In this village, people tended to talk when one could not produce a son.
Without a son, there would be no progeny!
Her husband and mother-in-law had looked down on her as a result of that. Hence, she had been finding ways and means to adopt a son so that, when they were old and infirm, he could look after them.
"You can be my son and I'll look after you. I'll be good to you, all right? Come follow me!" The woman wanted to save face and continued to coax him along.
He simply refused, "No!"
Lingling spread her arms to shield him behind her. "Auntie Feng, even if Youyou were abandoned by his parents, he would be with us, not you!"
Everyone laughed.
A sensible child stepped forward and said, "Auntie, he is timid so you shouldn't frighten him in this way!"
Saying that, he turned to the boy and Lingling. "Auntie Feng is just teasing you. He he!"
The boy was vexed.
He disliked being teased by the adults.
