Chapter 28

Mr. He’s expression turned solemn when he saw his expression, realizing that he was not joking.

He looked at Gu Jin and did not agree with her plan. “How old are you? Don’t burden your family. Think of the consequences before you do anything. Think about your family.”

The village chief thought that Grandpa Gu did not agree with the plan either. He just wanted to dissuade Gu Jin and did not consider the feelings of An Mingji, who was right beside them.

What Grandpa Gu said earlier had already confounded An Mingji. His pleasant and innocent expression, which was devoid of any pretense, and the light in his eyes dimmed.

He looked over at Gu Jin in disbelief.

Then, upon hearing the village chief’s words, his face turned pale.

If he was not mistaken, Gu Jin was only two or three years older than him. How was she going to adopt him?

Gu Jin felt the child’s grip on her hand tighten and knew that he was nervous.

She looked at the village chief with a smile. “Grandpa He, I’ve thought through it. I can’t get a separate household registration yet because I’m only sixteen. That’s why I am here today. I hope you can bring me to town and report my age as two years older so that I can have a separate household registration with An Mingji.”

“Oh my gosh, kid…”

Not expecting her to have considered it so thoroughly, the village chief could not find the words to respond.

“Mr. He, would you do me a favor by bringing the child there? I haven’t sorted out the meat at home. Once I am finished with it, I’ll ask this child to send you one of the wild boar’s hind legs,” Grandpa Gu said.

How could the village chief resist?

The wild boar’s hind leg had double the meat of the seven- to eight-pound chunk in front of his eyes.

All he needed to do was to make a trip into town, so he nodded. “Sure. When do you want it done?”

Gu Jin looked at the nervous child, An Mingji. “The sooner, the better, Grandpa He. What about now? We might make it home in time to eat the meat,” she said with a smile.

“Sure!”

With the thought of the wild boar’s hind leg still in mind, the village chief carried the meat into the house. After he informed his family about it, he brought Gu Jin and An Mingji to town.

Lucky for Gu Jin, she had brought the household register with her when she left home, saving the hassle of running back home again to get the register.

Due to his age, Grandpa Gu did not follow them, but he would wait for them at home.

An Mingji held Gu Jin’s hand all the way as everything felt so surreal to him.

Things were finally settled in the afternoon, and the village chief brought the two children back to the village.

As the village chief parted with the two children at the village entrance, Gu Jin turned to him with a smile. “I will ask An to send you the wild boar meat later, Grandpa He.”

“Sure!” The village chief smiled all the way home.

Gu Jin brought the child and headed home with two household registers in her hand. One was the Gu Family’s, while the other was her and An Mingji’s.

Along the way, An Mingji fixed his eyes on the new household register with barefaced excitement.

Seeing his brightening eyes, Gu Jin knocked him on the head with the new household register booklet.

“Are you excited, silly boy?” she asked with a smile.

An Mingji nodded eagerly but could say nothing.

It felt surreal, just like a dream.

He had been in abject poverty with barely enough food to eat, besides having to endure the humiliation from the villagers over the years. Although that had not broken him down completely, he dared not think of having a future, especially when his father and grandmother had died and his mother had run away.

He had no family. To him, his uncle’s family consisted of strangers and enemies.