Chapter 1774: County Captain Tang Arrives
Chapter 1774: Chapter 1774: County Captain Tang Arrives
The little fellow said, "Covered in the hills... I’m small and can’t dig a big pit, can’t bury my mother, wanted to go out and find Grandma’s family for help, but met bad people from Lin Family Slope."
Saying this, the little fellow smiled a bit triumphantly and said to Gu Jinli, "They wanted to catch me and sell me for money, but they didn’t know that I was starving and quite willing to be caught by them. Following them, I had soybeans to eat, didn’t have to eat grass anymore."
Gu Jinli felt distressed, "From now on, you won’t eat grass, nor soybeans, we’ll eat meat!"
After Tian Dahua died, this child must have suffered a lot. Yet he did not starve to death, nor was scared mad, and he was still clever and sensible... perhaps having had too many hard days, he smiled three parts when meeting people, scared that a stern face would make people reject him.
"Really?" The little fellow was very happy, tried to suppress his joy, and softly said, "No need to eat meat, just cornmeal porridge... I had cornmeal porridge, given by an old master traveling the same road, it was delicious, somewhat sweet."
"An old master traveling the same road? You came with a caravan? From where, northeast or Central State? Do you know the northeast and Central State?" Gu Jinli asked slowly, fearing asking too quickly the child wouldn’t understand.
The little fellow understood and nodded, "Yes, we came from a very far place with many people, many old masters were willing to bring us... But the old masters were bad, often bullied my mother, she was crying..."
"What!" Gu Jinli already guessed what kind of bullying, a woman with a child, trying to follow the caravan, also needing food, must pay a price.
She turned her head, feeling nauseous again, and dry-heaved.
"Xiao Yu, don’t get upset." Qin San Lang hurriedly hugged her, holding an empty bowl near her mouth, preparing for her to vomit.
Gu Jinli did not vomit, she restrained herself, but she couldn’t suppress the murderous urge in her heart, angrily asked the little fellow, "Where are those old masters? Do you remember what their names were?"
If he remembered, even if she wouldn’t kill them, she’d want their business to suffer greatly!
But the little fellow said, "In the war, many old masters died."
Those who didn’t die, he couldn’t remember either, he had a small mind, was forced by his mother to memorize Grandma’s family situation, forgot many other things.
"Good riddance!" Gu Jinli felt relieved, though those old beasts helped Tian Dahua, they mistreated her.
If you help people, just help people, why mistreat them? Just because the opposite is a woman, bully her!
"What about your father?" Gu Jinli still asked this question.
"Xiao Yu, it’s too late now, ask again tomorrow." Qin San Lang worried about her, didn’t want her to feel nauseous again.
Gu Jinli waved her hand, smiled at him, "Since it’s like this, better to ask it all at once, avoid vomiting again tomorrow."
Qin San Lang agreed, and replaced her in asking the little fellow, "What’s your father’s name? Is he still alive?"
The little fellow, hearing the word ’father’, looked confused, thought for a long time then said, "I don’t know, never met him, mother doesn’t talk... Should be dead."
When asking about the father, mother would get angry.
Added, "Mother said I should just have the surname Tian, no need to know father’s name."
Well, needless to say, this child’s origin isn’t glorious.
Gu Jinli stopped asking about this and instead inquired about Tian Erhua, Gu Cuiniu, Gu Hongniu, Ms. Xie’s news.
But the little fellow wasn’t sure either, only knew Tian Erhua was his aunt, "Mother got separated from Aunt."
No news?
Gu Jinli asked again, "Where did you and your mother come from?"
If they know the place, they could go in the direction Tian Dahua came and perhaps find others.
The little fellow still shook his head, "A very, very far place, walked for a long time, forgotten."
After saying this, seeing Gu Jinli’s face wasn’t good, got scared, quickly said, "Lady don’t be angry, I—I will try hard to remember... It’s my mistake, only remembered where Grandma’s family is, didn’t remember other places."
Gu Jinli held his hand, comforted him, "Don’t be scared, I’m not angry. You’re very good, very smart, I like you a lot."
"Really?" The little fellow was very happy, eyes brightened asking.
This child lacked a sense of security, when encountering joyful things, would ask if it’s true, insisted on getting a definite answer to feel relieved.
Gu Jinli nodded, "Really, I like you a lot, will take care of you, won’t let you wander again."
The little fellow was very happy, thanked her but then hesitated and said, "But I still want to find Grandpa... This is what mother instructed, must find Grandpa’s family."
Gu Jinli said, "Your Grandpa and they are in Da Feng Village of He’an Prefecture in the south, same village as my family, we do business together, tomorrow I’ll write a letter for them so they can pick you up and raise you."
"Really?" The little fellow anxiously asked, "Will Grandpa and they dislike me? Will—will they dislike mother?"
Although he was young, having experienced many things, heard a lot, he knows some people look down on his mother, and him, fearing Grandpa and Grandma would also reject them.
"No, your Grandpa and Grandma are kind-hearted people, these years have always asked passing traders to look for your mother and aunt... You are your mother’s child, they will like you."
Not because you’re sensible and obedient, but because you’re Tian Dahua’s son, everyone won’t reject you, will like you.
The little fellow was very happy, after the joy subsided, he said, "If Grandpa’s family doesn’t want to take me back, it’s okay, I—I’ll grow a couple more years, then I can find work to support myself."
Close to Gaoshui County, mother was often crying, afraid when meeting Grandpa and them, would be rejected by Grandpa’s family.
He saw it every day, also feared being rejected by Grandpa’s family.
Gu Jinli couldn’t bear hearing him say this, said, "Before you’re fifteen years old, no need for you to find work, we will support you!"
She spoke firmly, the little fellow felt assured hearing it, smiled, "Thank you, Lady."
"Don’t call me Lady, I’m also your aunt, you can call me Aunt Gu Er." After finishing the conversation, Gu Jinli saw this child was nice, lowered her guard, spoke these words.
The little fellow looked at her, then at Qin San Lang, after Qin San Lang nodded, climbed down from the chair, stood in front of Gu Jinli, respectfully bowed with hands folded, "Greetings, Aunt Gu Er."
Gu Jinli raised her hand, patted his head, smiled, "Good."
Seeing he was very sleepy, calculated the time, this child had already been here for an hour, it was late.
"Are you tired? Go with Nanny Tao to the adjoining room to rest, take this tray of pancakes, eat them if you get hungry at night." Gu Jinli saw he was starving, didn’t want him to sleep with a hungry belly.
The little fellow took the pancake but didn’t want to sleep in the adjoining room, "Sister Qiong is gone, Brother Rong has been secretly crying, I want to stay with him, is it okay?"
He’s a devoted one.
Gu Jinli agreed, "Okay, if you need anything, come to Aunt. Even if you don’t have anything, you can still come, we’re considered relatives, talking more is okay."
The little fellow smiled, "Yes, I understand, thank you, Aunt Gu Er."
After speaking, holding the tray with pancakes, bowed to Gu Jinli and Qin San Lang, then backed out of the door.
Only after backing out of the doorway, did he turn and leave.
Gu Jinli frowned watching, knowing he learned this etiquette from the old masters’ servants, only servants backed out through the door before turning.
Thinking of those old masters, thinking of Tian Dahua’s fate, Gu Jinli felt nauseous again.
Qin San Lang embraced her, comforted, "Don’t dwell on it, sleep early, tomorrow we need to send people to the mountains to find Tian Dahua’s remains, to collect and bury her."
These words indeed made Gu Jinli force herself not to think too much, leaned in his arms, before long fell asleep from exhaustion.
Qin San Lang breathed a sigh of relief, kissed her, cautiously held her back to the bedroom, stayed alert at night guarding her, fearing she’d wake suddenly.
Luckily, aside from sleeping unrestfully, she didn’t have nightmares.
Next morning, Gu Jinli woke early, brought the little fellow to have breakfast together, talked about going to the mountains to find Tian Dahua’s remains to bury.
The little fellow said, "Aunt Gu Er, I still remember the road, I’ll lead your servants there."
Gu Jinli smiled, "Good."
After having breakfast with the little fellow, tidied up, before heading to the mountains, Zhang Zhong arrived, found Qin San Lang.
"Sir, someone came at the village entrance, claiming to be the County Magistrate, coming to arrest soldiers privately detaining Government Officials!"