Chapter 129: Good People Are Rewarded
“Now that I think of it, there really is one thing I would like to trouble you to help with—if you can endure it.”
Nan’er’s eyes lit up at once, and excitement immediately appeared on his face.
“Please give the order, Miss. I may be small, but I’m very strong!”
As he spoke, he even tugged up his sleeve on purpose, revealing a thin little arm. Perhaps feeling that this was not convincing in the least, he quickly tugged the sleeve back down again and gave a shy smile, the small dimple at his cheek appearing and disappearing.
Mu Yunyao could not help laughing.
“All right, then. Come with me.”
Nan’er nodded quickly and followed Mu Yunyao into Jinxiu Garden.
The moment he entered the garden and passed around the Xiangfei bamboo grove screening the gate, he could not help gasping aloud. When he noticed Mu Yunyao looking back at him, he quickly gripped the hem of his clothes.
“I have been disrespectful, Miss. I beg your forgiveness. This place is simply too beautiful. It’s just as Sister Cai Qing said, like an immortal realm. And those older brothers and sisters are like immortals too.”
As he spoke, he could not help sneaking another glance at the tea attendants brewing tea.
Though he was only a small orphan, he was unexpectedly well-mannered in the way he advanced and retreated. Mu Yunyao became even more curious about Cai Qing.
“All your manners and rules—were they all taught by Cai Qing?”
“Yes. Sister Cai Qing says one must understand propriety and keep propriety, or life has no meaning. If a person lives only to fill the stomach, then he is no different from a cat or a dog.”
“Your elder sister sounds like a remarkable person.”
Nan’er was young and thin, and gradually he began to have trouble keeping up with Mu Yunyao’s pace. Yet he made no sound. Even when his face had turned pale, he still did his best to keep following.
When they passed over the winding bridge, Mu Yunyao stopped.
“There are many water birds by the lake, and in order not to disturb the guests, the area must be cleaned often. If children your age were to do it, it would take at least three or four of you. The tea wares also need dedicated hands to wash and polish them—at least five or six people. And the flowers, plants, and roadways all need tending as well. Tell me, what kind of work do you think you can do?”
Nan’er’s eyes widened.
“Miss, I can trim flowers and plants, and sweep the roads. Could you let Sister Cai Qing help wash the tea wares?”
“You know very well that washing tea wares is easier work. Why not do that yourself and leave the heavier work to Cai Qing, when she is older than you and stronger too?”
“Little Mao was beaten and injured. Every day Sister has to go wash clothes for people to earn money, and she is often bullied. She also has to look after Granny and Lier. She works very hard. I want her to have something easier.”
Jin Lan, hearing this, could not help feeling her heart ache. This child was far too sensible.
Mu Yunyao, however, did not agree at once. Instead, she led him to a courtyard not yet opened to guests and pointed to a path.
“Go clean this path first. I will see how well you do the work before deciding.”
“All right. I’ll go at once.”
Jin Lan fetched a broom for him, and then she followed Mu Yunyao to sit in a nearby pavilion.
“Miss, you seem especially fond of this Nan’er.”
“His thoughts are clean and simple. It makes one feel lighter in his company.”
Nan’er worked with extraordinary care. He even pulled out the small weeds growing between the paving stones, then swept the road clean. He tidied the flowerbeds on both sides as well. Since there were many plants in the beds he did not recognize, he did not dare touch them carelessly. He only carefully plucked away the leaves that had yellowed or been damaged.
Seeing how earnestly he worked, Mu Yunyao simply had Jin Lan bring over embroidery cloth and thread and sat there in the pavilion embroidering a beauty figure.
Only after nearly an hour did Nan’er come over. Seeing that Mu Yunyao was busy, he did not dare make a sound to interrupt her. He simply stood quietly to one side, even lightening his breathing.
At the sight of him like this, Mu Yunyao unexpectedly recalled the time when she had first entered the Su residence in her previous life. She, too, had been just as cautious then, hardly daring to breathe too loudly. Her heart stirred, and her expression warmed.
“Have you finished cleaning?”
“Yes, Miss. I cleaned it very carefully.”
From a distance alone, Mu Yunyao had already seen that the little path had been made exceptionally clean. Even the flowerbeds on either side looked neater.
“Jin Lan, take him away and let him wash his hands, then bring him back to eat something.”
Though Nan’er was anxious to know whether his work had passed or failed, the moment he heard the words eat something, his stomach let out an unwilling growl. His face turned scarlet at once, and he let Jin Lan lead him away in confusion.
When Nan’er returned with clean hands, many delicate pastries had already been laid out on the table. They were all shapes he had never seen before, fragrant and mouthwatering.
Mu Yunyao pushed the plate toward him a little.
“Sit and eat. You just helped me clean a road, and now I am treating you to pastries. That is only fair and reasonable, so you need not worry about accepting something you have not earned.”
Nan’er could not help swallowing hard. His fingers rubbed uncertainly against his clothes. The pastries before him smelled so good, and even the plates they sat upon were bright and shining. He was terrified that if he touched them, he might somehow break them. A fine plate like this—he could never repay it, even if he sold himself.
Seeing that he still did not move, Mu Yunyao picked up two pastries and held them out to him.
“Eat.”
Nan’er swallowed even faster, but he lifted his head and asked tentatively,
“Miss, may I take these two pastries back for Little Mao and Sister Cai Qing? Little Mao is covered in injuries and is burning all over. He hasn’t been able to eat for days. And Sister is unhappy all the time. Maybe if they eat something as delicious as this, they’ll get better.”
“You eat yours. When you leave, I will have Jin Lan pack some for you to take back.”
“Really? Thank you, Miss!”
At last, Nan’er could no longer hold back. He clutched the pastries and stuffed them into his mouth. Though he tried his best to restrain himself, he was only a child. Starved to the limit, he could no longer care about manners and simply wolfed them down.
Watching him, Jin Lan felt her heart twist. She poured him a cup of warm water and set it in his hand.
“Eat slowly. No one is going to take them from you.”
Nan’er’s mouth was full of pastries, yet his eyes had already turned red. He rubbed at them with the back of his hand, forced the pastry down, and said,
“Thank you, Miss. I know you only found an excuse to give me pastries because you felt sorry for me. I only cleaned one little road, and it took me such a long time. It simply wasn’t worth pastries this delicious... Miss, you are a good person. Good people will definitely be rewarded.”
Even Jin Lan’s heart turned sour at his words.
Mu Yunyao only smiled faintly and pushed the second plate toward him.
“Fill your stomach first, and talk afterward.”
It was often said that children from poor families learned to shoulder burdens early. But in truth, that was only because life forced them to. When hunger and struggle become familiar too soon, every step of living is filled with hardship and bitterness. It becomes impossible not to grow up early.
Only after finishing two plates of pastries did Nan’er finally stop, still unwilling, not because he no longer wanted to eat, but because his stomach could not hold more.
“Thank you, Miss.”
Looking at the emptied plates, Nan’er began to feel flustered again. Would the young lady before him think he had eaten too much? Would she become annoyed and decide not to let him work in the garden after all?
“Miss, I don’t usually eat much—really. Just two pastries are enough. If I eat two pastries, I won’t feel hungry the whole day!”
It was all his own fault for being greedy. Why had he not listened to Sister Cai Qing and stopped himself from wanting so much?
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ReplyDeleteAwww....the little boy is so cute!
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