Fortune Across the World

Chapter 5: Revealing Past and Finding a New Home

Ding Qiyu and Lian'er set the table together. Given their similar ages (though Ding Qiyu internally felt like a 24-year-old "old soul"), they naturally felt at ease with each other. Lian'er asked, "Ayu? What's your full name?"

"My name is Ding Qiyu. Ding as in '甲乙丙丁', Qi as in '其中的其', and Yu as in '羽毛的羽'. What about you, Lian'er?"

"I'm He Lian'er. Like the lotus flower in the summer pond," Lian'er replied, with a hint of wistfulness. It seemed Lian'er was illiterate, likely a common situation for farm girls like her. Ding Qiyu put down the utensils and said, "采采莲花满袖香 (The lotus blooms, its fragrance fills the sleeves), such a beautiful name. I know how to write. If you’d like, I can teach you." Ding Qiyu had learned ancient characters from her mother, who excelled at calligraphy. Though she hadn't mastered the art as elegantly, she was quite familiar with the characters.

"Really?" Lian'er’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "You’d really teach me to write?"

Ding Qiyu had her own reasons for teaching. Madam He and her daughter lived alone, with Madam He having given birth to Lian'er later in life. Her husband had passed away from illness when Lian'er was very young. If Ding Qiyu could stay with them for a time, she could work hard, contribute to their livelihood, and perhaps even earn some extra money. Staying with such kind-hearted people seemed far better than wandering as a beggar. And she would happily teach this sweet girl to write.

"Of course, I'm serious," Ding Qiyu assured. "Now, let me help Madam He to the table." She noted Lian'er’s joy and went inside to carefully bring Madam He out.

Once seated at the table, they were served a simple meal—greens, a large bowl of steamed tofu, a small plate of pickled bamboo shoots, and steamed bean rice for each. The modest meal spoke volumes about the family's humble life. Ding Qiyu realized she was no longer the affluent researcher, but a beggar with just seven coins to her name. If she could stay, she was determined to help improve their lives.

With the mindset that "not starving is a blessing," Ding Qiyu had no qualms about the simple meal. However, Madam He and Lian'er felt a bit embarrassed for not having prepared enough food. The meal was made before they arrived, not anticipating a guest. Madam He noticed her portion was the largest and swapped it with Ding Qiyu's without hesitation, saying, "Ayu, I'm not very hungry. Let's switch."

Ding Qiyu had set the table, giving Madam He the most out of respect. Her thoughtful gesture touched her deeply. Holding the warm bowl given to her, Ding Qiyu felt a newfound sense of hope and belonging. She accepted Madam He’s kindness, thankful and happy as she dug into her meal.

When merely filling your belly is the goal, taste becomes secondary. Yet, Ding Qiyu found the simple dishes surprisingly flavorful, unsure if it was her hunger or Lian'er's cooking skills.

As she pondered how to broach the subject of staying, Madam He asked, "Ayu, where is your home? Are you from a nearby village?" Earlier, Madam He had noticed Ding Qiyu clearing her throat and assumed she was uncomfortable, so she hadn’t asked much about her.

Ding Qiyu hesitated, then quietly replied, "Actually... I don't have a home. It's just me." The table fell silent, both Madam He and Lian'er sensing her sadness. Madam He felt a pang of sympathy for this sensible child, alone at such a young age. Lian'er, despite losing her father early, still had her loving mother and a warm home, something Ayu lacked entirely.

Breaking the silence, Ding Qiyu decided to seize the moment. "I’ve been on my own since I was young, living as a beggar. I have no fixed place, just the sky and earth."

Madam He and Lian'er listened quietly. Despite Ding Qiyu’s tattered appearance, his demeanor revealed he likely wasn't from a poor background. They wondered what misfortune had brought him to this state.

Suddenly, Ding Qiyu looked at them earnestly, "Madam, Lian'er, would you let me stay here?" She added quickly, fearing rejection, "I don't need much, just a place to shelter from the rain. I may look small, but I can work hard. I can learn anything you need, and I don’t eat much..." Her voice cracked with urgency.

"Ayu!" Madam He interrupted, touched by her earnest plea. "You don’t need to beg us. I was going to ask you to stay. Whether you work or eat a lot doesn’t matter. If you don’t mind having me as your old mother, I’d be honored to be your family." She had always loved children and, having only Lian'er later in life, was thrilled at the thought of having such a good-hearted son.

"You... you agree?" Ding Qiyu was a bit stunned.

"Of course!" Madam He laughed. "Unless you don’t want me as your mother?"

"No, it's not that!" Mother? Did this mean she finally had a home? Ding Qiyu hesitated, then softly said, "I’d like that... Mother." As she uttered the word, her eyes grew misty, seeing in Madam He's joyful face a reflection of another—her own mother, who had once held her hand and taught her poetry by the willow-lined bridge.

Lian'er was equally thrilled. She liked this handsome young boy and now had a brother, promising a livelier life. Plus, if Ayu stayed, she could learn to write! She waved a hand in front of Ding Qiyu's dazed face, teasing, "Ayu, call me sister!"

Ding Qiyu snapped back, amused by the younger girl demanding to be called "sister." "I’m actually..." She caught herself, realizing calling her "brother" felt awkward, "How do you know I’m younger? I think you might be the little sister!"

"I’m thirteen! How old are you?" Lian'er asked.

"I-I'm fifteen..." Ding Qiyu bluffed, trying to age herself up from being a 24-year-old "old soul" to a just-turned-thirteen teenager. It was a bit hard to adapt, so she opted to claim the oldest plausible age.

"No way, you're lying! You look about twelve, maybe thirteen at most!" Lian'er retorted, hands on her hips, clearly skeptical of Ding Qiyu's exaggerated age.

Their debate reached a stalemate, with neither willing to concede. Ultimately, they agreed to simply call each other "Lian'er" and "Ayu." With that, Ding Qiyu officially had a home.

After lunch, once Madam He was settled comfortably, Ding Qiyu helped Lian'er with the dishes. When they finished, Ding Qiyu asked Lian'er to explain the daily chores around the house.

Lian'er thought Ding Qiyu was worried about being sent away if she didn’t work: "Mother already said, this is your home now. Whether you work or not, you're part of the family, so..."

Understanding her concern, Ding Qiyu shook her head with a smile, "Precisely because we're family, I want to help out! Don’t treat me like an outsider, Lian'er. From now on, I'm your... uh, real brother, so feel free to boss me around! Not letting me work would mean you're not treating me as one of your own."

Lian'er considered this and found it reasonable. She completely accepted Ding Qiyu as part of the family, showing her around the small courtyard and explaining where everything was. The house had only two bedrooms; Lian'er offered her own room to Ding Qiyu and moved in with her mother.

Although Lian'er's "boudoir" contained just a bed and a small cabinet, Ding Qiyu moved the cabinet to the mother-daughter room and replaced it with a stool for her things. Despite the simplicity, she was immensely satisfied. She was determined to improve this home.

The household chores included gathering firewood, fetching water, cooking, doing laundry, cleaning, shopping, and earning money. The family’s income came mainly from the surplus grain from their fields, eggs from their chickens, and embroidery work done by the mother and daughter, bringing in meager earnings. While they had enough food to avoid hunger, other necessities were scarce.

Ding Qiyu quietly pondered her situation. Having never done household chores, cooking seemed a distant fantasy. While she had never chopped wood or fetched water, these tasks seemed manageable as they required more strength than skill. She could handle laundry, but shopping seemed out of reach for now. As for making money, embroidery was out of the question due to her lack of skill with needlework. She needed to devise another way to contribute financially.

She candidly told Lian'er that she could handle chopping wood, fetching water, and doing laundry if Lian'er showed her once. However, she couldn't do embroidery but promised to find another way to earn money.

Lian'er laughed heartily, "Who ever heard of boys doing laundry or embroidery? You don't need to do so much; we'll share the tasks together."