"You won't starve to death; once you've gone hungry enough times, you just stop feeling it!" the battle-hardened Ruhuahua replied earnestly. "But I have to wash these quickly, or I won't get to eat dinner tonight."
As she spoke, she bent down to draw water. The young girl was slender, and the effort of turning the heavy windlass was clearly a struggle.
She had suffered such unfair bullying, yet she was still trying so hard to adapt, not even uttering a single word of complaint.
*How can someone be so easy to bully?*
Zhongli Ting silently stepped past her, bent down, and turned the windlass to draw the water himself. "Kid, I'll pay for your water, but these clothes..."
"To hell with them! These people are truly courting death. Brother Ting, why are you still drawing water?" Wei Ling’s temper flared, and he kicked over the wooden basin soaking the laundry.
"It’s fine." Zhongli Ting pulled Ruhuahua back, keeping her away from the splash.
Still incensed, Wei Ling took the bucket of water Zhongli Ting had just hoisted and dumped it over the dry clothes on the ground, fuming, "Since when is it okay to bully someone like this!"
Ruhuahua let out a small, startled cry.
Zhongli Ting steadied her. "Don't be afraid. He isn't aiming at you."
Ruhuahua looked up and stammered, "But the clothes..."
"It’s fine," Zhongli Ting said. "Forget them."
Wei Ling immediately followed up, "Where are that dog of a man and woman?"
Ruhuahua looked up, bewildered. "?"
What?
"Don't talk nonsense," Zhongli Ting shot Wei Ling a glare.
He then tactfully translated for Wei Ling, "Where are your aunt and uncle?"
Ruhuahua replied, "Aunt and Uncle went to the village entrance to play cards."
Zhongli Ting said, "Take us—no, take me there."
Ruhuahua shook her head frantically. "No, I can't."
"Why not?" Wei Ling was so angry he laughed, unable to hold back his suspicion. "You aren't trying to protect them, are you?"
Ruhuahua shrank back timidly and said nothing.
Wei Ling was even more incensed. "Speak up!"
Zhongli Ting’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. "If you don't speak now, I’m really going to be angry."
Ruhuahua hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Auntie hits people. Brother, don't go. It hurts a lot..."
Zhongli Ting felt as if something had pried open his heart, leaving him at a loss for words.
Wei Ling also froze.
The little girl had been hesitating all this time because she was afraid they would get hit, too?
*How can she be so heartbreakingly sweet?*
After a long moment, Zhongli Ting sighed softly and gently touched her red cheek with his fingertips. "Does it hurt?"
Ruhuahua winced even at his light touch. Unable to lie, she nodded honestly. "It hurts."
"Dammit, to think that animal could lay a hand on a child," Wei Ling said, his heart aching more the longer he looked at her. He suddenly snapped out of it, rolled up his sleeves roughly, and declared indignantly, "I’m going to make sure they find out today why flowers are so red."
Ruhuahua was confused. "Why are flowers red?"
Wei Ling: "..."
Zhongli Ting: "You’re a child; don't ask about things you shouldn't."
"Oh." Ruhuahua nodded, her stomach emitting an uncontrollable growl.
Unlike most people, she showed no embarrassment, instead rubbing her belly and saying, "Brother, my tummy is singing."
Zhongli Ting chuckled. "Where is the stove?"
Ruhuahua blankly pointed toward the front hall.
Zhongli Ting glanced at the empty stove and asked, "What do you usually eat?"
Ruhuahua brought out some semi-processed bran.
Zhongli Ting and Wei Ling looked down at it.
Although their country, Zhongrong, had been at war with neighboring nations for years, it was still relatively prosperous. This place wasn't exactly a remote, famine-stricken wasteland, so why were people here eating wheat bran and fine chaff?
In their army mess hall, such bran was only pressed into cakes to feed the pigs and sheep.
Zhongli Ting’s gaze paused. He lowered his eyes, pinched a piece, and popped it into his mouth without blinking.
Wei Ling tried to stop him, but it was too late: "Brother!"
Wei Ling watched as Zhongli Ting’s expression shifted slightly; he looked like he wanted to gag, but a moment later, he chewed twice and swallowed.
"Damn! Is this really meant for human consumption?" Wei Ling asked in disbelief.
Zhongli Ting, having just eaten a bite, looked at him expressionlessly.
Curious, Wei Ling pinched a bit, closed his eyes with a "do-or-die" expression, and put it in his mouth. He had barely tasted it before he spat it out with a "Ptooey!"
What was this, anyway? It was vile.
Zhongli Ting walked out without a word.
"Is Brother Ting going to cook?" Wei Ling followed, eyes wide as he watched Zhongli Ting sift through the fresh vegetables and raw meat they had brought.
Zhongli Ting raised a hand. "Would you rather do it?"
Wei Ling grinned. "I’ll be your sous-chef."
Having spent years in the military, they had no "gentleman should stay away from the kitchen" complex. Sometimes, when they had a craving, they’d set up their own small stoves. It wasn't exactly fine dining, but putting together a meal wasn't difficult for them.
Zhongli Ting looked at the ingredients they had brought, pondered for a moment, and rolled up his sleeves, revealing a pair of long, powerful arms.
Wei Ling, pressed into service, stood by to scrub the pot, wash vegetables, and slice meat.
When Ruhuahua tried to help, the two men shooed her out.
Zhongli Ting worked methodically, heating the pot, adding oil, sautéing the aromatics, tossing in the meat, and giving it a gentle stir...
The aroma wafted out instantly.
Hungry, Ruhuahua sat at the doorway, nibbling on some candied fruit. Zhongli Ting had told her not to eat too much, so she dutifully limited herself to four or five pieces.
The scent continued to drift from inside, filling the air with a rich, savory fragrance.
Ruhuahua swallowed hard. As she turned back, a piece of meat was popped into her mouth.
Wei Ling was standing behind her, chopsticks in hand, bending down to ask, "Is it good? Is it too salty?"
Ruhuahua scrambled up from the floor, swallowed, and smacked her lips. "So fragrant."
"It’s done, just right," Wei Ling said, turning to Zhongli Ting.
"You finish up," Zhongli Ting said, stepping outside to wash his hands.
"Alright, leave it to me," Wei Ling replied. He expertly took the spatula, finished the dish, washed a pair of chopsticks, and signaled for Ruhuahua. "Kid, come here."
The platter of meat and fresh vegetables looked appetizing and smelled wonderful.
Ruhuahua stared at the meat, her hands clasped behind her back, and shook her head. "Brother Wei, you eat."
Wei Ling pointed at Zhongli Ting, then at himself. "We already ate before we came. You eat, otherwise it’ll go to waste."
*Do not waste; wasting is shameful.*
Ruhuahua took the lesson to heart. She took the chopsticks, had a bite, and gasped in wonder, "Brother is amazing."
"Isn't Brother Wei amazing?"
Ruhuahua immediately said, "Brother Wei is amazing, too!"
Wei Ling teased her. "So, who do you think is better? Your brother or Brother Wei?"
Ruhuahua’s little brain struggled for a moment before she gave a fair and impartial verdict. "Both are amazing."
"No way, you have to pick today..."
"Are you bored?" Zhongli Ting returned, having finished washing his hands. He reached out and flicked Wei Ling on the forehead. "Don't tease her. Let her eat. Now, be quick—come out with me for a moment."