Chapter 477 - 368: Friend (2)
"What’s with the ’you’? What’s with the ’me’? Spit it out!"
Tie Dan stammered, but Little White just pushed him from behind. "Hurry up! I’m starving."
Tie Dan walked ahead, crestfallen, with Little White following behind him. They began to make their way through the ancient, time-worn village.
Along the way, Little White saw only elderly people and children. It seemed there were no young people here.
’Young people, meaning those between eighteen and forty.’
Tie Dan led Little White to a stop in front of a rather dilapidated courtyard. It was enclosed by a wooden fence, riddled with sizable holes.
"Ah, Tie Dan’s back."
The voice was surprisingly young, yet it came from a white-haired old woman. She looked at Tie Dan with a doting expression.
"You must be Tie Dan’s friend from the outside. Come on in!"
The old woman was smiling.
’This struck Little White as odd. The old woman’s smile wasn’t for Tie Dan.’
’Was it for her?’
"Mom..."
Tie Dan’s form of address stunned Little White. "You’re Tie Dan’s mother? I thought you were his grandmother."
Little White’s blunt words caused a sinister shadow to flash across the old woman’s face, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"Ah, I’ve toiled so hard for this family, that’s why I’ve aged so quickly. But as long as Tie Dan is happy, it’s all been worth it."
’Little White nodded. That was true enough.’
’Many parents sacrifice everything for their children—their entire youth, their whole lives. Growing old is nothing in comparison.’
’Often, they’re even willing to give their lives for them.’
’I didn’t expect Tie Dan’s mother to be one of those people, too.’
But when Little White turned to look at Tie Dan, she saw no trace of gratitude or love on his face. Instead, there was only a hint of fear.
’Little White didn’t dwell on it. She was hungry.’
She walked right into the courtyard.
The home consisted of two single-story buildings, with a storage shed off to the side.
Little White followed Iron Egg’s Mother into the house and saw four people already seated at the dining table in the main room.
The dining table was quite large. Iron Egg’s Mother brought over two more stools.
"Have a seat. You’re just in time for the meal."
"Thank you, Auntie." Little White’s sweet voice made the three people sitting to one side look up at her, their eyes holding a strange expression.
"What are you all looking at me for? Eat! Is Auntie’s cooking not good or something?"
Hearing this, Iron Egg’s Mother turned to look at the three of them, her expression turning somber.
"It’s delicious, it’s delicious! We were just waiting for everyone to begin eating. It would be rude otherwise," one of the men explained.
Only then did he reach out with his chopsticks and pick up a piece of braised pork.
But he just wouldn’t put it in his mouth.
But Little White was staring at him. Then Tie Dan started staring at him. And Iron Egg’s Mother was staring at him, too.
He was damned if he ate and damned if he didn’t. Cold sweat beaded on the man’s back.
"Are you... Little sister, are you here as a tourist, too?" the man managed to force out, trying to change the subject.
"Me? I’m Tie Dan’s friend!"
As she spoke, Little White also picked up a piece of braised pork and popped it into her mouth.
She chewed heartily. "This is so good! The flavor is amazing!"
She didn’t forget to praise Iron Egg’s Mother, even giving her a thumbs-up.
Seeing Little White eat so cheerfully, the smile finally returned to Iron Egg’s Mother’s face.
But when she looked at the man and his two companions, her smile held a strange quality.
’Isn’t she a player?’
’How could she just eat it without a second thought?’
’She’s so young. Could it be she doesn’t understand anything at all?’
’Whatever. It has nothing to do with us. Once you’re here, your fate is sealed.’
The three of them picked at a plate of green vegetables a few times before claiming they were full.
"Little girl, you’ll get fat if you eat too much," one of the women offered as a well-intentioned warning.
"Fat? It’s fine. My sister says I’m cute even when I’m chubby."
The woman was left speechless and said no more.
"Auntie, could we see Tie Dan’s grandmother’s room?" the woman asked Iron Egg’s Mother, her voice soft and her smile sweet.
"What’s the rush? Can’t you see the little lass is still eating?"
Iron Egg’s Mother shot the three of them a look of displeasure.
"Sorry..."
As Little White ate, she felt Tie Dan’s hand reach out from under the table and poke her.
Little White looked at Tie Dan, who quickly forced a smile. "Are you done eating? I’ll show you something fun."
Little White paused.
’But I still want to eat...’
’To be honest, the food was really good. Not that it mattered what it was made of, since she had the precious talisman paper from Sister Wen Ying.’
’She’d simply used it to turn the food into something desirable before taking a bite.’