Thinking about the event that kept her awake last night with anger, she didn't show Gu Jin a good face.
She rolled her eyes and headed toward the kitchen, accompanied by a cold snort as she left.
Gu Jin didn't mind and walked to the well to fetch water, wash his face, and rinse his mouth.
Soon, Grandpa and Uncle rose one after the other; as for the cousins, they were probably still sleeping.
Gu Jin greeted everyone and returned to his room.
Inside, An Mingji was already awake and sitting on the bed, still in a confused state.
Gu Jin, seeing him like this, smiled and spoke: "Why not sleep a bit more? You're still growing, and sleeping a while longer won't harm you."
Upon hearing the pleasant voice, An Mingji turned his head sharply, a smile appearing on his bruise-colored face, although somewhat distorted due to the injuries.
"Sister Jin——"
The child's adorable manner, coupled with those shining eyes gazing at her, made Gu Jin feel pleased.
She placed the enamel bowl, half-filled with water, back on the rack and walked toward An Mingji, who was sitting on the bed.
"Since you're already awake, there's water in the basin. Go wash your face, be careful not to touch the wounds."
"Okay."
An Mingji nodded, shyly got out of bed, and stood on the floor.
Last night, he didn't undress, so he got out of the covers just as he got into them.
Gu Jin was making the bed, casually glancing at An Mingji's thin body, her eyes darkening.
She was determined to make him healthy and chubby.
An Mingji was far behind other children of his age, showing how severe his malnutrition was, lacking various proteins, fats, and more.
All this was due to what he had been through in recent years. Thinking about the life An Mingji had lived, Gu Jin sighed in her heart.
By the time she finished making the bed, An Mingji had already washed his face.
The child was rolling up his washed-out green pant legs, sensing Gu Jin's gaze, he looked up and flashed a toothy smile.
Though the smile was bright, unfortunately, the wounds on his face were hard to look at.
Gu Jin, noticing him facing her with a wounded face, gently smiled and extended her hand: "Come, let's take a walk to the back mountain."
Aunt's breakfast would take another half hour, which was just enough time to take the child out for a stroll.
The air nowadays was extraordinarily fresh, unlike the pollution of later years, a rare crisp morning absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, which she wouldn't miss.
An Mingji got up and approached, placing his clean little hand into Gu Jin's slender fingers.
The two of them held hands and left the room.
Gu Jin saw Grandpa and Uncle washing their faces by the well and said, "Grandpa, Uncle, I'm taking little An to the back mountain for a walk, we'll be back soon."
Uncle Gu Decang raised his chin, revealing a good-natured smile, "Alright!"
Grandpa Gu Dabao wiped his face, glanced at An Mingji beside Gu Jin, his gaze faint.
"Go ahead, don't head for the deep mountains, remember to come back early for breakfast."
"Got it."
Gu Jin took little An away, their figures soon disappearing at the door.
Qingluan Mountain in Qingshan Village even in later years remained very famous, turned into a tourist attraction, drawing countless visitors, especially with the glass walkways on the mountain.
The mountain had various animals, for the safety of the tourists, they were all docile ones such as roe deer, wild rabbits, pheasants, and birds.
Unlike now, the mountain still had wolves, leopards, and especially wild boars, which often came down to ruin the fields.
Qingluan Mountain was beautiful yet very dangerous; neither adults nor children from the village dared to venture into the deep mountains.