The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 39

Tian Xiaoman came into the room and found Le-ge’er obediently curled up under the blanket without sneaking out. That made him quite happy—this little one was actually pretty well-behaved!

He first set the tray down on the table, then picked up Le-ge’er to help him get dressed. Once he was ready, Tian Xiaoman handed him a steamed bun and then fed him some thin porridge. 

Le-ge’er alternated between a bite of bun and a sip of porridge, eating with great enthusiasm. His little feet in tiger-head shoes kicked happily in the air.

Before long, he was finished. Tian Xiaoman wiped his mouth clean and let him down to play. 

Le-ge’er just stood there, tilting his head up to watch Tian Xiaoman’s every move, his round little face full of confusion.

Tian Xiaoman thought for a moment, then said to him, “Le-ge’er, why don’t you go see if your uncle is up yet? Ask him to take us out to play, alright?”

Le-ge’er blinked his wide eyes at him as though he didn’t understand. So Tian Xiaoman repeated the words again.

This time, Le-ge’er got it. He nodded heavily, gave a little hum of agreement, and toddled off on his short legs. 

Tian Xiaoman heard the sound of a door being pushed open in the next room and smiled, carrying the dishes back to the kitchen.

Tian Xiaoman had been tricked here by that big crab. If he didn’t eat it at lunch, he would definitely eat it at dinner. Since it was still early, if Li Wenxuan took him to catch some now, they could still make it back to eat them tonight. That was why he sent Le-ge’er to wake him.

When Le-ge’er pushed the door open, Li Wenxuan was already awake, but he kept his eyes closed on purpose to see what Le-ge’er would do.

Le-ge’er padded to the bedside and saw his uncle lying there with his eyes closed, just like “Momo” had done earlier. So he reached out a little hand, intending to pry his uncle’s eyes open. 

Le-ge’er thought he was awake and shouted happily, “Piggy!”

But after a long while, there was still no response. Le-ge’er stared at his uncle’s back in puzzlement, gave him a push, and called again, “Piggy?”

Li Wenxuan sighed inwardly. Why did this silly little thing always call him that? Just because he butchered pigs didn’t mean he should be called “Piggy”! 

He still didn’t answer.

Le-ge’er started to panic. His little hands clutched at the back of Li Wenxuan’s clothes, tugging hard, his soft little voice crying out “Piggy, Piggy!” over and over. After all, he remembered that tugging “Momo” earlier had worked.

Hearing the anxious tone in Le-ge’er’s voice, Li Wenxuan thought, Not good! He immediately sat up and pretended to be surprised as he looked at the child. “Le-ge’er, what are you doing here?”

Seeing his uncle wake up, Le-ge’er’s tears shrank back before they could fall. He giggled, “Piggy, get up! Play!”

“Who told Le-ge’er to come wake me?” Li Wenxuan asked from the bed.

Le-ge’er tilted his head, thought for a bit, then said, “Momo!”

“Alright, Le-ge’er, wait a moment. Uncle will get up right away!” 

Li Wenxuan rolled out of bed, washed his face with water, and then picked up Le-ge’er and went out.

By now Tian Xiaoman had already put everything back in the kitchen and was sitting idly in the room, bored.

“You’re finally up. Didn’t you say you’d take me to eat those big crabs?”

“Of course. Don’t worry, I’ll just go get a few things ready.” Li Wenxuan gave a mysterious smile, set Le-ge’er down, and went off toward the kitchen.

“What are you doing, being so mysterious!” Tian Xiaoman asked, confused. When Le-ge’er looked at him, he asked, “Le-ge’er, do you know?”

Le-ge’er blinked his big eyes, indicating he had no idea what Tian Xiaoman was talking about.

Tian Xiaoman sighed,  “Little dummy, what’s the use of asking you?”

Le-ge’er understood this phrase too, since his uncle often said it to him. He quickly shouted back at Tian Xiaoman, “Not dummy!”

“Oh, you understood this sentence? Okay, okay, I won’t say it,” Tian Xiaoman said, amused, as he couldn’t help finding his indignant little look adorable.

“Xiaoman, I’m done, let’s go!” Li Wenxuan called out as he entered the room. He saw the big one and the little one were sitting face to face, but at the sound of his voice they both turned their heads together, their bright, sparkling eyes seeming to be carved from the same mold.

“What about Le-ge’er? Should we bring him along?” Tian Xiaoman hesitated. 

If both of them went into the water, who would watch him? But if they left him behind, he was sure to cry, since they had promised to take him out to play.

Li Wenxuan thought for a moment and then replied, “No, the water there is deeper, and the surroundings are uneven. I’ll take him next time when there are more people.” 

Faced with Le-ge’er’s innocent, expectant gaze, both of them felt guilty.

In the end, it was Li Wenxuan who played the bad guy. “Le-ge’er, how about Uncle take you to Grand-Amu instead?”

Le-ge’er frowned. Aren’t we going to play? Weren’t they going to play? Why was it Grand-Amu again? He shook his head firmly, clutching the hem of Tian Xiaoman’s clothes.

“How about we just bring him?” Tian Xiaoman suggested. “I won’t go into the water—I’ll stay on shore and watch him.” His words were reasonable enough, but  Li Wenxuan noticed the hint of disappointment in his eyes.

“It’s fine. This is your first time here—you should enjoy yourself. I’ll have my Amu take him. We’ll take him to play next time,” Li Wenxuan added. He then called out to the yard, having just seen his Amu get up.

Li Amu, who understood what Li Wenxuan was planning after his actions in the kitchen, immediately came over when he heard him call. “I’ll take Le-ge’er, you two go have fun!”

Tian Xiaoman was still a little hesitant, but Li Wenxuan pulled him up onto the horse.

Le-ge’er, expecting to be lifted up too, looked on eagerly—only to be left behind as Li Wenxuan rode off with the new “Momo.” The boy instantly burst into tears.

Li Amu quickly picked him up and tried to comfort him, “Le-ge’er, be good, don’t cry. Grand-Amu will stay with you at home!”

“Play! They didn’t bring me! Uuuh…” Le-ge’er cried as he complained to Li Amu, completely forgetting that he was also one of the ones who had stopped him from going with them.

“They went down the beach! Le-ge’er, did you forget? What’s on the beach?”

“Big… crabs!” Le-ge’er’s little mouth opened in awe, and his crying stopped at once. He didn’t insist on going anymore.

However, Li Amu noticed that all day long, whatever he was doing, Le-ge’er seemed distracted. Every once in a while, he would look out the courtyard gate with a worried expression. The sight of the little one looking so fretful little-old-man made Li Amu laugh so much until he could hardly stop.