Shitou glanced at the book bag—the fabric looked like fine material. Looking at Guo’er, Shitou felt increasingly distressed: “You, with such good cloth, should keep it to make yourself some pretty pouches!”
A-chun, however, smiled: “Guo’er is going to school to study. Carrying a nicer book bag will keep his classmates from laughing at him. As his older sister, I have enough clothes and pouches to use as it is!”
Seeing A-chun like this, Shitou truly felt heartache. He reached out and ruffled her hair: “You! Since you’ve come back today, rare as it is, I’ll go catch a few fish. Your mother can stew them for you—you need a good nourishing meal!”
“Father and Mother are the best!” A-chun said coquettishly, linking arms with Shitou on one side and Guo’er’s Mother on the other.
Because A-chun worked in town, the journey from Chengjia Zhuang to town took several hours. If she happened upon an oxcart, it could be a bit faster, but A-chun was frugal and unwilling to pay for the ride. So most of the time, she would return in the evening and leave the next evening.
A-chun only had one day off each month, so whenever she returned, Shitou’s family cherished and doted on her especially. After catching fish, Shitou even went to the butcher’s to buy some meat, thinking to give A-chun a nourishing meal.
“It’s not New Year’s or any festival—you’re here buying meat. Has your A-chun come back?” The butcher picked out a cheaper piece of lean meat for Shitou and said with a smile.
Shitou, honest and simple, smiled back: “That girl works hard. This time she came back, she’s lost a lot of weight. Her mother and I thought we’d give her something nourishing, or else my wife would be heartbroken!”
“Your wife treasures A-chun even more than she does Guo’er!” The butcher, recalling Shitou’s wife, couldn’t help remarking.
“Our A-chun is well-behaved—who wouldn’t like her!” Shitou smiled, then picked up the meat and turned to leave.
Though they said A-chun was well-behaved, everyone in the village knew that Shitou’s wife loved daughters most. Before Guo’er, she had actually given birth to a daughter, but the child fell ill and died young. Later, when she gave birth to Guo’er, she had a difficult delivery, and since then, Shitou’s wife could no longer have children.
Although they had a sturdy, lively boy like Guo’er, which could be considered leaving an heir for Shitou, both Shitou and his wife still longed for a daughter in their hearts. Later, by chance, they got A-chun, and they truly cherished her like a treasure held in their palms!
When Shitou returned home, Guo’er was studying in the yard, while A-chun and her mother were picking vegetables in the vegetable garden. After several days of rain, the vegetables in the garden had sprouted tender shoots, and A-chun had always loved eating these fresh tips the most.
“Father, you’re back!” Guo’er, seeing Shitou enter the gate, quickly stood up to greet him and also noticed the several fish and the meat Shitou was carrying. “Father, why did you buy meat too?”
“Today, your father had good luck—I caught several fish, so I took them to the butcher’s and exchanged them for a bit of meat!” Shitou ruffled Guo’er’s head. “Today, we’ll let your mother cook it all for us to eat!”
Cheng Guo’er, after all, was still young. As soon as he knew there would be good food, he was very happy, grinning from ear to ear: “Father is the best!”
When Guo’er’s Mother and A-chun came out, they happened to hear Cheng Guo’er speaking. A-chun couldn’t help but tease, “Guo’er really falls for everyone she meets! Just a moment ago she said her elder sister was the best, and now she’s already forgotten about her!”
Upon hearing this, Guo’er naturally grew anxious. She quickly ran to A-chun’s side, reached out, and hugged her. “Everyone is the best! Father, Mother, and Elder Sister are all the best!”
Seeing Guo’er like this, A-chun and the others couldn’t help but laugh. In the end, it was Guo’er’s Mother who took the fish and meat from Shitou’s hands. “Enough of this commotion, let’s go cook!”
Guo’er’s Mother was an excellent cook, and A-chun, having learned from her, was also quite skilled. The pharmacy shopkeeper particularly enjoyed the meals A-chun prepared, and the shopkeeper’s wife often pulled A-chun into the kitchen to cook together.
Knowing that A-chun would be returning to town today, Guo’er’s Mother prepared dinner early. The family sat in the courtyard to eat.
With both fish and meat on the table, it felt almost like New Year’s. Cheng Guo’er was the happiest, eating until her mouth was shiny with grease. A-chun, however, could only manage a few bites. “Father, Mother, you should eat more. At the shop, the shopkeeper’s wife is always very generous, so it’s not hard for me to have fish and meat.”
“Don’t hold back. This fish was specially caught by your father for you. If you don’t eat it, won’t it make your father sad?” As she spoke, Guo’er’s Mother picked up A-chun’s bowl and filled it with fish soup. “Fish soup is nourishing. Drink more of it!”
“We farmers don’t have much to offer, but this fish soup is at least somewhat nourishing. Eat more. Your mother and I are always here in the village. If we want to eat fish, I can always go catch some!” Shitou looked at A-chun and smiled. “When you’re in town, don’t be too hard on yourself. As for the money for Guo’er’s schooling, your mother and I will find a way. If you want to eat something or buy something, just go ahead. Don’t deprive yourself, understand?”
“I understand!” A-chun replied with a smile, then lowered her head to drink the soup, saying nothing more.
Seeing her like this, Shitou and Guo’er’s Mother also fell silent. People in the village often said that A-chun must have come from a wealthy family, especially because of the fine jade she wore. It was a pity, though, that A-chun couldn’t remember anything.
A-chun had been living in the village for many years and got along well with everyone. She treated Shitou’s family as her own, but she was always a little different from the daughters of ordinary families. Though young, she had her own ideas—like working at a shop in town or sending Guo’er to school.
Shitou and Guo’er’s Mother were the most honest of people, only knowing how to work the land for food. They would never have thought of sending Cheng Guo’er to school!
“A-chun, over these years, have you remembered anything?” Guo’er’s Mother asked softly, looking at A-chun.
For all these years, Guo’er’s Mother and Shitou had never mentioned A-chun’s origins. Today, Guo’er’s Mother suddenly brought it up, which truly surprised A-chun. “Mother!”
“A-chun, you’re older now, and people keep asking about your marriage. You’re beautiful and have your own ideas. I can’t bear to see you become a concubine to some official, nor can I bear to see you marry one of the village boys. There aren’t many well-off families here, and marrying into one would only mean hardship for you. I can’t bear it!” Guo’er’s Mother looked at A-chun and spoke each word deliberately.
A-chun remained silent for a long time, then shook her head: “I haven’t recalled anything, nor do I wish to recall anything. Since they haven’t come looking for me, either they are dead, or they simply don’t care about me. I would rather spend my entire life without remembering.”
“But…”
“Guo’er’s Mother!” Shitou stopped Guo’er’s Mother from continuing, then turned to A-chun. “You’ve always been a child with your own mind. Naturally, when it comes to marriage, it should be up to you. Is there someone you fancy?”