“We haven’t eaten anything for two days. If you have food, can you please share it with us?” Xiao Tian gave an honest answer. “Of course, we won’t take it for free. We will return your favor later.”
The old man turned around to face them. “Food?”
“Yes, elder.” Crystal responded, “Could you share some of your food with us?”
The old man finally understood the reason why Xiao Tian and Crystal looked for him.
‘Did they not find any food since yesterday?’
He suspected that Xiao Tian and Crystal did not find any food since yesterday.
“What makes you think I would share my food with you?” the old man replied, “You know we are in the forest, right? Food is very important, especially in the forest.”
Of course, Xiao Tian and Crystal knew about it.
“Elder, I will pay for the food. You may not believe it, but I have a lot of money.” Xiao Tian told the old man that he had a lot of money.
“We are in the forest right now, so your money is useless here.” the old man showed no interest when Xiao Tian said he would pay for his food.
Of course, Xiao Tian knew about it. “But you can use it after you get out of the forest later. How about I pay two hundred Yuan for each meal?”
Two hundred Yuan for each meal was already in the category of luxurious food. Xiao Tian even did not mind if the old man only gave them simple food.
As long as it was edible, he was fine with it because what he had in mind was only one thing.
Food!
Yes, they needed food or else it would be fatal for them later.
“Young man, do you see any restaurant around here?” the old man spoke and paused for a second before he continued, “All you can see is forest. Sure, two hundred Yuan is a lot of money, but it’s useless here. Your money has no value in the forest.”
“Then, what do you want, elder?” Crystal inquired.
“I want you to chop firewood and fill my wooden bathtub with water.” After saying that, the old man rose to his feet. “So, how is it? Do you agree?”
“We agreed.” Xiao Tian and Crystal replied in unison.
Sure, chopping firewood and filling the bathtub with water would consume a lot of stamina, but it was better than looking for fruit again.
There was a high possibility that they would not find anything if they looked for something to eat, but it was a different story if they did as the old man asked.
“Follow me.” The man began walking to his house.
Xiao Tian immediately followed the old man. Of course, he was still carrying Crystal.
At this moment, Xiao Tian and Crystal were thrilled because they finally could eat some food later. They had not eaten anything for two days, so they were delighted by this.
They even did not feel tired anymore.
‘We can finally eat some food.’
These were the words that appeared in their minds.
After walking for about fifteen minutes, they finally reached their destination.
A small bamboo house could be seen not far from them. There was also a small garden in the front yard with a one-meter high wooden fence.
Almost everything in the house was built from bamboo. Even the floor was made from bamboo.
“Come in.” the old man uttered.
Xiao Tian and Crystal entered the house.
‘There is only one bamboo chair and table in the living room.’
They skimmed the living room.
To their surprise, there was a mat in the living room.
Yes, there was a mat in front of the bamboo chair!
Xiao Tian immediately put Crystal down before finally sitting on the mat.
At first, Xiao Tian and Crystal thought the old man would tell them to work immediately, but they were wrong.
They were utterly wrong because the old man suddenly gave them water to drink.
“Here, drink it first.” The old man suspected that Xiao Tian and Crystal did not drink anything since two days ago.
He was not a cruel person, so he decided to give them water to drink before telling them to work.
Of course, They had to work first before they could eat some food because this was one of the rules in this world.
“Thank you, elder.” Xiao Tian and Crystal responded in unison.
They put down the wooden cups after drinking the water. Even though they had drunk water countless times, they felt as if the water was different at that time.
They felt the water was delicious and could make them feel refreshed again. They even did not know that water could be so delicious like that.
“Do you want to chop firewood and fill the bathtub now or later?” the old man did not force them to do their tasks immediately and let them decide it.
“We will do it now.” Xiao Tian and Crystal replied in unison.
They wanted to eat immediately, so they did not want to waste their time because they knew that they had to work first before they could eat.
“Follow me.” After saying that, the old man headed to the backyard.
The backyard was quite big; not, the old man was living in the forest, so everything behind his house was his backyard.
As soon as they reached the backyard, they saw a lot of firewood with an axe next to it.
“Xiao Tian, I will chop the firewood, and you will fill the bathtub.” Crystal did not want Xiao Tian to do all the work.
Sure, her legs were still injured, but she did not want Xiao Tian to do all the work. She was sure that she could at least chop the firewood.
“No. You are still injured.” Xiao Tian had the intention to do all the work from the start, so he wanted Crystal just to sit back.
“Xiao Tian, I can still use my hands.” Sure, her legs were still injured, but she could still use her hands.
Chopping firewood only required hands, not legs. Crystal was sure that she could chop firewood later.
At this moment, the old man only stared at Xiao Tian and Crystal. He decided not to interfere and let them decide everything.
When Xiao Tian did not say anything, Crystal said again, “Xiao Tian, I’m not a useless person.”
Even though her words and tone seemed like she was furious, but she was not angry at Xiao Tian.
She just did not want Xiao Tian to do all the work because he had been doing many things for her since they were in the forest.
He even kept carrying her even though he was tired. This was the reason why she wanted to help him.
“Alright.” Xiao Tian decided to agree with her idea. “But don’t force yourself and be careful.”
“I know.” Crystal nodded her head. “Please put me down next to the axe and place the firewood close to me.”
After putting her down next to the axe, Xiao Tian placed a lot of firewood on her right and left sides.
The old man then showed Xiao Tian where his bathtub was. He also gave Xiao Tian two buckets.
“Follow me. I will show you where my well is.” The old man uttered.
