The village chief analyzed for a bit, looking at Qu the Hunter: "Will you raise her?"
Qu the Hunter glanced at Qu Jing.
Qu Jing was busy munching on a sweet potato.
Qu the Hunter didn’t hesitate: "Yes, I will."
"Back then, my mother abandoned me in the mountains. I was tough, stayed there overnight without the wolves taking me, and my later father picked me up."
"This child is even tougher than me. When I found her, she was almost deep in the mountain. Judging by her condition, she’d been there for at least 5 days. She knew how to find water, used branches by the creek to fish for little fish. She could find fruits, and had uneaten wild fruits tucked in her arms. She was alert and knew to hide at the sound of disturbances. If she hadn’t run out of strength, I wouldn’t have noticed her."
"I was tough, causing the demise of my biological father, two wives, and even my own daughter before she was born."
"This child is even tougher than me. If no one else is raising her, I will."
"I’ve delivered the food. I’ll leave her with you for a few days first. I only have one bed at home, I’ll go find a carpenter to make a small bed. Once it’s made, I’ll take her home." After saying this, Qu the Hunter was about to leave.
"A few days? How many days exactly? Don’t go to Guo Dainao in our village, he’s the slowest. Find the fourth son of the Zhang Family, he makes beds fast."
"I’m telling you, at most 5 days, otherwise the food won’t be enough. Your granddaughter has quite an appetite. You didn’t see it in the afternoon, she even scared my wife, afraid she’d eat herself to death."
"What granddaughter, my granddaughter." Qu the Hunter said without turning back, "I’ll bring another basket tomorrow."
"Bring a couple of eggs, your granddaughter ate an egg today!"
"Wait, you haven’t named her yet! What’s your granddaughter called? You can’t just keep calling her girl, what if she thinks her name is girl? That’s such an unpleasant name, not as good as my first girl, second girl, or third girl."
Qu the Hunter paused and turned back.
"Who said my granddaughter is stupid?" Qu the Hunter said displeased, "If I left you in the mountain, you might not survive 5 days. My granddaughter will take my surname, Qu... Qu... let’s call her Qu Jing, Quiet."
The village chief watched Qu the Hunter’s departing figure, muttering softly: "Mute, of course she’s quiet."
"Qu Jing... Jing, how did I not think of this name when I named my first girl, Guo Jing sounds much better than Guo Danai, sigh."
"Old family’s wife, Old Qu’s granddaughter will sleep with your big girl, second girl, and third girl tonight. Old woman, Old Qu said he’ll bring another basket of food tomorrow. Boil a couple more sweet potatoes for his granddaughter and add an egg, make Old Qu return 4 tomorrow!"
"Cook more? Don’t overfeed her. Have you forgotten how Landlord Qian’s foolish son died? It was from overeating white bread."
"That’s different, this girl has been hungry in the mountain for five or six days. If it were me, I’d eat more than her, and I don’t think she’s necessarily foolish." With that, the village chief looked at Qu Jing, who returned his gaze with ’I can still eat’ eyes.
The village chief approached Qu Jing, saying softly: "Girl, from today on, you are Old Qu’s granddaughter. Do you remember the one who brought you food and led you down the mountain? If you do, nod your head."
"From now on, your name is Qu Jing, Quiet Jing. Got it? If you remember, nod your head."
Qu Jing continued to nod.
The village chief smiled: "See, not stupid."
The village chief’s wife shook her head helplessly: "Fools differ, not all of them are incapable of understanding. The fool from my mother’s village next door can still dress and eat, and knows to run home when it rains."
"Teach Qu Jing more these days, it’s best if this girl can become independent. Old Qu can’t raise kids, and with her being a bit foolish, it’s harder to care for her."
"I know." The village chief’s wife nodded, taking Qu Jing’s hand and leading her inside, "This child being Old Qu’s granddaughter is her fortune."
Qu Jing was reluctant to go, turning to point at the chicken coop.
"We’ll cook the eggs later." The village chief’s wife said.
Only then did Qu Jing obediently follow.
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