There is no comparison without harm. For a mature man with paternal charm, and one who cared for him like a father, Meng Yuluo, after the initial shock and flattery, readily accepted.
A boy needs his father's protection. In Old Jin, Meng Yuluo finally understood what fatherly love like a mountain felt like.
Having already laid the groundwork over the past few days, combined with Old Jin's deliberate efforts today, by the evening when Old Jin returned to the barracks, Meng Yuluo felt a pang of reluctance.
He watched Old Jin's retreating back and mustered the courage to ask loudly, "Uncle Jin, will you come again tomorrow?"
Upon hearing Meng Yuluo's question, Old Jin replied without hesitation, "Yes, I will come again tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow, Uncle Jin."
"See you tomorrow. Yuluo, go back inside, it's too cold outside."
"Okay, I'm going back now," Meng Yuluo said, then cheerfully returned to the room he shared with his mother.
Zhong Shi was organizing things by the kitchen door. She had seen her son's every move. Thinking of what Sister Yu had secretly asked her that afternoon, the blush on her face, which had not completely faded, resurfaced.
Madam Fang had been particularly tired these past few days. Seeing that the kitchen was tidy, she yawned and told Granny Han Zhi, Zhong Shi, and Tian Shi to go back and rest.
Granny Han Zhi, walking last, saw Madam Fang locking the kitchen door and quietly advised, "Madam, it would be best if the Master asked a doctor to examine you tomorrow."
"Ask a doctor?" Madam Fang had given birth to two children. Although she hadn't paid much attention to her body these past two days, Granny Han Zhi's reminder made her understand immediately. She quickly thanked her, "Thank you, Granny Han, for the reminder. I'll tell my husband as soon as I get back to the room."
"Madam, you mustn't thank me. You overwhelm this old woman." Granny Han finished speaking and hurried back to their living quarters.
Madam Fang watched Granny Han Zhi's retreating back before cautiously returning to their room. She knew her husband was still in her father-in-law's room and would be some time before he returned.
When Zhong Shi returned, she saw Meng Yuluo sitting on the edge of the kang, playing with a small wooden knife.
The small wooden knife was intricately carved and exuded a faint woody fragrance, clearly made not long ago.
Seeing his mother looking at him, Meng Yuluo picked up the small wooden knife and showed it to her as if presenting a treasure.
"Mother, isn't it pretty? Uncle Jin made it for me." Meng Yuluo actually understood that at his age, he was past the age of playing with small wooden knives.
But today, when Uncle Jin asked him what toy he wanted, he inexplicably asked for a small wooden knife.
No one knew the small secret buried deep in his heart, not even his mother.
When he was three or four years old, he saw children living nearby playing with wooden swords. He wanted one too and asked them where they got their wooden swords.
Unsurprisingly, most of them said their fathers made them, some said their grandfathers, or uncles.
He had no grandfather or uncles, so he boldly begged his father to make him a small wooden knife.
However, his good-for-nothing father kicked him away, told him to scram, and then went out to drink with his rowdy friends.
They dared not tell his mother about this, fearing it would make her sad.
But today, he finally got his wish. Uncle Jin made this small wooden knife for him, and he felt that Uncle Jin's small wooden knife was better than anyone else's. He wanted to keep it for his own son in the future.
It was embarrassing to say, but he didn't know how to make a small wooden knife. However, he would definitely be a good father in the future, and he would never let his son suffer the same grievances he did.
Zhong Shi watched her son play with concentration and couldn't bear to interrupt him. But thinking of what Sister Yu had said about needing to reply to them tomorrow, she hesitantly asked her son.
"Yuluo, Mother has something very important to discuss with you today. You must tell Mother the truth, whether you agree or disagree."
Seeing his mother's serious expression, Meng Yuluo put down the small wooden knife and said, "Mother, please tell me."
Her son told her to speak, but Zhong Shi became embarrassed to speak.
Seeing his mother blushing and unable to meet his eyes, Meng Yuluo spoke for her.
"Mother, Grand Uncle asked me if I was willing to have Uncle Jin be my father."
Zhong Shi hadn't expected her second uncle to ask her son for her.
"Mother, if you're asking me about this, I agree. I agree to Uncle Jin being my father."
Zhong Shi was a little stunned. She hadn't expected her son to agree before she had even had a chance to think about it.
Seeing his mother looking at him in a daze, Meng Yuluo began to count on his fingers, explaining the benefits of marrying Uncle Jin to his mother.
"Mother, Grand Uncle said that if Mother marries Uncle Jin, Mother will have a support. Even when I grow up and get married, you won't be lonely,"
"Also, Uncle Jin is a very good person. He will treat you well, and he will treat me well too."
At this point, Meng Yuluo secretly glanced at his mother and said the words he most wanted to express from his heart.
"Mother, Uncle Jin misses my father more than I do."
"Luò'er."
"Mother, I really like Uncle Jin. Son feels that if Uncle Jin becomes my father, we will be very happy. I will also honor Uncle Jin, just as I honor you."
"Luò'er." Zhong Shi looked at her sensible son, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
"Mother, Uncle Jin is a very good person, much better than my father. You shouldn't miss this opportunity."
Upon hearing her son mention that person, Zhong Shi's previously rosy complexion turned grim.
Meng Yuluo didn't like his father. He knew his mother hated his father even more than he did, so he quickly stopped talking. He was afraid that if he continued, his mother might explode.
As expected, once her son stopped mentioning that person, Zhong Shi's complexion slowly returned to normal.
"Luò'er, are you truly willing to this?"
"Mother, I am willing. But my willingness is not important. It's important that Mother is willing."
Zhong Shi had been indifferent before. The person she cared most about in her life was her son.
Now that her son said this, she was certain that he really liked Captain Jin.
Since her son liked him, and the man was also good, she would agree.
When Fu Yu returned to the room, he saw Madam Fang standing by the cabinet, searching for something.
"Xiao Yun, what are you looking for?"
"I'm not looking for anything in particular." Madam Fang recalled that she and her husband had traveled light to catch up with her father-in-law and their two children as quickly as possible, leaving things they didn't urgently need at her mother's home.
They hadn't even considered bringing the children's clothing and belongings from when they were young.
"Sigh."
Hearing his wife sigh, Fu Yu became even more uneasy. He anxiously asked, "My dear, what is wrong?"
"Husband, don't worry, I'm fine. But to be sure, please ask a doctor to come to our home tomorrow."