"With the current situation." The woman responded with a sigh, "He's retired after his son's clothing store became successful in the cities, but he dislikes anyone taking care of him and even kicked his son out when talk of retirement homes or his family staying with him came up. He's well known in these parts and still admired despite this. Yet, nobody could tell what the elderly is thinking sometimes, but his skills speak the truth of his career and accomplishments. His family have made military attires for our countries soldiers back around the World Wars. However, with the virus and his reckless ideas, he doesn't care of the danger around these parts and continue to sit outside the gates basking in the sun on his steps. These days, everyone worries about him, but..."
She shook her head and continued, "Anyway, you can ask him about the history of military attires."
With that, she left Willow the address at the table where she picked it up and thanked the woman. They chatted for a little while about the other artifacts and interior structure of the house to which Willow pretended to be of interest before taking her leave for the place impatiently.
She didn't think her efforts would finally pay off and that she'd finally get a lead to one of her problems. It was difficult looking around for the place, but it wasn't hard to spot an elderly man sitting by a set of large wooden doors. As she carefully walked over to the elderly man sitting on the steps of the gates, she noticed the man lacked a mask and gloves!
It must be him!
The man was probably the height of a preteen child with his hunched back. He had a long goatee beard that reached down to his shoulder height, and wore a thick and old embroidered, brown coat and blue cloth pants. The shoes he wore looked fairly worn down with black silk. It was an unusual sight for a white hair elderly wearing such good clothing in these parts and the cane next to him looked to be made of good polished wood.
However, the woman did say his son ran a successful clothing store, so it should make some sense. After making sure that the coast was clear, she made her way over nervously and slowly approached the elderly man before speaking in Chinese, "E-Excuse me, sir."
It would seem that the man's ears still worked just fine since he looked up with a smile, "Is there something I can help with you, young lady?"
She hesitated before responding, "I was told by a tour guide at the museum around here to ask you for questions regarding military attires. I was hoping this wise elderly could help me."
The elderly laughed, "I don't know what this bag of bones could help you with if you don't specify it."
"Ah, it's like this. I saw that there was a pair of gloves at the museum and heard that this place had a few craftsmen-"
"Gloves?" The elderly man raised a brow revealing his black eyes staring straight at her and responded in English, "What about them?"
Hearing this, Willow stared back at the man with surprise when she noticed his firm gaze. She knew that it could be bad to continue down this road and bit her lips before she dared to continue, "Heat."
The man's face became expressionless as she continued, "I want to live, sir. I lack the knowledge of my heritage, but I don't want to fail."
"Failing is also a part of life at times." The old man watched her curiously.
She nodded, "Failure can be the root of success, but, if I fail, I will die. Failure is not an option for me, sir. I must succeed, but I'm powerless without your help."
The elderly watched her carefully and looked to her appearance in speculation for a long time. She recognized this movement as it was something her parents would do all the time since she was young. The elderly was assessing her. This went on for a good five minutes before he sighed.
"Let's go in and continue our conversation." The elder responded and picked up his cane as his response startled her with a mix of emotions.
At first, Willow wanted to help the old man, but she stopped herself when the man raised a palm in silence. Quietly, she nodded her head as the old man began to enter the gates and she followed after him cautiously. After all, this could be her new place to call home or her grave.
After entering what looked to be a rather rural home with tiles that curved up and a building with a similar wooden frame to that of the old general's home, she knew that this man was indeed a craftsman. The evidence she found wouldn't have been that simple had her father from her previous life didn't have an interest in products made from good or genuine materials and real craftsmanship, occasionally spending a lot of money a couple of times a year after their family became better off financially. With her father been fascinated with genuine and better quality materials, he began to instruct his children and discuss with her mother over the significance of it all.
Obviously, the information flew over her mother's and her brothers' heads, but, as the eldest child, she had to show some sort of interest so as to not disappoint her father who could end up exploding later if the object were damaged. Now, however, she supposed that he did have some credit since she recognized a couple of good quality materials sitting about the empty front yard, but that was it.
Aside from the materials used for the furniture and the stone table have delicate designs, that was all she knew and the front yard was pretty empty, to begin with. the yard was pretty big and reminded her of that of the average households of citizens in the past, possibly before western influence came in.
There was no lawn or concrete floor. In the corner of the yard surrounding these buildings were a couple of pepper trees, probably imported at some point since they couldn't have come from these parts of Asia. It was only after she entered the old rustic house of delicate wooden pieces of furniture did the old man closed the door behind her and asked as he motioned her to take a seat on one of the cushion chairs, "You said you want help. I would require more clarification than that."
This elder's English was good. It was clear he must've spoken with foreigners often during his prime or used it in other ways. What was a peaceful yard and simple home had now become a lion's den in her eyes. She knew this would be a strong possibility if she entered this elder's yard. He must've known this place like the back of his palm.
"I was given a mission by my father, but I have only come to the knowledge of my heritage recently and lack guidance." She explained as she sat on one of the chairs to the side of the two rows of chairs, "I went in search of a craftsman who made the gloves of a general hoping I'd have a chance to obtain one myself or even have some method to use my abilities without being noticed by those children."
"So, you mean the children of that Greek god of the Underworld..." the elderly man hummed and touched his goatee after sitting down across from her.
"As expected, you know of the situation." Willow responded with a nod, "I understand asking others for help could be a futile effort since they're unrelated to my matter, but all I seek for is knowledge to protect myself."
The elder man hummed quietly and responded, "Why did you sought an old man, like myself, then? You thought I have the power to protect you?"
"I did not sought you out for power to protect me. What I wish for is knowledge to protect myself." She clarified cautiously.
"You know who I am?" The elder questioned with dark eyes staring at her.
She held her breath and nodded, "I'm certain that you are a demigod of a Chinese celestial as well."
Hearing this, the man laughed boisterously, "What an interesting child this generation of demigods have come to! Not everyone has been able to tell my identity, though. How did you know?"
"In all honesty, it was a lucky guess." She replied with a strained smile, "According to what others told me, you had some unusual characteristic for the longest time and amazing craftsman skills, even making attires for the military. Not to mention, you're also unafraid of the virus, but others have said that you acknowledged it and warned younger children around you. Then, when you reacted towards the gloves I spoke of, I knew that I might not be wrong, after all. I just don't know if you are willing to help me, sir."
"What do I get out of this?" The man asked with great interest.
She took a deep breath once more before she began, "I'm afraid I barely have anything of value on me, but I'm willing to take on tasks or you, sir."
She feels like a fool stating it out loud, but what else can she do? She really doesn't have anything else.
"That won't do..." The man grumbled much to her disappointment, "I don't need anyone else to clean up after me. I'm not a useless fool, you know! However..."
Seeing the man's contemplation, Willow froze nervously since her own fate literally rests in his hands.
"You'll be my chef for half a year." He responded, "By the end of the half year, you'll be able to protect yourself."
"Half a year?!" Her eyes widen in surprise as she nodded, "I have no qualms with the arrangement, sir. But, I can really learn to survive on my own in half a year?"
The old man sighed, "You still need to travel to Beijing for a month, right? Hence half a year."
Her eyes widen in bewilderment as she stared at him, "As expected of this elderly..."
"Of master." the old man corrected with eyes that looked like it could be twinkling in amusement.
Willow bit back her laughter as she heard this, but managed a wide smile of amusement back, "It's the twenty-first century and sir wants me to call him master."
"A joke. I was only jesting." The old man laughed that stretched out the wrinkles on his face, "Rather than 'master', I'd prefer you just call me 'teacher'. What is your name?"
"Willow." She responded, "I hope Teacher won't mind sharing his name?"
Ignoring the fact that she omitted her last name, the old man shrugged and outstretched a hand, "Xia. Just call me Teacher Xia."
"I understand, Teacher Xia." She said with a nod and shook his hand.