State of Wu, Ming Village
Yue Calendar
Wu - Zhuo War
3 weeks after the war
"My child is dying from hunger. How long do you want us to wait?! The rations are close to empty," a frail-looking woman shouted with rage, as her ragged clothes wrinkled under her tightly clenched fists.
It has already been three weeks after the war against the neighboring state, however, the traces of war were still fresh.
Famine, blood, and death kept everyone on their toes, as a series of sequelae from the war affected the people in the village.
It was really a horrible sight to behold.
Now, three weeks have passed, a recent problem has occurred. Their food supply that should've sustained their needs was slowly emptied. Meanwhile, the crops that they worked hard sowing for, withered from the hot weather these past few days.
For this reason, the lives of the villagers became desperate; crowding themselves in front of the village's main hall.
In the far right corner of such a busy hall stood a thin young girl. Dirt from her previous endeavors stained her white, ragged clothes. Beside her stood her younger brother, whose eyes stared at the kids' food, which was hardly any, from time to time.
The young boy bowed his head from embarrassment as he hold his stomach from further grumbling. Fei Wanrou could feel her heart tighten as she looks towards her younger brother. She can't bear to see his embarrassed look, thus taking out the last piece of bread that she kept for herself and gave it to him.
The young boy looks at her in surprise.
"S-sister, why are you giving me your food? You should keep it for yourself.. It's my fault that I ate my food so early. " Fei Zhuo gently shoves his sister's hand, not accepting the piece of bread. However, his stomach betrayed him, as it grumbled even louder.
Fei Wanrou smiled softly "I still have food hidden in the cottage, so you don't have to worry" what she said was a lie, however, it doesn't matter as she can still hold on, anyway.
Fei Zhuo was silent for a moment, setting his gaze on his elder sister's eyes; probing whether to see if she was lying.
Fei Wanrou only looked at him calmly, not giving him any hints of her lies. Her little brother is sure enough perceptive to even check out the truthfulness in her words.
A man named Zheng Qi noticed accidentally this scenario. He couldn't help but pity the war caused them. If it didn't happen, then the young ones wouldn't suffer so much that they would need to share food that was hardly any.
"Here. You can have this one. Don't worry, you need it more than I do and you also can't say no. If you don't want to eat it, then save it." Zheng Qi walked towards them and gave Fei Wanrou a large piece of bread. He then left without the little girl's thanks.
Fei Wanrou stared at the man's back and without a word she muttered," Thank you, Mister. " Her voice was loud enough for Zheng Qi to hear with this his lip curved up a little without turning back. Fei Wanrou clenched her hands and thought, "I will remember such kindness," as the man disappeared from their sight.
Fei Zhuo was currently eating, whispered as he look at the man's back, "He's a good person."
Fei Wanrou nodded in response, looking at her little brother eating adorably, which was done unconsciously.
All matter aside, Fei Wanrou was thankful that even if there is a war, her little brother remains the same.. As his older sister, she needs to protect his safety and innocence from this chaotic world, if only she had power then she will do all of that but the time isn't ripe yet she still has more work to do to achieve all of that.
She wants to be financially capable, as long as it is a job that pays well, all is well on her part. She knows very well her situation, thus choosing to be practical.
As Fei Wanrou stood upright, brooding, a loud bell rang through the village, meaning that there was someone who was going towards the village
"The carriage is here!" the village guard shouted loudly because of the exciting news and he didn't fail for the villagers couldn't help but to jump in joy "Our lives are save!" the villagers quickly ran towards the gate to greet the coachman.
"Sister! We can finally eat" Fei Zhuo laugh contagiously as he literally jump in her arms which she immediately accepts "hmmm!" she nodded as her smile reach her eyes, she shift her gaze from the carriage who was getting closer and closer, without knowing why, she unconsciously stared intently to the approaching carriage and couldn't help but feel weird..
Fei Wanrou shift her gaze as if she was finding something in the carriage but still couldn't grasp the weirdness she was feeling but then finally her gaze landed to the coachman, who was eerily silent.
Sensing someone was gazing intently at him, the coachman tried to locate the person until his gaze accidentally landed on a little girl's perceiving eyes. With that, he smiled.