When they reached the back of their building, Ruan Jie jumped over the wall to open the door for them, putting all the fruit in the backyard shed first.

The villagers stayed at the Ruan Family’s house until almost noon before gradually leaving, and everyone was quite satisfied.

Especially the children, each had their pockets full of candies.

When it was finally time for the Captain to leave, Ruan Jianguo stepped out to see him off. Turning around, he noticed a small figure at the door. As he looked over, the figure immediately shrank back.

"Whose child is this?" Ruan Jianguo asked.

The little child had originally been hiding behind the wall, and upon hearing this voice, started to run. Ruan Jianguo quickly caught up and picked him up.

It was a boy of about ten, wearing patched clothes, looking all dirty and skinny.

Ruan Jianguo was a bit surprised.

The village’s conditions were pretty good now; the kids who came to play today weren’t particularly wealthy, but at least dressed neatly. He hadn’t seen anyone wearing patched clothes.

"Whose kid are you?" Ruan Jianguo asked again.

The boy twisted persistently in his grip, clearly not able to wriggle free from Ruan Jianguo, he was panting heavily from the effort.

Ruan Jiaojiao, having heard the commotion, came over curiously and asked, "Dad, who is he?"

"I don’t know, this boy was just curled up in that corner, and he won’t answer when I ask him," Ruan Jianguo pointed to the corner of the wall.

Ruan Jiaojiao looked at the boy; he was a bit dirty, but despite being thin, his facial features were quite handsome, especially his eyes, which were strikingly beautiful, though there was a fierce look to them.

Ruan Jiaojiao suddenly thought of when she first met Duan Xi, and her heart softened.

She stepped in front of the boy and asked gently, "Hello, are you from the village too?"

The boy bit his lip and remained silent, but his eyes were fixed firmly on Ruan Jiaojiao.

"This boy is from the Li Family next door, Li Boxue," someone else came out from the courtyard, explained by Ruan Jiandang.

"Boxue, where are your grandparents?" he asked.

Li Boxue didn’t respond and looked away. Ruan Jiaojiao thought for a moment, then ran into the main house, packed some cookies, candies, and fruit in a bag, and handed it to the boy, "You’re called Li Boxue? That’s a nice name. I’m Ruan Jiaojiao, and this is my home. I just returned today, so here’s a gift, won’t you eat some?"

The boy didn’t take it, but his gaze was fixed on the bag with an evident longing.

Ruan Jiaojiao smiled and added, "The other kids in the village don’t have as much. They only have candy, but you have cookies and fruits."

The boy still didn’t take it, so Ruan Jiaojiao reached out, took his tiny dirty hand, and placed the bag on it.

"Alright, go home now," Ruan Jianguo let go.

The boy glanced at Ruan Jiaojiao, then at the bag in his hand. Finally, unable to resist his inner desire, he turned and ran off with the bag.

Ruan Jiaojiao sighed in relief, genuinely afraid he would be as stubborn as Duan Xi back then.

"This kid is also pitiful," Ruan Jianguo said, shaking his head.

Ruan Jiaojiao nodded in agreement, her heart heavy with emotion. In the past, Li Shu had always been kind to her, greeting her and teasing her every time he passed by, even giving her candies.