Chapter 62 Grandfather Wants to Adopt You

"Resistance?" Hong Xiaoduo caught the key word in his sentiment.

Upon hearing this tone, along with her expression at that moment, Wei Junpei felt a surge of annoyance in his heart. How could he have forgotten how to speak properly at his age? "Ahem, she has always believed that Tong'er is still alive. The family has tried several times to mention adoption, and even picked a suitable child from the clan to present to her, but she—her reactions were always very—

Young lady, rest assured. If things turn out the same way this time, I will raise the child by my side. Besides, for a young woman like you to travel without a fixed residence while taking care of seven children is extremely difficult. Having a good place to go is surely better than continuing to wander around with you, isn't it?"

With that, Wei Junpei paused to take a sip of tea, quietly leaving her time to consider.

Outside the back window, a small crouching figure clenched his little fists tightly out of nervousness.

Originally, Hong Xiaoduo had intended to find suitable families to entrust the children to. Yesterday, when she saw how fond this man was of the children, the thought of asking him had crossed her mind. However, now that he had taken the initiative to ask, Hong Xiaoduo hesitated once more.

"What you said, Elder, is right, but not entirely. I am young, but if not for my special circumstances, keeping them with me all this time is not out of the question. There is nothing about 'easy' or 'difficult'; they are very sensible, well-behaved, and obedient. Although they haven't been by my side for long, they have actually been taking care of me all along.

They have always lived lives where they could not even get enough to eat. Therefore, even though my abilities are limited and I cannot give them a life of wealth and luxury, no matter how tight our days are, it is still much better than what they experienced before.

Elder, you hold a high position, and being adopted by you would be a rare and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the course of a person's life. How about this: I cannot make the decision regarding your proposal. Why don't we call the child over, ask for his opinion, and let him make the decision himself?" Hong Xiaoduo kept herself calm; she could neither act on impulse nor disregard the children's own wishes.

Although Kaiyang was only six years old, she still wanted to leave this choice and final decision to the child himself.

Wei Junpei was quite surprised by Hong Xiaoduo's words. He wanted to say that the child was too young to understand how such a status could affect his life, and letting him make his own decision might result in a refusal simply because he could not bear to part with his brothers and sisters.

Yet, somehow, he could not bring himself to say it.

He deeply felt that the mindset of this young girl seemed even higher than his own, despite his many years of immersion in official circles.

"Very well, let us do as you say and ask the child," Wei Junpei agreed. He called a guard inside and instructed him to summon Kaiyang.

Tianshu, crouching beneath the back window, also fell silent after hearing Hong Xiaoduo's words.

He did not want the seven brothers and sisters to be separated; he wanted them to stay together forever. But since their mother had decided to let Kaiyang make his own decision, how could he disregard Kaiyang's wishes?

This "Grandfather" was a very important official. If Kaiyang were adopted by him, not only would he have a home, but he would also travel in a grand carriage, attend academy to study, enjoy delicacies every day, and even become a high-ranking official in the future.

Furthermore, this Grandfather was a good man. Once Kaiyang went to his household, he would definitely not suffer or be wronged.

Thinking of this, Tianshu's tense shoulders relaxed and drooped. He hoped the seven siblings could always stay together, but he could not interfere with this.

Inside the room, Kaiyang walked in with the guard, looking a bit constrained, wondering why he had been called alone.

"Mother," he called out, and walked over to stand by Hong Xiaoduo's side.

Hong Xiaoduo reached out and pulled him in front of her. "Kaiyang, relax and don't be nervous. I called you here to discuss something. As you know, I don't have a home, nor can I guarantee that I will always be by your side in the future. This Elder wishes to adopt you as his grandson, and I want to ask for your own opinion."

Understanding the situation, Kaiyang tilted his head to glance at Wei Junpei, then quickly turned his gaze back to Hong Xiaoduo. "Is he only adopting me?"

Hong Xiaoduo nodded, looking into Kaiyang's clear eyes with a pang of heartache.

At this, Wei Junpei's heart sank.

"Then, Mother, did you agree?" Kaiyang asked nervously, even though he had just heard her say she wanted to ask his opinion.

Hong Xiaoduo shook her head. "This concerns your life; how could I make the decision for you?"

Hearing this, Kaiyang visibly breathed a sigh of relief. "I won't go. I want to stay with you, my older brothers, older sisters, and little sister always." He said this with absolute finality.

"Kaiyang, go back with Grandfather. You can still visit them whenever you miss them in the future. Besides, you will have your own courtyard, a father, a mother, and a grandmother to dote on you, and you can even go to study at the academy," Wei Junpei quickly urged, pressing his case.

He had thought that saying these things would at least make the child think twice, but he never expected that Kaiyang wouldn't even hesitate before replying: "No. Kaiyang only wants to follow my mother and my brothers. They care for me deeply, and Mother will teach us how to read as well.

Grandfather, there are plenty of children much more suitable than me. You should go find someone else elsewhere."

With that, Kaiyang stepped back to Hong Xiaoduo's side and reached out to hug her arm.

"Kaiyang, Grandfather simply feels a affinity with you. The moment I saw you yesterday, my heart was filled with joy. Didn't you like Grandfather too?" Seeing how strong-minded the child was, and knowing he couldn't be tempted by family property, fine clothes, or pastries, Wei Junpei had no choice but to appeal to emotion, casting aside his elderly pride.

Kaiyang continued to hug Hong Xiaoduo's arm. Sensing that his mother would neither forcefully order him to agree nor abandon him, he regained his confidence. "Grandfather, Kaiyang likes you just like I like Granny Orchid or Granny at the tailor's shop, but I like my mother even more."

The meaning of the child's words was crystal clear. Wei Junpei had no idea who the two grannies the boy mentioned were, but he understood the child's sentiment: his own status in Kaiyang's heart was on the exact same level as those two strangers he didn't even know—not special at all!

This was truly a piercing blow to the heart. He was, after all, a dignified Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel of the second rank. Being ranked below this young lady who rescued them was one thing, but Granny Orchid and the tailor shop granny?

"Well, this matter was brought up rather suddenly. How about this, child? Don't rush to make a decision. You can go back and think about it. I will continue to travel along with you all for the next few days." The more Kaiyang acted this way, the more Wei Junpei fancied the child.

Though a six-year-old child might seem small, they actually knew what was good and bad, and understood what wealth represented.

Hong Xiaoduo had no objections and was just about to say "let's leave it at that" when Kaiyang beside her spoke up again: "Kaiyang thanks you for your kindness, Sir, but there is no need to think further. Kaiyang wants to stay with Mother, my brothers, sisters, and little sister forever."

He had even stopped calling him "Grandfather." Half of Wei Junpei's heart went cold on the spot.

An hour later, at a fork in the road along the main highway, a carriage and a donkey cart were parked.

"Yaoguang, wouldn't it be good to come with Grandfather? Grandfather will buy you many pretty dresses and hairpins. Whatever you want to eat, Grandfather will buy it for you." Standing by the donkey cart, Minister Wei clutched the carriage door and asked, unwilling to give up.

Since Kaiyang refused, swapping to the youngest one to take as a granddaughter would do as well! A four-year-old toddler should be much easier to trick, surely...