Yang Ge had fallen into a deep slumber outside the inn’s main entrance, basked in the bright and warm spring sunlight. Huang lay beside the rocking chair, keeping him company in sleep, their snores—large and small—consistent and steady, which gave Zhao Miao, guarding the counter, unusual peace of mind.
Inside the hall, Xiao Baoqi, who was listlessly playing mahjong, craned his neck to glance at Yang Ge. Suddenly, he pushed his hand of tiles away and said disinterestedly, "I’m not playing anymore, it’s no fun..."
The Flea and the Rogue followed his gaze to the main entrance and sighed in unison.
Only Dog Shit looked around, blankly confused.
Xiao Baoqi toyed with the mahjong tiles, pondered for a moment, and then set down the tiles and crept towards the counter.
Seeing this, all the layabouts stopped playing mahjong and turned their attention towards him.
"Shopkeeper,"
Xiao Baoqi tiptoed to the counter, leaned on it with a worried expression, and whispered, "It can’t go on like this for Brother Er..."
Yang Ge had been a layabout before, but at least he used to do it with zest, spending his days researching vegetables, cooking, drinking in his spare time, and playing mahjong.
Ever since the old shopkeeper had died, his spirit had been completely drained, as if someone had sucked out his essence. He lost interest in everything—stopped gardening, stopped cooking up tasty meals, stopped drinking, stopped playing mahjong. His days were spent sunbathing and sleeping. Even the elderly who were about to die had more vitality than he did...
Watching him like this every day, they all felt an indescribable discomfort.
"Thank you for your concern."
Zhao Miao pursed her lips, smiled, and softly replied, "Brother Er is fine. He just... hasn’t figured out how to live the days to come."
Her heart was very close to Yang Ge now; she could empathize with some of his feelings.
That feeling of losing once again the closest and most important family, leading to a lethargy towards everything as if all of a sudden, everything in this world lost its meaning. If life also had its seasons, he was in the midst of a long winter.
She had long decided; even if Yang Ge one day woke up and suddenly wanted to wander the ends of the earth, she would follow him.
"Really?"
Xiao Baoqi looked doubtfully at the soundly sleeping Yang Ge at the doorway, "If it really doesn’t improve, we should ask Leader Yang and Li to come back to the inn, stay with Brother Er for a while. They are easygoing, they can say anything, they could persuade Brother Er better than us... We could handle this; we have ways to get the message to Leader Yang and Li."
Zhao Miao smiled and nodded, "When the time comes, I’ll ask for your help."
She knew, Brother Er didn’t like to trouble his friends.
And she knew, he was trying to heal himself.
Just then, a feeble timid voice came from outside, "Shopkeeper, could you spare a bowl of cold rice..."
Zhao Miao and Xiao Baoqi turned simultaneously, only to see a mother and son in tattered clothes, with waxen complexions standing outside the inn, hesitantly holding a chipped clay bowl.
Both glanced at the mother and son, then instinctively turned to look at Yang Ge, only to see that he had awakened and was intently watching the two.
At that moment, their hearts couldn’t tell whether they felt happier or sadder.
"Sister, please come in and have a seat. This is an inn; we have plenty of food..."
Zhao Miao was the first to recover herself. She swiftly emerged from behind the counter to greet them and reached out to take the mother and son by the hand.
Her immaculately clean palms made the dirt-streaked mother instinctively wrap her arms around her child and step back.
But Zhao Miao, as if blind to the stains on their clothes, stepped forward and firmly took the mother’s hand, gently drawing them inside the inn, "Erniu, is there still hot rice in the pot?"
Zhang Er’s voice, with its distinct cadence, came from the backyard, "Shopkeeper, the rice is still hot..."
Zhao Miao: "Serve two bowls of rice, and bring out two bowls of dry vegetable soup."
Zhang Er: "Right away!"
"Shopkeeper, I... I don’t have any money..."
"No worries, nothing’s more important than a meal when you’re hungry!"
Zhao Miao, without another word, ushered the mother and son to an empty table by the door and quickly headed to the backyard.
Xiao Baoqi, again glancing at Yang Ge at the door—who had since closed his eyes again—felt slightly relieved and softly exhaled, tiptoeing back to the mahjong table to resume play, calling out to the other layabouts, "Stop looking, let’s continue!"
Shortly after, Zhao Miao emerged carrying two large bowls of rice and two bowls of dry vegetable soup from the backyard, "Take your time eating, there’s more in the pot if you need it..."
Upon seeing the food, the tearful mother stood up, trying to kneel to Zhao Miao while holding her child, "Shopkeeper, your kindness has saved our lives!"
Zhao Miao dropped the tray in a rush and went to lift the mother and son, "Please stand up, who doesn’t face difficulties..."
"We can’t go on living; prices of food have skyrocketed, and the rent has tripled. His father went to argue with the landlord, was beaten to death by him, leaving us alone..."
The sound of shuffling mahjong inside gradually quieted down, and all eyes instinctively turned to the rocking chair outside the counter.
Under their gaze, Yang Ge expressionlessly stood up and slowly walked towards the weeping mother and son.
Seeing this, the Flea stood up and darted over to Yang Ge, blocking him, "Brother Er, you don’t need to dirty your hands over such a small matter. Let me handle it, I’ll take care of it properly!"
"This matter isn’t small."
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Yang Ge smiled faintly and slowly but firmly moved past the Flea to sit at the square table, pushing the rice and dry vegetable soup towards the little boy who was eagerly eyeing the food and swallowing hard. He spoke gently, "Sister, where are you from?"