I traveled through time and space and found a mute boy: That’s enough, I feel sorry for him

How does it feel to be flirted with by a kid six years younger than you?

Xu Shu just felt that he was a pervert. Xiao Mujin was still a minor, but he had feelings for her. It was really cruel. Xu Shu cursed himself in his heart, but his face showed no expression.

Even after sensing Mu Jinghua's anxiety, Xu Shu gently rubbed his head as he wished.

Little Mu Jin was obviously comforted by him. Although Xu Shu didn't know why this action could comfort him, he gave him a sweet smile.

Really sweet.

Xu Shu's heartbeat speeded up shamefully again. Fortunately, after several years of training in the apocalypse, he had a strong psychological quality and his emotions were more stable than those of ordinary people. He did not panic, but gently asked Mu Jinghua: "Do you like me to touch your head?"

Mu Jinghua nodded without hesitation, and fearing that Xu Shu might misunderstand, he gestured to explain, "You are the best."

Seeing this, Xu Shu calmed down. Fortunately, although people in this world matured precociously, Mu Jinghua obviously didn't have that kind of thoughts about him.

What he said was that you are the best, not that he likes you, so you should still treat him as your brother. Moreover, Wu Yong said that he is an older bachelor, and it is estimated that children would not look down on people of his age.

Xu Shu felt relieved, smiled and coaxed him a few more words, then went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

In the afternoon, Xu Shu saw that the child had difficulty walking, so he went outside to pick up a branch to carve a walking stick for him. It didn't have to be very beautiful, just sturdy enough to last for a few days. Xu Shu measured the child's height, and after determining the height, he took the knife and started to carve.

His knives were very sharp and could cut iron like mud. Cutting wood was even easier, just like peeling an apple. In no time, he had polished out a smooth walking stick.

Afraid that there were still barbs on it, Xu Shu rubbed it with oil and wrapped it with thread twice before handing it to Mu Jinghua: "This is more convenient, try it."

Mu Jinghua already knew that this was made for him, and had been watching curiously from the side. When he saw Xu Shu handing it to him, he gestured to say thank you before taking it and trying it.

At the beginning, he didn't walk smoothly and he seemed to be about to fall. Xu Shu watched him anxiously from behind. Fortunately, he became basically proficient after taking a few steps.

Xu Shu felt relieved and let the child play by himself while he prepared to enjoy his rare half-day vacation.

He couldn't wait to collapse on the newly made rocking chair, reading a book and eating snacks. It was just as he had imagined, leisurely, comfortable and enjoyable.

During this period, he had been busy with things, and the oil lamps in this world were dim, so he couldn't read at night. Xu Shu hadn't read a book for a long time. But he had read the medical book last time when he was free in the tavern.

This time he just randomly pulled out a story from the bamboo basket, firstly to kill some time and secondly to understand the preferences of the people in this world.

He also had to catch up with the schedule and finish the second volume of Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea. Thinking of this, Xu Shu thought of a certain sucker. He estimated that when he went to the county magistrate's mansion tomorrow, Xiao Ran's first sentence would be to urge him to finish the manuscript.

Xu Shu shook his head helplessly and opened the first page of the storybook. The title was quite easy to understand, it was called "The Handsome Scholar and the Charming Fox".

Mu Jinghua was feeding the chicks on the side. The chicks were still small, so there was no need to fence them in specially. It would not be too late to let them out after they grew up in the basket.

Mu Jinghua wanted to get brown rice from the kitchen to feed the chickens, but after searching around with his cane, he remembered that there was none at home. Xu Shu didn't like brown rice, so he bought fine rice flour, with full grains and smooth and sweet flour. It was a waste to feed the chickens with these.

Mu Jinghua thought about it, then scooped out half a bowl and took it to the main house to fetch Xu Shu.

Xu Shu was watching so fascinated that he didn't notice what the child was doing for a moment. He came to his senses only after his sleeve was pulled. He looked at the half bowl of rice in Mu Jinghua's hand and asked in confusion, "Is this...hungry?"

Mu Jinghua shook his head, stuffed the bowl to Xu Shu, and then gestured: "There is no brown rice to feed the chickens. Change some."

Xu Shu understood and agreed: "I'll go ask my neighbors if they have any. How much brown rice can I get for this half bowl of rice?"

Mu Jinghua thought about it and shook his head again: "Let's not talk about exchanging for brown rice, you said it's for feeding chickens, you can exchange it for three bowls."

Xu Shu nodded in agreement, and then found his serious appearance funny, so he pinched his nose and said, "You are the only one who knows the most."

Mu Jinghua stepped back awkwardly, thinking that Xu Shu didn't know enough. However, thinking that Xu Shu was from a wealthy family, it was normal for him not to know, so he gestured, "Go quickly."

Xu Shu smiled and wanted to tease him for some reason, but seeing that Mu Jinghua looked serious, he went to the kitchen to get two more bowls and borrowed some from his neighbor next door.

No matter how you look at it, Xu Shu is a person who doesn't know how to live. He has lived in this thatched cottage for a while, but he doesn't even know all his neighbors. He never thinks about interacting with them on weekdays. Even if he occasionally meets them, he just calls them "Hello", which is very cold.

However, this world is always more tolerant towards men. As for Xu Shu's "arrogant" attitude, not only did no one scold him, but many boys and girls also praised him for being calm and self-controlled and having the demeanor of a gentleman.

However, Xu Shu himself didn't know all this. He went to the nearest house and didn't even need to knock on the door. He just shouted through the fence.

Soon, an old lady came out. She was not tall and had a pale face. This old lady obviously recognized Xu Shu. She wiped her hands with her patched apron and asked, "Brother Xu, what can I do for you?"

However, Xu Shu couldn't quite remember the lady's name, so he just called her "Auntie" and then explained his purpose.

The old lady looked at the ceramic bowl in his hand, saw the fine rice inside, and her eyes widened: "You're using this to feed the chickens?"

Xu Shu nodded. This was the only thing he had at home. If he didn't use this to exchange, what else could he use? Although he thought this could be used to feed the chickens directly, since Mu Jinghua had asked him to exchange it, it was okay for him to make a trip.

The old lady hesitated for a moment, but soon figured it out. Xu Shu didn't pay much attention to the affairs of the village, and was only on good terms with the village chief's family, but everyone was watching Xu Shu every day.

The lavish purchase of charcoal last time has already made everyone aware of how capable this young man, who is suspected to be a nobleman, is. There are also the blue bricks on the back hill and the fertile fields that the village chief has been asking about... Thinking about it this way, if he is capable, eating only refined rice is no big deal.

The old lady smiled at Xu Shu and said, "I'll get it for you. Come in first."

Xu Shu handed the bowl over and waited at the door in a proper manner. After a while, the man came back, carrying a large bundle of firewood, and followed by a fellow who was also pale and skinny. When he saw Xu Shu, he smiled at him and said, "Brother Xu, what's the matter?"

Xu Shu explained his purpose, and the man didn't ask any more questions and went to chop wood. But the boy kept looking at Xu Shu curiously.

Xu Shu saw that he was small and skinny and looked pitiful, and guessed that he was much younger than Mu Jinghua, so he smiled at him.

The boy also mustered up the courage to ask him, "Big brother, why don't you see your little brother?"

"My little brother's foot is injured, so it's inconvenient for him to come out." Xu Shu squatted down and talked to the child, "How old are you?"

The boy smiled and replied, "Twelve years old."

Twelve years old? Xu Shu was shocked. What kind of life did this family live? A twelve-year-old child was no different from a seven or eight-year-old. Xu Shu couldn't help but sigh and asked the little boy, "What's your name?"

"My name is Xiaocao, Du Xiaocao. Big brother, I want to go play with my little brother, okay?"

Xu Shu was of course happy to do so. Just as he was about to nod, Du Xiaocao's father interrupted and said, "Don't bother your big brother Xu."

Xu Shu smiled and glanced at the taciturn man: "It's okay, after all, Xiao Mujin is bored at home alone, he must be very happy that Xiaocao is here."

The man wanted to say something, but the lady who went to the kitchen heard the noise: "It's okay, let the child go."

Seeing that his wife had spoken, the man said nothing more. Du Xiaocao was naturally happy, and ran to his mother and held her arm: "Mom, you are so kind."

The old lady ignored his coquettish behavior and handed the three bowls of brown rice and weed porridge for the chickens to Xu Shu first: "Don't put them all in front of the chickens at once. These beasts have no self-control and will easily die of overeating."

Xu Shu took it and thanked him, then looked at Du Xiaocao: "Whenever you want to play with me, just go directly."

"I want to go now, is that ok?" Du Xiaocao looked at his father, then at his mother, but didn't dare to look at Xu Shu. Although Xu Shu would smile at him, he was very tall and a little scary.

The old lady was a little hesitant, and asked Xu Shu carefully if it would be too disturbing. After hearing Xu Shu clearly say no, she let Du Xiaocao go, and then she couldn't help but remind him: "Don't disturb Brother Xu Shu's work, and don't play too late, come back early."

Du Xiaocao responded repeatedly and became visibly excited. However, when he realized that he would have to walk a distance with Xu Shu, he became a little scared. He followed Xu Shu quietly and did not dare to make any sound.

Xu Shu took the initiative to talk to him: "Why do you want to play with little brother?"

Du Xiaocao had nothing to hide: "The children in the village don't like to play with me. I saw the little brother was alone, so I wanted to play with him..."

After he finished speaking, he became a little nervous again: "Will the little brother also dislike me and not play with me?"

Xu Shu didn't know, so he changed the subject and asked him, "Why don't they play with you?"

"They said my brother was a filthy bastard, and they also said I was a filthy bastard. My brother is not a filthy bastard!" Du Xiaocao felt wronged when she talked about this. "My brother was deceived by the matchmaker and went to that bad place. My father has been saving money all these years to bring my brother home."

Xu Shu felt a little sad when he heard this. He never expected such a thing to happen.

But the two houses were not far apart, and they reached home in a few steps. Xu Shu didn't say anything, but shouted into the house: "Xiao Mujin, Xiaocao next door wants to come and play with you."