Translator: CKtalon Editor: CKtalon
Fangzheng smiled. “Then I’ll have to give it a try.”
Seeing that Fangzheng didn’t mind and was even eager to try, Ji Xiang and Ji Han heaved a sigh of relief, as though they were afraid of being a bad host to Fangzheng.
Fangzheng was very satisfied with this. Sometimes, it wasn’t the food that was important, but the thought that counted.
However, the moment it entered his mouth, Fangzheng gave them a thumbs up. The taste was primitive, and there was a beancurd flavor. However, it was precisely this primitive flavor that was impossible to obtain anywhere else in the outside world.
The main food of the Lahu race was also rice. However, what Ji Han made in the morning was congee. Fangzheng didn’t know what magic Ji Han had used, but the congee was green and sticky, yet it had a very rich taste. Coupled with some small sour radish heads which were the size of a thumb and as white as jade, the crispiness and sourness made it extremely appetizing.
Fangzheng didn’t eat the other dishes, especially the plate of chicken. It was filled with chili, so Fangzheng could only silently give his blessings.
Seeing how afraid Fangzheng appeared, Ji Xiang pursed her lips and said with a smile, “Brother Changfeng, in our Lahu race, all dishes must have chili. However, I noticed that you didn’t take any spicy food last night, so I made some non-spicy dishes. I never expected you to really not eat spicy food…”
When Ji Han heard that, he exclaimed. “You don’t take spicy food well? How do you even live? Food is completely bland without spices!.”
Fangzheng said, “China’s vegetables have all kinds of flavors—sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty, and pungent. Different flavors for different people. It’s not odd if one doesn’t eat spicy food. As for the Lahu race, all of you seem to be good at eating spicy food.”
Ji Han chuckled and said, “Uncle Iron said that the chili is to the Lahu what oil is to the Han. Without any chili, we think food is almost inedible.”
When Fangzheng heard that, he clicked his tongue in wonder. At the same time, he felt proud of the multicultural aspect of China. It was as though each culture had its own unique characteristics and could light up a corner of this world.
However, when he heard the words ‘Uncle Iron,’ Fangzheng recalled the bag of money, as well as Li Xi. His good mood was gone.
Fangzheng didn’t say a word, and the siblings didn’t speak much either. After they finished the meal quickly, Fangzheng packed up and went to Uncle Iron.
“Ah, Chang Feng. Why are you here?” Uncle Iron had been fiddling with his wind furnace since early in the morning. Uncle Iron’s surname obviously wasn’t Iron, but Li. Fangzheng didn’t know the surnames of the Lahu race either. Uncle Iron was given the nickname ‘Iron’ because he was the only blacksmith in the village. However, as Uncle Iron grew older, he couldn’t even lift a hammer. Furthermore, the farming tools sold outside were cheap and good; therefore, he stopped blacksmithing for money.
However, after working as a blacksmith his entire life, Uncle Iron still couldn’t bear to let it go. Every day, he would fiddle with his tools and caress his hammer as a way to kill time.
“Uncle Iron, I know Li Xi.”
Uncle Iron was stunned for a moment before he smiled. “So you’re Xi’s friend! I was wondering why I had the urge to treat you as family. Come, come and have a seat. Tell me how Xi is. It’s been a long time since I received a letter from him.”
As Uncle Iron was speaking, a little girl ran out of the house. The little girl had a ponytail and was extremely adorable. The moment the little girl arrived, she hugged Uncle Iron’s leg and looked at Fangzheng with some fear.
Fangzheng smiled at her, scaring her into hiding behind Uncle Iron.
Following that, a woman walked out of the room and said with a smile, “Niu, come back quickly. Don’t disturb Grandfather’s chat with our guest.”
The girl refused to leave. The woman ran over and smiled apologetically at him before carrying her to play next door.
As he looked at the mother and daughter who were walking out, Fangzheng’s heart sank deeper. He knew that the Lahu people here were different from the Lahu people outside. The Lahu people outside already had their own financial systems. Be it traveling or anything else, they were on par with the other groups.
However, the Lahu people here were still living the lifestyle that their ancestors had passed down. However, with the young people leaving the villages, they could no longer continue hunting. Many families actually relied on the family members who worked in the cities for monetary support.
Li Xi was the pillar of support for Uncle Iron’s family. Now that the family’s pillar of support had collapsed, this family…
“Did something happen to Xi?” Uncle Iron was an experienced man after all. Although he was old, his brain wasn’t. Seeing Fangzheng hesitant to speak, he had a guess. The smile on his face turned serious and, amidst the seriousness, there was deep worry.
Fangzheng said with a nod, “Yes.”
Then, Fangzheng didn’t know what he said after that, but when he walked out of Uncle Iron’s house, all that was left in his mind was the sight of Uncle Iron’s glimmering eyes. Instantly, the glint in them was gone, leaving behind only bitterness! There were no tears or wailing cries, but that silent gaze made Fangzheng even more uncomfortable.
At that moment, Li Xi’s wife returned with their daughter in her arms. She greeted Fangzheng with a smile and invited him to stay for dinner. Fangzheng politely declined her with a bitter look on his face.
However, before long, Uncle Iron’s house was filled with sorrowful cries. The crying ripped apart the silence of the Lahu village, causing everyone’s heart to ache.
“Brother Chang, Brother Li, he…” Ji Han ran into Fangzheng’s room and asked in disbelief.
Fangzheng nodded.
Ji Han and Ji Xiang’s tears flowed down. Ji Xiang cried. “How is that possible? Brother Li was such a good person. He even gave me cake last year… Boohoo…”
Fangzheng did not say a word. The tragedy had already happened. He was considering how he could prevent this tragedy from happening again!
That day, the entire village was dead silent.
But then, late into the night, Fangzheng suddenly heard the sounds of the lusheng outside. It was very soft, so inaudible that ordinary people could barely hear it. However, Fangzheng’s extraordinary hearing allowed him to hear it clearly.
Fangzheng pushed open the door and looked in the direction of the sound. He walked into a bamboo forest and saw a white-haired old man sitting there, blowing the lusheng while facing the northeast as though he was calling out to something…
Fangzheng came close and saw that the white-haired old man was Uncle Iron.
Uncle Iron’s hair had turned white in just a day! The wrinkles on his face were as deep as an axe carving. It was heartbreaking.
While he blew the lusheng with his eyes closed, Fangzheng could sense his pain and his longing, but what Fangzheng felt the most was more like a calling!
Fangzheng subconsciously wanted to activate A Golden Millet Dream so that Uncle Iron could see his son in his dream and fulfill any last wishes. But the moment he raised his hand, Fangzheng lowered it… A dream was ultimately a dream. If he couldn’t let go, it would be even more painful after the dream.
Of course, Fangzheng could let Li Xi coax the elder in the dream. But what would happen next?
Most importantly, Fangzheng not only heard pain in the lusheng‘s melody, but a spirit—a brave, fearless, and strong spirit!
