Chapter 0004: Innocence and Purity
Her surname is Teng
Upon hearing this, Little Stone's eyes lit up as he pointed at the peasant woman and asked the girl: "Is she your mother? Is this what mothers look like?"
The little girl released her mother and saw a child about her age standing there in a daze, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes. She pointed at the small stone and asked the woman, "Mother, who is he?"
Little Stone took it and swallowed a bun in one bite. In just a few moments, he had devoured the bun completely, yet he still had not satisfied his hunger
Yue Feng had been very lonely since childhood, so it was a rare joy for her to have a playmate at this moment
After he awoke, he beheld the beauty of the Teng woman and fell deeply in love, becoming the son-in-law of the Teng family. The couple later had a daughter, whom they named Yue Feng
Aunt Teng covered the little stone with a quilt, shook her head, and blew out the candlelight
The house is built against the mountain, with a frame made of raw wood, a roof covered with pine boards, and dry earth walls. It is divided into three levels: the lower level is for livestock, the middle level is for living, and the top level is for storage
"Silly child, you are still bleeding from your shoulder. Come, let me bandage it for you," the peasant woman said as she helped the little stone sit down
More than ten years ago, a failed scholar named Yue Wenjing fainted at Baima Village
Several years ago, Yue Wenjing saved enough money for travel and returned to Jiangnan to visit relatives, but she never returned.
She not only teaches Little Stone but also pricks him and takes advantage of him, making him call her sister.
The mother and daughter squeezed into the lower bunk to sleep
He saw that there were some books in the wooden cabinet inside the room, so he took them out to browse, but he could not recognize many of the characters, and he strangely put them back.
After finishing his meal, he wiped the corners of his mouth with his sleeve and said, "Finally full"
Xiaoshitou felt that her hand was so soft, so smooth, and so tender! It felt so comfortable to hold her hand
Little Stone's face turned red, and he lowered his head
After the farmer's wife finished speaking, she led the little stone into the second floor of the humble wooden house and took out a few steamed buns to give him to eat
He relied on his father since childhood, living a life isolated from the world, unaware of the ways of human relationships, and did not know how to express gratitude to the farmer's wife
The elderly woman brought a basin of water, took a towel, and helped the little stone wash its hands, face, and comb its hair
The small stone stood there in a daze, at a loss for what to do
Her face was flushed, around eleven or twelve years old, carrying a small bamboo basket, she came running, bouncing along.
The farmer's wife called out, "Feng'er, where have you been these past few days? You've nearly driven your mother to despair." She embraced the little girl tightly, and tears began to fall.
"You silly child, looking so refreshing, why do you not even understand men and women?" Aunt Teng was truly infuriated.
Little Stone looked strangely at Aunt Teng and the book, not daring to speak again, and climbed up to sleep. Perhaps he was too tired, and soon a faint sound of snoring could be heard.
Yue Feng was delighted and cheered, "Oh! Someone is here to play with me."
I touch my right hand with my left hand, and the feeling is completely different from when she holds it. Little Stone feels very strange and is puzzled.
She noticed that although the boy had rough hands and feet, his complexion was fair, his eyebrows were clear, his eyes were beautiful, his eyes were bright, his lips were thick, and his nose was straight. She couldn't help but praise, "Ah, you child, you are quite handsome. Later, I will alter your father Feng'er’s clothes and have you change into them."
He blushed, trembling hands, and nodded vigorously.
Little Stone stammered, "My name is ... ... My name is Little ... ... Little Stone"
She immediately changed her tone and said, "Child, come inside with Auntie."
The farmer's wife looked at him with affection, and with another sigh, she gave all the remaining steamed buns to the little stone.
"Silly child, were you kissed by a pig when you were little? How is it that you don't even know your own mother?" Upon hearing this, the peasant woman was truly infuriated
"What is a mother?" Little Stone asked in confusion
Hehe... Little Stone, has water entered your brain? Have you never seen a woman? My mother and I are women, and you are a man. Do you understand? Foolish pig!" Yue Feng poked Little Stone's forehead with her finger
"Oh! Your words are quite sweet." After hearing this, Yue Feng looked up and down at Xiao Shitou and sighed, "I see your reactions are quite quick, yet why do you understand nothing?"
Yue Wenjing was originally a talented scholar from Jiangnan. After failing the imperial examination in the capital, he traveled to Sichuan for a visit. He became lost and fainted from hunger in front of Teng's house.
The little girl, upon hearing this, enthusiastically walked up to the small stone and asked, "What is your name?"
Little Stone had lived in the deep mountains with his father since childhood, and he had a deep affection for his father. At this moment, seeing the aunt so heartbroken for the girl, he recalled how his beloved father had passed away so early, leaving him all alone and desolate, filling his heart with immense sorrow
What? You... you don't even know your mother? Hehe... so you are just a little silly pig!" Feng'er pointed at the strange appearance of the little stone and laughed "giggle" with a bright smile.
The farmer woman looked at the way the little boy had just devoured his food and thought to herself: This child is truly pitiful; he is so young, has lost his father, and has no mother. How can he survive on his own? She then said: "Child, if you have no home to return to, you may stay at my house for a while."
I don't know. I have only been with my father since I was young. He passed away recently, and now I am left alone with the books.
"Oh dear, you silly..." The kind-hearted peasant woman thought to herself: This child may have grown up without a mother, so he doesn't know what a mother is.
"I am just a person," said Little Stone. "On the contrary, I think you are not a person."
Hmm! Sister Feng'er," Little Stone nodded and said
At that moment, a shout came from outside the door: "Mother, the daughter has returned"
She took a towel, soaked it in salt water, and gently wiped the small stone. Then she brought a clean towel to properly bandage its wound
"The fact that you look different from me indicates that you are not human," Little Stone hurriedly argued
"Men? Women?" Little Stone asked in confusion
It is difficult to explain everything to you at once, so let's go to bed. We will get up early tomorrow and go up the mountain with Feng'er to gather herbs. When you have time, let Feng'er teach you to read and learn the principles of being a person.
This is what a person should look like! In the evening, Yue Feng mockingly said a word as she watched Xiao Shitou put on his father's old clothes
Little Stone turned around and saw a little girl with snow-white feathers in her hair
Ah! I never expected you to be this foolish. You see, when you meet older women, you call them "Aunt" or "Elder Sister"... From now on, you shall call me "Sister Feng'er," do you understand?" Yue Feng, being the daughter of a talented scholar from Jiangnan and having grown up in a poor mountain village, is certainly mischievous and spirited
Madam Teng was heartbroken over her husband's disappearance, and she had to endure hardships to raise her beloved daughter. Soon, she became haggard and aged, relying on raising horses for the chief to make a living
"Child, why do you resort to cursing so easily?" Aunt Teng was quite upset upon hearing this
The farmer's wife was happy to see her daughter, and she was happy herself, her eyes squinting into a line of joy
Feng'er chuckled and said, "No wonder your mind doesn't work well; it turns out to be a piece of stone! My name is Yue Feng."
Little Stone took it, and in a matter of moments, he swallowed three steamed buns.
Upon seeing this, Yue Feng took Xiao Shitou's hand and said, "I heard from your mother that you are not leaving, that's great! Finally, someone can play with me. Starting tomorrow, let's go up the mountain to gather herbs together, shall we?"
Good! Little Stone felt touched and nodded.
Little Stone touched the back of his head and laughed foolishly, saying: "Feng'er, what should I call your mother?"
He asked again: "Is there anything else? I am still hungry"
The farmer's wife said: "Feng'er, don't be silly. This child has no father or mother, came to our home to ask for food, and will stay with us from now on. You will have a companion to play with."
She kindly took in.