Chapter 607: Little Brother Allister

"Me too, Mr. Xavier. I have a scar on my leg."

Tang Xiao’nan stuck out her plump, pale little leg, pointing to a row of dark scars. They were from mosquito bites, but these were mountain mosquitos, whose bites were particularly nasty. She had scratched them open, and it had taken over two weeks to heal, leaving marks behind. Now that there was a good remedy available, she naturally wanted to use it.

Clayton Xavier’s smile grew even warmer. "Of course," he said gently. "I’ll mix up a special scar-fading ointment for you."

The Seven Snow Ointment was specifically for burns, but his grandmother had later developed an improved version—a dedicated scar-fading ointment that worked very well. A little mosquito bite scar like Tang Xiao’nan’s was a trivial issue.

"I’ll also mix some mosquito repellent for you. Apply it, and the mosquitos won’t bite," Clayton Xavier added thoughtfully.

"Thank you, Mr. Xavier! You’re amazing."

Tang Xiao’nan was lavish with her praise. ’Clayton Xavier is so young, yet he can already mix so many remedies, knows how to do business, and is so handsome. He’s practically perfect! The author really did treat him well.’

Adrian Hawthorne sullenly turned his head away, a sour feeling churning inside him. ’He couldn’t mix medicine, so he couldn’t help Tang Xiao’nan. Fine. I’ll just buy a few extra roast chickens later and give her all the drumsticks.’

After a full day and night of travel, they finally arrived at the station in Vessaria. Ellie Ashton lived in the city, so Patrick Thorne escorted her home after they got off the train. It was getting dark, and it wasn’t safe for a girl to be out alone. Tang Xiao’nan and the others also decided not to head straight home, planning to spend the night in the city and return to Millstone Peak the next day.

Adrian Hawthorne, however, stayed in the city to wait for the freight car. Patrick Thorne and Clayton Xavier remained with him, while Jim Thorne took Tang Xiao’nan home on his bicycle.

Back in the countryside, the double rush harvest was in full swing. Phoebe Huxley and Felix Thorne were run off their feet, with no time to spare for Tang Xiao’nan. Patrick Thorne, Adrian Hawthorne, and the others were busy in the city every day, not even coming home at night. Time flew by, and a month later, the double rush was finally winding down.

By mid-August, the new seedlings were already planted in the paddies. Phoebe Huxley and Felix Thorne were much tanner and thinner, and so was everyone else in the village. The double rush could make a person lose at least ten pounds. ’Anyone wanting to lose weight doesn’t need a boot camp,’ Tang Xiao’nan thought. ’A month of the double rush would guarantee a twenty-pound loss, and it’s free.’

Phoebe Thorne had also finished her month of postpartum confinement. She and her son were both well-nourished, fair, and chubby—a complete departure from their fate in the book. Phoebe Thorne’s health hadn’t suffered, and the little guy was robust and had a hearty appetite. Fortunately, Phoebe Thorne was producing plenty of milk, more than enough to satisfy him.

"Auntie, what’s the baby’s name?"

Tang Xiao’nan gently poked the chubby baby’s cheek. The little one had just been fed and was staring wide-eyed at the world, curiously taking everything in and blowing bubbles. He was impossibly cute.

"Allister."

Amanda Chapman answered cheerfully. She expertly felt her little brother’s crotch. "He’s wet again!"

Before Phoebe Thorne could move, Amanda Chapman had already taken off the wet diaper and replaced it with a clean one. Her practiced movements were almost heartbreaking to watch. For the past month, Amanda had done all the washing and cleaning. She also had to cut grass for the pigs, cook their feed, feed the chickens and ducks, and help Raina cook. The labor during the double rush was so intense that the family ate five meals a day. If it weren’t for Amanda’s help, Raina would never have been able to keep up.

Tang Xiao’nan couldn’t help but chuckle and poked the chubby baby’s cheek again. "Allister, I’m your cousin!"

"PRRT."

The little baby blew a bubble, waving his arms and kicking his legs. His plump little hands were creased into adorable sections, like a lotus root.

"Auntie, is Allister his given name?" Tang Xiao’nan asked.

Phoebe Thorne’s brow furrowed for a moment, but she smiled and said, "It’s just a nickname. Your uncle has to choose his proper name."

Tang Xiao’nan could tell her aunt wasn’t in a good mood, so she didn’t press the matter. Amanda Chapman carried a pail of dirty diapers outside to wash, and Tang Xiao’nan followed her. "Amanda, has my uncle not visited at all?"