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Chapter 75
Chapter 75
A thin, scrawny man stepped in front of the mule cart. Despite his small stature, his eyes shone with an unusual brightness.0
The father and daughter looked at him, utterly bewildered.0
Chang'an truly didn't recognize the man in front of them, while Old Gu Six thought he looked familiar but couldn't be certain if it was who he thought it was.0
The man, upon seeing Old Gu Six, became overjoyed, which only intensified his stutter.0
"O-o-o-old S-s-s-six, it's-it's-it's m-m-me!"0
Old Gu Six only knew one person who spoke with such a distinctive stutter, so he asked, "A-a-are y-y-you A'qing?"0
Chang'an: Why are you imitating his way of speaking?0
Old Gu Six: It makes me seem friendlier.0
Chang'an expressed doubt: Doesn't that make you more likely to get punched?0
A'qing's already bright eyes lit up even more when he realized Old Gu Six had recognized him.0
He said, "Y-y-yes, it's A-A'qing."0
Old Gu Six's sharp eyes instantly brightened, and his face crinkled with joy.0
A'qing was from Liu Family Village, next to Qingfang Village. He was an orphan, and the villagers often bullied him because of his stutter.0
He was two years older than Old Gu Six, and when they used to beg together, A'qing would always protect him. Sometimes, when Old Gu Six couldn't get any food, A'qing would share his own.0
Later, when Old Gu Six was adopted by an old hunter, he stopped begging.0
He would secretly save some of his own food rations to give to A'qing, but A'qing never accepted them. He was afraid that if Old Gu Six did this, his adoptive family might throw him out, forcing him to beg again.0
The old hunter always knew about Old Gu Six's hidden food stash. He never exposed him, but would quietly prepare extra food so that Old Gu Six could help A'qing without going hungry himself.0
Old Gu Six threatened A'qing, saying if he didn't accept the food, he would never speak to him again.0
And so, with the old hunter's silent help, Old Gu Six supported A'qing for five years. Later, A'qing left Liu Family Village; villagers said his aunt had taken him in.0
Unexpectedly, after seventeen or eighteen years, A'qing had recognized him at a glance.0
A'qing said with a smile, "Y-y-you w-w-were g-g-good-looking as a ch-ch-child."0
In fact, Old Gu Six had only grown more handsome with age, his features maturing without becoming unrecognizable.0
"How have you been?" Old Gu Six jumped down from the mule cart and gave him a big hug.0
"G-g-good. M-m-mother t-t-treats me v-v-very well."0
From the day he returned with his aunt, he had started calling her "mother."0
A'qing looked at Chang'an standing next to Old Gu Six. He seemed momentarily confused, then appeared to realize something.0
He asked, "Is-is-is th-this y-your d-d-daughter?"0
"Yes, this is my daughter Chang'an. Darling, this is your father's benefactor. Quickly, greet Uncle A'qing," Old Gu Six said, patting Chang'an's head.0
Chang'an stepped forward and gave A'qing a respectful bow, as befitting a younger generation. "Chang'an pays her respects to Uncle A'qing."0
"G-g-good," A'qing said, helping Chang'an up.0
Then he said to Old Gu Six, "C-c-come, l-let's g-g-go s-sit at m-my h-h-house."0
Old Gu Six nodded, "Alright."0
A'qing's home was at the end of the village - four thatched huts with a clean courtyard. The chickens were penned in a corner of the yard, not allowed to roam freely and defecate everywhere.0
His family was small: just an elderly mother, a wife, and two children - a son and a daughter.0
A'qing's mother was out visiting neighbors. His wife was busy with housework when she saw guests arrive. She quickly put down what she was doing and came to greet them.0
She first carefully looked at Old Gu Six and Chang'an, then noticed the mule cart parked outside the yard.0
Though the father and daughter weren't dressed in the finest clothes, they commanded attention just by standing there.0
A'qing's wife was an ordinary, illiterate farm woman. She wouldn't describe the father and daughter pair in the way a scholar might.0
In her words, they were exceptionally good-looking, as if they glowed.0
A'qing happily introduced them to his wife, "M-m-mother, w-w-wife, th-this is m-my ch-childhood f-f-friend, Old G-Gu S-Six, and h-his d-daughter."0
A'qing's wife felt somewhat awkward, momentarily at a loss for what to do.0
She smiled nervously, "Welcome, sir, miss. Please, come in and have a seat."0
Old Gu Six spoke gently, "Sister-in-law, please call me Old Six. This is my daughter Chang'an."0
"Greetings, Aunt A'qing," Chang'an stepped forward and gave another respectful bow.0
"Oh, please," A'qing's wife hurriedly helped Chang'an up.0
She thought to herself, goodness gracious, this young lady is truly beautiful, so soft and polite.0
Then she thought of her own daughter, who was probably running wild in the mountains with her brother right now, and her hands began to itch.0
As if on cue, the children she was thinking about returned home.0
"Mom, Mom, look what my brother and I found!" a voice called out before they even entered the yard. They paused at the gate, confused. "Huh? Brother, do we have guests?"0
"Looks like it."0
The siblings ran into the courtyard. The little girl was carrying a wild pheasant, while the boy had a basket full of fresh mushrooms.0
The first thing they saw upon entering was Chang'an and Old Gu Six.0
The siblings exchanged a glance, both wondering when their family had ever had such good-looking guests.0
A'qing went over and lightly smacked the back of their heads. "Th-this is U-Uncle Gu and Ch-Chang'an."0
He then introduced them to Old Gu Six: "Th-these are m-my s-son and d-daughter, D-Da..."0
Seeing his father struggling with the introduction, A'qing's son took over: "Uncle Gu, I'm Dazhu, and this is my sister Qingqing."0
"Hello there," Old Gu Six greeted them with a warm smile.0
Dazhu felt a bit shy, though it wasn't obvious due to his sun-darkened skin.0
Qingqing kept hiding behind her brother, stealing glances at Chang'an. This girl was fair-skinned and beautiful, with lovely clothes and embroidered shoes she had only seen in city shoe shops.0
She looked at her own rough, bony hands, then down at her cloth shoes with toes peeking out. Her big toe twitched uncomfortably as she tried to tuck it back in.0
She tugged at her coarse, patched-up clothes. Living in the village, she had never felt different before, but suddenly having someone so unlike her in their home brought unfamiliar feelings.0
For the first time, she experienced a sense of inferiority, feeling an unprecedented embarrassment.0
Two girls of similar age, yet they seemed to inhabit completely different worlds.0
One radiant and refined, the other worn down by the hardships of life.0
No one noticed Qingqing's silence. A'qing's wife asked the children to go tell their grandmother that they had guests.0
The siblings put down their findings and left together. On the way, Dazhu noticed something was off with his sister.0
"Qingqing, what's wrong?"0
"It's nothing, brother. Say, what do you think the outside world is like? Is everyone as beautiful as that girl?"0
The young boy was perceptive enough to understand why his sister was feeling down. He affectionately patted her head.0
Grinning, he said, "Qingqing, one day I'll earn lots and lots of money. I'll buy you the prettiest house, the most beautiful clothes, and the most delicious food."0