Watching Weng Jiefang leave in defeat, Bai Na finally relaxed, quickly removing Old Liu’s arm. She felt a bit uneasy.
"Let’s eat, let’s eat!"
She carried Little Shitou inside.
Erhu’s wife closely followed, throwing a remark to Old Liu as she passed.
"Brother Liu, I’ve done my part in helping, the rest is up to you now."
Old Liu smiled wryly, and Erhu nudged his waist, "Go on, strike while the iron is hot." He winked and hurried after his wife.
Old Liu scratched his head and followed them inside.
Bai Na served the rice, while Erhu’s wife automatically sat next to her husband, deliberately leaving the seat next to Bai Na empty, giving Old Liu a signal.
Old Liu sat next to Bai Na, picking up Little Shitou, who was staring frustratedly at the table, unable to reach.
He placed the boy on his lap, picked up a bite of scrambled eggs, blew on it, and fed it to Little Shitou.
Little Shitou cheerfully enjoyed the fragrant eggs, happily tugging on Old Liu’s shirt.
"Brother Liu, let feed him, you should eat too."
Bai Na placed the bowl in front of Old Liu and reached to take the child, knowing how mischievous he could be now.
Old Liu waved her off, "You go ahead and eat! I’m feeding him already, no need to be so courteous."
He slowly fed Little Shitou, bite by bite, as the boy’s appetite had grown, especially loving the als, having moved beyond milk to regular als.
Bai Na smiled awkwardly.
Having soone else take care of her child felt inappropriate.
Erhu’s wife called out to Bai Na, "Go ahead and eat, why are you hesitating? Old Liu is perfectly capable of feeding him, isn’t he?"
Bai Na shook her head vigorously, "Of course not! How could I not trust Brother Liu?"
Both Old Liu and Erhu treated Little Shitou like their own child, particularly Old Liu, whom the boy clung to as if he wanted to be part of him, often needing Bai Na to take him away at night, or else Little Shitou would forget who his mother was.
"Exactly, I think Old Liu is just like Little Shitou’s real dad. Whoever marries him will be very fortunate—I’ve never seen a man as responsible as Old Liu. Any woman who gets him will be blessed."
She glanced knowingly at Bai Na.
Bai Na gave a wry smile—indeed.
Her heart felt a bit sour.
How could she not know?
Brother Liu is a good man, and if he marries, he’s bound to be a loving husband.
He always lends a hand for any task, whether it’s n’s work or won’s, always considerate, making sure she and Little Shitou have the best, especially loving the child, treating Little Shitou as his own, which is why the boy clings to him so much.
She pressed her lips together, saying nothing, each grain of rice felt tasteless as she ate absent-mindedly.
"I’m not as great as you all say, with my one leg, which girl would look at ? Not to ntion I have a big family, no young woman would accept ," Old Liu said with a smile, feeding Little Shitou tofu.
The boy ate with relish.
"Don’t say that, Brother Liu. How about I look for soone suitable for you? You’re not getting any younger, living alone isn’t the way to go, you need soone who knows you well. Plus, your disability is from serving the country, not sothing congenital; there’s nothing to be scared about. Anyone who minds is blind," Erhu’s wife said cheerfully.
Old Liu glanced at Bai Na, her face paling a bit.
"No need to rush, no need."
"Why not? I think Bai Na is great, she’s young and pretty and hardworking and diligent. Why not pair you two up? Don’t tell you look down on Bai Na, because she’s divorced and has a child?" Erhu continued the conversation, the matter nearly out in the open.
How could he not see through his brother’s feelings?
Bai Na’s face turned red, the rice caught in her throat, making her choke and cough uncontrollably. Old Liu, sitting beside her, quickly patted her back until she could breathe easily again.
She saw Erhu and his wife smiling at her.
Bai Na asked, belatedly noticing, "What’s going on? Do I have flowers on my face?"
Their fixed gazes were unnerving; the couple even seed to share the sa look.
Erhu’s wife tugged at him, "Let’s go eat in the other room. Little Shitou, co with auntie, I’ll take you to play!" She took Little Shitou from Old Liu’s arms and carried him off, Erhu winking as he carried their bowls away.
Bai Na didn’t understand what was going on with them.
Why did they seem so strange?
Just as she was about to talk to Old Liu, she suddenly realized his large hand was still resting on her back, and a warmth radiated there.
"You... I’m not coughing anymore."
Old Liu withdrew his hand, understanding the opportunity Erhu and his wife created: a mont to talk to Bai Na. It wasn’t appropriate to have the girl initiate this conversation; as the man, he should take the lead.
"Brother Liu, go ahead and eat. I’ll fetch Little Shitou back, or else he’ll start fussing, and the two of them won’t be able to eat." Bai Na felt nervous after all the day’s happenings and suddenly felt a bit out of place.
Especially now, alone with Old Liu, the atmosphere grew tense.
Bai Na stood, intending to step outside.
Suddenly, her hand was firmly grasped by a pair of large hands.
Turning around, she saw the fiery look in Old Liu’s eyes, staring at their joined hands in surprise.
During her ti at the chicken farm, Old Liu and Erhu had behaved like gentlen, offering help without ever stepping over boundaries, let alone touching her.
So what had changed today?
"Bai Na, don’t go. Sit down, I need to talk to you."
Old Liu exerted a little force, guiding Bai Na to sit at the table.
His expression was stern, causing Bai Na’s heart to race anxiously.
Old Liu, usually amiable and always smiling, now wore a daunting expression.
Like sothing serious was about to happen.
Bai Na’s heart pounded furiously.
Her face felt hot, unsure why she anticipated what Old Liu was about to say, fearing it might frighten her.
Yet there was a slight hint of expectation.
"What... do you want to say?"
The words ca out like a whisper.
Old Liu looked earnestly at Bai Na, seeing not only a beautiful girl but also soone kind and diligent, qualities that any man would find attractive.
Since her first day at the chicken farm, helping set things in order, nding clothes, and washing, she and her little boy had beco an indispensable part of their lives.
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