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墨書 Inktalez
Qi Chong anxiously followed Yu Chunmiao out the door, heading east toward the village. There stood a dilapidated Land Temple, abandoned since a new temple had been built, leaving the land long ago transferred to the new site. A small earthen house, about four or five meters wide, had a thatched roof and no door.
From a distance, Qi Chong spotted a tiny figure placing steamed buns on a stone outside the temple before walking away. It turned out to be food for Qi. He felt a pang of guilt; how could he have thought so poorly of her? Just a couple of days ago, they had been so close, sharing passionate kisses that made him forget everything else.
He hid behind a large locust tree and waited until Yu Chunmiao had walked a bit further before following her at a distance. He thought to himself that Yu Chunmiao didn’t want her family to know she was helping Qi, nor did she want Qi to know it was her who brought him food. She must have been concerned about her family's feelings and didn’t want to bring trouble upon herself by associating with him.
He decided to respect her wishes and let her do this without any burden. Yu Chunmiao entered the courtyard and quietly locked the door behind her before sneaking back inside. Just as she returned, Chen Ruo coughed twice, having just woken up her grandmother for some loquat water.
Meanwhile, Qi Chong waited outside the courtyard for half an hour before finally using a small stick to pry open the latch and head home. It was pitiful.
For the past two days, Qi had noticed steamed buns covered with banana leaves on the stone at the temple entrance. They were still made from fine flour. He thought perhaps they were sent by his uncle, who had been coming to the village every day to confront Qi Changsheng about their mother’s situation. Their mother had been locked away, and the Qi family wanted nothing to do with him.
He learned from Qi Rong how to forage for wild vegetables and went to Aunt Xin Daye’s house to trade for some vegetables for Wo Wo to eat. Sometimes he helped others carry water or gather pigweed. If he encountered Qian Dahua, he would run far away for fear of being beaten.
This was how he managed to survive for a month, eating sporadically. He didn’t harbor hatred toward his parents or Qian Dahua; rather, he felt the most resentment toward Yu Chunmiao. If it weren’t for her nonsensical words, he would still be the treasured child at home.
In recent days, Qi Yuan had been busy chopping firewood. What was once a dwindling supply of wood had now filled an entire courtyard wall. The planks were nearly dry, and he quickly fashioned a foot basin.
Yu Chunmiao and Qi Chong were in the kitchen preparing lunch when Qi Yuan came in with the foot basin, eager to show off his handiwork. “Sister-in-law, look! This is what my brother asked me to make for you!”
“Wow!” Yu Chunmiao exclaimed as she took the basin from him. Seeing the admiration in Qi Yuan's eyes made her smile. “I just started making Xian Cao Mi! But this basin is too shallow; it doesn’t hold much. The bucket is too deep and doesn’t seal well; this basin is just right.”
“Brother-in-law,” Qi Yuan said eagerly, “this is—”
Before he could finish, Qi Chong cleared his throat loudly and interjected, “Yes, it’s meant for holding Xian Cao Mi. Yuan Er, make a few more of these.”
Qi Yuan looked at his elder brother, who shot him a cold glare. Well, he thought, I might as well continue; after all, whatever Sister-in-law says is right.
Qi Chong had not rested for a single day, diligently grinding rice flour with a stone mortar. His wife insisted that the finer the flour, the better it would be, and he couldn't afford to be careless.
That evening, as usual, Yu Chunmiao went to deliver steamed buns. She needed to wake up early to make Xian Cao Mi, so she walked quickly, almost breaking into a jog.
Qi Chong struggled to keep up and fell behind her. However, he knew her destination and strolled leisurely toward Village East.
After delivering the buns, Yu Chunmiao turned back. She had barely walked for ten minutes when she heard rustling sounds coming from the bushes by the roadside.
Could it be a snake? She quickened her pace.
"Little fool!" A familiar voice called out from the bushes, sounding playful yet teasing.
Yu Chunmiao's heart skipped a beat. Where had she heard that voice before?
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