ahead. Then came the sound of him knocking on the neighbor’s door. Afterward, he spoke with Fang Min. She was a bit confused as she handed over the recently fed child. Yang Yingxiong thanked her and carried the child upstairs. He knew his father liked to hide the house key above the door frame. On tiptoe, he felt around and found the key. Shaking off the dust from his hand, he opened the door and went inside with his little brother. Looking at the quiet yet messy home, Yang Yingxiong placed his sleeping brother on the bed and started cleaning the house. As he carried a basin of water out, he saw He Yan and Fu Yanyan helping tidy up in the living room. His eyes reddened. "You guys…" He Yan smiled at him. "Even if you go home, you’re still my little brother." Fu Yanyan asked where the broom was. Yang Yingxiong put down the basin and hurriedly turned around to find the broom. In that moment, he quickly wiped his eyes. He Yan and Fu Yanyan pretended not to notice. Downstairs, Fang Min let out a sigh of relief. Taking care of two children was exhausting, and she wasn’t sure if she would continue being so kind if things went on like this. After all, Fanfan was her own child, and she couldn’t bear to make him suffer. Fang Min couldn’t help but ask Jin Xiuzhu, "What happened to Yingxiong?" Jin Xiuzhu told her about Yang Yingxiong’s decision. Fang Min felt a bit upset. "This child is so sincere." Even though she didn’t like Yang Yao and Zhao Yun, she couldn’t dislike Yang Yingxiong at all. Jin Xiuzhu hummed in agreement. That afternoon, Yang Yingxiong went to school with his little brother on his back. He mimicked how Jin Xiuzhu usually carried Liu Liu, wrapping the child in front of him. If the baby cried, he would run out of the classroom to soothe him. Most of the children in the military compound had decent conditions, but there were also a few older sisters carrying their younger brothers to class. It wasn’t uncommon to see Yang Yingxiong doing the same, so neither his classmates nor teachers commented on it. During breaks, He Yan and the others would visit him, bringing snacks and even helping change diapers. After school, He Yan told Yang Yingxiong, "Mom asked me to invite you for dinner. She said that even if you go home, you’re still her godson." Yang Yingxiong nodded with red eyes. During dinner, Jiang Mingchuan returned home. Without saying anything, he patted Yang Yingxiong on the shoulder and simply said, "Let’s eat." Yang Yingxiong sat down to eat, somewhat restrained. After dinner, Jin Xiuzhu helped feed his little brother. Liu Liu didn’t eat as much as Fanfan, but she still had plenty of milk. After dinner, Yang Yingxiong helped wash the dishes and then took his little brother upstairs, maintaining a proper distance. He Yan couldn’t bear to see this. "Can’t we let Yingxiong stay with his little brother at our place?" Fu Yanyan scolded him for being an idiot. Their family wasn’t a charity. To put it bluntly, why should they take care of both the older and younger child? If they did, it would complicate everything. Others would think they were fools. The Captain Yang upstairs might even feel like they were trying to take his child away. He Yan understood all this, but he felt sorry for Yingxiong. After finally experiencing happiness, he had to return to that unhappy home. Yang Yao, on the other hand, was quite pleased. When he got home and saw his older son taking care of the younger one, he felt surprised and delighted. "Yingxiong, why are you back?" In the past, Yang Yingxiong might have said nothing, but this time, he spoke up. "I don’t want to trouble Aunt Jin and Aunt Fang because of our family. They are good people who shouldn’t be taken advantage of." Yang Yao looked embarrassed, feeling scolded by his son. Yang Yingxiong paused before continuing, "From now on, I’ll take care of my little brother, but I have some conditions. First, Dad isn’t allowed to bring Grandma over. Second, Dad must give Aunt Jin fifteen yuan every month for food expenses. I’ll bring my little brother downstairs for meals every day." Seeing his son set conditions, especially the first one, which forbade his grandmother from coming over, Yang Yao felt unhappy. He had indeed considered bringing his mother-in-law over. However, he realized that even if she came, she wouldn’t take good care of the children. He suspected that Jin Xiuzhu and the others had influenced his son. Asking for fifteen yuan for food expenses, how could a child eat that much? It seemed like his older son was completely siding with the Jiang couple.

Seeing his silence, Yang Yingxiong seemed to guess what he was thinking, and his heart sank, feeling that his father was much more selfish than he had imagined.

"Let's still eat at the cafeteria, otherwise you might think Aunt Jin and the others are taking advantage."

He then continued, "If you don't agree, I'll leave now and won't bother about Little Brother anymore. This is your only chance, so it's up to you."

Feeling guilty, Yang Yao sighed, "Alright, I'll leave it all to you. Starting from this month, I'll have you manage my salary from now on."

Hearing this, Yang Yingxiong felt relieved but also somewhat distressed.

He had hoped his father would agree with his proposal, but upon hearing his agreement, he couldn't find it in himself to be happy. It meant that he was binding himself to this family and to the little brother in his arms for life.