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The Yan Family nearby is a prominent household within a radius of several miles. On this day, they are marrying off a daughter, and I followed along to enjoy the festivities. Not only did I receive a bowl of mixed vegetables and two steamed buns, but I also got two large coins.
The mixed vegetables contained tofu, pig's blood, and slices of pork. At times like this, I could easily eat three bowls in one go, but I couldn't because there was a little Abao waiting for me with an empty stomach.
After thanking the host family, I rushed home like a madwoman. My foot slipped, and I stumbled, scraping my face, but I still managed to hold onto the clay pot in my hand.
However, an unexpected guest had arrived at our home. A boy who looked similar to Abao, with fair skin and red lips, was lying on the straw mat I had made, eyes closed and dazed. He was still wearing summer clothes and shivering under our tattered blanket. Since the incident with the Yang Family, both Abao and I had experienced such hunger and cold.
Abao said, "This brother is someone I found while gathering firewood."
You really brought back a treasure for your sister!
The food in the pot was still warm and fragrant when the boy suddenly opened his eyes and exclaimed, "Hungry!"
Though reluctant, I scooped out half of the food for Abao and took the other half to the boy. He couldn't even sit up, so I helped him lean against my back while he buried his head in the pot like a little pig at home trying to snatch food.
Abao took a few bites and handed me her chipped bowl: "Sister, I'm full. You eat."
I pulled out a steamed bun from my pocket, giving half to Abao and half to the boy: "Eat slowly; don't choke."
The boy's eyes lit up as he eagerly accepted it with both hands, tearing into it without chewing properly as he stretched his neck to swallow.
I poured hot water for the two little ones to warm them up, and soon they both regained their spirits.
I asked the boy, "Are you also from a fallen family that was raided?"
He lowered his head in silence. I scolded him: "What's there to cry about? Haven't we all been through it?"
He stubbornly replied, "I'm not like you."
What’s different? It’s just that your grandfather was of higher rank than ours.
He introduced himself as Long Yu. With the change of dynasty, Lord Long had passed away, and their home was raided. A steward had taken him away on his master's orders. They were fine together at first since they had money and food provided by the steward. But two days ago, while trying to evade officials chasing them down, they got separated. Alone and lost, he collapsed outside our cave due to hunger and cold. Thankfully, Abao found him and insisted on bringing him inside.
I sighed: "If you have nowhere else to go, just stay with us for now."
Abao took his hand: "See? I told you my sister wouldn't abandon you. My sister is the kindest person in the world."
After finishing our meal, a strong northwest wind began to blow outside; it looked like another heavy snowfall was coming. We three huddled together on a pile of dry grass under a tattered blanket. I held both little ones close; Abao laughed in my arms and mimicked my dialect: "Cuddle up; it's warmer this way."
The next day, we stepped outside hand in hand to find that the snow on the ground had already accumulated to about half a foot deep.
I dared not let Long Yu go.
The master of the the Yan Family had once shown me kindness, so I sought help from his household again: my sisters and I had fallen into this situation, truly without support. Although we were still young, we could manage some rough work. I asked the master for assistance, hoping he would provide enough for my brother and sister to have a warm meal.
The old master and mistress had few descendants, only two daughters. The eldest daughter had long been married off, and the youngest had just recently wed. Grandma looked at my tattered clothes and worn-out straw sandals, exposing my toes and heels, with a small wound on my lip exposed to the biting wind. She murmured, "How pitiful; it seems you haven't had a decent life for quite some time."
She first called the Cookmaid: "Make her a bowl of thick vegetable porridge." Then she called the Girl: "Bring out two pairs of your old shoes; we'll make you new ones another day." The old lady spoke up: "At your age, what can you do? We have a fish pond at home; you can come help take care of it. At least you won't freeze or starve."
I immediately knelt down and bowed to the two elders.
The the Yan Family's fish pond was over ten acres large. Life was tough, and there wasn't much good bait available. I took Long Yu and Abao up the mountain to dig up vegetables to chop and feed the fish. On ordinary days, I would start a fire to cook simple meals, and at night we would sleep in the nearby mud house.
It was certainly better than being in a cold cave.
Once settled, I asked someone to write a letter and bought food and clothing supplies to send to the prison of the Dali Temple. Even though I didn't know if the mistress's family received it, it brought me some peace of mind.
The remnants of the new emperor's power eventually spread here as well. The newly appointed county magistrate arrived and fabricated a charge against us, seizing all of the the Yan Family's land. The servants were dismissed, and the elderly couple was driven from their home.
Only this pond remained that could not be moved.
With their family in decline and branded with false charges, one could truly feel the warmth and coldness of human relationships. When trouble struck their family, the eldest daughter did not return home even once. The elderly couple sought refuge with their youngest daughter, who had just married. She sent out ten coins through the Girl: "It's inconvenient for us at home right now..."
I took Abao and Long Yu to comfort the two elderly people who were crying in a dilapidated temple at the village head. Long Yu caught fish while Abao made soup, and we settled them in our mud house.
I took out the ten coins I had saved for a long time and opened a porridge stall at Yellow River Ferry, selling small dishes and pickled fish alongside it; life became manageable.
Abao had been with me for a long time; as long as I was there, she was carefree. However, Long Yu was delicate and extremely weak; she either had headaches or fevers. At nine and a half years old, she would throw tantrums—one moment she would cover herself with blankets crying, "Sister, I'm cold!" The next moment she would strip off her clothes shouting, "Sister, bring me cold water; I'm burning up!"
I hired a doctor, but nothing seemed to work.
After much pleading from me, the old gentleman finally said: "This illness is very dangerous; ordinary herbs won't cure it. Only Suhexiang Wine from the palace can help. But it's extremely hard to find in the common folk... You might as well prepare for your brother's funeral!"
Over these years, I had saved some money, but there was nowhere to buy that wine! Holding Long Yu in my arms, I cried: "It's not that sister won't save you; it's just that sister truly has no way!"
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