The moment they step outside the straw house, a crowd of screaming villagers meets them -Leave!- -We won't accept any kore of you peoples!- -It's all your fault if we're like this!- some even rise their fishing tools toward them as weapons, the young man looks around himself confused... Completely lost as he doesn't understand a thing about what's going on now, his lover is dragging him away coldly and the people are blaming them for their misery...
The only thing he can do is move his feet and escape that place.
...
Once they reached the shore again he takes his arm back with force -I won't move a single step anymore if you don't explain what the hell happened to you!- PeiZhi presses his lips together -We need to keep a low profile, Hua... For everyone's safety. We're not here to help anyone but just to survive, so if they already gave up on themselves there's no need for us to play the hero... And in exchange for what? An half burnt roof over our heads? It's not worth it. That village is under the eyes of Palace officials, we shouldn't linger around it. We would also cause them more trouble by staying there than they already have-
-Buy the children... Pei'Ge...- he begins sobbing and the other man reaches forward to embrace him -I know, but we cannot dream of saving everyone we meet... We can barely manage to survive ourselves, we're fugitives afterall- Hua grabs his clothes and forces some words out -The world is much more of an ugly place than I thought, Pei'Ge... Will we really find peace one day?-
-We will, trust me... We still have to buy that house in the city we were taking about before, don't we? For us to have fun and live close to my sister- he lowers down and wipes Hua's tears with a bitter smile -Mhhn...- -Let's go now, we still need to find a place to sleep before it gets dark ok?- he grabs his hand gently and begins to move again before a little voice stops them
-Uhm... Y y you... What's your name?- they both turn around and find a little girl looking at them -Are you nor afraid of us?- asks PeiZhi with a cold voice, Hus notices the shaking legs of the kid and pushes his lover aside before kneeling in front of the girl -You're scaring her Ge. My name is Feng Hua, what about you?- she twists her hands around her dirty clothes -Are you not a friend of mom? Her brother?- she asks shy
-I'm afraid not... I have 3 sisters and none of them has children, one isn't even married yet. But where is your mother? You shouldn't go around alone-
She looks away -Mom left to get food and never came back... Dad is... I don't know, mom said he got in the army but then something happened and she cried a lot... You, you look a lot like my mom!- Hua looks at his lover with round eyes, begging him. Under all the dirth covering her face, the resemblance is quite strong. Both have a slim jaw and heart shaped lips, big pink eyes and a tiny nose.
PeiZhi shakes his head but Hua ignores him -Do you not have anyone in the village?- -No... I live alone and sometimes the old grandpa leaves some food outside the door- His looks again at his lover who breathes heavily -Alright, just this because she really looks like you- he turns around and cross his arms -Little one, if you trust me enough would you like to leave with us? We cannot guarantee you a house, but we will surely build one and hunt some food for us. We'll be your new family-
Her eyes sparkles -Really?- -Mhn! Really- -Can I call you mom?- the man find himself at a loss of words -We'll actually I am a man...- the girls eyes seems to grow even bigger -Well, I mean. It's not like you can find much mainly in me but still...- she almost tears up -Fine, call me Mom- he sighs and the girl hugs him -Thank you!- she faces PeiZhi and reaches to shake his clothes -Thank you, daddy...?- she says cautious as the man turns to face her with a risen eyebrow and the little girl mind's goes blank -Ehy, are you ok little one?- shakes her Hua -You ok?- the little girl smiles with an empty mind -Daddy is so handsome- -UUH?!- yells Hua.
...
-So, what is your name anyway?- he asks cleaning her face with a wet cloth as her clean outer clothes dry by the fire, where PeiZhi is cooking -I don't remember... It was something like Chang- -Sounds Like our Lai'Er!- he turns to smile toward Pei -Who's Lai'Er?- -She's his little sister, a true heroine! She's gonna save us all, She's a goddess and your aunt now!- -Woah! I wanna meet aunty- -Unfortunately we can't now... She's far far away, fighting for us- -Oh... Like my daddy... She won't come back too...- she looks down to her feet
-No don't worry, you'll meet her I promise you! Lai'Er is stronger than any human alive and will become a Goddess in Heaven! Anyway, we should give you a name now... Uhm, What about HuChang? It sounds like your Aunty and your Mom names, it means Singing Lake... Since you're from a Lake village it seems very fitting, do you like it?- the little girl nods -A lot! But what about daddy? I want his name too- -Oh you can take his surname actually, it's Ying... We aren't married yet but I will eventually take his surname too, which makes you Ying HuChang- he says scraping his neck.
-Why aren't you married?- she tilts her head -We'll... We didn't get permission from his parents so...- -It's ok, you can get married now! I give you permission- she says proud and the two men end up laughing
-Sure, let's get married- stands up PeiZhi making Hua blush -What are you talking about?! idiot!- he grabs his arm and make him stand up, pouring him a cup of fresh water -We'll have to make this work- Hua opens his mouth -Are we... Really getting married?- PeiZhi serious eyes finds his shaking ones -My love, honestly we could never meet our parents ever again so who cares now? Let's just get married- Hua grabs the cup with unsteady hands and nods with tears building up behind his eyes.
PeiZhi turns toward the little girl -Will you do us the pleasure of representing our families?- -Yes!- she says coming to grab the two cups and tying a piece of fabric to the two men's wrists. Hua looks ahead nervous -One kneel for the Heaven- says PeiZhi while bowing down, while coming back up Hua takes a deep breath and turn to face the girl -One kneel for the parents...- he whispers while kneeling down and coming back up.
PeiZhi takes his hand -Relax, it's just one more kneel- he says stroking his palm -One more kneel for the spouse- he says. While they bow to eachother the little girl comes to give them the cups, Hua half smiles half ceies while taking his own cup and intertwines his arm with PeiZhi one. They look at eachother deeply while drinking and can feel their hearts exploding for how fast the beating is. Yet they have no time to waste on thinking or worry about anything as the little girls jumps in their arms -Now we're a family!- she laughs happy, making the two heart's melts and join her in the light hearted feeling.