#81 - Achun
Chapter 81: A'Chun
When Liang Qin led Wei Changtian by the hand and appeared before Liang Zhen and the others, everyone was a little surprised, but didn't feel anything too inappropriate.
Everyone present was a martial artist, and they didn't care much about the rules of conduct between men and women. Besides, they all knew that the two had been close before, so they all pretended not to see it.
"Changtian, come on!"
Liang Zhen beckoned, and everyone took their seats at the table.
The tables and chairs were brought from the post station by the post official, and they were placed in the shade of a large locust tree, with many plates and bowls already laid out on them.
Although there were no delicacies, it was still a hearty meal.
The group didn't stand on ceremony, and started eating as soon as they sat down, admiring the distant mountain scenery and chatting idly.
A lieutenant general reported:
"General, Young Master, we have now entered Tanzhou territory, and we will be able to reach Zhongling County tonight."
"This county is not very big, and this subordinate has already sent people into the city to notify the government."
"By the way, it is said that there is a strange mountain called 'Broken Heaven' to the west of the county seat. If the General and Young Master are interested, you can go and have a look..."
Liang Zhen and the others didn't take this route when they returned to Beijing, so the scenery they encountered along the way these days was quite fresh. Every time they arrived at a place, they would always visit the local wonders and scenic spots.
What was originally a journey to escort prisoners to the border now felt more like an autumn outing...
Of course, this would definitely slow down the speed of travel, but it didn't seem like anyone cared about it.
"This..."
Liang Zhen also reacted when he heard this, and immediately echoed: "Qin'er is right! This mountain doesn't seem to have anything to see just from the name!"
"We won't stay in Zhongling for long, we'll rest in the county town for one night and then continue on our way!"
"Yes, General!"
The lieutenant general quickly put down his chopsticks, cupped his fist and admitted his mistake: "Young Master, please don't blame me, this subordinate didn't consider it carefully!"
"It's okay."
Wei Changtian waved his hand with a wry smile, thinking that the ancients had too many rules.
He really wanted to go and see this mountain, but now he couldn't say anything, so he had to continue eating in silence.
Martial artists generally eat faster, and it didn't take long for everyone to fill their stomachs to about eighty percent.
"Brother Changtian, are you full?" Liang Qin asked softly beside him.
"Yes, I'm full."
Wei Changtian put down his chopsticks and let out a satisfied burp, casually looking around until his gaze stopped at a certain place.
It was a thin, small girl, wearing obviously ill-fitting linen clothes, and her hair was messy.
She seemed to be a little afraid of people, not daring to get too close to Wei Changtian and the others, nor daring to get too close to the post station, so she sat alone on a stone in the middle of the two places, holding a multigrain bun in her hand and eating slowly.
Following Wei Changtian's gaze, Liang Qin also noticed this pitiful little girl, and a surge of pity welled up in her heart.
After hesitating for a moment, she immediately waved and summoned a soldier to her side.
"Bring that little girl over here, speak softly, don't scare her."
"Yes."
The soldier responded and walked to the little girl's side, bending down and saying something.
It could be seen that the girl was a little scared, but in the end, she carried a large bamboo basket on her back and followed the soldier back timidly.
She stopped a few steps away from the group, lowering her head and not saying a word.
"Don't be afraid, we're not bad people."
Liang Qin waved her hand with a smile: "Come a little closer."
"..."
The little girl looked up at Liang Qin, and probably felt that she didn't look like a bad person, so she finally approached hesitantly.
"How old are you? What's your name?" Liang Qin asked, taking her little hand.
"Nine, nine years old, my name is A'Chun..."
The girl's voice was very nice, but the volume was too low, as if a gust of wind could blow it away.
"Why are you here alone? Where are your parents?" Liang Qin asked again.
"Over there..."
The little girl pointed timidly at the low mountain not far away.
"..."
Liang Qin and Wei Changtian exchanged glances, and looked at the tinderbox in the bamboo basket, both understanding that the little girl's parents were probably gone, and she must have gone to the mountain to visit their graves today.
This kind of situation of losing parents at a young age was actually not uncommon in this era.
If it was a boy, it would be fine, he might be adopted by other relatives.
But if it was a girl, she would most likely have to rely on herself to be self-sufficient, and many would eventually starve or freeze to death.
"Alas..."
Liang Qin sighed softly, turned around and scooped a large bowl of rice and vegetables from the table and handed it to the little girl.
"Are you hungry? Eat something."
"I..."
A'Chun tried hard to swallow her saliva, and put the bowl back on the table: "Madam, I brought dry food."
"Madam..."
Liang Qin was stunned for a moment, but quickly understood.
For children living in such remote areas, "Sir" and "Madam" should be the most respectful titles they know.
Liang Qin smiled and didn't correct her, but gently and softly persuaded: "Don't be embarrassed, we're going to throw these dishes away if you don't eat them."
"Ah?"
A'Chun was stunned, her big eyes flickering with incomprehension, as if she couldn't understand why such good food should be thrown away.
"Then, then I'll eat..."
She hesitated for a long time, and finally picked up the bowl and chopsticks again, and ate small mouthfuls under Liang Qin's encouraging gaze.
Liang Zhen and the others didn't say anything when they saw this, and continued chatting and talking to themselves.
Soon, A'Chun ate a large bowl of rice and vegetables clean.
Perhaps because she hadn't eaten so full for too long, the little girl couldn't help but hiccup.
"Drink some water... Are you full?"
Liang Qin smiled and handed over a bowl of clear water.
"Eat, hiccup, I'm full..."
A'Chun drank the water but still couldn't stop hiccupping, her little face flushed red: "Thank you, hiccup, Madam..."
"You're welcome."
Liang Qin wanted to pat her back, but A'Chun suddenly bent down at this moment and shook out the few mountain goods in the bamboo basket.
Wild mushrooms, wild fungus, and a few medicinal herbs... She hiccupped while gathering these things together, and carefully tied them into a bundle with a straw rope, and gently placed them at Liang Qin's feet.
"Madam, these are for you."
"Take them back, I don't want your things."
Liang Qin picked up the mountain goods and wanted to put them back into the bamboo basket.
But A'Chun took a step back, lowered her head and said seriously: "Madam gave me food because she has a good heart, it's not something I should take for granted."
"..."
Liang Qin's eyes were a little surprised.
She didn't know what to say for a moment, and A'Chun bowed to everyone at this time, and then walked away with the empty bamboo basket on her back.
The thin figure quickly walked a distance, and Liang Qin couldn't help but sigh to Wei Changtian after a long silence: "I didn't expect this child to be so sensible..."
"Yes."
Wei Changtian glanced at the bundle of mountain goods at his feet: "If she sells these things and exchanges them for food, she can probably eat for a few more days."
"..."
Liang Qin was stunned instantly.
Wei Changtian didn't say anything more, just shook his head, shook a piece of broken silver from his sleeve, and threw it into the distance.
The silver drew an arc in the air and landed right in A'Chun's bamboo basket.
There's still more today... I'm writing, I'm writing...
