Hogging the pit but not shitting!
Though crude beyond measure, Ah Fu’s words, however, made Ah Jiu laugh and cry at the same time. Pointing at her, he said, "What kind of language is this? How can a young lady be so..." Crude.
Ah Fu gave him a sidelong glance: "What, isn’t it true? He takes the top spot yet refuses to serve his country. Isn’t that the same as hogging the pit but not..." Mmmph.
Her words were muffled by Ah Jiu’s large palm covering her mouth, and she couldn’t help but widen her eyes at him.
Startled, with her clear, black and white eyes Ah Jiu felt his palm heat up. He quickly withdrew it and took a step back, "Sorry, that was presumptuous of me."
Miss Wufu waved her hand and asked, "Are your injuries all healed?"
Weren’t his injuries quite severe? Looking at him now, he seemed unbothered, as if nothing had happened. Had he recovered that quickly?
"More or less," Ah Jiu replied nonchalantly, leaning against the bookshelf.
"That’s good to hear."
For a moment, silence fell between the two, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.
Just as Ah Jiu was about to say something, Madam Zhou started calling for Wufu from downstairs.
"My mother is calling for me. I have to go," Wufu lifted the book in her hand. "I’ll read it carefully."
Ah Jiu nodded, watching her drift away like a butterfly till she was out of sight, and shook his head.
Indeed, she was like a whirlwind, coming quickly and leaving just as fast.
"Master, there’s news from Hoo Die," Yuan Ye appeared at the window without notice.
Ah Jiu frowned, "Prepare to set off."
"Make sure to let me know if Lady Fu has any messages she wishes to send," Ah Jiu added.
Yuan Ye paused, instinctively looking up at his master before quickly reverting to his usual indifferent facade, "Yes."
The master and servant left one after another.
Wufu, holding her book, stepped out of Wenshan Bookstore, and looked back. She touched the purse at her waist; inside, apart from silver, there was also a token given by Ah Jiu.
"What’s wrong?" Madam Zhou saw her standing still and couldn’t help but ask.
"Did you get any news about that person this time?" Wufu asked in return.
Madam Zhou’s heart skipped a beat. Flustered under Wufu’s gaze, she was at a loss for words, unable to utter a sound.
Seeing this, Wufu knew the answer and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Do you want to find him?"
Madam Zhou’s eyes widened.
What did she mean by that?
Madam Zhou moved her mouth, looking at Wufu. How could she not want to? For fourteen years, not a day had passed that she did not think of him.
"You have to think hard. After all these years, there are only two reasons he hasn’t appeared: one is that he is dead, and the other is that he has long forgotten about us and must have married and had children by now. Knowing that, do you still insist on looking for him?"
Madam Zhou turned pale. She knew what Wufu was saying; all this time, she had been comforting herself.
But if, as Wufu said, that man had indeed remarried and had a wife and children, how should she confront this?
No, even so, she needed to ask him why, why he had relegated her and her daughter to such insignificance?
It had been fourteen years, and Wufu was nearing the age to be matched.
"Wufu, we’ve waited so many years. I—I can’t accept this! Even if it kills me, I need an answer," declared Madam Zhou with determination.
With a single sentence, she revealed her decision; she still wanted to search.
"You’re coming of age next year, and I hope you have your father by your side," said Madam Zhou once more.
"I understand," Wufu replied with a faint smile, taking a step forward. As she passed by, she added, "Actually, it doesn’t matter if he isn’t there. After all, I’ve never seen him, nor is he in my memories. So really, his existence or lack thereof doesn’t matter to me."
Madam Zhou stood there stunned.