QingYu: A Wuxia Tale (Going Through Reediting)

A Chance Encounter

(Dayu's POV)

I woke up with the first call from the rooster. Its still dark but I feel rested enough. That sleep was the longest I ever rested since I remembered. Even when I am living in the temple with the other orphan kids, I never rested well.
I folded the blanket Granny lend to me. Put away my makeshift bed, took my bag to sling it on my body and then I get out of the workshop.

Granny is already awake. The fire on the cooking area is already lit and I can smell food cooking. I ran there to greet her a good morning.

"Did you rest well?" she asked.

"Yes Granny. Can I do anything for you?"

"Take that big jar. Fill it with water from the well at the back. I will boil some water for tea."

Oh tea. I never had tea. Those luxurious drinks are for proper people and not for orphans like me.

I hefted the jar and took it at back of the house. There is a shallow well there. I filled the jar with water and carry it back on the cooking area again.

Granny is frying some eggs when I entered.

"Take those bowls on the table. I will follow with the eggs,"

There are two bowls of spiced porridge in the wooden tray. I look at her but she is still busy with the eggs.

I took the bowls and the spoons on the table and wait for her. She came out carrying a plate of cooked eggs and a jug.

She put down the eggs, "Eat and then we can prepare to go to the market,"

I nodded, just happy that I can eat again. This is the first time that I will eat two consecutive meals since I was living with the monks. That was a long time ago...almost 15 summers ago.

We ate in silence as the sky slowly brighten. The day will finally start.

After the meal, I cleaned the table and washed the dishes again. Then I helped Granny to load up pots in a wooden crate to carry it to the market.

I hefted it on my back. It is heavy but not overly so.

"I seldom sell pots when my son is not here. But since you are here to help me carry them, we can sell them and maybe earn some penny,"

I nodded. She prepared some more things in a weaved basket then we are off to the town.

The sun is shining already when we reach the bustling market. I saw people with baskets buying foods and goods on different stores. I also saw uniformed soldiers roaming around. I follow them with my eyes.

"Young man! Come now!" Granny grabbed my attention away from the soldiers. I followed her to a table in front of a closed store.

"We can arrange the pots here. Help me," she said as I set down the crate carefully.

She started stacking the pots on the table. Aside from pots she sells drinking cup, bowls and jugs too.

I sat down on the soil behind her as she called for customers. Soon people flocked in front of the table to look at the pots, bowls and jugs and started bargaining with her.

She is doing good selling her son's pots so I focused on the roaming soldiers again. They are carrying swords on their hips. Metal breastplates and the leather on their uniforms looks expensive and thick.

I really want to be a soldier.

Then a soldier stopped in front of granny and asked about her pots. I stood up in haste to look at that soldier closely.