She didn't want to say that Axiu has developed autism, let alone that he had gone crazy. As far as she was concerned, he was just sick, and there would always be a day that he would get better.
"Psychological trauma? Ehm, what's that disease?" The four adults looked at each other. "Can it be cured? How can it be cured?"
Liu Yusheng nodded. "It's a mental illness, and it can be cured. Just don't mention what happened that night in front of Brother Axiu for the time being, lest he gets stimulated again."
"Fine, we won't mention it. The child has suffered enough already. We can't let him be stimulated again!"
"Yes, we won't mention it either."
Liu Erlin shouted in the shower room. "Mother, boil another pot of water. It's not enough!"
Grandma Liu quickly patted the corner of her coat, and windily turned and ran to the kitchen. "It'll be right there. Let me add a handful of firewood. The hot water will be ready soon, wait ah!"
Grandpa Liu, on the other hand, went to get a wooden bucket and raised his voice towards the bathroom. "Help him wash first, and I'll bring the water over when it's ready."
Chen Xiulan and Du Juan looked at each other and also headed to the kitchen. "Let's go fry two more dishes. When Axiu comes out, it will be ready to serve."
The people blocking the entrance to the room slickly dispersed and left. Only Qian Wanjin, who was standing at the back, was left, staring at Liu Yusheng with anger.
"Young Boss, what's with you again?"
Qian Wanjin turned his head. "You all go serve that brat. Don't care about me! I've worked so hard to find him for you, but once we found him, you crossed the river and demolished the bridge! I can see right through you, Lucky Nannan. I'm worthless anyway, don't mind me!"
Liu Yusheng: "…" What's going on here? And this comparison. What's there to compare? The whole thing confused her.
Since she was confused, she didn't bother to guess. She turned around and went back to her room, rummaging around inside.
Brother Axiu's hair was long, and when it was dry, she'd have to help him tie it up. She must find a hair band for him.
Qian Wanjin waited for a while with his back to the door of the room, but waited in vain for Liu Yusheng to coax him. When he turned his head, everyone was gone! He turned blue in his anger and gnashed his teeth. "Lucky Nannan, how great you are!"
"Young Boss, do you have any extra hair ties there. Give me one. I'll tie Brother Axiu's hair later." In these three years, Qian Wanjin frequently traveled back and forth between the county and the Liu house. And then, he stayed overnight from time to time, so he had a lot of clothes and accessories at home.
When Qian Wanjin heard this, his anger shot up. It didn't matter when she ignored him, but she still wanted to take his things for someone else's use?
"No!" I'll never give one to you even if I have it.
It just so happened that after he growled the word out, Liu Yusheng in the room found an old hairband. "No need, I just found one."
Qian Wanjin: "…" He was going to spit three liters of blood.
The food was served on the table in the kitchen, in time with Axiu finishing his bath. After putting on a clean and tidy robe and washing off the dirt, he looked entirely different.
He was thin, but slender, and already has the unique temperament of a teenager, clean and refreshing.
Liu Yusheng was still quite disoriented by the changes in the young man, when she was hugged into a familiar embrace. Her nose was filled with the fresh and pleasant smell of the young man after bathing.
Feeling his possessive embrace, Liu Yusheng smiled faintly, but her heartache was hard to hide in her eyes. He was too thin, and he was all skin and bones under his clothes.
He was obviously around the same age as her big brother, but her brother's clothes hung emptily over him.
In the future, she would have to restore him in perfectly good condition.
Liu Dalin and Liu Erlin also came out behind him. They were the complete opposite of Axiu's radiant spirit, they were miserably exhausted. There were splashed water stains all over their heads, faces and clothes, as if they had just come out of a water fight. They cut a sorry figure, causing the family to laugh.
"You two go change your clothes and then come over for dinner. Xiao Jinzi, don't stand so far away. It's dinner time, come over here. Axiu and Nannan can't be separated, so just sit together." Grandma Liu instructed while setting the chopsticks down.
Sniffing the mouth-watering aroma of the food, Qian Wanjin reluctantly went forward. When he passed by Axiu, he gave him a sidelong glance. "Hmph!"
Liu Yusheng shook her head and chuckled. She tugged on Axiu's sleeve, and said, "Brother Axiu, take a seat. I'll dry your hair, then we'll eat."
Axiu blinked in comprehension, and meekly sat down, allowing the little child to go behind him and dry his dripping hair with a dry cloth towel.
The force on his hair was extremely gentle and penetratingly pitying, careful as if she was treating a treasure. Axiu blinked again. He unconsciously covered his heart with his hand. She was obviously just wiping his hair. Why did it seem like they're landing in his heart? Soft and tingly, with warmth running through it.
It was strange, yet very familiar.
He…loved it.
"You want a six-year-old child to wait on you, don't you have long hands? The nerve you have!" Qian Wanjin stood in the kitchen with his arms crossed, grinding his teeth endlessly.
"Xiao Jinzi, what are you standing there for? Come over and help pass the food if you have nothing to do."
"Eh! I'm coming, Grandma!" He sprinted like an arrow to Grandma Liu's side, and carried the plates of food with ease. As soon as that kid came back, he felt like he was losing his position.
He has to brush up his goodwill, he mustn't slide down!
He was distracted with making a good show of his skills in serving a table of home-cooked dishes, and felt proud of himself once he was done. "Grandma, aren't I talented?"
Grandma Liu smiled. "Awesome, worthy of running a restaurant."
"I can do a lot of things, so you must cherish me more from now on."
"Cherish, I love all good kids."
He pumped his fists and redoubled his efforts.
Chen Xiulan and Du Juan both watched the elderly and the young man joking around with smiles on their lips.
They couldn't tell when this child became closer and closer to the family, especially to the two elderlies. He openly called them grandparents. All these years, whenever the elders were depressed recalling Axiu, this child together with Nannan, teased them until they were uplifted again.
He was a good boy with a good heart.
After setting up the dishes and serving the food, Axiu's hair was also half-dried over there. Liu Yusheng used the hairband she found to tie his hair loosely behind his head, then led him into the dining area to take a seat.
Before she could let go, she was drawn back into a familiar embrace.
"What are you doing? What's the hugging when it's dinner time? You really think of Lucky Nannan as a headband, tying your chest at all times!" Qian Wanjin was furious, pointing at Axiu and complaining to Grandma Liu. "Grandma, look at him. He's so shameless. Boys and girls have different seats at seven years old! He's not right like that. Grandma, you need to teach him a lesson!"
"It's fine, Nannan is only six years old. She's still a baby. Let's all take a seat and eat." Grandma Liu smiled, ignoring Axiu's behavior.
Qian Wanjin felt like he was running wild on the road to imminent death by anger.
None of them took it seriously. Can something like the Great Defense of Men and Women be regarded as unimportant? It'll be too late for regrets after Lucky Nannan suffers a great loss!
Do you understand? Understand?
Oh Gosh! I'm becoming a worrywart!