Moreover, the “prey” brought back were basically all what he needed, the ones bought for him were on the higher side.
Don’t know if it’s because the cats don’t get close to her, she basically leaves early and returns late every day. After coming back she still has to busy herself with taking orders and drawing, not much time to play with the cats, only occasionally when resting would tease them a little.
By that time, the cats were already sleeping, which was equivalent to disturbing them. Just like how humans don’t like cats disturbing them, cats too—don’t get close to people who disturb them.
Cat food, water, cat litter and so on—before she even had the chance to deal with it, he had already taken care of it, so there wasn’t much opportunity to interact.
Cats seem to especially get close to the person who pours their food and water and cleans their litter.
They don’t get close to her, but they always love to chase and run beneath his wheelchair. Sometimes, when he isn’t paying attention, he almost runs over them.
Song Qing would occasionally think, if Nan Zhi poured their cat food and added water, the cats would stick to her. But he also felt this kind of trivial thing, she didn’t need to do.
Maybe also because they just got home two days ago, after a few days they’d get used to her.
While he was still thinking about these things, Nan Zhi was in front, unboxing parcels while looking for a trash bin.
There was one beside the sofa. She walked over, tossed the outer packaging bag, and conveniently sat down, then called him.
Song Qing turned the wheelchair, heading toward her.
The distance wasn’t far, just a few turns of the wheelchair already brought him to her front.
Nan Zhi took out the clothes from the transparent plastic bag, also a set—a work jacket and work pants. It looked a bit like denim material, a little stiff, but the quality was very good. There was a lining inside, didn’t feel bad, and felt pretty good to the touch.
Before putting it on him, Nan Zhi glanced at the area of his wheelchair’s handbrake, afraid that while she was fussing around, he might roll away if she didn’t manage to hold it in time. Song Qing seemed to notice her gaze, and took the initiative to pull the handbrake himself, the wheelchair instantly locked in place.
Nan Zhi had this strange feeling—like he had fixed himself there, delivered in front of her for her to mess with, and even sealed off his own way out.
She didn’t show it on her face, but in her heart she couldn’t be happier, satisfied as she tried the clothes on him.
This person looked good—anything he wore would look good. Even clothes with just a bit of style could highlight a person as fashionable and casual, clean and neat.
Nan Zhi inevitably thought back to when she had just brought him back. Back then he seemed to carry some inferiority complex, rarely met her eyes. Every time she looked at him, he was always lowering his brows and eyes, like a little wife. But now, he would naturally look at her.
Even when their gazes accidentally met, he wouldn’t avoid it anymore. He would turn his head at a suitable moment or do something else.
His whole spirit, complexion, everything—had improved a lot. He was much more confident, turned into a big wife.
Nan Zhi praised herself in her heart. Can’t raise animals—everything she raised died—but raising a person, not bad. Just a few days, and she made him so radiant.
I raised him this well, don’t even think about taking him from my hands!
Forget the crappy job, rent out the house, retreat to second line, go back to hometown and hide him away, and I still won’t let go!
Whoever tries to snatch him from me, I’ll fight whoever!
Just now the police said, those tricks the older generation used—crying, making trouble, hanging themselves—if she had to face that, she’d probably suffer.
Crying, making trouble, and hanging—I can do that too. If she dares to make a scene with me, I’ll make a scene right back. I’ll stick her photo up at the security office—comes once, chased away once.
Anyway, I’m absolutely not handing the person over.
Once he’s in my hands, he’s mine.
Just stall until he turns 18, then it’s fine. If it really doesn’t work, just move and resign—perfect, didn’t want to do the shitty job anyway, only lacked a trigger.
Of course, if it can be resolved smoothly, that’s naturally the best. If not, there are plenty of ways. In any case, if he doesn’t say he’s leaving, Nan Zhi will not let the person go.
The hukou booklet \[户口本 – household registration book], ID card, graduation certificate—all still with her.
Nan Zhi tried another outfit on him—this one was a thin sweatshirt and sweatpants. She liked sets—an entire outfit neat and clean, dry and fresh, how nice! So what Song Qing wore were all matching sets.
Nan Zhi had, a long time ago, felt that boys’ clothing often looked especially childish. Always thinking: “If it were my boyfriend, how would I ‘reform’ him?” Now good opportunity has come—she can mess with it all she wants.
After trying on the ones on his body, she went online to rush the courier to hurry up. There were still several parcels on the way, waiting for her to work her magic.
Adding the inner layer of T-shirt—outer layer dark blue, inner layer white—that color contrast would probably look even better,.although right now she was already very satisfied.
I’ve got a real knack for raising people. I raise him—he raises cats.
Indirectly equals she also raised cats, even made sure the cats were living well.
She had to admit—although her thoughts were detailed, many times she was lazy to act. Especially after falling ill, being able to live decently under all sorts of negative emotions, fighting against that voice in her head that always felt she was useless, already felt like she was doing quite well.
So most of the time, when it came to invisible housework and such, she could only half-close her eyes.
Song Qing, on the other hand, did things carefully and was willing to work. She often felt that inside Song Qing was a motor that never got tired. Running everywhere—one moment gone, came back and the food was ready; another moment gone, clothes washed, furniture wiped clean.
Before, if you touched the table at home, you could drag out a long trail of dust. Now everything was clean and tidy—he definitely hadn’t slacked off on wiping.
Even the cats were taken care of by him. The shop owner from Mao Ni wasn’t too at ease about the kittens, asked her to film a short video as a kind of follow-up visit. Seeing the new state of the two kittens, the owner finally felt at ease, thinking she raised them quite well.
Before they had eye gunk, messy fur— after all, they were strays, kept in cages for a few days, eating, drinking, pooping all in the same place—inevitably kind of messy. Now they were spotless, fur glossy and smooth, like little princesses and princes.
Only then did Nan Zhi find out—he even washed the cats. Took care of them really well.
Such a little wife—so long as he’s willing—she’ll immediately take him away, hide him to the ends of the earth, make it so no one can find him.
Anyway, this matter—she’s taking charge. No one’s backing him up? She will.
I’ll be his pillar. Protect him from the control of his uncle and aunt.
Nan Zhi replied to the shop owner, put down her phone, the more she looked at Song Qing nearby, the more pleasing to the eye.
The one I raised is so delightful.
She had only been busy for a little while, and over there Song Qing had already released the handbrake, ran to the kitchen to warm up the food.
The food had already been prepared when she got home, but since guests came and they were chatting, she hadn’t gotten the chance to eat—only had fruit, duck snacks, and milk tea.
She had bought the milk tea on her way home, not knowing how many people would come, bought six cups, still had two left. Song Qing also warmed them up together.
That dining table could keep things warm for a long time and also reheat dishes. After just a short while, steam was rising from the food.
A few tangerines placed on the edge of the stove had gotten warm first. Song Qing first slipped them into his pocket, then rolled his wheelchair over, took out the tangerines and shoved them into her hands.
The weather was getting colder and colder—this time of the year, she couldn’t eat cold things. Just now when chatting, she had thought about eating a few tangerines with him, but after hesitating for a bit, didn’t go for it. Song Qing saw that.
Then they saw him, still chatting while placing the tangerines on the magnetic stove to warm, grilled them until the peel was fragrant and crisp, then brought them back—all given to her.
That instant—Nan Zhi felt that nothing else mattered. Even if up ahead were ferocious tigers and wild beasts—she was going to fight! Rescue her little wife!
Isn’t that the trial all heroes must go through?
After passing the test, snatch the princess back from the evil dragon—So she was already prepared.
When the food was heated, Song Qing called her. Nan Zhi walked over. Like usual, just about to say something, but didn’t get the chance—Song Qing spoke first: “Nan Zhi, do you want to hear about my past?”
Nan Zhi blinked.
“You say.”
Was he finally willing to open up and share his inner thoughts with her?
Truthfully, her understanding of him mostly came from other people’s mouths. Rarely from his own.
This opportunity—she definitely wouldn’t miss it. Sat up properly, seriously waiting for Song Qing to reveal.
Song Qing mulled over his words for a while. Only after a long time did he finally speak:
“Then I’ll start from when my parents got in a car accident.”
Just turned twelve, still not very sensitive to life and death—suddenly, parents were gone. No one to pinch his cheeks anymore, indulgently ask him: “What does our little baby want?”
No one to drive a big truck, hide snacks and toys in their clothes, put on a serious face, swing over in front of him, suddenly pull them out to tease him.
The funeral and burial were all kept from him. It wasn’t until several days passed with no sign of Mom and Dad that he realized—they had already become two cold tombstones.
As for him, he got tossed around like a ball—this family didn’t take him, that family didn’t want him. Only neighbors, out of pity, would bring him some food and drinks.
At that time, his grandfather was still alive—over seventy, back bent and couldn’t stand straight, a thin and dry old man, looked like he wasn’t even taller than Song Qing.
He was being supported in Uncle and Aunt’s house. To them, Grandpa was already a burden—frequently scolded for freeloading.
Sometimes Song Qing would be sitting at the doorway with a bowl of rice, eating halfway, not even knowing how he’d provoked her, would get scolded by her until he cried.
But Grandpa still couldn’t bear to see his grandson left without anyone to care for him, so secretly brought him into Uncle and Aunt’s house.
Aunt would make a scene every day, refused to let the grandfather and grandson enter. Grandpa would then lead him through the dog hole, back to their own room—that room near the pigsty.
They used to live there together.
Grandpa was old, hands trembling, body shaking, couldn’t do any work. Just threshing some grain would leave him moaning “aiya aiya” at night, in pain.
Uncle and Aunt, upon hearing it, would say he was making noise. “Make noise again, and we’ll throw you out.”
So Song Qing would sit up in the middle of the night, massage Grandpa’s back and waist, help with housework, cook meals.
Maybe because he was still somewhat useful, Aunt gradually stopped threatening to kick them both out at every little thing.
Of course, she’d still call him dumb, lazy, no awareness, doesn’t know what chores to do.
The more he worked around the house, the better life was for him and Grandpa.
Grandpa would always tell him: “She’s just sharp-tongued, soft-hearted. Otherwise, she would’ve driven us out long ago.”
Whether that was true or not, Song Qing didn’t know. He only knew—when he still wanted to go to school, Uncle and Aunt started making a fuss again.
Back then, the family’s big truck had been wrecked in the crash. After selling it off, there were still tens of thousands of yuan left—all kept by Uncle and Aunt.
The teacher knew about this, came to negotiate. Uncle and Aunt, knowing they had taken the money, were in the wrong, so didn’t insist on dragging him north to dig coal. They signed an unfair contract, took on a debt that—for that era, and even now—would be considered an enormous amount of money. Only then did he manage to go to school.
After starting school, he didn’t have much time to do housework. Aunt went back to scolding Grandpa— “Useless old man, just eats and does nothing.”
Then one day, Grandpa suddenly disappeared.
He searched everywhere, finally saw him up on the mountain.
Grandpa wanted to pick fruit to sell and earn money, but slipped on the hillside. After being rescued, they needed money for treatment.
He had no money so he knelt down and begged Uncle and Aunt.
Uncle and Aunt mentioned the compensation from that other family.
Said, “We don’t have money. If you want money, use yours.”
He agreed.
Afterwards, they told him: That compensation money had all been used for Grandpa’s medical treatment. But it didn’t work—Grandpa still passed away.
Even the funeral costs were paid from his money. So he felt—that sum of money, probably can’t be taken back.