Jiang Yuxu felt his chin being stroked, as if he were a commodity being appraised.
In that case, he should be considered qualified.
After all, family bonds need to be maintained. As things stood, his biological mother didn't seem to have any maternal love born of blood ties.
A pang of pain shot through his heart. Jiang Yuxu turned his head away and waited quietly for a moment before asking, "...What's your answer?"
"Of course it's a yes."
—
The person who came with Bo Xin was a tall, thin man whose features bore some resemblance to hers.
But he was a man, so he looked more rugged.
"Sis, is this why you've been treating Yanyi that way lately?"
Throughout the journey, no matter how much he probed, his sister hadn't told him what they were doing in the countryside.
But the moment he saw Jiang Yuxu's face, everything became clear—that face was practically a miniature version of his brother-in-law.
So all this time, the children in their home had been switched at birth?
He had understood from the start but had kept silent, playing the role of a qualified sidekick.
Bo Xin shot him an amused glance. "Not too dumb, I see."
Bo Xiao chuckled twice and scratched his head. "I've grown up. After all, I'm a father now."
He was ten years younger than his sister; in her eyes, he was still a little kid.
The siblings had always been close. Even when his family faced a crisis when he was eight—their assets confiscated, labeled as capitalists' children—his sister had acted swiftly, marrying his brother-in-law.
That ensured they had food to eat and weren't subjected to door-smashing like others.
So, he had always admired his sister the most, knowing she was a woman with strong opinions and intelligence.
"Then don't send Yanyi back. It's not like we can't afford an extra pair of chopsticks. He's used to city life; he'd never survive the hardship here. Especially since this family is no good. Yanyi's temper is spoiled by our family; how could he live here?"
Bo Xin didn't reply. Her younger brother seemed to think the earlier decision had been reversed, and she was going to send the fake son back.
But she had never thought that way.
Standing in the dilapidated brick house, Bo Xin couldn't help but remind him, "Keep your voice down."
The walls were thin. Hearing this so-called uncle's words—not a single syllable for him, only concern for the fake son—would hardly make the real son happy.
She gave a subtle nod and began to soften his impression. "Go buy some things kids like, and stuff we can use tonight."
The storage room was old and cramped, too small for three people, but Bo Xiao could sleep in the car.
The village committee knew she had come to find her lost biological son. This was newsworthy enough, so they were enthusiastic, sending the village head to guide her and even offering a room reserved for visiting leaders.
But Bo Xin declined. What better way to understand a person than to live in the place they once occupied?
Still, the conditions were too harsh.
How long had it been since she'd slept on a reed mat? Back when she studied her way out of the mountains and then worked at the hospital, even the sponsored students in the countryside had better conditions than this.
Jiang Yuxu passed by Bo Xiao. The road was rough, so Bo Xiao had to walk down the mountain to buy supplies, but his face showed no complaint—only excitement.
This was the first time his sister had actually taken his suggestion.
Jiang Yuxu shot him a knowing glance.
Bo Xin thought to herself, 'This is what Bo Xiao calls growing up? Everything written all over his face.'
But Jiang Yuxu didn't ask, and she didn't know exactly how much he had noticed.
Jiang Yuxu turned and began tidying the table. "I have some mosquito coils and a lighter here. They work pretty well."
Bo Xin had just seen them.
"Let him buy more. That little won't be enough."
Jiang Yuxu stamped out a half-burned reed at his feet. If the mosquito coils ran out, he'd use these, but now it seemed he wouldn't need to.
Mosquito coils weren't really for mosquitoes; they were for some moisture pests. Not very effective, but better than nothing.
He looked at Bo Xin's fair, almost glowing hands. "Maybe you should go to the room the village committee arranged for you."
Bo Xin wanted to, but he didn't want to go. Going up and down wasted so much time. He had things to pack and matters to handle.
Jiang Yuxu definitely wanted to pack up quickly and leave early, to finalize everything.
So Bo Xin had to keep him company. "That's a bit sad. Are you really that unwilling to be alone with me?"
Jiang Yuxu frowned, wanting to look at her, but he noticed the man who came with her had already gone down the mountain.
Should he call that man 'Uncle'?
Thinking of the conversation he'd overheard earlier, he found it hard to say, "Shouldn't it be three people?"
Bo Xin pointed at the car outside and gave him a meaningful look.
If he kept pushing and asked, "Can't we switch? He could sleep with Uncle, and she could sleep in the car?"—the car was cramped but clean and quiet—she would definitely brush him off with, "Are you that unwilling to sleep with me?"
Jiang Yuxu sat on the edge of the bed, his ill-fitting shoes dangling over the side.