Cheng Xiao Xiao squatted down trying to help the young girl up, but she heard a cry from the girl. She saw her wrist where the rod had landed, Cheng Xiao Xiao felt bad all over again.
Thinking about her old life, and the difference between the two, fate could be so unpredictable sometimes.
Both were families in poverty, but her families were still protective and loving toward her, yet the young girl’s family treated her so cruelly.
“Mistress, I am okay!” She turned her face away. The young girl didn’t want Cheng Xiao Xiao to see her in that condition. Her father had sold her; her family no longer wanted her, what else could she do?
“Little girl, you are my people now. I promise I won’t let others bully you. From now on you follow me. I won’t let you undergo any hardship.” Cheng Xiao Xiao walked up and stroked the girl on her head, she looked at her full of pity.
Fate had treated the two so differently! The girl was only a couple of years younger than Cheng Xiao Xiao. She felt like a little sister, and she was quite fond of her naturally.
“I….” She opened her mouth, but the young girl couldn’t find any words. Looking at the gentle way Cheng Xiao Xiao was looking at her, tears ran down her face again. She just wanted to cry.
Her own father and mother didn’t even treat her as nice as this stranger whom she had just met.
“Be a good girl and stop crying, okay? We will get you some food in a bit.” Cheng Xiao Xiao helped the young girl up and pursed her lips; her eyes full of indescribable emotions.
One could tell almost immediately that this young girl was simple and kind in nature. Cheng Xiao Xiao would feel comfortable having her take care of her family.
“Okay!” The young girl wiped her face with her sleeve. Her clothes was messy and dirty to begin with, the wiping only made her little face messier and dirtier than efore.
Taking the young girl with her and walking around the slum, Cheng Xiao Xiao purchased another young boy around 12-13 years of age, taking him out of the slum.
“What’s your name?” asked Cheng Xiao Xiao as she turned around and looked at the little boy, a little bit of suspicion in her eyes.
One could tell almost immediately that this was a kid from a loving family. If his mother wasn’t worried that he’d starve to me, she wouldn’t have sold him.
Both families sold their children, but for very different reasons – one was heart-warming, the other one bone-chilling.
“Replying mistress, my name is Two Eggs,” replied the little boy courteously. He seemed very uneasy. He had a hard time looking straight at the pretty girl, and he was also very afraid.
Hearing that, Cheng Xiao Xiao couldn’t help but frowned. Both of these kids’ names are awful, it’s probably better if she give them new names.
“Why don’t I give you new names?” Cheng Xiao Xiao couldn’t help but ask, these names must go.
Afterall, their names were given to them by their parents, she should at least ask them their opinions.
They both nodded; neither one of them objected.
“Little girl, from now on we will call you Lu Zhu1, Two Eggs, let’s call you Zhu Qing.”2,3 Even though these couple of names sound a bit on the grandeur side for the village, but Cheng Xiao Xiao was okay with that. The important was that she liked them.
“Thank you, Mistress, for awarding us with new names.” The two replied simultaneously again. By now, both little girl and Two Eggs, no, both Lu Zhu and Zhu Qing’s expressions were already very different than before.
Now that the mistress had given them new names, they completely belonged to her now.
“Zhu Qing, from now on you work for my family, we will pay you wages. You can save them for when you get married, or you can give them to your mother to help her out. After all, she only sold you for your own good, so you should treat her nicely too. If you ever miss her, you can also go back to visit her.” She patted Zhu Qing on his shoulder and said to him tenderly.
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Notes:
1. Green bamboo.
2. Bamboo azure.
3. I have been wondering why did Cheng Xiao Xiao say the little girl’s name was awful and need to be changed, as I don’t remember when her name was mentioned. I guess her name was literally “Little Girl”. As I don’t know when the term was used as her name / referring to her as a girl… I will just leave it as is. J
