Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 49: A Loving Mother and Filial Son

Cheng Xiaoxiao choked, "Stop exaggerating. Okay, okay, your break time is over, hurry up and train. I still have some herbs to prepare, so I’ll head back first." With that, she quickly slipped away!

Erya and Xiaolan exchanged glances, understood each other, and couldn’t be bothered to expose the one who had already run off.

A new round of basic exercises began on the training field. Besides the four girls, there were seven boys: Cheng Jia, Cheng Ran, Cheng Genzi’s two sons, Cheng Liangmu, Cheng Liangsen, the village head’s two grandsons, Cheng Yinfeng and Cheng Yinchao, and Cheng Dali’s youngest son Cheng Xiaoquan.

The kids who could learn martial arts here usually had a good relationship with the Cheng Family. Cheng Xiaoxiao felt they came from families with decent character.

Others could be envious, but it was useless!

At the beginning, the Clan Leader had approached Cheng Xiaoxiao, asking the Martial Arts Instructor to teach the clan’s children together, but Cheng Xiaoxiao refused, saying the instructor only took on this many students.

This was another slap to the face of the stubborn Clan Leader. He was so angry at that time that he almost skinned Cheng Xiaoxiao alive. Luckily, Cheng Xiaoxiao had a scapegoat and pushed Leng Qi out.

Indeed! A killer’s presence was daunting. Without a word, he performed a sword flower that split a wooden bench in her yard in half. How could the Clan Leader dare to act rashly? He left in disgrace.

Cheng Xiaoxiao was overjoyed, thinking of who would dare to offend her in the future... Ha ha!

Of course, apart from her family, the other three families also paid fees; otherwise, anyone could come to learn. Leng Qi would be hopping mad about teaching even a few people; it was like shaming his ancestors.

Symbolically, Cheng Xiaoxiao collected a bit of money from the three families. If others wanted to join, it was 20 taels of silver per person, which scared the villagers away. They called Cheng Xiaoxiao greedy and accused her of being money-hungry. Most of them weren’t sincerely wanting their kids to learn martial arts; they just wanted to imitate others’ prestige out of envy.

Walking alone on her way home, Cheng Xiaoxiao was pondering whether to sell herbs this afternoon or tomorrow. The weather felt ominous. The system task stated within ten days, meaning it might rain in eight or nine days. It was already the seventh day, and just as she was thinking...

"Xiaoxiao girl! Xiaoxiao girl!"

Someone suddenly called her from behind, startling her. She turned to see a young woman she had no impression of, leaving her bewildered. What’s this person’s name again?

The woman seemed a bit timid, unsure of how to start. She steadied herself with courage before speaking, "Um... Xiaoxiao girl, could you possibly..."

The half-grown boy behind the woman suddenly spoke up, "Mom, aren’t you going to invite Sister Xiao inside to sit?" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Only then did the woman react, "Look at me, I’m sorry! Xiaoxiao girl, please come inside. Our home is quite simple, don’t mind it."

Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t know why this woman sought her out. The house seemed empty, with just the mother and son. Cheng Xiaoxiao suddenly recalled that Erya had mentioned a young widow in the village with some beauty who’s often harassed by the village rascals while living alone with her son. Her husband died years ago, bitten by a big bug on Mang Mountain. The mother and son lived in financial difficulty, and they rarely interacted with the villagers. Cheng Xiaoxiao had no impression, but could it be her?

Following the woman inside, Cheng Xiaoxiao saw just three thatched rooms, a small yard, the whole house visible at a glance, clean and tidy despite lacking furniture and items.

Cheng Xiaoxiao asked, "You are...?"

"You can just call me Aunt Chen, Xiaoxiao girl." She then called the boy over and introduced him, "This is my son Cheng Sicheng, eleven years old."

The boy wasn’t shy, greeting Cheng Xiaoxiao, "Hello, Sister Xiao."

Cheng Xiaoxiao nodded, looking at the boy who appeared respectful and decent, almost like a scholar, gentle and tall and skinny, probably not much shorter than Cheng Xiaoxiao. With wheat-colored skin and peach blossom eyes hiding darkness and light, he was a paradox and the most intriguing person Cheng Xiaoxiao had ever seen.

Of course, the boy outwardly seemed timid and obedient, behaving like a good baby. He even served Cheng Xiaoxiao and his mother two cups of water voluntarily, much to Aunt Chen’s satisfaction, her expression and intention too noticeable...

Hmm! My son is well-behaved and sensible!

As a mother, I’m both proud and pleased!

Based on her many years of workplace experience in her previous life, Cheng Xiaoxiao thought the boy probably wasn’t that simple; he just disguised himself well in front of his mother.

Aunt Chen didn’t beat around the bush, directly emptying twelve taels of silver from an old pouch. "Xiaoxiao girl, I know you’re good-hearted. You see, for the lack of money, I can work for your family. I also take on embroidery work; I’ll gather the remaining eight taels as soon as I can."

Chen Xiaomei felt guilty speaking these words, wondering when she could gather eight taels, but she was helpless since she only had one son!

Her son had never asked her for anything in his life, and this time he was set on it. She could see his determination.

Twelve taels, eight taels, making twenty taels in total, Cheng Xiaoxiao finally understood, "Aunt Chen, you want your son to learn martial arts?"

Aunt Chen nodded, "The child is unfortunate, losing his father at three. I sent him to school for three years, but he didn’t want to continue, probably seeing my hardship and wanting to help with chores. In all these years, Sicheng never asked for anything. This time, seeing you all practice martial arts, he became interested and wanted to join. But our situation is tough; we really can’t afford that much silver, so what do you think..."

Cheng Sicheng beside her said, "Mom, you don’t have to repay the shortage of money. I’m grown up now." He then looked at Cheng Xiaoxiao, "Sister Xiao, I’ll earn back the money I owe, but it might take a while." Cheng Sicheng was a bit embarrassed but couldn’t let his mom work so hard.

Aunt Chen scolded, "What would a child understand? Since I promised, I’d sort it out for you. But my poor son, this silver was originally saved for your bride price."

"Mom, I don’t want a wife. I’ll serve you all my life." Cheng Sicheng maintained his good baby demeanor, letting his mother stroke his head.

"Nonsense!"

"I mean it!"

"People say marry a wife and forget your mother, so I might as well not marry!"

"Silly child, you don’t understand now; you’ll know a wife’s importance when you grow up."

Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t speak throughout, watching the mother and son show unfold—such a loving and filial scene!

The system commented gleefully, "Host, how does it feel to be invisible?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao covered her forehead, "Not great!"

"So, Aunt Chen, are you sure you want your son to learn martial arts? I think... what’s his name, Cheng Sicheng, right? At eleven, isn’t it a bit late to start martial arts? At this age, he’s missed the best time for learning martial arts. That Coach Leng primarily teaches Brother Jia; the other older kids learn some basics just to deal with one or two ruffians at best.

If you really spend twenty taels of silver for Cheng Sicheng to learn, and he doesn’t gain much skill, then it would be a big waste." Cheng Xiaoxiao actually didn’t want to agree; if she pushed more people on Leng Qi... that guy would certainly get upset.