Momo's Gradual Change - VOL. 1

C187. Thirteen Kids.

Chapter 187: Thirteen Kids

Clearly, the two men knew each other. Miao Jun gestured to the others. "Take a look around and see if you like it. We can discuss the rest afterward."

The house was indeed ideal. Two rooms downstairs, four upstairs. The spacious first-floor living room could serve as a classroom, and the kitchen was large enough to cook for a group. Bathrooms were on both floors, and the furnishings were of good quality. It was fully equipped and ready for use.

They sat in the living room, and the homeowner, Mr. Liu Feng, spoke up. "I hadn’t planned on renting it out. I don’t need the money, and I worry about it getting damaged. But since Mr. Miao recommended you, I won’t make a fuss. The rent is negotiable; my only condition is that you try to keep it as it is. My parents said they’d like to move back here once the kids are older. They’re attached to this place, and it wouldn't feel the same if things were changed."

Song Yimo immediately assured him, "Don't worry, Uncle Liu. I’ll make sure everyone takes good care of the place."

They signed the contract quickly—at just two thousand a month, it was a bargain. Song Yimo paid six months' rent upfront.

With this big hurdle cleared, Song Yimo eagerly rolled up her sleeves to start cleaning. Just as she wrung out a cloth, He Yi swatted it out of her hand, insisting she and Zhai Muyang go bring over the supplies they'd bought.

After two days of hard work setting up, and one more shopping for additional items, the train from Zang City arrived in Mang City.

Zhai Muyang had already arranged everything and was waiting with others at the platform.

One by one, the thirteen children came off the train, holding hands and looking around with wide-eyed caution. The moment they saw Song Yimo, some of their anxiety melted away.

Song Yimo gave them a gentle smile. "Remember me?"

They all nodded, and the oldest boy stepped forward. "Big brother said we should call you Sister Song."

"Yes, that’s right. From now on, everyone can call me Sister Song. Now, let’s head to where we'll be staying." She picked up the smallest girl and instructed, "The older ones hold the younger ones’ hands; everyone pair up."

The twelve children quickly found partners and lined up neatly in six pairs.

"Zhou-ge … And Zheji-ge, you’re here too?" Song Yimo greeted, realizing she hadn’t noticed him before. She looked a bit embarrassed.

The man smiled shyly. "Zhou-ge said the children might feel out of place in a new city. I came to stay with them for a bit to help."

"That’s wonderful. Having someone familiar here will help them settle in. Oh, Dage, this is Zheji-ge."

Zhai Muyang shook his hand. "Thank you for looking after them in Zang City."

Zhe Ji knew that Zhai Muyang was Zhou Qing’s boss and would be helping with the children's needs, so he responded earnestly, "It was my duty."

Though the children wore new clothes, the red tint of the plateau sunburn on their cheeks stood out, drawing glances from passersby. Not wanting to linger, Song Yimo moved to the front, saying, "Follow me."

Zhai Muyang had arranged two large vans from his company, more than enough to fit everyone.

Back at the house, the Miao family had just finished washing fruit when Aunt Song sighed again outside the gate. Sharing a glance, He Yi went over to her.

“Auntie Song, don’t worry too much. We all have our limits, but Song Yimo is an exceptional child. What she’s doing is a good thing…”

Grandma Song patted He Yi’s hand. "Oh, I’m not trying to stop her. I’m proud of her kindness. But she’s still a student, about to start university. Who’ll look after these kids when she’s away? I can stay to help, but at my age, I worry I won’t be able to handle it all.”

Relieved, He Yi smiled. She had assumed Auntie Song was upset about Yimo spending so much money.

"Yimo will surely have it all arranged. Even if we really need to take care of things, that’s no big deal—I can step away from the shop. It’s nice to have something else to occupy my mind anyway."

"But that’s not fair. She gets to be the kind one, and you’re left doing the hard work? The world doesn’t work like that."

"Come on now! Yimo’s called me ‘Mama ’ for so many years. Maybe I can’t say I feel exactly the same as I do about Zhiruo, but I truly love her as my own daughter. Besides, the life we have now is all thanks to her. How could I possibly think of it in such black-and-white terms? I’m more than happy to help her."

At the sound of a car horn, Grandma Song patted He Yi’s hand, and they fell silent, heading out to the courtyard.

The car pulled up, and Song Yimo was the first to step out, grinning as soon as she spotted her grandmother. “You came all the way over here too, Grandma! Nice place, right?”

"It’s wonderful—quiet and convenient." Grandma Song reached for the child in Song Yimo’s arms, but the little one clung tightly to Song Yimo’s neck.

Song Yimo gently patted her. "It’s okay, I’ll carry her. She’ll get used to her surroundings soon."

The other children filed out of the car, hand-in-hand as always, each looking up at Song Yimo, waiting for her words. The trust in their eyes made her heart melt.

"See that beautiful house? For the next six months, this is where we’ll all be staying. Come on, let’s go in!"

The kids didn’t bother hiding their excitement. Once inside, they craned their necks to explore every corner, checking out both floors with gleeful curiosity. This was, by far, the nicest place they’d ever stayed.

Song Yimo was delighted too. "Alright, we’ve got nine boys and four girls, so I’ve set up three rooms for you. The boys will share two, and the girls will have one. Now, big brothers and sisters, remember to look after the younger ones, okay?"

The children nodded enthusiastically. They’d been doing just that for as long as they could remember.

"Everyone must be hungry. Let’s go eat first."

The meal, prepared by Grandma Song and He Yi, was light and easy to digest, with few heavy flavors—perfect for a group of kids. They ate with a heartwarming calm, savoring every bite of this comforting, familiar meal.

The older children naturally looked after the younger ones, and seeing this, Song Yimo relaxed a little.

Afterward, she helped them settle into their rooms, explaining how to use the household appliances, dividing up clothes and shoes, and answering all their questions. Watching the smiles on their faces filled her with joy, so much so that she didn’t notice Fang Zhen and his wife arrive.

Fang Zhen kept a low profile, pulling Zhai Mu pyang aside for a chat, while Xie Fei came over to help Song Yimo with one of the little girls’ shoes.

“Fei-jie?” Song Yimo was surprised, wiping the sweat from her brow. “How did you find this place?”

"Fang Zhen called your Muyang Dage." Xie Fei smiled at the curious children looking her way. "Got everything you need? Missing anything?"

“We still need a teacher. I haven’t found the right one yet.”

"What kind of teacher do you need?"

After finally getting everyone’s shoes and clothes sorted, Song Yimo—despite working up quite a sweat—felt a deep sense of accomplishment. Handing over the little girl to one of the older kids, she said, “Look, your little sister can barely keep her eyes open. Time for a nap, everyone.”

The children all agreed without fuss, each naturally taking on the role of watching out for one another, moving with a quiet harmony that filled Yimo with peace.

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TN:
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