He picked up the teapot and refilled the tea bowl in front of Ming'an.
"Ming'an, are you full?"
Ming'an nodded, shook his head, then nodded again, looking at Qin Tiexin uneasily.
Qin Tiexin could tell by the look in his eyes that the child was afraid that he would leave him behind again. Originally, Star Spirit Inn, Tianzi No. 3 room was the best place to go. It was a safe environment, no one was checking, and the room fee had already been paid.
But Ming'an just survived a tragic accident. He walked alone in the wilderness for a whole month. Everyone he knew was dead. He finally found the only "senior brother" who was alive. You left him alone again--
Qin Tiexin glanced at the small hands holding the hem of his monk's robe and sighed inwardly.
That's all.
He stood up, put the iron rod into Storage Bag, bent down to pick up Ming'an, and let him sit on his left forearm. Ming'an was as light as a bale of hay. He sat on his arm and shook it twice before steadying Qin Tiexin's shoulders.
After leaving the tea stall, Qin Tiexin first turned into a remote alley. He took out two pieces of Shape-Changing Talisman from his sleeves and pasted one on the inside of Ming'an's monk's robe and one on his chest. The talisman paper blended into the fabric of the clothes silently, causing a slight tingling sensation. After feeling the itch, Ming'an's face shape changed a bit, his eyebrows became thicker, and the bridge of his nose became a little shorter. He no longer looked like the little novice monk he remembered at first sight. Qin Tiexin's facial features were also slightly adjusted, and his stature became half an inch shorter, making him overall more ordinary.
He took an old cloth from Storage Bag and put it on Ming'an's monk's robe. The clothes were too big, the sleeves were rolled up three times, and the hem dragged to the ground, but he could barely see.
"Ming'an, from now on, don't call me senior brother outside."
Ming'an raised his head, with uneasiness in his eyes. He looked at Qin Tiexin's face, as if he was carving this new instruction into his mind.
"That's called..."
Qin Tiexin thought about it for a moment. Mingjue, Ming'an, fellow seniors, what else can they be called besides senior brothers.
"Call me Uncle Tie." He said, "You are the child of my distant relative, remember."
Ming'an nodded vigorously, stuffed the half piece of spiritual cake still in his hand into his mouth, his cheeks bulging like a squirrel.
"Remember...Uncle Tie."
When Qin Tiexin led Ming'an through the main street of Cloud Ford Ward and turned into the gate of Purple Jade Ward, it was almost dusk.
When they arrived at the door of Lin Residence, Qin Tiexin took advantage of the stone beast in front of the door to take advantage of the fact that there was no one around. He took off the two pieces of Shape-Changing Talisman from himself and Ming'an, put them away, restored them to their original appearance, and then walked towards the door of Lin Residence.
The concierge poked his head out of the side window and saw the little novice monk Qin Tiexin in his arms, and was stunned for a moment.
"Master, this is..."
"My junior brother." Qin Tiexin didn't explain much, "Is Madam Lin here?"
The porter opened his mouth, glanced at Ming'an's worn monk's robes and exposed bare feet, and swallowed back the interrogation that came to his lips. He knew the status of this Master Mingjue in Lin Residence. The Marquis personally stayed as a guest. He brought someone in, so it was not his turn to talk.
"Master, please." The concierge opened the side door and added, "The Marquis has just returned to the house and is in the main hall. Madam is also here."
Qin Tiexin nodded and carried Ming'an across the screen wall. He did not go back to the small courtyard first, but walked along the stone path to the main hall. After living in Lin Residence for such a long time, when you bring someone back, you should say hello to the host, both emotionally and logically. This is the minimum rule.
In the main hall, Lin Boyuan and Madam Lin were both there. Lin Boyuan had just returned from the army and had not yet changed into his dark blue uniform. He was sitting on the main seat drinking tea with a pile of documents in his hand. Madam Lin is sitting in the second seat, holding a needle and thread in his hand to sew the navy blue spiritual silk dress. Judging from the size, it is not for Lin Boyuan, but it should be for Lin Chuan.
Seeing Qin Tiexin walking in, Lin Boyuan put down the tea cup and was about to speak, when his eyes suddenly stopped. Madam Lin also raised his head, his eyes fell on the little figure in Qin Tiexin's arms, and he put down the needlework in his hand unconsciously.
Ming'an poked his head out of Qin Tiexin's arms.
He should be scared. Qin Tiexin could feel his hands tightening on his monk's robe, and his small body was trembling slightly against Qin Tiexin's chest. But he still managed to slide down from Qin Tiexin's arms. When his feet landed on the ground, his legs were still shaking, and then he stood still.
Put your hands together.
He bent down so deeply that the top of his head almost touched his knees. The worn monk's robe slid down to his shoulders when he bent over, revealing the thinner collarbone underneath.
"Almsgiver has mercy, sorry to bother you."
Her voice was childish, and she bit each word very hard, with a little trembling at the end, but her etiquette was thorough.
Madam Lin's eyes rested on Ming'an for several breaths. The shabby monk's robe, washed white fabric, and crooked patches on the cuffs. The stubble on his head had grown a bit long and was sticking out in a mess. His face was clean, Qin Tiexin wiped him with his sleeve on the road, but there was still a little dust mark behind his ears that he had not wiped.
Madam Lin stood up, walked to Ming'an and squatted down. The child looked to be about five or six years old, and there was still mud embedded in his fingernails that could not be washed off.
"Whose child is this?" she turned around and asked Qin Tiexin.
"My junior brother, Ming'an. Come and join me."
Madam Lin turned his head to look at Ming'an. Ming'an still kept his hands clasped together, his eyes were lowered, and his eyelashes were trembling. Madam Lin reached out and gently lifted his chin, and then Ming'an raised his eyes. His big, bright black eyes looked timidly at the strange woman in front of him.
Madam Lin felt like something was tugging at his heart.
She likes children very much, Lin Chuan, Lin Wei, and Lin Feng. She brought up all three children by herself. But since Lin Boyuan was promoted to Golden Core, she still stayed at Foundation Establishment. It became increasingly difficult for the two of them to have children. This It's not that I haven't tried it in the past few years. I've asked for medical treatment and taken elixirs, but to no avail. The mansion has been deserted these years. Lin Chuan and Lin Wei live in the Supreme Splendor Academy, and Lin Feng has gone to who knows where. She and Lin Boyuan are the only ones guarding such a large Marquis Mansion.
It's not like she never thought about having another one, but things didn't work out as she wished.
She looked at the little novice monk who had appeared out of nowhere in front of her, his clasped hands and his dark eyes washed by tears, and she felt a surge of energy in her chest.
"Okay, okay, don't be afraid." Madam Lin opened Ming'an's little hand from the clasped posture and held it in his own palm, "Since I am Master Mingjue's junior brother, I treat this place as my own home."
Ming'an was holding her hand, and his little face was tense. He didn't know what to say, and turned to look at Qin Tiexin. Qin Tiexin nodded slightly to him, and then he whispered, "Thank you, donor."
Madam Lin smiled.
Without saying a word, she ordered the housekeeper to clean up the side room next to Qin Tiexin's small courtyard, and asked the servants to fetch hot water and get clothes. Just as Qin Tiexin was about to say no need to bother, Madam Lin had already turned around, with an indescribable energy in her tone.
"It's okay. It's empty anyway. Let the children live in peace. Let's wear Chuan'er and Feng'er clothes from childhood. I have a lot of them and haven't worn them much."
After saying that, she squatted down again, took Ming'an's hand and walked out.