Chapter 1 Don't go out
In early spring, when peach blossoms are in full bloom, a horse-drawn carriage slowly travels along a path full of potholes in a remote, deep mountain forest.
The carriage swayed and creaked as it arrived at the entrance of Tangjia Village.
An elderly woman dressed in dark blue silk and wearing a gilded magnolia hairpin slowly stepped down from the carriage.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out she was holding a child in her arms.
The little girl was wearing a dirty white undergarment that seemed to have not been changed in a long time. Her hair was a messy clump, and she was half-closing her eyes, still somewhat dazed.
The little girl's hands were tied and a piece of white cloth was stuffed in her mouth.
The old woman looked at the small figure in her arms and sighed inwardly.
They placed her under the thousand-year-old peach tree at the entrance of the village.
"If you survive, please don't go to Kyoto again!" Her voice was low and hoarse.
She untied the ropes and white cloth binding the little girl.
After thinking for a moment, he stuffed the money pouch he was carrying into the little girl's arms.
She was just a servant, and that was all she could do.
With a sigh, he was about to leave when he seemed to remember something, pursed his lips, and turned back.
"This is the only thing the young lady left you. Keep it safe, so you'll have something to remember her by!"
She took out a delicate die from her bosom and placed it in the little girl's hand.
Su Bao opened her eyes with difficulty, glanced at the departing carriage, and then her gaze fell on the orchid behind it.
Her nose stung, and her lips pressed tightly together, but she bravely refused to cry.
The carriage turned a small bend and disappeared completely from her sight.
Just as the carriage disappeared, the thousand-year-old peach tree, which had not bloomed for a hundred years, suddenly burst into bloom.
The peach blossoms on the tree were in full bloom, displaying an unrestrained and exuberant beauty.
Su Bao raised her head blankly, looking at the peach blossoms. A tear fell from the corner of her eye and landed at the foot of the peach tree.
The flower branches trembled slightly, as if they too felt pity.
Su Bao sensed something, tilted her little head, and raised the corners of her lips, revealing a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
At this moment, the peach blossoms on the tree seemed to bloom even more brightly, as if in response to her.
Su Bao withdrew her gaze, opened her palm, and looked at the exquisite die.
"Mother..."
Longing surged from her mind, and the four-and-a-half-year-old Su Bao murmured her name, but only the gentle breeze answered her.
Su Bao is still very young, and a sense of fear inevitably crept into her heart at that moment.
She curled up and began to sob softly.
The people of Tangjia Village are currently engaged in spring planting. At this moment, most of the men, women, and children have gone to work in the fields, and those at home are busy cooking. No one can see her at all.
The village was unusually quiet at this moment, with hardly anyone around.
A figure in dark blue approached from afar, walking at a leisurely pace that gave one a strange sense of security.
As Su Bao cried, she looked over and vaguely saw her mother's figure...
"Mother..."
She called out softly, but quickly hid behind the peach tree, wary and afraid.
Thinking of her mother, her sobs grew a little louder.
Ms. Qian was just about to go home to cook for her son and grandson when she heard the baby crying from afar.
"Hey, whose child is this! What are you doing playing here? What time is it? Hurry up and go home!"
Ms. Qian quickly walked a few steps, thinking it was a village child crying.
Unexpectedly, it was a stranger, and Ms. Qian became somewhat angry.
"Who the hell dressed the child so lightly? Aren't they afraid he'll freeze to death?!"
Qian cursed twice, but there was no one around, so she had to give up in frustration.
Reaching out, she scooped the little girl up. Looking at the panicked expression on the little dumpling's face, Qian felt a pang of heartache.
She took off her own clothes and wrapped them around the little girl.
Although it's springtime, there's been a bit of a cold snap these past few days, making it even colder than usual.
wrong!
Qian was startled, then suddenly looked up and stared at the peach tree behind the little girl, her pupils shrinking slightly.
This thousand-year-old peach tree has actually blossomed!
Qian looked around and, seeing that no one was around, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Little girl, what's your name? Shall I take you to my house for a while?" she whispered.
Little Su Bao looked at Qian Shi's somewhat aged face and nodded her little head.
She could sense the kindness emanating from Ms. Qian; children are the most perceptive.
She can tell whether you treat her well or not.
“Su Bao… my name is Su Bao…”
If the Lan family in the capital knew that Su Bao could actually talk, they would probably be so shocked that their jaws would drop.
After all, Su Bao had never spoken a word since birth.
Everyone thought she was a little mute or a little fool.
"Su Bao? That's a lovely name!"
Qian glanced at the little girl and her heart softened inexplicably. She reached out and picked up Su Bao. The baby was too thin and felt almost weightless in her arms.
Madam Qian frowned slightly, and couldn't help but feel resentful towards the child's parents.
What's wrong with a little girl? How can you be so heartless!
If only she had a daughter, but unfortunately she doesn't.
Not only did she not have any, but the Tang family had no daughters for the next two generations and three generations back.
It's just fate, I guess!
The Qian family had four sons and three grandsons.
Tang Cheng, the eldest son of the Tang family, is twenty-four years old this year and has given birth to two grandsons for her.
Tang Lao Er, Tang Qi, is twenty-two years old this year and has given birth to her grandson.
Tang Laosan, Tang Shan, is fifteen years old this year and is not yet married. This is because the Tang family is too poor to afford a wife. Moreover, their village is known as a village of bachelors, and good girls from other villages are unwilling to marry into it.
Tang Laosi is only twelve years old this year and is still in school. He lives in his uncle's house in the town.
Back then, everyone said she was expecting a girl, and Qian thought so too, but it turned out to be a boy.
Qian's husband was also unlucky; ten years ago, he went hunting in the mountains, accidentally fell into a trap, and died.
Now, the Tang family is also under the control of Madam Qian. She has neither parents nor a man, but her children are filial, so she is living a rare good life.
If she had a little girl, she felt her life would be complete...
Looking at Xiao Su Bao's adorable appearance, her heart melted completely.
Back home, she first put the baby on the kang (a heated brick bed).
"Su Bao, are you hungry?" Madam Qian asked, looking at the little baby.
Upon hearing this, she instinctively shivered and her body stiffened.
Ms. Qian hadn't expected that her simple question would elicit such a strong reaction from the little girl.
Her voice softened immediately, "Don't be afraid, Su Bao, Auntie's here."
The gentle voice made Su Bao's little body go limp. She looked at Qian Shi and felt as if she saw her mother.
The words her mother spoke to her on the day she turned into a star flashed before Su Bao's eyes.
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