Rebirth of a Village Girl

Ni Yang laughed and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t look for him. Little one, remember to be cautious when crossing the roads. Stick to the pavements, no running. It’s dangerous, understand?”

The little boy nodded, his eyes welling up with tears.

Ni Yang took out some candies from her pocket, “Here, have this and stop crying. Big boys don’t cry, they only shed blood.”

The little boy looked at the colourful candy, wiped his tears away, but didn’t dare take it.

There was something profoundly humbling about the gesture.

“Take it, no need to be polite with me.” Ni Yang shoved the candy into the boy’s hand and pocket. “By the way, what’s your name?”

The little boy sniffled, “I…I’m Fu…Fuwa.”

Ni Yang gently patted Fuwa’s head, “Fuwa, I’m leaving now.”

“Mmm…” Fuwa nodded.

After Ni Yang left, Fuwa took a piece of candy out of his pocket. He carefully unwrapped it and put the candy in his mouth.

It tasted so sweet. So, so sweet.

So, this is what candy tastes like.

Fuwa held the candy wrapper up to his eyes, looking up at the sun. Through the dyed candy wrapper, the sun, the pedestrians, and the roadside scenery all turned into a rainbow of colours.

After trying one piece of candy, Fuwa didn’t dare to eat a second.

Such delicious candy, his father would surely like it.

Lost in his thoughts, Fuwa hurriedly started homewards.

Fuwa lived in a cramped courtyard shared by seven or eight families.

A few kids were playing hide and seek in the yard, their laughter echoing around.

Fuwa watched from a distance, his eyes filled with longing.

“The wild child raised without a mother is back.”

“Wild child!”

“Wild child!”

The kids hopped around Fuwa, teasing him.

Fuwa lowered his head, biting his lip and quickly walked towards his home, pushing the door to enter.

The moment the door was opened, the strong smell of traditional medicine hit him.

The window in the room was shut and it was dim inside. Fuwa picked up a stool, stood on it and opened the window, propping it open with a stick.

The strong lights streamed in from the window, causing the man on the bed to open his eyes.

Looking at the mosquito net hanging overhead, torn and worn, the man’s eyes were filled with despair.

He hadn’t died yet…

When would this kind of life end?

“Dad!” Fuwa ran to the bed and stood on his toes to look at the man.

“You little devil! Why haven’t you left yet!” The man’s gaze suddenly turned fierce.

“Dad,” Fuwa sniffled, attempting to hold back his tears, “I have candy. Eating it will make you better.”

Fuwa took out a handful of candy from his pocket and placed them by the man’s pillow, “Dad, let me unwrap one for you to try.”

The man yelled angrily, “Get out! Get the hell out of here right now!”

“I won’t leave!” Fuwa stubbornly wiped his tears away, “Fuwa is your son! Fuwa is not leaving anywhere!”

“Leave!” The man closed his eyes, hiding the sorrow in them.

He had to play both father and mother roles, and it hadn’t been easy raising the child. How could he bear to chase Fuwa away?

But he was helpless. Now bedridden, he needed someone to care for him for even the simplest of tasks. Fuwa was only five years old…

How could he burden his child?

Even if Fuwa was taken away by someone else, it would be better than staying with him, a cripple.

“Dad,” Fuwa sobbed, “Please don’t drive me away. I’ll be good, I won’t make you angry again.”

He couldn’t leave.

If he left, what would happen to his dad? He couldn’t leave his father all alone.

The man let out a sigh, his eyes welling up with tears, chokingly he said, “Go… ”

“I won’t go! If I must go, we’ll go together.”

The man suddenly opened his eyes, staring fiercely at Fuwa. He angrily retorted, “Following me will only lead you to death! Your mother is already gone! Why won’t you leave? Leave! Go far away from me! So I won’t have to be annoyed by your sight! You’re just like your goddamn mother, bringing bad luck! Only if you, this jinx, leaves, will I have good days!”

While he was crying, Fuwa, with trembling hands, unwrapped the candy and put the red candy in the man’s mouth, “Dad, have a piece of candy. This candy is really sweet, I tasted it.”