Chapter 3
Public Opinion
“I’m your exclusive caretaker, from the universe…” Ah Yu spun around twice, her small eyes blinking hard. She didn’t see who was talking.
Soon, there was an exasperated voice in the air, complaining.
A white ball appeared. It had furry white wings and a furry body. Its eyes were hidden somewhere, and it didn’t have a mouth.
Ah Yu looked at it and swallowed her saliva.
It looked a little like the meatb.a.l.l.s Mother used to make.
[…]
[I’m your good friend, do you know that?!]
Ah Yu understood this sentence, but she did not comprehend the exact meaning.
She shook her head.
In fact, because the other party was a little fierce, she shrank her neck in fear.
The meatball’s little wings bristled. In the end, it deflated a little.
After a while, it changed its cheerful tone.
[I’m a little elf, a cute little elf. I’m your playmate. I’ll play with you!]
Ah Yu’s eyes lit up and she smiled.
Playmate! She understood that.
“Playmate.” Ah Yu stretched out her hand and pointed at herself and then at the meatball. “Playmate.”
Her tone was especially happy.
Big Sister had many playmates, but she did not. No one liked to play with her.
But sometimes, they played with her. They liked to stuff snow into her neck and not let her take it out.
When she said that they had put in too much, they would give her half a steamed bun more.
She liked steamed buns, and so did Mother.
She wondered if this playmate liked to stuff snow under her shirt. If it did, would it give her half a steamed bun here?
The meatball trembled weakly in the air.
[Yes.]
It could tell that this little brat’s intelligence seemed to have been suppressed.
She was clearly four years old, but she looked like she was only two years old.
Her body also looked like a two years old’s, and she was pitifully thin.
Ah Yu’s gaze was fixed on the pile of steamed buns at the back.
[You imagined this. It can’t be eaten.] The ball reminded her.
Unfortunately, Ah Yu did not listen at all.
The little meatball wanted to teach the little brat how to use s.p.a.ce, but the entire s.p.a.ce suddenly shook gently.
The next moment, Ah Yu woke up in bed. Three youths’ heads were squeezed together as they looked at her with wide eyes.
The youth on the left pushed the youth in the middle. “It’s all your fault for shaking our little sister awake!”
The youth in the middle looked aggrieved. “I just wanted to touch her and see if my little sister is still feverish.”
Only the youth on the right said to Ah Yu in a very soft voice, “Little Sister, I’m your Fifth Brother.”
Ah Yu was a little stunned. She could not wrap her head around it.
Why did she suddenly come to this unfamiliar place? Why did some people suddenly say that he was her brother?
Did she have brothers?
She… couldn’t remember.
In fact, three days had pa.s.sed when Ah Yu woke up. In these three days, the w.a.n.g Family had almost tried everything.
However, what good ideas could a poor family come up with? They only took some time to guard the place. Old w.a.n.g even went to the village head’s house and shamelessly borrowed a mouthful of wine to wipe Ah Yu’s back.
He then went to carry Doctor Hu over from afar. The child was too young, so Doctor Hu did not dare to prescribe her any medicine at all. He only allowed him to give her some hot food and watch over her.
Madam Feng, the eldest daughter-in-law, took out a piece of cotton cloth that she had saved up for a long time and made a small blanket for the child. At least it was warmer than the hard and dark blanket.
The stubborn w.a.n.g Family wanted to save the child. Perhaps it was because their actions had touched the heavens, it finally let them pull her out from the gates of h.e.l.l.
It was already the 23rd of December, but the village did not have the atmosphere of a new year.
Coincidentally, the day Ah Yu arrived at the Hu Family Village, the endless snowfall stopped.
The next day, the sun was shining brightly. Those who did not dare to go out because they did not have much clothes could also come out to warm themselves.
The w.a.n.g family happily said to everyone, “We picked up a lucky child. Look, the sun came out the moment she came!”
After the snow stopped falling, it would melt. The sludge that formed on the ground was much colder than snow, but the sun was strong enough. If one stood under the sun for a while, they would definitely sweat from the heat.
Someone snorted coldly. “Why don’t you say that the Kitchen G.o.d went to the sky to plead for mercy on your behalf? Isn’t it the business of heaven whether it snows or not? What does it have to do with a child?”
Someone else persuaded, “You should send the child away early before it snows again. Whether she brings fortune or calamity, she would bear it herself. What’s the point of raising her? You don’t have to bring someone to burden your family.”
Every time Old Madam w.a.n.g heard this, she would chase after the offender with a broom and curse, “Did she eat your family’s rice or chew your grain?! I’ll let you continue to spout nonsense here. Did the Kitchen G.o.d forget to cut off your mouth and bring it up when he ascended to the sky? Perhaps he’s afraid that if the heavens see your mouth, they’ll find it gross too!”
The other party could only say, “I’m doing this for the good of your family. Why are you scolding me?”
Old Madam w.a.n.g spat. “I’m doing this for your own good too. Move your rice and noodles over. I’ll eat them for you so that you won’t spout nonsense after having too much to eat!”
The men in the village often could not bring themselves to argue. Women did not have such scruples, but no one could win against Old Madam w.a.n.g.
It can’t be helped. This old woman’s mouth was too vicious and she scolded people very harshly? Her words were so sharp that it made one unable to reply.
Third Aunt Hu, who was next door, cursed at home. If they had the ability, they could come and argue with the other party’s ancestor and see who could win!
At this moment, Old Madam w.a.n.g had just finished arguing with someone. When she saw her grandsons squeezed into the central room, she waved her broom and walked over.
“I told you not to disturb your younger sister. Are you ignoring my words? Come here. If I don’t beat you till your b.u.t.tocks bloom today, your grandfather’s name will be written backward!”
Old man w.a.n.g, who was repairing the roof: “…”
The seven grandsons of the w.a.n.g Family were all smart and slipped in to see their younger sister every day.
Not to mention them, even the other w.a.n.g Family members often went to take a look. The main reason was that the girl was too good-looking.
As he ran, the fifth grandson shouted, “Grandma, stop beating me. Little Sister is awake. She doesn’t have a fever anymore!”
Old Madam w.a.n.g threw away the broom in her hand and walked in.
On the other end, Liu Shi’s room also opened. She quickly walked towards the central room.
Before long, Ah Yu saw a pile of heads in front of her.
The old lady at the front forced a smile. Perhaps it was because she didn’t smile often, but she looked a little ferocious.
“Good girl, you’re awake. What do you want to eat?”
Ah Yu stretched out her right hand and bit her index finger nervously.
Then, her chin retracted slightly.
There was a hint of embarra.s.sment in her eyes that were as beautiful as the night sky.
She looked extremely obedient.
The w.a.n.g family’s hearts melted when they saw this.
Then, the little person that seemed to be carved out of jade said timidly, “Steamed bun…”
She was really, really hungry.
The expressions of the w.a.n.g family froze.