Xiao Ning was not polite to Shen Guan at all. He handed all the work over to him while he sat by the side, drinking tea with a cold face. When the first batch of sesame flatbreads came out of the oven, a neighbor who was catching the early market came here to buy them.
“Three flatbreads, please.”
“Aye, alright.” putting on a sensible and capable appearance, Shen Guan replied obediently.
The moment the neighbor took the flatbreads from his hand, he gasped in surprise: “Th-this is…”
Xiao Ning said calmly from the side, “Uncle, this is my new apprentice.”
The neighbor looked at Shen Guan suspiciously for a long time and muttered to himself: “Ai, this, this… how can he be so similar…” But after all, this was someone else’s heartache, and it was not good to pry. Maybe Xiao Ning hired him as an apprentice precisely because he looked similar?
After the neighbor left, Shen Guan turned his head and asked Xiao Ning, “What did he mean by ‘so similar’?”
“Nothing.” Xiao Ning picked a flatbread from the stove to let it cool for a while, then cut some meat to put inside, preparing it for Xiao Yuan to eat on his way to the academy after he woke up.
Shen Guan pondered for a moment and continued to ask, “Who did he say I looked like?”
The hand Xiao Ning was using to stuff the meat paused. He looked up at Shen Guan and sneered, “My deceased wife.”
Shen Guan choked. He never expected such a reply. Although he knew he shouldn’t ask any further, he couldn’t help but ask, “How did your wife…”
Xiao Ning swallowed the anger in his heart, glanced at Shen Guan sideways, and said sarcastically, “Dystocia. He passed away after giving birth to my youngest son.”
“My condolences.” Shen Guan frowned slightly. He could understand the barbs in Xiao Ning’s words. After all, he was the one who threatened him with a sword last night, and he was also the one who was now blatantly standing in his territory. It was only natural that his attitude was not good.
“Big Father!” As Xiao Yuan woke up, he led his younger brother downstairs, and was startled again when he saw Shen Guan.
Shen Guan naturally looked back too. The boy from last night was holding a smaller one, who looked about four or five years old. Having just woken up, he was swaying slightly as he walked with his eyes half-closed. He looked up at his elder brother and called out “Big Father” to Xiao Ning in a soft, childish voice.
The little guy was as beautiful as if carved from jade and snow, and his eyebrows and eyes were indeed somewhat similar to Shen Guan’s. It was clear that Xiao Ning was not teasing him when he said he resembled his deceased wife.
The moment he saw the child, Shen Guan’s breath hitched, and he inexplicably felt a faint ache from the scar on his abdomen.
“Come, Niannian.” Xiao Ning stroked the top of his youngest son’s head, pointed at Shen Guan, and deliberately emphasized his tone: “Call ‘Uncle’.”
“Uncle.” Xiao Nian obediently called out as he tilted his head to look at Shen Guan for a long time. Then he chuckled, stretched out his short little arms, and said, “Uncle, hug.”
Shen Guan was startled, his heart softening into a puddle. He reached out to embrace Xiao Niannian, but Xiao Ning quickly pulled his hand back, leaving Shen Guan grasping air.
Xiao Ning’s expression was calm. He put Niannian down on the ground and said, “Uncle is busy. Niannian, go wash your face with Gege.”
Xiao Yuan took Niannian’s hand, glanced at Shen Guan again, and then turned to walk towards the backyard.
Shen Guan withdrew his hand helplessly: “Boss Xiao is being quite petty.”
Xiao Ning’s mouth twitched, and a chill flashed in his eyes: “My wife left decisively, leaving me with only these two children. Please forgive me.”
