Chapter 60: You Scared My Guard

Tianxuan recounted how early in the morning, several guards had come over to play with them, throwing out all sorts of probing questions about where they were from, what their elders did, and whether they were out visiting relatives or up to something else.

Because of the constant reminders and cautions from their eldest brother, Tianshu, they simply smiled and gave no answers to all these questions.

Only little Yaoguang spoke up in response, but her answer to everything was just, "I don't know."

Hearing this and picturing the scene in her mind, Hong Xiaoduo couldn't help but burst into a chuckle. Little Yaoguang wasn't lying at all, because they genuinely had no idea about the things the guards were asking.

It turned out a group of grown men had wasted the entire morning trying to coax children, without managing to get a single piece of reliable information.

Seeing the children all looking up at her, waiting for instructions or admonitions, she said, "It's fine. They aren't bad people. They were just too curious and tried to fish for information out of harmless amusement.

Also, when we have lunch together at noon, you don't need to worry about not holding your chopsticks properly, having messy table manners, or being laughed at by them. Just eat whatever you want and eat your fill.

That grandfather is a good person and a fine official who is kindly looking after us. Just keep their kindness in your hearts.

And remember this: when you meet people who truly need help in the future, and if you have the capability to do so, lend a hand. But use your brain—never do good deeds blindly, and always act within your own limits."

"Mother, we remember," Tianshu answered first, and the other six nodded in agreement.

Since the post station was located in the desolate wilderness with no shops to stroll around, Hong Xiaoduo led them back to the small communal brick-bed room to rest.

With nothing to do, she simply continued telling the children the story of *Journey to the West*.

"Young Lady, Lord Wei said you'll be dining with him at noon, and the kitchen staff are about to have the food sent over there." The post station manager, noticing that lunchtime was approaching and none of the group of eight had moved over yet, came to check out what was happening.

As a result, standing at the doorway, he heard her telling stories to the children.

The story was so interesting that even at his age, hearing just a snippet made him want to keep listening. However, he hadn't forgotten his main purpose and kindly reminded her.

"Alright, thank you, Uncle!" Hong Xiaoduo called out loudly from inside the room.

Then she led the children toward Lord Wei's quarters, running into the guards who had come to look for them halfway there.

Hong Xiaoduo had assumed that eating together meant the guards would join them too, especially since she had noticed a large hall here with several big round tables. To her surprise, lunch was arranged in a small parlor containing just a single table.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," Hong Xiaoduo said to Lord Wei with a very apologetic look as she saw that several dishes were already laid out on the table.

It wasn't that she lacked a sense of time. For one, she had been too engrossed in telling stories to the children, and for another, she wasn't yet very accustomed to judging time in this ancient era, which for a moment made her think of wristwatches.

Even if the old man at the science and technology museum could give her a watch, keeping it in her spatial storage would be fine, but wearing it outside was something she wouldn't dare do.

Who knew if she would ever be able to return to modern times? If she couldn't go back, and archaeologists dug up her grave in the future and found this watch, wouldn't it completely baffle them?

"No trouble at all, I only just arrived myself. Come, sit down," Lord Wei beckoned.

A large round table with nine chairs, two of which had thick cushions added to them.

"You two little ones, sit here, or you won't be able to reach the dishes," Lord Wei called out, asking Kaiyang and Yaoguang to sit in the chairs with the thick cushions.

Hong Xiaoduo smiled, stepped forward, and lifted little Yaoguang into her chair to sit properly.

After sitting down, Tianshu glanced at the old man and then back at Hong Xiaoduo, his little face tightening up unconsciously.

"Come, come, eat while it's hot. Judging by the look of these dishes, the taste shouldn't be bad," Lord Wei said, picking up his chopsticks first and urging them on when he saw no one touching their food.

The children all looked at Hong Xiaoduo, and seeing her nod, they picked up the chopsticks in front of them.

Since they had already shared a meal with Lord Wei the day before, they weren't as constrained this time. Coupled with the old man's easygoing nature and complete lack of official airs, the atmosphere at the dinner table was quite pleasant.

The old man sat beside Kaiyang, while Hong Xiaoduo sat beside Yaoguang. Seeing her pick the fish bones out for Yaoguang, he took another pair of chopsticks and picked up some fish meat for Kaiyang, carefully removing the bones.

"Does the old gentleman like children very much?" Hong Xiaoduo didn't hold to the strict rule of silence while eating.

Lord Wei nodded, then stood up to pick some stewed pork ribs that were further away, placing them in the bowls in front of the two children.

Tianshu's grip on his chopsticks tightened slightly.

"Well, to not hide it from you, Young Lady, my family has few descendants—three generations of single heirs. However, my only grandson, a few years ago... ah, let's not talk about that. Eat, eat," a flash of sorrow crossed old Wei's face.

Hong Xiaoduo finally understood why he felt such an affinity for these children.

She wanted to say "condolences," but that didn't seem quite right, so it was simply best to say nothing at all.

Tianquan and Tianji, who were sitting closest to Tianshu, heard the loud, crunching sound of their eldest brother biting into a cartilage bone and couldn't help glancing at him secretly. There was plenty of regular meat, so why bother gnawing on that tough cartilage? Why did that sound seem a bit strange?

"Young Lady, you gave those guards of mine quite a scare," Lord Wei said, picking up his wine cup, taking a small sip, and smiling.

Hong Xiaoduo was somewhat puzzled. How could she have scared them? Was it just because she used a whip? That couldn't be so exaggerated!

"The children said you were their mother—their birth mother," Lord Wei said with a smile, looking at the children sitting in a circle.

Ah, so *that* was what frightened them!

Hong Xiaoduo also smiled: "Judging by the old gentleman's tone, you don't believe it?"

Lord Wei shook his head as he looked at her: "They are all simple-minded lads; they actually guessed whether you might have disguised your face with cosmetic techniques."

Hearing this, Hong Xiaoduo laughed until her shoulders shook, pinching and tugging at her own cheeks as she said, "Then didn't they say it was shameless of me to have so many kids yet still use disguises to pretend to be a young maiden?"

Old Wei smiled and shook his head: "Not quite that far. I know it's improper to make random inquiries when we've only met by chance, but I still want to ask: what relation are they to you?"

Hong Xiaoduo thought for a moment and felt that telling the old man the truth wouldn't hurt.

"They are children I picked up along the way; they are all homeless orphans." At this point, seeing the strange expressions on the children's faces, Hong Xiaoduo quickly added, "They call me mother, and we are a family now."

Sure enough, once these words were spoken, the children went back to concentrating on their meal.

Hearing that this was how matters stood, and recalling the reason why the children had their heads shaved, Lord Wei understood everything.

Homeless orphans picked up along the road, children with no one to look after them—how could they possibly avoid getting infested with lice and parasites?

Looking back at Hong Xiaoduo beside him, he felt a surge of profound respect: "The Young Lady possesses great righteousness and benevolence; I truly admire you. But their travel permits... they probably don't have any, do they?"

As soon as this question was asked, the several little ones who had been eating all raised their heads to look at Hong Xiaoduo...