Chapter 3: Mother, an old man has fallen over

Qiao Sheng placed Xiao Shitou on a tree to one side, quietly approached the wild chicken, and when it took off, she lunged at it.

She caught it squarely.

Qiao Sheng happily caught the wild chicken, tore some grass to tie its legs and wings, then carried it over to Xiao Shitou.

"Xiao Shitou, look, Mother caught a wild chicken."

"Mother, you're amazing."

Xiao Shitou's eyes were full of admiration; he really liked Mother as she is now.

He hoped Mother would always be this strong, so no one would bully them.

Passing the Yanghuai Flower tree on the way down the mountain.

Qiao Sheng thought, then set Xiao Shitou down: "Xiao Shitou, Mother wants to pick some Yanghuai Flowers; please sit here and wait for me."

"Okay, Mother."

Xiao Shitou originally wanted to help Qiao Sheng pick flowers, but seeing that the Yanghuai tree was out of his reach, he didn't go over.

Qiao Sheng didn't pick them one by one; she simply climbed the tree, broke off a few branches, and took them down.

"We're home, Xiao Shitou."

Qiao Sheng freed a hand to take his.

The village road was flatter than the mountain path, so she stopped carrying Xiao Shitou.

The wild chicken—Qiao Sheng didn't plan to eat it; she intended to take it to town to sell for grain, and she had other plans as well.

Xiao Shitou said nothing, obediently following her all the way to town.

Even when he couldn't walk anymore, he didn't utter a sound.

As Qiao Sheng walked, she suddenly remembered she still had a son, stopped, looked back, and realized he hadn't kept up.

She quickened her steps to him: "Xiao Shitou, if you can't walk later, let Mother carry you; Mother's memory isn't great, and she sometimes forgets things."

"Mother, I don't want you to be so tired."

Xiao Shitou said, raising his little head.

Qiao Sheng felt even more pity for him, hoisted him onto her back, and said: "Mother may be tired, but having a son like you makes my heart happy."

So thoughtful.

What does it matter if he's not my biological son?

Their town is called Wu Tong Zhen, named after a large wu tong tree in the town.

Now it's time for lunch.

There weren't many stalls set up in town.

Qiao Sheng brought Xiao Shitou and went from shop to shop asking, but several places turned them away.

But she didn't leave it at that; she kept asking.

She asked who knows how many shops.

A loud woman's voice came from nearby: "You're selling wild chicken, right? Come over and let me have a look."

Qiao Sheng looked over and saw a young woman in fine cotton clothing, about twenty-five years old, with an oval face and fairly delicate features.

"Older sister, this wild chicken is one I just caught; it's still alive, weighs about two jin and a bit. If you buy it, I'll charge you two jin. If you don't believe me, you can weigh it."

The young woman sized up the wild chicken, curled her lips, and said: "You're not old, but you're pretty capable. All right, I'll take it."

The wild chicken costs eighteen wen per jin, so two jin are thirty-six wen.

Qiao Sheng took the money, counted it, found four wen extra, and said: "Older sister, you gave me a few wen too many."

"This wild chicken is worth that amount."

The young woman took the wild chicken and went into the shop.

Qiao Sheng stopped worrying, took Xiao Shitou and the gathered Yanghuai Flowers, and went looking for a restaurant.

She planned to sell the prescription and Yanghuai Flowers, but no one wanted them.

She had no choice but to lower her sights and ask at small eateries.

However.

Asking many places yielded the same result.

As Qiao Sheng was preparing to head home, an old man collapsed not far from them.

"Mother, an old man has fallen over…"

Xiao Shitou exclaimed.

Qiao Sheng thought, observed a moment, saw the old man struggling to get up, then took Xiao Shitou's hand and went over: "Sir, how are you?"

She didn't dare move him casually.

The old man stammered: "Li Brothers Restaurant"

(End of chapter)