CHAPTER 124: CHAPTER 124: FOSTER CARE

A table of dishes was completely devoured. Not only did Master Liu eat without elegance until he was full, but even the young master ate more than half a bowl of rice. Excited, Master Liu ate a few more bites.

"Burp." Master Liu let out a satisfied belch: "So delicious."

Especially seeing his grandson eating more in this meal than he would in a whole day at home, and showing no signs of discomfort, he was even more delighted, his eyes almost turned into slits from smiling.

An idea gradually formed in his mind.

"Xiao Ze ate too little, are you full?" Second Aunt was a bit worried. This child was about the same age as their own Yu’er, yet ate less than Xiao Mi.

After a meal, the relationship grew closer, and Master Liu told Jiang Hu and Second Aunt not to be formal, to call him Xiao Ze directly.

Neither of them was the pretentious type, and since Master Liu suggested it, Liu Ze had no objections and was called by name.

Of course, the main reason was that this child looked too frail, had a good nature, and lacked the temperament of a young master, which made them feel a bit sorry for him.

Liu Ze nodded embarrassedly: "I’m full, thank you Auntie for your concern."

Master Liu also collected his cheerful expression, instructed the two attendants to wash the dishes, and let Jiang Hu and Second Aunt rest.

Unable to refuse the insistence of the two attendants, everyone eventually moved outside.

Second Aunt asked Liu Ze if he had any dietary restrictions and learning that he didn’t, brewed a pot of chrysanthemum, red date, and goji berry tea.

The pale yellow tea, with a faint floral fragrance, made Master Liu take a deep breath: "Fragrant and not vulgar, this tea is nice."

He then took a sip of the tea, and immediately brightened up: "Delicious! It especially cuts through the grease. After one sip, all the grease in the mouth was washed away."

Liu Ze also took a sip, his eyes lit up, and he couldn’t help but take another sip. It was much better than drinking plain water.

However, before he could drink more, Master Liu stopped him: "Ze’er, even if you don’t have any dietary restrictions, this chrysanthemum tea clears heat. It’s better if you drink less."

Liu Ze was a bit disappointed, but he obediently put down the tea bowl, planning to drink a little more later.

Jiang Hu gulped down a bowl, feeling much more comfortable, then asked Xiao Xue to take Xiao Mi and Tie Dan inside for a nap.

He intended to ask Liu Ze if he wanted to rest too, but after looking at Liu Ze, he decided not to ask.

"Master Liu, you want vegetables, right? I’ll go pick them for you now."

Today, Master Liu came not only to see who was growing the vegetables but mainly because he wanted to buy some. Ideally, he wanted vegetables delivered to their residence every day along with the vegetables sent to the restaurant.

Because the Jiang family’s vegetables were under contract with the restaurant and Liu the Shopkeeper was not only the shopkeeper but also the owner, Jiang Hu needed his consent to sell the vegetables to Master Liu.

Today was also the first time Jiang Hu learned that Liu the Shopkeeper’s Tongfu Restaurant had booming business in town in recent years and that it was thanks to this distant cousin, Master Liu, that no one dared to harbor ill intentions.

Jiang Hu was about to take Second Aunt to the fields when Master Liu called to stop them.

"Brother Jiang Hu, Mrs. Jiang, don’t rush. I have something I’d like to discuss with both of you."

The climate was already nearing the end of summer, the air was very dry, but there was a bit of wind under the eaves, still quite cool.

Jiang Hu was puzzled, but he still pulled Second Aunt to sit beside him: "Master Liu, please speak what’s on your mind."

Master Liu pondered for a moment, glanced at his grandson, and finally spoke.

"Brother Jiang Hu, I’d like to foster Ze’er with your family, is that okay?"

"Grandfather!" Liu Ze was shocked.

Jiang Hu was also stunned: "Master Liu, what do you mean?"

Master Liu waved his hand, signaling them not to worry: "Listen to me first."

He looked at Liu Ze first: "Ze’er, how did you feel eating this afternoon? Any discomfort?"

Liu Ze shook his head honestly: "I ate well, no discomfort."

Previously, he would have either stomach pain or nausea after eating. Even if his granduncle sent vegetables, they weren’t available every day, as they couldn’t grow fast enough in the fields.

Other times were very hard to endure.

Master Liu breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to Jiang Hu and Second Aunt with a smile: "Honestly, we’ve consulted countless famous doctors, but there seems to be no solution. His body isn’t ill, but he simply can’t eat."

He sighed again: "Before meeting you, our whole family, even Ze’er himself, felt like we couldn’t go on."

The meaning was clear to those who understood.

Second Aunt was immediately touched: "What are you saying, Master Liu? Isn’t Ze’er doing well now? If he eats more, he’ll be as strong as our eldest."

As a mother, she couldn’t bear to see children suffer from illness.

Master Liu laughed: "Yes, yes, fortunately we met you. My little Ze will surely get better."

He then grew serious: "I want to foster Ze’er with you because of this selfish wish. Our cooks are not skilled; even with your family’s vegetables, Ze’er still doesn’t eat much. He certainly doesn’t have the appetite he showed today."

Poor cooking skills aside, his appetite was genuinely lacking.

"Rest assured, my little Ze is well-mannered and doesn’t have bad habits. You don’t need to give him special attention, just an extra serving at mealtime."

Master Liu had reached this point, and Jiang Hu and Second Aunt didn’t know if they should refuse. Looking at Liu Ze, although he was silent, he didn’t seem to object.

Seeing their hesitation, Master Liu added another incentive.

"Brother Jiang Hu, perhaps you didn’t know, my little Ze, despite his health issues, has been well-versed in literature since childhood. He passed the Xiucai exam at six. Had it not been for his health, he would’ve prepared for the Scholar exams these past two years."

Jiang Hu was instantly in awe: "So impressive!"

Regardless of whether he could pass, taking the Xiucai exam at six, and preparing for the Scholar exam at seven, was beyond his understanding of a prodigy!

His eldest child, at seven, was just beginning school...

Master Liu was very satisfied with Jiang Hu and Second Aunt’s reactions, feeling confident: "Exactly, if Ze’er is fostered in your family, he can tutor your eldest child in his free time, and he’ll be no different from the local private school teacher."

This was practically the same as having a live-in tutor!

Jiang Hu was tempted, glanced at Second Aunt, who didn’t object, and steadied his nerves, looking at Liu Ze.

"You misunderstood, Master Liu. I’m not unwilling, but it depends on the young master’s own wishes, right?"

After all, if he didn’t want to stay, forcing him wouldn’t be proper.

Although young, Liu Ze was surprised by his grandfather’s actions but wasn’t foolish. He understood why his grandfather was doing this.

It was all to ensure that his body could recover, without worrying about possibly starving at home due to not being able to eat.

Liu Ze composed himself, slightly bowed his hands to Jiang Hu and Second Aunt: "Then I’ll trouble Uncle Jiang and Auntie."