Chapter 4: White Lies 1

In the evening, there was another pot of wild vegetable soup boiled in water. After finishing the meal, Yanqing lay on the heated brick bed, staring blankly at the wall covered in spider webs.

Due to the cold wind this morning, Xichun started coughing again, which made Xiqiu frown in concern.

Yanqing licked his lips and murmured, "If only father and mother were here. When they were around, we could still have meat sometimes. It's been so long since I had meat!"

His face turned gloomy as he seemed to recall unpleasant memories, clenching his little fists.

Xichun also started to shed tears, unable to understand why their father had barely left for the capital to take the imperial examination when their mother started an affair with someone else. Now their mother had been drowned in the pond, and there was no news of their father.

Their fields were taken back by their uncle, who claimed that their mother had brought shame to the family. Their grandmother and uncle also disowned them. To treat their mother's illness, their elder sister had sold herself to serve a mentally disabled person and lost her life. Their whole family now lived like beggars.

Thinking about this, Xichun burst into tears and collapsed onto the reed mat on the heated brick bed, sobbing uncontrollably.

Xiqiu was startled and quickly went to help her up, scolding, "What are you getting so worked up for? You'll start coughing again and feel uncomfortable later!"

"I'm coughing... I feel uncomfortable... Sister, cough, where do you think father has gone?"

Xiqiu frowned in silence. How could she know? It had only been a test in the capital, but two years had passed without any news. Some things, if not death, would lead to another outcome.

To prevent Xichun from getting too upset, Xiqiu comforted her and diverted her attention, saying, "Don't worry, we will definitely have enough to eat and wear warm clothes in the future."

"Can it really happen?"

She looked up with teary eyes, full of despair. Yanqing wiped his tears and whimpered softly, "I... I must grow up quickly, become strong, stronger than Uncle Hu at the village entrance. Then, I will earn a lot of money and make sure you and our other sister can eat meat and live a good life..."

His pitiful little face was covered in tears, and his mouth kept moving. Xiqiu felt a pang of sorrow but also wanted to laugh at his words.

Just as she was about to comfort him, someone outside called, "Xiqiu!"

Xichun stopped crying and looked at Xiqiu, who appeared puzzled.

Xiqiu patted her and said, "Watch over Yanqing. Don't let him choke. It's time for bed, and it's not good for him to be like this."

She nodded, and Xiqiu quickly went down the heated brick bed, opened the curtain, and hurried out of the room.

Lin Runsheng didn't dare to call too loudly, but after calling her name again from behind the fence, he saw the door open and let out a sigh of relief.

He handed her a pen, inkstone, and paper, saying, "I brought the pen and inkstone, and the paper is uncut as you requested."

"Thank you, Runsheng."

Lin Runsheng nodded and asked, "But what do you need these for?"

"To beg for food!" She replied with a faint smile.

Lin Runsheng was taken aback, seeing the bright light in her eyes despite her thin and withered appearance. He quickly regained his composure and said, "Can I come to collect them tomorrow evening? I only have a day off, and I have to go to the town school early the next day."

"Sure, come and collect them tomorrow evening. I won't be able to come to the village to see you off."

"I understand!"

After saying this, he bid her farewell with a bow, and Xiqiu sighed in relief, grateful for Lin Runsheng's rare compassion.

Back in the room, Xichun looked at the pen and paper in her sister's hand and asked, "Sister, why did you borrow these from Runsheng?"

"To paint!"

"To paint?" She was even more puzzled.

Xiqiu sighed and said, "Do you remember the day when our elder sister was brought back?"

Xichun nodded, and tears started flowing again. She would never forget that day when Chen Dahuzi had his servants bring their sister back. She was swollen all over, unrecognizable, lying there lifeless, a sight that still sent shivers down her spine.

Xiqiu's expression remained serious as she said, "The night our elder sister was brought back, I had a dream."

"A dream?"

Xiqiu nodded, and Yanqing quickly climbed onto her lap, propping his chin with his hands and looking up at her with wide, shining eyes, clearly eager to hear the story.

"Sister, tell me, what was the dream about?"