Chapter 296: Clearly, I am Your Older Sister
The long line, neatly arranged, slowly diminished. It was finally their turn.
Looking at the steaming pot of congee ahead, Mu Sanniang subconsciously tightened the worn clothes on her body. As they approached the shed, they could see fully armed soldiers standing on both sides, their expressions stern, sharp eyes scanning everywhere.
In the center, a large iron pot was placed over a fire pit with firewood. Beside the iron pot stood two “puffy” figures, completely wrapped up so that only their noses, mouths, and eyes were visible. This stood in stark contrast to the thin rags Mu Sanniang wore.
One person was responsible for handing out bowls, and the other for serving the congee. Judging by the voice, the one handing out bowls was likely a woman, who kept muttering under her breath, “It’s only because my young lady is too kind,” and “Otherwise, who would bother with whether you live or die.” Spreading congee was, of course, not something the distinguished people in the carriage would do themselves.
The thin figure in front of Mu Sanniang lowered their head in a humble and timid manner. “Thank you, Young Lady, thank you, Master…” Their expression was numb, and their movements were stiff and slow.
When it was Mu Sanniang’s turn, she took the small bowl with both hands, and the person in charge of serving the congee ladled some into it. Then, just like the person before her, she quietly said thank you. Even though the two people in front of her didn’t even bother to glance at her.
Mu Sanniang held the bowl of congee and stepped aside, making way for the little boy behind her. Unlike the others who had eagerly swallowed it down, she held it carefully, taking small sips occasionally. She thought that if An’an didn’t have enough later, he could drink hers.
Then, a slightly surprised exclamation caught everyone’s attention. It was the woman responsible for handing out bowls, who unconsciously exclaimed, “Oh, what a handsome little doll.” She covered her mouth with her delicate hand, her eyes revealing a hint of surprise.
For some reason, when Mu Sanniang heard this praise, her heart tightened. She quickly looked up and saw that the woman was staring intently at a certain little boy, completely engrossed. The entire place fell silent, with only the soft sound of the wind and snow blowing.
Finally, it was Chen An who spoke up. He didn’t show the timidity of an ordinary child; instead, he tilted his little head back and gave a sweet smile. “Thank you for your praise, Sister. You are also very beautiful.”
The woman was taken aback, and a hint of playful teasing flashed in her eyes. She joked, “But I’m all wrapped up like this, how would you know if I’m beautiful or not?” She let out a light huff. “You’re so young, yet you speak so boldly.”
Despite her words, she handed him the bowl in her hand. Chen An took it with his small hands, holding it with both of them. He said, “It is said that beauty comes from the heart. People who are kind and pure of heart are bound to be beautiful.”
“Since you are willing to come out in this wind and snow to distribute aid, you must be beautiful and kind-hearted.” His words seemed to remind the woman of something, and her face, hidden by the veil, felt a little warm. When the young lady first proposed distributing grain for disaster relief, she had been against it. But since the boy had said so much, she couldn’t possibly contradict herself now.
The woman then looked carefully at the boy, her gaze finally settling on his face, which was beginning to show its features. A high nose bridge, long and dark eyebrows – he was indeed the most beautiful little boy she had ever seen in her entire life. He was even more handsome than the young masters in their estate.
In these troublesome times, seeing such a cute child couldn’t help but bring a smile to her eyes. “You’re quite clever. Have you studied?”
As she spoke, she took the ladle from the iron pot and personally filled Chen An’s small bowl with congee. It had to be said that although Chen An’s words were a bit trite, combined with his small stature and adorable appearance, they were quite pleasing to the woman. Of course, if it were anyone else present, they might have been met with a cold rebuke for being frivolous.
Sometimes, being young was also an advantage. Especially in this situation, it often evoked a woman’s natural protective instincts.
Chen An stared intently at the white, steaming thin congee in the pot, feeling a pang of desire. Yesterday, he had only eaten a bit of hard, cold biscuit, and he didn’t even know what it was made of. How could it compare to the enticing warmth of the large pot of congee in front of him?
He heard the question and suppressed his desire, putting on a flawless fake smile. “Yes, I’ve studied a little.”
The woman, observing his expression, noticed his longing. She sighed, filled his bowl to the brim, and her voice unconsciously softened. “Eat quickly. If it’s not enough after you finish, I’ll give you more.”
This was the first time the woman had made an exception in the many days she had been distributing congee. The rule was strictly one bowl per person. Oh well. Fate, pity us…
In an instant, she had conjured up a tragic backstory for the little boy. Judging by his upbringing, he must have come from a well-to-do family, only to fall into such circumstances due to years of warfare and disaster. Furthermore, with no adult accompanying him, it was likely that his elders had met with misfortune and passed away, leaving him to struggle alone.
The woman’s voice was not loud, but Mu Sanniang stood nearby, and her words reached her ears. The girl’s body trembled almost imperceptibly, and she looked down at the thin congee in her hands. She was very sensible and suppressed the urge to interrupt, merely raising a hand to rub her eyes. *Clearly, I am your older sister…*
Mu Sanniang thought of the words the little boy had just spoken, her nose pricked, and her shoulders trembled slightly.
The next moment, she heard the boy’s voice. “Sister, aren’t you drinking?”
Mu Sanniang looked up and saw that Chen An had somehow approached her. He looked at the full bowl of congee in the girl’s hands with a look of confusion. Mu Sanniang said “Oh,” and the hint of grievance on her face vanished, returning her to her expressionless state. She picked up the congee and began to drink it in large gulps.
The bowl was not large, and she finished it quickly. She instinctively licked the bottom of the bowl. The warmth in her throat made her wish for another bowl. Unfortunately, not everyone had the special privilege of a refill like Chen An. Thinking this, Mu Sanniang lowered her eyes, feeling a strange sadness.
The sadness was not because Chen An could drink more, nor because of the unfairness. She couldn’t quite explain it herself. At this moment, the boy’s voice sounded again, with a tone of slight guilt. He held the bowl, with about half of the congee remaining, and offered it to her. He deliberately turned his back to block the woman’s view from the shed and whispered, “Sister, drink quickly. Don’t let anyone see.”
Mu Sanniang looked up and saw the boy’s clear black and white eyes darting nervously from side to side. Seeing that the girl had not moved, he urged, “Stop dawdling. If someone sees, and they report it to the shed, it won’t be good.” Mu Sanniang was stunned.
(End of Chapter)
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