Become a burden in a period novel

Chapter 522 Dog

Li's mother lives in a rural area near the town. Since only she and her great-grandson are left in the family, even though the land has been allocated to individual households, she does not farm it. Instead, she rents out the land allocated to her and her great-grandson to others to farm.

She actually still had some money, but she didn't dare to take it out during those years. As for why she didn't take it out during the famine years, everyone was starving back then, and sweet potatoes were more valuable than gold and silver.

Now that the market has opened up, she exchanged her gold bracelet for money, and with the grain given to her by the family who rented their land, it was enough for her and her grandchildren to have enough to eat.

However, her health has been deteriorating lately, and she feels she may not have much time left. She is already over seventy, and almost everyone her age has passed away, so she has lived a long and fulfilling life. But she is very worried about her little grandson.

The return of the Xu family surprised many people, and many rumors spread. Everyone knew that the Xu family had returned and witnessed their generosity.

Xu Huaici didn't mind that people knew the Xu family was wealthy, nor did he care about their attitudes.

They returned in a grand manner, redeemed the old house, hired many craftsmen to repair it, and even searched the entire county for materials to rebuild it. It's safe to say that very few people in the entire county didn't know the Xu family had returned.

Li's mother had naturally heard about it. At first, she didn't know who had returned, so she didn't think to come looking for them. But she had fallen ill a few days ago. Although it wasn't serious, she felt very sorry for her great-grandson who was struggling to take care of her.

She's the only elder the child has left. If she leaves too, he'll become an orphan.

For her child's sake, Li's mother gritted her teeth and came to find the Xu family. She was relieved when she learned that it was Xu Huaici who had returned.

This is the child she watched grow up, and also the playmate her son grew up with. If she entrusts the child to him, he will definitely be able to raise him.

Li's mother didn't ask for much; she just wanted her great-grandson to grow up safely.

Xu Huaici felt a pang of sadness looking at the elderly woman in front of her. "Aunt Li, you raised me, so it's only right that I take care of you in your old age."

Her children and grandchildren are all gone, so it's only natural that I, the person she raised, should take care of her in her old age and see her off in her final days.

"Once this place is repaired, you can live here with the child. Don't talk about entrusting the child to you; the child will definitely want to be by your side. If... I will take good care of the child!" Xu Huaici promised.

"Thank you, thank you, Fifth Young Master!" Upon hearing Xu Huaici's words, Li's mother wanted to kneel down and kowtow to him. Not only did she want to kowtow herself, but she also made the children beside her kowtow together.

The child was very honest and immediately knelt down and kowtowed.

Xu Huaici quickly went to help Li's mother, and at the same time turned to ask the people next to her to help the child up. Qin Jingchu reacted the fastest, and directly lifted the child up.

The child was lifted up and looked at Qin Jingchu with some confusion, unsure of how to react.

“Aunt Li is shortening my lifespan. Besides, this is the new China now, and we don’t kowtow anymore.”

"I... I'm just so grateful," Li's mother said, her voice trembling with emotion.

“You haven’t told us the child’s name yet. He looks like a good boy.” Qin Jingchu placed the child next to Li’s mother, then immediately ran behind her and peeked out to look at them.

"Let's name the child 'Dog,' a humble name that's easier to raise," said Li's mother, her voice filled with sorrow. Her greatest hope for this child was that he could grow up safely.

"We still need to give him a proper name. He's old enough to go to school, and his classmates will laugh at him if he doesn't have this name." Qin Jingchu reached out and ruffled the dog's hair.

"Fifth Young Master, you are considered an elder of this child, so please give him a name." Madam Li looked at Xu Huaici with expectant eyes.