The Delicate Darling with Her Rough Man-Chapter 185 - 184: Adopting Them

Gu Jiaojiao didn’t interfere much. Seeing that Sweet Girl insisted on cooking for herself, she prepared to head back.

Before leaving, she also reminded Sweet Girl.

"Don’t be afraid to use the firewood. If you run out, just come get more from me."

Gu Jiaojiao’s heart ached for this kind-hearted child.

She wouldn’t have said such a thing if she didn’t have the means to back it up.

And since she had the ability, she was more than willing to help.

Sweet Girl nodded, a smile perpetually on her face.

After seeing Gu Jiaojiao and Leng Yuan off, she turned to look at her younger brother and saw him gazing wistfully in the direction they had gone.

Sweet Girl smiled.

"I told you, Sister Gu isn’t like the others. She’s genuinely kind to us."

Despite their young age, the two of them had seen more than their fair share of the world’s coldness over the years.

People who were genuinely kind to them were few and far between. Most just wanted to take advantage of them, only putting on a nice facade.

Sweet Girl knew all of this in her heart.

But she was too young and had no way to fight back.

Xiao Yang still said nothing.

Sweet Girl was just about to take Xiao Yang’s hand and go inside.

A man’s voice came from the doorway.

"Sweet Girl, Xiao Yang, have you eaten yet? Uncle is here to bring you some food."

Sweet Girl turned around.

She saw Lin Jiandong standing at the gate, holding a bowl of food and two mixed-grain steamed buns, a gentle smile on his face.

"There’s no need, Uncle Lin."

Sweet Girl refused, and Xiao Yang’s whole body tensed up.

But Lin Jiandong acted as if he hadn’t heard her, pushing open the wicker gate and walking right in.

"Why be so formal with your uncle? This is lunch. I knew you hadn’t eaten, so I made a special trip to bring it over."

Sweet Girl tried to refuse again.

But Lin Jiandong had already gone into the room, paying her no mind.

Sweet Girl’s brow furrowed, and a flash of disgust crossed her eyes.

Xiao Yang’s little face was taut, and he tightened his grip on his sister’s hand.

They were young, but they weren’t stupid.

Even though Lin Jiandong always beamed at them, both children were terrified of him.

’They were just too young!’

Just then, a neighbor came out to throw out some water. Seeing Lin Jiandong bringing food to Sweet Girl and her brother, the neighbor called out with a smile.

"Jiandong! Bringing food for Sweet Girl and Xiao Yang again?"

Lin Jiandong nodded. "I am!"

"I saw the kids hadn’t had lunch yet, so I brought some over."

The neighbor was long used to this.

’That Lin Jiandong was always bringing food to Sweet Girl and Xiao Yang. He was a truly decent man.’

The two exchanged a few pleasantries, and the neighbor went back inside.

Lin Jiandong told the two children to hurry back and eat, then he went home as well.

Sweet Girl and Xiao Yang went into the room and looked at the thick porridge and steamed buns on the table. Both found it a little strange.

Usually, the porridge he brought was little more than water with no rice, and there were never any steamed buns—only rock-hard corn buns.

Today was unusual.

Sweet Girl stared for a moment, then gave one of the steamed buns to Xiao Yang.

Xiao Yang refused to take it.

Sweet Girl sighed. "No matter what, it’s food. Just eat it."

Only then did Xiao Yang take the steamed bun and begin to eat.

The two of them shared the bowl of porridge and each ate a steamed bun, leaving them about half-full.

This was normal, though.

The grain everyone received from the autumn harvest had to last until the next summer harvest before they’d get more. That was over half a year away, so everyone had to be frugal.

They were all afraid of running out of food.

After they finished eating, Lin Jiandong returned. He took a turn around the yard, looking more and more pleased.

Then, he entered their room.

This time, he didn’t even make a sound, just letting himself in.

Sweet Girl and Xiao Yang’s bodies tensed up almost instinctively.

Lin Jiandong paid no mind to their expressions. Instead, his gaze fell on the clothes they were wearing.

’That Leng Yuan really spared no expense for this house,’ he mused. ’He even had new clothes made for them.’

Lin Jiandong had children of his own, but they weren’t home. They had gone with his wife to visit her parents’ family for a couple of days.

His younger son was two years younger than Xiao Yang, but he was about the same height and build.

His older daughter was two years younger than Sweet Girl, but she was also about the same height and build.

He coveted the new clothes the two were wearing.