The carefree life of Yang Shuisheng, the village miracle doctor

"father?"

Upon hearing this word, Xu Xiuxia's eyes widened instantly, her mouth slightly agape, as if struck by lightning, and she froze completely.

A wave of intense embarrassment and panic washed over her, and even the tips of her ears turned bright red.

She looked at Yang Shuisheng in disbelief, as if to say, "Are you crazy? How can you say this in front of the child?"

"You're talking nonsense! My father died a long time ago!"

Upon hearing this, Dong Xiaoqiang was taken aback at first, then shook his head vigorously like a rattle-drum, loudly retorting, "So you're not my dad."

Although the little guy is young, he seems to have a clear understanding of the word "father" and knows what it means.

"Oh? Your father is dead."

Yang Shuisheng wasn't annoyed by the little guy's retort. Instead, he looked at him with interest and continued to ask in a calm tone, "So... Xiaoqiang, would you like to have another dad?"

"A dad who's good to both you and your mom?"

Upon hearing this question, Xu Xiuxia, who had originally intended to interrupt Yang Shuisheng and tell him not to talk nonsense, suddenly felt as if she had been choked, and all her words were stuck in her throat.

She stared blankly at her son's innocent little face, and a soft spot in her heart was deeply touched.

Over the years, she has raised her child alone, running the restaurant and taking care of Xiaoqiang. Although she is strong, when she looks at her son's sleeping face in the quiet of the night, she has thought how wonderful it would be if her child had a father who would love him.

Doesn't she feel she owes her son something?

At this moment, Yang Shuisheng's question also touched a nerve with her.

She turned her head away, her eyes instantly reddening, a surge of indescribable sorrow and guilt welling up inside her.

Dong Xiaoqiang was stumped by Yang Shuisheng's question.

He blinked his big, dark eyes, and a serious, thoughtful expression appeared on his small face, beyond his years.

After a few seconds, he nodded vigorously, his voice not loud but very clear: "Yes."

The word "want" was like a needle, gently pricking Xu Xiuxia, instantly filling her already reddened eyes with tears.

She forced herself not to let her tears fall.

Yang Shuisheng smiled and pressed his advantage: "Then how about I be your father?"

This time, Dong Xiaoqiang shook his head immediately without even thinking, pouting, "No!"

"Why not?" Yang Shuisheng was amused by his straightforward refusal.

"My mom said that only the man she marries can be my father!"

Dong Xiaoqiang puffed out his little chest and said in a serious tone, "You didn't marry my mother, so you can't be my father."

His words were clear and logical, leaving Yang Shuisheng stunned for a moment before he burst into laughter.

"This little guy is precocious for his age and knows quite a lot."

Xu Xiuxia was also amused and exasperated by her son's profound remarks. Her blush deepened, and she glared at Yang Shuisheng reproachfully for teasing the child.

"Haha, you little rascal." Yang Shuisheng laughed for a while before explaining, "You're right, but there's another kind of father, called a godfather, who can be a godfather without getting married."

"Godfather?" Dong Xiaoqiang was confused, his little brows furrowed, clearly he had never heard of this term before.

He looked at his mother for help.

Xu Xiuxia was also stunned.

Godfather?

She certainly knew the term. In the countryside, it was common to recognize godparents. Close friends or people who had been kind to a child could have the child recognized as a godfather or godmother, so that the child would receive more love and care.

She had never thought of this possibility before. But now, Yang Shuisheng's mention of it gave her a sudden realization.

Yeah! Godfather!

This identity is absolutely perfect.

She had feelings for Yang Shuisheng and they had even been intimate, but their relationship was not legitimate, and she couldn't say what the future held.

But if Xiaoqiang recognizes Yang Shuisheng as his godfather, then Yang Shuisheng will have a legitimate reason to come to their house in the future, or for her to take Xiaobao to find Yang Shuisheng.

Even the villagers won't gossip about it!

More importantly, Xiaoqiang's lack of paternal love might actually be made up for by Yang Shuisheng, which is a great solution that achieves multiple goals at once.

But... would Yang Shuisheng be willing?

He's so young and capable, why would he be willing to recognize Xiaoqiang, this burden, as his godson?

"Mommy, what's a godfather?"

As Xu Xiuxia's mind raced, filled with both anticipation and trepidation, Dong Xiaoqiang impatiently pressed, "What does your father do?"

"Godfather, it's just..."

Xu Xiuxia snapped out of her daze, looked into her son's curious eyes, suppressed her excitement, and tried to explain in simple terms: "He's a father who, although we're not related by blood, will love and care for you just like your own father."

"It's like having a really, really good uncle. You can call him godfather, and he'll treat you very well."

"Oh..." Dong Xiaoqiang seemed to understand, but the words "like a father, loving and caring for you" clearly touched him.

He glanced at his mother, then at Yang Shuisheng, who was already dressed in new pants on the bed, and asked softly, "Would he be willing to be my godfather?"

The question was directed at Xu Xiuxia, but her eyes were fixed on Yang Shuisheng.

Xu Xiuxia's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Yang Shuisheng with a questioning and expectant look in her eyes, along with a hint of nervousness.

"That depends on whether Xiaoqiang is willing to call me godfather."

Yang Shuisheng put on his pants, got off the bed, walked over to Dong Xiaoqiang, squatted down, looked him in the eye, and said with a gentle smile, "If you call me godfather, I'll buy you delicious food and fun things, and take you out to play. How about it?"

"Delicious food? Fun activities?" Dong Xiaoqiang's eyes lit up like stars.

Yang Shuisheng's promise to buy me toys is still ringing in my ears.

Children are simple and straightforward; they become close to whoever treats them well or fulfills their wishes.

"Godfather!"

Without almost any hesitation, he immediately shouted in a clear voice.

That clear and resonant "godfather" instantly struck Yang Shuisheng's heart with its childlike innocence and dependence.

Although he made the suggestion with a hint of joking and testing, hearing that address still stirred a warm sense of responsibility within him.

"Hey! Good son." Yang Shuisheng responded happily, reached out and picked up Dong Xiaoqiang, lifting him above his head and spinning him around.

The little guy was amused and giggled, and the fear and unfamiliarity he felt earlier vanished instantly.

"Come on! Your godfather keeps his word, I'll take you to buy delicious food and fun things right now."

Yang Shuisheng put Dong Xiaoqiang down, took his little hand, and said to Xu Xiuxia, whose eyes were already moist but whose lips couldn't help but turn up, "Sister Xia, I'm taking Xiaoqiang out for a walk. I'll be back in a little while."

Looking at the father and son enjoying each other's company, seeing the long-lost bright smile on her son's face, and looking at Yang Shuisheng's patient profile, Xu Xiuxia felt a mix of emotions, a bittersweet feeling, and tears welled up in her eyes.

But this time, it was tears of joy.

"Alright, you guys go ahead."

She nodded vigorously, her voice choked with emotion: "Come back soon, and be careful."

"understood."

The two men, one tall and one short, answered in unison, then held hands, chatting and laughing as they walked out of the main room, across the courtyard, and disappeared outside the door.

Xu Xiuxia walked to the door, leaned against the door frame, and watched the two figures, one big and one small, gradually walk away. She raised her hand and gently wiped away the tears on her face, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve upwards, revealing a grateful smile.

Her son will finally have a loving father.

Even if he's just a godfather, she believes he's better and more reassuring than many people's biological fathers.