WCPR 52

Chapter 52

Let’s not dwell on Ying Yuandao, whose little face was flushed crimson with excitement over receiving a new name. Even Old Lady Mu was lost in thought for a long while before she finally sighed in admiration.

“That is a fine name.”

It seemed she had been narrow-minded.

Jiuque didn’t mind, as the old woman had meant well. However, she was unfamiliar with this Ci’an Tang. Having been in the capital for such a short time, she hadn’t known a place like this existed. Old Lady Mu was more than willing to satisfy Ying Jiuque’s curiosity.

“The hall master is a veteran soldier who retired from the battlefield. They say when he returned home, he found all his family members had died. Heartbroken and despairing, he simply left his hometown. He never married. At first, he just took in a few homeless children. Then, more and more came, until he finally established Ci’an Tang.”

To raise children successfully right next to the capital, with the Wuyou Cave lurking nearby… that hall master must be quite a remarkable person. Jiuque just wondered what his exact background was…

At this point, Old Lady Mu seized the opportunity to ask the biggest question that had brought her here today.

“To be honest, I know this matter isn’t something someone of my status should inquire about. But if I can’t get a clear answer, I truly won’t be able to sleep soundly. After all, every family has young daughters and children. Everyone fears that their children might disappear for no reason. Official Ying, may I be so bold as to ask… has this Wuyou Cave affair truly reached its end?”

A few nights ago, there was such a huge commotion. Some said the Thunder Lord descended to punish the villains of the Wuyou Cave; others said it was Official Ying who caused the stir. Ordinary folks like us can’t distinguish truth from rumor. But what Old Woman Mu urgently wants to know is this: since the matter has already blown up, if we don’t press the advantage now, once those Wuyou Cave scoundrels catch their breath, they are bound to stage a comeback, or even retaliate.

One can be vigilant against thieves for a thousand days, but it’s impossible to maintain that vigilance for a thousand days straight. Ordinary people have to hustle for their livelihood every day; expecting them to be perpetually on guard against kidnappers year after year is simply unrealistic.

Jiuque raised an eyebrow and ruffled Ying Yuandao’s head. The child’s hair, lacking nutrition for years, was dry and yellowish, not pleasant to the touch, but Jiuque still liked doing it.

“Old Lady Mu, you underestimate yourself. How are you an ordinary old woman? With such profound insight, you are a hidden master!”

Jiuque wasn’t just flattering her; in their few short interactions, she genuinely felt this old woman possessed wisdom beyond the ordinary. This was probably what people meant by ‘having an old person in the family is like having a treasure.’

While the families who recovered their children were still rejoicing, Old Lady Mu was already considering the long-term implications, which was truly a pleasant surprise.

However, regarding this matter, Jiuque herself couldn’t guarantee anything.

“But I’m merely a minor sixth-rank official. This is something I truly don’t know.”

Seeing the flicker of disappointment in Old Lady Mu’s eyes, Jiuque continued.

“However, there is one thing I believe we all know.”

“Our Emperor is not a mild-tempered ruler.”

That was a decisive emperor who acted with resolve. Jiuque imagined he had already grown quite displeased with the Wuyou Cave. Although her interactions with Emperor Jingtai had been few, Jiuque felt she understood His Majesty a little.

This Emperor had struggled his way out of the mire. He didn’t feel shame about that period of his life; instead, he spoke of it openly and honestly. Therefore, the various treatments he experienced as a commoner would naturally make him more inclined to favor the ordinary people. He would resolve this matter properly.

Old Lady Mu paused, then suddenly saw the light.

Yes, no matter what, she should not forget that it was this very Emperor who rescued them over a decade ago, when they were suffocating under the torment of war, granting them these thirteen full years of peace and stability. So what was she still worrying about? She only needed to trust His Majesty.

After seeing off Old Lady Mu and the others, who promised not to speak out of turn, Jiuque stretched lazily. Seeing that it was still early, she decided to take Yuandao and the others for a stroll through the streets. Although she had already bought them new clothes, shoes, and socks, they still needed toys, stationery, and other items suitable for children. Since the Emperor had rewarded her with so much gold, and it was just sitting idle, she might as well spend it.

Leading a string of children, Jiuque was in high spirits. It was currently afternoon, and the streets were gradually getting busier. Jiuque strolled along with her quiet, well-behaved, yet curious little troop. Yuandao had initially been worried that people would recognize them and look down on them. But whether it was the street vendors or the shopkeepers, after a moment of surprise, they all broke into smiles.

“It’s you all! I was wondering where you’d been these past few days. So Official Ying has taken you in. Official Ying is a good person. You must know to repay this kindness and take good care of Official Ying in the future.”

A middle-aged woman selling maltose candy on the roadside looked at them tenderly and gave each child a piece of maltose. Jiuque tried to pay, but the woman adamantly refused. In the end, Jiuque secretly left the money on her stall when she turned to attend to another customer and then ran off with the children.

Yuandao, his hand held tightly by Jiuque, ran through the crowded streets. He remembered that auntie from half a year ago, when he was nearly starving to death. She had placed unsold maltose candy from her stall into a broken bowl on the roadside. At that time, she had seemed somewhat afraid, because the Wuyou Cave villains lurking in the shadows, waiting to extort money from little beggars like them, were still watching fiercely. Even though she hadn’t spoken a single word to him then, Yuandao remembered it vividly.

Because that maltose candy had been incredibly sweet.

Yuandao was originally a very resilient child, but for some reason these past few days, he kept losing his composure. Large teardrops fell to the ground, splashing up little puffs of dust.

He remembered what his Shifu had said.

“Actually, there are still more good people in this world. It’s just that sometimes we’re unlucky and meet more of the bad ones. Don’t blame others for being hesitant to get too close. Most people you meet are just ordinary folks, toiling their whole lives for a few scraps of silver and the well-being of their families. To protect the lives they’ve built, it’s understandable if they don’t step forward. After all, you and they share no relation. Between strangers, there isn’t much inherent obligation.”

“But, think more about the good people. Remember those small acts of kindness they offered. They too had to summon great effort and courage to take that small step forward.”

“Many people exhaust all their strength just to get through life as an ordinary person. Let’s not demand too much from them. Focus on the present, alright?”

Yuandao sniffled, looked at his Shifu walking ahead, who was firmly holding his maimed hand, and couldn’t help but smile. His Shifu was precisely that kind of brave yet ‘foolish’ person! They were merely strangers who met by chance, yet Shifu dared to face danger for a few unrelated children, even adopting them…

He wiped his face fiercely. Crying and laughing at the same time was probably quite silly, but Yuandao didn’t think so at all. He felt he was the luckiest child in the whole world. All along the way, he had encountered many kindnesses, both obvious and subtle. Those kindnesses had supported him until now. So, from now on, he would also treat others with the greatest kindness he could muster.

This was probably what Shifu meant by ‘passing it on’…

“Yuandao? Keep up.”

“Hey! Coming, Shifu!”