Chapter 13

That soft call, filled with Ning Wuxue's long-held expectations, echoed in his heart. In his previous life as an orphan, Ning Wuxue had never experienced the warmth of family.

For Ning Wuxue, parents, brothers, and sisters were a luxury. Every year, he was alone, coming and going with the seasons, and he had grown accustomed to solitude. Until he met that girl. She was not only his girlfriend but also his only spiritual support. Now, he had two more ties.

In this world, the most genuine thing is family. Those who have it often take it for granted, only to regret it when it's lost. Ning Wuxue had never had it, and now he cherished it all the more. Seeing Ning Bo Wu, who was mixed in with the children, a warm current enveloped his heart.

Life had been kind to him, giving him a chance at rebirth and two family members. What more could he ask for?

Contentment brings happiness, and Ning Wuxue was happy at this moment. This happiness was something he had only felt with the girl. He and she were family, and now he and they were also family.

"Stupid, stupid, your brother is back." A five-year-old girl, facing Ning Wuxue, saw him standing in the snow, lost in thought. She quickly patted Ning Bo Wu's shoulder, her big, watery eyes wide, and ran toward Ning Wuxue.

"Brother Wuxue, Brother Wuxue..."

Due to his age, Ning Wuxue was the undisputed leader among the children in the village. Among the dozen or so kids, only the village chief's son, Ning Wushuang, could match him, and thus they had a rivalry. However, with his "stupid" brother backing him up, Ning Wuxue always had the upper hand.

The children's playful squabbles were not taken seriously by the adults, who did not intervene. Moreover, Ning Wuxue was smart, clever, and well-behaved, and was much loved by the villagers. As they were all part of the Ning family, the village chief could not be too harsh, and only advised Ning Wushuang to avoid provoking Ning Wuxue.

Hearing the little girl's voice, the children building a snowman turned to look. Seeing that it was indeed Ning Wuxue, they ran over happily.

"Brother Wuxue is back..."

"Wait, my mother said Brother Wuxue is a monster and we should stay away from him."

A boy around twelve years old suddenly stopped, remembering his parents' warning. He shouted, hesitating, and the other children also slowed down, looking at Ning Wuxue with doubt.

The little girl who had run over to Ning Wuxue, hearing the boy's words, blinked her eyes timidly, unsure what a monster was. At her age, she didn't know what a monster was; it was something adults made up to discipline children. Scary, scary, they eat children, and if you're not good, the monsters will come and eat you at night.

"What, Little Yue, don't you recognize Brother Wuxue?" Ning Wuxue squatted down, pinched the little girl's chubby face, which was red from the cold, and looked into her big, watery eyes.

"Brother said Brother Wuxue is a monster," the little girl said timidly, glancing back at the boy who had spoken.

Ning Wuxue naturally recognized the children and smiled. Amid their exclamations, he picked up the little girl and asked the others, "Do you know what a monster is?"

"No..."

"Mother said they eat people, especially naughty children..."

"Is that so..."

Ning Wuxue bared his teeth in a fierce expression and ran toward the children.

"Run, the monster is coming..."

Seven or eight children were startled, crying and scattering. Ning Wuxue stopped by Ning Bo Wu's side, took a deep breath, and glared at a child hiding behind a willow tree, who quickly hid again.

"Hehehe..."

Little Yue laughed happily in Ning Wuxue's arms, clapping her hands. To her, scaring the other children was so much fun, something she couldn't do.

"Hehe... hehe..."

Ning Bo Wu also laughed, not understanding why the children were running, but it didn't stop him from being happy. In his world, there was no such thing as unhappiness.

"Brother, I'm going home..." Ning Wuxue said softly, not caring if Ning Bo Wu understood. It was the only way to express his feelings. Home, a word that was both unfamiliar and dear.

Ning Bo Wu looked at Ning Wuxue, wiped his face, and smiled.

"Brother Bo Wu looks like a big cat, hehe, Brother Wuxue has grown so tall..." Little Yue's small hands gestured.

"Ning Xiaoyue, come home for dinner..."

A voice called from the village, and Little Yue quickly broke free, running toward the village. After running a bit, she turned back, her pure eyes looking at Ning Wuxue.

"Is Brother Wuxue really not a monster?"

Ning Wuxue's heart trembled under her pure gaze. In front of such a pure soul, he couldn't bring himself to lie.

But before Ning Wuxue could answer, Little Yue had already run back to the village, leaving behind a childish voice.

"Whether Brother Wuxue is a monster or not, he is still Little Yue's brother. Even if he is, he is a good monster."

The setting sun shone on Ning Wuxue, and the words echoed in his heart. Good or bad, who could really tell? Monster or human, how could they be distinguished?

"Let's go, home!"

Ning Wuxue looked at Ning Bo Wu, who was carrying a book bag, and they walked toward the village. Ning Bo Wu scratched his head; he only knew that following Ning Wuxue was the right thing to do, just as it had always been.

Ning Family Village was not large, with only forty to fifty households, all part of the Ning family. Seeing the "stupid" Ning Bo Wu and Ning Wuxue, the villagers were somewhat afraid.

Ning Wuxue greeted them warmly, all of them were uncles and brothers. Moreover, it had been over a month since the incident, and the villagers no longer suspected Ning Wuxue of being a monster. Their suspicions had diminished, and they were more welcoming.

Passing by the village chief's house, the old chief saw Ning Wuxue return, taller than before, and thought the food at Baiyun Temple must be good. He smiled and gave Ning Wuxue a few pancakes. Ning Wuxue's return from Baiyun Temple meant the monster story was absurd. With the county examination approaching, it was wise to build a good relationship with Ning Wuxue.

The old chief, though old, was sharp.

Ning Wuxue's home was at the end of the village, near the back mountain. His father used to hunt there, and it also served as a guard against wild animals.

A low fence surrounded a small vegetable garden and three thatched houses. This was Ning Wuxue's home.

Pushing open the old wooden door, he looked inside. An old woman, bent with age, was busy at the stove outside. Hearing the door, she didn't look up, her hoarse voice saying, "Wuhua is back, go wash your face by the stream first. Mother has stewed some wild vegetables for you."

Bo Wu was his given name, Wuhua was his name, and "stupid" was the nickname the villagers gave him. Over time, they forgot his real name, Wuhua, and only his mother continued to call him by it.

Ning Wuxue looked at the old, busy figure. He had imagined this scene countless times, calling out "Mother" in his dreams. But when the moment came, he found the word stuck in his throat, unable to speak. The feeling was so overwhelming that he wanted to cry.

How many people sang "A child without a mother is like a weed," but how many truly understood that feeling? How many people didn't cherish that family bond?

Mother, mother, she is my mother!

Ning Wuxue's knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, tears streaming down his face, his voice hoarse.

"Mother, your son is back, back..."