The Sorrowmender

Chapter 10 – May you have a worry-free life, Wuyou

"Mister Forgetting Worries is indeed impressive; who would have thought the Zhang family would bow down?"

"Isn't that obvious? With Zhang Erhe dead, can the Zhang family still be the same as before?"

"That's a fair point. The Young Master of the Zhang family is quite sensible, a notable figure..."

"Do you think Zhang Erhe's death might be related to Mister Forgetting Worries?"

"Better not say such things carelessly. Mister Forgetting Worries is a good person."

"Why worry about that? Look, the drawing is starting."

As the drawing began, the women quickly put aside everything that had just happened and focused entirely on the box filled with slips of paper.

In a whirlwind, like snowflakes scattered in disarray, the 350 slips were quickly snatched up.

With anxious and excited hearts, the women once again waited eagerly for the announcement of the results.

"Mister said, today's lucky number is 136."

"Ah!" A piercing scream echoed, "I got it, I got it."

Amidst the envy of others, a farmer's wife joyfully walked into the Pavilion of Forgetting Worries.

As for the others, they could only leave disappointed, their heads hanging low, like middle-aged men who had failed to achieve their ambitions.

***

[Congratulations to the host for successfully relieving Madam Jiang's worries.]

[Triggered reward: gained 100 Merit Points.]

Xu Qingzhou stretched lazily, watching the retreating figure, and sighed.

"Salary's in, time to clock out."

***

At noon, the snowstorm outside the window suddenly stopped, and the rare sunlight broke through the thick clouds, shining down on Frostsky City.

Adding a faint warmth to the cold winter.

"The snow has finally stopped!"

Peering through the paper-covered window, Xu Qingzhou murmured.

The pale yellow sunlight streamed through the window, turning everything golden.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

A clear cough caught Xu Qingzhou's attention. He turned around, just in time to see the Little Beggar Girl getting up, half of her body emerging from the bedding.

Their eyes met for a brief moment.

In her eyes, there was panic; clutching the quilt, she shrank back into the corner.

In his eyes, there was a smile, and he greeted her softly.

"You're awake."

The familiar smiling face, paired with the light spilling in from the window, felt very warm. The Little Beggar Girl was sure she had seen him there before.

The gentle gaze seemed to pierce her soul.

Her throat moved slightly, her evasive eyes scanning the surroundings, quietly observing everything.

A big house, a big brother, and a soft big quilt.

Everything was real, yet so unreal, at least to her.

After a long time, she mustered the courage to ask:"Where... is this place?"

"The Pavilion of Forgetting Worries," Xu Qingzhou replied.

"Who are you?"

"Xu Qingzhou, but everyone calls me Mister Forgetting Worries."

The Little Beggar Girl suddenly understood and quickly crawled out of the quilt, got off the bed, and gave Xu Qingzhou a somewhat clumsy bow.

"Greetings, Mister Forgetting Worries. Thank you for saving me."

The Little Beggar Girl was indeed a beggar, but she wasn't foolish. The events of the previous day were still vivid in her mind.

She was sure that it was Mister Forgetting Worries who had saved her.

Xu Qingzhou sat down on a nearby cushion and continued speaking.

"No need to thank me; it's just karma. Your fate was meant to be."

The lazy voice lingered, leaving the Little Beggar Girl feeling a bit at a loss, with nothing to say but thanks.

"I will repay your kindness when I grow up. I'll leave now, so as not to disturb your rest."

With that, the timid little girl was about to leave the room.

Though she was a beggar, she understood one thing: not to become a burden to others, no matter the circumstances.

Xu Qingzhou had saved her, and now that she was awake, she should leave to avoid further troubling him.

Xu Qingzhou furrowed his brow slightly. Clearly, he hadn't expected a six-year-old child to be so sensible.

Or perhaps it was better to say she was wise beyond her years. In conversation, she didn't seem like a six-year-old at all.

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She always gave off a different vibe, more like a mature young lady of seventeen or eighteen.

"Wait, where are you going?" he called out to the little girl who had one foot out the door.

The little girl clutched the hem of her clothes, turned back respectfully but softly replied, "I'm... I'm going home!"

But then she noticed the oversized pageboy clothes she was wearing and seemed to understand something, quickly adding.

"Don't worry, Mister, I'll wash the clothes and return them to you."

At such a young age, she lived so cautiously. One could only imagine what she had been through.

Xu Qingzhou felt a pang in his heart but asked in a steady voice:"I'm not talking about the clothes. I want to ask you, when you say you're going home, do you have a home?"

"I..."

She lifted her head, her big eyes flickering, unable to utter a word as she looked at Xu Qingzhou.

Indeed, home, what home did she have, and where would she return to? She fell silent, not wanting to deceive her savior.

"Come here, stand in front of me."

At Xu Qingzhou's call, she hesitated, bit her lip tightly, but eventually walked slowly towards him.

She stopped a few meters in front of Xu Qingzhou, tensed her small body, clutched the hem of her clothes tightly, and lowered her head, silent.

Whether it was fear, inferiority, or guilt...

Xu Qingzhou took a deep breath and got straight to the point.

"I see you have great potential. Would you like to become my disciple?"

She suddenly looked up, eyes wide, and exclaimed.

"Ah—"

"What, you don't want to?" Xu Qingzhou raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Uh... no, it's not that, I..."

She nodded first, then waved her hands frantically, her expression shifting between joy and fear, panic and urgency.

Her speech was hesitant, her words jumbled.

Her mind was in chaos, not unwilling, but everything was happening too suddenly.

She was caught off guard, wondering if it was real. Why? Was it not a dream?

Seeing her like this, Xu Qingzhou's lips curled into a slight smile.

His words carried a hint of amusement, "So, do you want to become my disciple or not?"

"I... I... can I really?"

Xu Qingzhou straightened up, his expression turning serious, and he looked into her eyes, speaking solemnly:

"Of course."

Feeling the warmth and respect in Xu Qingzhou's gaze, the Little Beggar Girl seemed to make a firm decision, nodding vigorously.

"I am willing to become your disciple, Mister."

Xu Qingzhou raised an eyebrow.

"Good, from today on, you are my disciple."

"I know you have no surname or name, so from now on, you'll take my surname, Xu, and be called Xu Wuyou, meaning 'without worries.' How about that?"

The Little Beggar Girl listened, lowered her head, and her body began to tremble.

Faint sobbing sounds could be heard.

Tears fell from her face, drop by drop, gradually wetting the wooden floor.

"What's wrong, don't you like it?"

The little girl wiped her face with her sleeve, and when she looked up again.

Her small face was full of tears, yet she smiled brightly.

She choked on her words.

"No, I like it very much, very much, I love it."

With that, she knelt down and kowtowed three times to Xu Qingzhou.

"I have a name now, I am Xu Wuyou, and Wuyou kowtows to Master."

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan