My name is Chen Niang. Before I was ten years old, my family of four was very happy.
My parents love each other dearly. My little girl chases after me every day calling me "brother." When I come back from the private school, I buy her sweet candied hawthorns. I love watching her eat them and smile with satisfaction.
Later, my father passed away, and my mother disappeared. Suddenly, I grew up.
I can't go to school anymore, and I have to take care of my younger sister. We don't have money to buy rice. My sister says she's so hungry, and I'm so hungry too.
Our neighbors would help us out from time to time, especially Grandpa Wu, who would buy Xiaojiu candied hawthorns and coax her to take her medicine.
But we are very poor and we are about to starve.
I had no choice but to beg, and even do some petty theft. However, I only targeted bad people. I know it was wrong, but I didn't want Xiaojiu to be hungry and unable to sleep.
One day, I saw Steward Zhou snatch a young master's purse and throw him into the lake.
I secretly followed Butler Zhou and stole the money pouch when he wasn't looking. I think we should be able to have some peace and quiet for a while.
Unfortunately, I was discovered. I covered my face and ran as fast as I could. When I passed by a young lady, I put my purse into her sleeve pocket, intending to take it back later.
This is a 'skill' that my friend Quanzi and I learned. He's a little beggar and often takes me begging.
I went home and rested for a while, then went to look for the girl, but I couldn't find her anywhere. The thing I risked my life to steal was gone just like that. I was not willing to give up, so I searched for several days, but still found nothing.
Our family was already destitute, but my uncle, who lived far away, actually said he wanted to adopt us.
He's no good person. He's an expert in all sorts of vices, and he looked at me and Xiaojiu'er like we were two fat sheep.
Of course I didn't want to, but I knew he wouldn't give up. I had to find a way, otherwise, Xiao Jiu'er and I would face the fate of being sold.
I didn't know what to do to survive. I couldn't find a job, so I tried to work as a porter, but no one wanted me, and I really couldn't carry the load.
Little Jiu'er was so hungry that she looked pale and thin, and you could no longer see her former chubby and cute face. Only her two eyes were particularly big.
But she was so sensible that she never complained of being hungry. I felt so sorry for her that I wanted to sell myself to get some money to buy cakes for my sister.
I went to a human trafficker to sell myself, but I had to bring my sister with me. Unfortunately, the human trafficker couldn't find a suitable buyer.
I continued to wander the streets every day, and finally one day, I found that young lady. I was overjoyed and wanted to get my money bag back.
But the young lady denied it. I begged her, but she still wouldn't take out her purse.
Just then, Xiao Jiu fainted. I didn't care about asking for the money bag back. I didn't want anything to happen to Xiao Jiu. I carried my sister on my back and went to find Grandpa Wu.
Thankfully, my sister had only fainted from hunger and woke up quickly. Grandpa Wu gave her some sugar water and also gave me some coins. I bought some brown rice to take home, which will allow us to survive for a few more days.
I heard a knock on the door, went out to look, and saw a lot of grain and vegetables piled up at the door. I looked around but didn't find anyone.
Thinking back to the knocking sound, I knew it was a gift from a kind person. I quickly carried the things back into the house. With this food, we wouldn't starve for the time being.
I kowtowed several times in front of the door, expressing my gratitude to my benefactor for saving my life.
I kept the doors tightly shut every day and hid Xiao Jiu'er, fearing that Chen San would take my sister away and sell her. I lived in constant fear like this.
I still go begging every day. One day when I came home, I was surprised to find that young lady standing in front of my house, with a lot of food on the ground.
It suddenly dawned on me that this was my benefactor.
Although her benefactor was dressed simply, she had a rosy complexion and a graceful demeanor, suggesting that her family must have some assets.
I suddenly realized that our chance to survive had arrived, and I had to seize this opportunity, otherwise death awaited us.
I dare not hope that my benefactor will adopt us; I only ask that she take us in, even if it means being enslaved or sold into a den of wolves and tigers.
To our surprise, our benefactor agreed, and we were overjoyed. We decided that we would leave this place with our benefactor the next day.
I splurged on a lot of delicious food for lunch to celebrate, and then I packed up and left in the afternoon.
Chen San and his wife tried to force us to go home, but luckily our neighbor Wang Gui stopped them, and Xiao Jiu'er and I were able to escape.
I didn't know where to hide, but then I remembered that my benefactor said she lived in Mojia Village, so we fled there.
We walked for several hours, and we were exhausted and thirsty. Fortunately, we finally found our benefactor's house, but we couldn't hold on any longer and finally collapsed.
I thought my benefactor would blame us, but to my surprise, she didn't say a single harsh word. My benefactor's family was as kind as I had imagined, and they took us in.
My aunt is very kind to us. She tells others that we are her nephews and nieces, but we know that this is just her family's kindness. We must know our place and never do anything ungrateful.
Fortunately, Xiao Jiu'er is very obedient. She comes with me every day to collect firewood, clean, feed the rabbits, and pick vegetables without any problem, which makes us feel more at ease.
One day, I actually saw a fairy fly into the Mo family's house. I couldn't believe it. It turned out that my benefactor was really a fairy.
My resolve to stay with the Mo family only strengthened. From that day forward, I became a servant of the Mo family; that was how I saw myself.
Later, our benefactor taught us martial arts, which brought us great fortune. But I was unwilling to leave the Mo family. I grew up with Xiao Jiu'er and also with our benefactor.
I practice martial arts diligently every day so that I can better help my benefactor in the future.
My benefactor got married, and so did Xiao Jiu'er. I'm staying at my benefactor's estate, waiting for her to return.
Later, the village head came to visit me with his family. I saw his little girl, whose eyes were remarkably similar to my benefactor's—clear and bright.
Gradually, when I paid attention to her, she would blush, and I would smile.
One evening, I confessed my feelings to her, and she shyly handed me a handkerchief.
I took her back to the Mo family. My aunt was very happy, and my benefactor blessed me and even gave me the estate as a family fortune.
I lived in the village with my beloved girl, and our family prospered.
Later, my aunt and uncle passed away, and my benefactor also left. I never saw her again, but I know that she is still somewhere in this world. I guard the manor and wait for her to return.
Finally, one day, when I was about to die, I established a family rule: from now on, the Chen family and the Mo family would be on good terms for generations to come, and one-third of the produce from the estate would be sent to the Mo family every year, without fail.
The younger generation agreed one by one. In a daze, I seemed to see my benefactor and her husband. They were still so young and handsome. They were truly a perfect couple.
I closed my eyes, completely satisfied.
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