Zhu Xiuxiu started off a bit slow, fearing the little girl couldn’t keep up. But as they walked, she found that the little girl was even faster than her!
They quickly arrived at the foot of White Cloud Mountain. From a distance, they spotted a house with a partially collapsed wall.
"We’re finally here! Are you okay, Suisui? Hold on a bit longer; your Third Aunt will carry you on the way back."
Xiaosuisui didn’t feel tired at all, only a little thirsty. "I’m fine! Suisui can walk!" she replied.
While they spoke, they arrived in front of the house. The little boy who had previously delivered ducks to their home was bringing out water in a battered ladle for an old man using a bamboo pole as a crutch.
After the old man drank the water, he turned and saw Zhu Xiuxiu and Xiaosuisui.
What a beautiful little girl. She looks so vibrant. She must be about three or four years old, right? She’s much lovelier than the boy in front of me.
"Young lady, is this your child? She’s truly radiant!"
The old man gazed at Xiaosuisui. For some reason, Xiaosuisui felt very uncomfortable under his stare.
"Yes, she’s my niece. I think she’s beautiful too. She’ll definitely grow up to be a great beauty!" Zhu Xiuxiu, carefree as ever, readily replied.
"Meeting is destiny. Here’s a little trinket for the little girl to play with. Wearing it on her hand will bring good luck." The old man spoke, taking a red cord from his sleeve. A silver bead, slightly larger than a grain of rice, was attached to it. He handed the cord to Xiaosuisui.
Xiaosuisui turned to look at Zhu Xiuxiu.
Zhu Xiuxiu promptly declined for her, "How can we accept this? We can’t take it. We haven’t done anything to deserve a reward!"
"Just take it! You must be relatives of this family, right? I just drank their water. As the saying goes, a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. Consider this payment for the water."
Hearing it was payment for the water, Zhu Xiuxiu quickly tried to stuff the red cord into the little boy’s hand.
"You misunderstand! We’re not relatives; we’re residents of the same village."
"Oh! So you’re also from this village? Where do you live?"
Zhu Xiuxiu, without much thought, replied directly, "My home is at the east end of the village, more than two li away! Elder, you drank water from this little friend’s house, so you should give the cord to him!"
"Aiya, how can one take back a gift that’s already been given? Just let the little girl wear the cord! This little friend will get one too." As the old man spoke, he took out another cord and put it on the little boy.
The little boy didn’t want it and tried to return it. The old man said, "This cord has been blessed by a master. Wearing it brings good luck, wards off evil spirits, ensures safety, and attracts wealth and treasure!"
"Since that’s the case, we’ll accept it. Elder, these are pheasants. Since we’re fated to meet, I’ll give you one of these pheasants." Zhu Xiuxiu no longer insisted and directly gave one of the two pheasants she was carrying to the old man.
She was in a particularly good mood. Her niece truly was a little lucky charm; just going out with her, she received a silver bead. Although it was small, it was unexpected fortune!
The old man took the pheasant and departed, glancing back repeatedly at Xiaosuisui and the little boy.
"Auntie, is there something you need from our family?" After the old man left, the little boy finally looked at Zhu Xiuxiu and Xiaosuisui.
"You delivered ducks to us today, so I’ve brought a pheasant as a return gift. Originally, I brought two, but since that old gentleman gave Xiaosuisui a silver bead, I gave one to him."
Zhu Xiuxiu felt a bit embarrassed. After all, she had intended to give two, but now there was only one. It felt quite awkward, and she thought about apologizing.
"Is your mother home? I’d like to speak with her personally."
The little boy looked troubled. "My mother isn’t home. She went to the village chief’s house."
Since his mother wasn’t home, Zhu Xiuxiu didn’t press the matter and handed the pheasant to the little boy.
"Take this pheasant. Ask your mother to make Chicken Soup for you when she returns. Oh, and tell your mother not to send us a return gift. Exchanging gifts back and forth is too much trouble." After saying this, she added another instruction, "Also, don’t tell anyone you saw me last night!"
The little boy nodded. "I know, Auntie. My mother said that since you came secretly, you didn’t want anyone to know about your good deeds, so she told me not to say anything."
Zhu Xiuxiu felt greatly relieved.
"That’s good. We’ll be heading back now," Zhu Xiuxiu said, picking Xiaosuisui up in her arms and turning to leave.
"Third Aunt, can I ask the big brother for a drink of water before we go back?"
Xiaosuisui was thirsty. It was indeed Zhu Xiuxiu’s oversight.
Zhu Xiuxiu immediately looked at the little boy.
The little boy quickly said, "I’ll get it for you right away. Just wait a moment."
Soon, the little boy came out with water he had scooped and handed it to her to drink.
Xiaosuisui drank the water and handed the ladle back to him. "Thank you, big brother! This water is so sweet!"
"You’re welcome!"
"What a good child!" Zhu Xiuxiu praised the little boy, then asked him, "What’s your name?"
"Zhou Yanchen!"
"That’s a good name!" Zhu Xiuxiu complimented his name. "We’re leaving now. You should go back inside; it’s sunny out."
Zhu Xiuxiu, carrying Xiaosuisui, had just taken a couple of steps when she saw a woman pulling an old man towards them, speaking anxiously as she walked.
"Village Chief! Please, I’m begging you, we mother and son simply can’t go on like this!
"That half of our wall was knocked down by wild boars around this time last year.
"We still haven’t had the money to repair it, and now those wild boars are about to come again this year.
"If you don’t help us, I’m afraid we mother and son will be gored to death by those wild boars sooner or later!"