AD (QT) Chapter 119

Han Ze went to town. Since Liu Jiahua didn’t see him, she shifted her gaze to the rest of the Han family, hoping they would put in a good word for her. After all, she was Han Ze’s mother; if she looked bad, Han Ze would lose face as well.

However, within the Han family, no one except Han Ze took Liu Jiahua seriously. As for the idea of Han Ze “losing face”—she was overthinking it. Liu Jiahua, as a mother, had been shameless enough to conceive a child out of wedlock and brazenly give birth to him; if there was any face to lose, it had all been lost over twenty years ago. How much worse could it get?

Liu Jiahua glanced at the indifferent Han Maode, her eyes burning with resentment. She then swept her gaze over Ge Hongbu and the girls. Under the Original Owner’s oppressive authority, Ge Hongbu and the children had been forced to acknowledge Liu Jiahua as their remarried mother-in-law and grandmother, but they carried no weight in this house and had no status. Whether they wanted to help or not, they were powerless.

Seeing Ge Hongbu’s expression, Liu Jiahua knew she couldn’t count on her. She cursed inwardly at her bad luck and said crossly, “When Han Ze returns, tell him to come to my house. Tell him I have something to discuss with him.”

Ge Hongbu responded with a submissive, “Yes.”

Before leaving, Liu Jiahua cast a lingering glance at Han Maode, who didn’t even lift an eyelid. She snorted, gave Wang Lanhua a contemptuous look, and then sashayed away.

Wang Lanhua didn’t pay any mind to Liu Jiahua’s petty gestures. Liu Jiahua had spent her whole life scheming against others; as long as she thought she was doing well, that was her business. Thinking of the task Han Ze had given her, Wang Lanhua felt a headache coming on. She went back to her room and rummaged through her chests until she found a silver bracelet. She touched it reluctantly, then gritted her teeth and wrapped it up. As long as her two daughters fared well, a single silver bracelet was nothing to be stingy about.

She walked out and said to Han Maode, “I’m heading back to my natal home. Since Han Ze wants the children to learn embroidery from my eldest sister-in-law, I have to go there in person.”

Han Maode opened his eyes and said, “Go then. We are asking for a favor, so even though it’s your brother’s wife, you mustn’t lack proper etiquette.”

Wang Lanhua waved her hand and said with a faint smile, “Don’t you worry. In all these years, it’s rare for Han Ze to ask me for help. For the sake of him calling me ‘Mother,’ I’ll make sure this gets done.”

Han Maode looked helpless: “That boy is just a muddled rascal…”

Wang Lanhua didn’t care: “Rascal or not, as long as he’s willing to teach Xiaochun and Xiaodong to read and write, I’m grateful to him.”

“You are a good woman,” Han Maode thought. His luck wasn’t too bad after all, being able to marry Wang Lanhua. With Han Ze’s temperament, if he had married any other woman, the household would never have known peace.

As Wang Lanhua walked out the gate, her old face still felt a bit flushed. “Good” or not, she was just a country woman; she couldn’t speak in grand principles, she only knew not to covet things that weren’t hers.

Besides, her two sons were healthy and strong. As long as they were willing to work, they wouldn’t starve. Living by one’s own hands felt solid.

Liu Jiahua was good at calculating, but once Han Ze stopped playing along, who would she scheme against? She would have her moment of panic soon enough.

…

Han Ze went to town today and took Xiaoliu with him.

Since Xiaoliu hadn’t spoken since birth, the family assumed he was a fool. The Original Owner had disliked him because of this and was even more violent toward him than toward the girls. Although Xiaoliu was young and couldn’t speak, he knew his father despised him. He usually hid from him. Even as Han Ze held his hand now, he could still feel the boy’s fear.

Han Ze took out a pill prepared by the Medical Department. Considering the user was a child, the department had made the medicine look and taste like a sugar bean. He looked at Xiaoliu and said gently, “Xiaoliu, do you want a sweet?”

Xiaoliu didn’t understand why the father who used to terrify him now made him feel like drawing closer. Even so, he didn’t speak; he just looked at Han Ze timidly and expectantly.

Han Ze’s heart softened, and he held the pill out to the boy: “If you like it, take it yourself.”

Xiaoliu hesitated, staring at Han Ze for a long time to make sure he was serious. Then he reached out, grabbed the pill, and quickly stuffed it into his mouth, pressing his lips tight as if afraid someone would snatch it away.

Han Ze was stunned for a moment and then laughed. This kid wasn’t a fool at all; he was a little rascal. He had been terrified a moment ago, but as soon as he realized he wouldn’t be beaten, he snatched the food—it was quite unexpected.

Han Ze asked with a smile, “Is the ‘sugar bean’ tasty?”

Xiaoliu lowered his head and didn’t speak, but he crunched the pill loudly. Han Ze patted his small head. “If you follow Dad obediently and like sweets, Dad will buy more for you.”

Xiaoliu looked up sharply, thought for a moment, and then stood primly beside Han Ze, looking every bit the “obedient son.”

Han Ze chuckled. He had realized that this boy was even craftier than his older sisters.

…

Once in town, Han Ze took Xiaoliu to a clinic based on his memories. Cases like Xiaoliu’s were rare. After the doctor examined him repeatedly, Han Ze asked anxiously, “Can my child’s ‘foolishness’ be cured?”

The doctor looked at him. “This child can understand my words and follow my instructions perfectly. How is he a fool? His eyes are a bit dull, but that’s likely from being frightened.”

Han Ze asked in surprise, “Doctor, you mean my son isn’t a fool?”

The doctor replied impatiently, “He’s not a fool, but if he can’t speak, there is clearly an issue.”

Han Ze frowned. “He hasn’t spoken since he was little.”

The doctor hadn’t seen a case quite like this. Even children with speech impediments were different from this boy. He couldn’t find a physical cause and simply suggested he might be a natural-born mute.

However, Han Ze knew Xiaoliu wasn’t a natural mute. In the Original Owner’s memories, the boy often wailed as a baby—how could he be a natural mute? Moreover, the System had checked: he was initially just a late talker, and later he was simply scared into silence.

Han Ze ventured, “He used to cry when he was an infant. Is it possible he was frightened into silence?”

The doctor stroked his beard and frowned. “Was this child truly frightened that badly?”

Han Ze looked embarrassed and said shamefully, “It’s my fault. My wife had five girls in a row, and when a boy finally came and couldn’t speak, I thought he was a fool. I often beat and scolded him…”

The doctor frowned and snorted coldly, “Even adults can be scared speechless, let alone such a small child. Utterly muddled!”

Han Ze’s face turned red as he stammered, “D-doctor, what should we do now?”

The doctor thought for a moment. “His throat is fine. You shouldn’t just give him any medicine. I’ll prescribe some herbs to calm his nerves. Take them and see how it goes.”

Han Ze nodded repeatedly.

Exiting the clinic, Han Ze picked up Xiaoliu and kissed him on the cheek. “My son isn’t a fool.”

Xiaoliu looked at him, his eyes showing a sense of closeness; he clearly liked his father’s affection. Han Ze couldn’t help but kiss him again.

Han Ze crouched down and asked, “Shall we go buy sweets now?”

Xiaoliu looked at him without speaking.

Han Ze added, “If you don’t speak, Dad won’t buy them.”

Xiaoliu got anxious and looked at Han Ze. Dad is breaking his word; I’m being good and obedient!

Han Ze pinched his nose. “How about this? If you agree we should go buy sweets, just nod your head. How about it?”

Xiaoliu understood and nodded his small head vigorously.

Han Ze laughed. “Alright, alright. Dad agrees to buy them. If you keep nodding, your head might fall off.”

Xiaoliu stopped immediately, and a tiny, twinkling smile actually appeared in his innocent eyes.

The father and son went to the pastry shop and bought not only sugar blocks but also several bags of pastries. Carrying the goods, Han Ze popped a piece of sugar into his son’s mouth. On the way back, they saw someone selling candied haws. Xiaoliu stared at them, his eyes full of longing.

Han Ze knew he wanted one. This child had never spoken and was labeled a fool, so the Original Owner never let him out of the house, let alone to town. He had never tasted candied haws.

Han Ze pointed at the candied haws and asked, “Do you want one?”

Xiaoliu nodded vigorously. But Han Ze said, “Nodding won’t work this time. You have to say ‘want’ for it to count.”

Xiaoliu pressed his lips together and remained silent.

Han Ze wasn’t in a hurry. He crouched down. “Come, follow Dad. Say ‘want’¹xiang. Just say it, and Dad will buy the candied haws for you. Want… want…”

Xiaoliu still kept his mouth shut, looking at Han Ze expressionlessly.

Han Ze stood up and said regretfully, “Since Xiaoliu doesn’t like candied haws, forget it. Let’s go home.”

After taking just two steps, Xiaoliu grabbed Han Ze’s robe. Han Ze looked down. “What is it?”

Xiaoliu looked at the candied haws. Han Ze crouched down again and smiled. “Want to eat them?”

Xiaoliu nodded. Han Ze said with a grin, “If you want to eat, say ‘want.’ Dad knows you can speak. Want…”

Xiaoliu lowered his head. Han Ze stood up. “Since you don’t want to say it, forget it.”

Xiaoliu panicked, grabbed Han Ze’s hand, and let out an “Ang!”

Han Ze laughed and crouched down. “Say it again.”

Xiaoliu let out another “Ang!” After making the sound, his small face looked quite annoyed. Why was what he said different from what his Dad said?

Han Ze stroked his head. “It’s okay. If it’s different, it’s different. Dad will buy you the candied haws.”

With the candied haws in his hand and sugar still in his mouth, Xiaoliu looked at his father. Han Ze pinched his nose and said jokingly, “The candied haws won’t run away. Finish the sugar in your mouth first, then eat them.”

Xiaoliu looked at the haws, then at his Dad, and finally agreed.

…

With Xiaoliu in tow, Han Ze didn’t plan on buying anything else and headed straight home.

Just as they reached the village entrance, they ran into Han Chengming walking home with his two sons, Han Jiwen and Han Jixue. Seeing Han Ze, Han Chengming led his sons to wait for him. Han Ze approached but ignored them completely, leading Xiaoliu right past them.

Han Chengming was stunned, unable to believe Han Ze would treat him this way. Han Jiwen and Han Jixue saw Xiaoliu eating candied haws while Han Ze held several more skewers in his hand. Swallowing their spit, Han Jixue couldn’t help but shout, “Big Uncle, I want to eat candied haws! Didn’t you buy those for us? Why won’t you give them to us?”

Han Ze said, “If you want candied haws, go ask your own father to buy them.”

And with that, he walked away.

Han Chengming frowned and chased after him, questioning, “Big Brother, the kids just want a skewer of candied haws. You’re really that stingy?”

Han Ze arched an eyebrow at him and said deliberately, “If they were my actual biological nephews, forget two skewers—I’d be willing to give them my entire family fortune.”

If it were any other children, he wouldn’t be stingy over two skewers, but thinking about what these two would do in the future, his heart remained cold.

Han Chengming’s eyelids jumped when he heard the part about “giving them the entire family fortune.” He hurriedly said, “They are your biological nephews! They are Mother’s grandsons.”

At this, he glanced at Xiaoliu and added, “They are just like Xiaoliu; they both call Mother ‘Grandmother’.”

Han Ze gave a half-smile. “The ‘Grandmother’ is the same, that’s true. But whose fault is it that their grandfathers aren’t the same?”

Han Chengming was choked.

Han Ze continued, “A grandfather determines one’s destiny. If you were also my father’s child, my uncle’s silver and land wouldn’t have gone to me alone.”

Saying this, he patted Han Chengming’s shoulder. “If you want to blame someone, go blame Mother. Who told her to birth you as Uncle Xingwang’s child?”

Han Chengming looked at him with fury, but Han Ze ignored him and walked away with Xiaoliu.

Seeing their Big Uncle leave, Han Jiwen and Han Jixue hurriedly said, “Dad, Big Uncle hasn’t given us the candied haws yet!”

Fuming with rage, Han Chengming slapped one of them aside and barked, “Eat, eat, eat! All you know is eating! Do you know anything else?”

Han Jixue burst into a loud wail. Han Chengming shot them a look and stomped off.