I’ll kill the both of you
Author: 橙子澄澄
Source: Instadoses
Hearing the movement, the boy looked up in an instant. His eyes were veiled by a clump of matted hair, peering at the approaching people through the gaps.
His eyes were ferocious, vigilant, exhibiting a sense of unease.
More like a cornered beast.
It was only when he saw how they were dressed that he suppressed his ferocity, but he remained alert and uneasy.
Liu Dalin stopped the ox cart, and Grandpa Liu took Liu Yusheng down and walked towards them together.
"Young child, what's wrong?" Grandpa Liu asked with a loud voice.
The boy's lips were tightly squeezed, staring at them warily without talking.
Drawing nearer, Liu Yusheng finally got a clearer picture of the condition of the two.
Looking at the clothes they were wearing, although they weren't of the finest quality, they weren't cheap either. But their bodies were dirty. There were still many places where their clothes were torn. Both were disheveled, and their faces were covered with dust.
The woman lying on the ground was deathly pale. Her lips were chapped, her eyes were tightly closed so she should have passed out.
Liu Dalin frowned: "I'm afraid she's suffering from heatstroke."
"Dad, water!" Liu Yusheng prompted. This woman must have been totally exhausted. Coupled with the heat, there's no wonder she collapsed with a heat stroke. She has already added Lingquan to the water at home, giving her a drink would alleviate her symptoms.
Liu Dalin quickly untied the water bag around his waist. He ignored the propriety between men and women, and directly poured water into the woman's mouth.
It's almost noon so it was sizzling hot. It's frightful to bask in the sun.
Fortunately, there's shade above their heads to block the heat directly from the sunlight.
The young boy also saw that they were intent on helping, so he didn't block them, just kept his eyes on the woman, his clenched fists showing his tension.
Liu Yusheng glanced at him, her eyes stopping at his equally dry and peeled lips. She took the water bag from Liu Dalin and handed it to him.
Looking at the water bag in front of him, the young boy's gaze inched slowly up to Liu Yusheng's face, and what greeted him was a bright smile with goodwill.
"Brother, drink."
Hands hesitantly received it. Looking deeply at her smiling face, the young boy tilted his head to drink water.
The water was cool and sweet, and he gulped faster unconsciously without stopping until the bag of water was almost at the bottom.
Realizing that he had drunk too much, the boy returned the water bag with a slight embarrassment under his eyes.
Liu Yusheng pursed her lips and smiled, taking out a few more candies from her sleeves and handing them to him, "Here."
The small, tender white palms are extremely beautiful against the yellow-brown candy wrapper.
As he picked up the candy cube, his fingertips involuntarily brushed against the girl's palm, and the warmth and softness he felt made his fingertips burn.
"Cough!" On the ground, the unconscious woman awoke in due time.
"Sister, you're awake. How are you feeling, better?"
The woman's eyes are exquisite, sweeping over the people in front of her. Seemingly understanding their current situation in a flash, she braced herself to sit up, "I'm much better, thank you…."
"You're welcome, it's just a matter of lending a hand. But it's too hot for you to stay out all day, hurry up and go home. Where do you live, do you want us to give you a ride? It would also be convenient for you to ride with us in our wagon." Grandpa Liu offered.
"Thank you master for your kindness, our home is nearby. We'll just walk back on your own. I don't know where the master's house is, but I'll be sure to repay you for saving my life."
"Hai! There's no need to thank us, we're just helping our fellow villagers, it's no big deal! We live in Xinghua Village, Sister can stop by our door if you have time. Just don't mention any words of thanks!" Grandpa Liu laughed and picked Nannan up, "It's so hot, so you shouldn't delay. We'll leave ahead then."
The woman smiled and nodded.
The wagon rolled slowly and continued towards home.
Behind them, under the large tree, a pair of eyes watched the wagon disappear before withdrawing them.
"Xiu'er, I've worried you," The woman in the shade of the tree reached out and gently rubbed the top of the boy's hair, "When we find a place to settle, we won't have to wander around anymore."
Running around for days on end, coupled with the scorching heat, she could feel that her body could no longer last. And once she falls into a coma, she was afraid she wouldn't wake up again.
It's too draining for her as an adult, so how much more for Xiu'er at his age.
It's time for them to find a place to settle down.
So far away, those people won't be able to come after them.
She struggled to stand up, then smiled at the little boy, "Let's go."
"…. Xinghua Village." A tender voice, uttered three words inaudibly.
"Xiu'er?"
"Xinghua Village." He repeated once more.
This time, the woman looked down at him for a while before speaking, "We can't get involved with anyone. Otherwise, they'll likely be hurt. Xiu'er, remember your identity, you are different from them."
The little boy said nothing and only partly dropped his lashes, insisting wordlessly.
He had never asked her for anything, this was the first time.
Ultimately, it was the woman who compromised, "Let's go, Xinghua Village."
……
On the other side, Grandpa Liu and his party returned home in a row and carried large and small bags of purchases off the carriage.
The family was overjoyed to hear that Grandpa Liu was in perfect health, and that the ganoderma had sold for forty taels of silver.
The two boulders that have been weighing on their hearts for days have finally been lifted and they could now relax.
Grandma Liu touched the brand new fabric in her hand and couldn't help but nod her head, "Good, good, really good…."
The two daughters-in-law sitting next to her, looked at each other and smiled.
While the two boys at home, upon seeing that set of ink, paper and inkstone simply went crazy with joy.
"Grandparents! Father, Mother, can my brother (elder brother) and I go to school now?"
"Yes, Ming'er, I will send you to school tomorrow!"
"Ahhhhhhh! We can really go to school! From now on, we'll also be scholars in the future!"
The joy of the two boys infected everyone in the room.
Studying and going to school means being superior later.
For the sake of the children's future, the family had been struggling for several years and easily saved a little silver. They originally thought they could send the children to study, but then the old man's accident happened, emptying the family's vault.
Just when everyone thought things were hopeless, there was a peak turn.
In retrospect, their hearts are still in tangles.
"Wife, here's the rest of the silver, you keep it." Grandpa Liu took out the remaining silver and put it in front of his wife, also taking this opportunity to wash away the sourness in the air, "Thirty-six taels and four coppers, it's all here."
Grandma Liu immediately castigated, "Thirty-six taels and four coppers? You all spent more than three taels and six coppers today!"
"…" Grandpa Liu and Liu Dalin stepped back together, trying to slip away.
"Huh!" Grandma Liu sneered, picked up the broom in hand and chased after the two men, "You two wastrels! Is it easy to earn some silver? And to say that it's still Nannan's lucky money, yet you've spent three taels and six coppers with the wave of your hands! That's enough for a family to eat for a year! My grandson's school tuition! Our Nannan's dowry…. I'll kill the both of you!"
Three taels and six coppers! Her heart is dripping blood!
Note this is for Offline reading/purpose only credits to the authors, publishers, editors and translators.