Cheng Xiao Xiao squatted down trying to help the young girl up, but she heard a cry from the girl . She saw her wrist where the rod had landed, Cheng Xiao Xiao felt bad all over again .
Thinking about her old life, and the difference between the two, fate could be so unpredictable sometimes .
Both were families in poverty, but her families were still protective and loving toward her, yet the young girl’s family treated her so cruelly .
“Mistress, I am okay!” She turned her face away . The young girl didn’t want Cheng Xiao Xiao to see her in that condition . Her father had sold her; her family no longer wanted her, what else could she do?
“Little girl, you are my people now . I promise I won’t let others bully you . From now on you follow me . I won’t let you undergo any hardship . ” Cheng Xiao Xiao walked up and stroked the girl on her head, she looked at her full of pity .
Fate had treated the two so differently! The girl was only a couple of years younger than Cheng Xiao Xiao . She felt like a little sister, and she was quite fond of her naturally .
“I… . ” She opened her mouth, but the young girl couldn’t find any words . Looking at the gentle way Cheng Xiao Xiao was looking at her, tears ran down her face again . She just wanted to cry .
Her own father and mother didn’t even treat her as nice as this stranger whom she had just met .
“Be a good girl and stop crying, okay? We will get you some food in a bit . ” Cheng Xiao Xiao helped the young girl up and pursed her lips; her eyes full of indescribable emotions .
One could tell almost immediately that this young girl was simple and kind in nature . Cheng Xiao Xiao would feel comfortable having her take care of her family .
“Okay!” The young girl wiped her face with her sleeve . Her clothes was messy and dirty to begin with, the wiping only made her little face messier and dirtier than efore .
Taking the young girl with her and walking around the slum, Cheng Xiao Xiao purchased another young boy around 12-13 years of age, taking him out of the slum .
“What’s your name?” asked Cheng Xiao Xiao as she turned around and looked at the little boy, a little bit of suspicion in her eyes .
One could tell almost immediately that this was a kid from a loving family . If his mother wasn’t worried that he’d starve to me, she wouldn’t have sold him .
Both families sold their children, but for very different reasons – one was heart-warming, the other one bone-chilling .
“Replying mistress, my name is Two Eggs,” replied the little boy courteously . He seemed very uneasy . He had a hard time looking straight at the pretty girl, and he was also very afraid .
Hearing that, Cheng Xiao Xiao couldn’t help but frowned . Both of these kids’ names are awful, it’s probably better if she give them new names .
“Why don’t I give you new names?” Cheng Xiao Xiao couldn’t help but ask, these names must go .
Afterall, their names were given to them by their parents, she should at least ask them their opinions .
They both nodded; neither one of them objected .
"Little girl, from now on we will call you Lu Zhu1, Two Eggs, let’s call you Zhu Qing . ”2,3 Even though these couple of names sound a bit on the grandeur side for the village, but Cheng Xiao Xiao was okay with that . The important was that she liked them .
“Thank you, Mistress, for awarding us with new names . ” The two replied simultaneously again . By now, both little girl and Two Eggs, no, both Lu Zhu and Zhu Qing’s expressions were already very different than before .
Now that the mistress had given them new names, they completely belonged to her now .
“Zhu Qing, from now on you work for my family, we will pay you wages . You can save them for when you get married, or you can give them to your mother to help her out . After all, she only sold you for your own good, so you should treat her nicely too . If you ever miss her, you can also go back to visit her . ” She patted Zhu Qing on his shoulder and said to him tenderly .
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Notes:
1 . Green bamboo .
2 . Bamboo azure .
3 . I have been wondering why did Cheng Xiao Xiao say the little girl’s name was awful and need to be changed, as I don’t remember when her name was mentioned . I guess her name was literally “Little Girl” . As I don’t know when the term was used as her name / referring to her as a girl… I will just leave it as is . J