Niuwa

Biodata

Background

Niuwa grew up in a poor farming family in Qinghe Village. His mother died after hiding him and his older brother, Gouwa, from soldiers; their father was later forcibly conscripted and never sent word home. Niuwa and Gouwa lived with their grandmother 24.

After Chen Du’s true spirit descended into Gouwa’s body, Niuwa brought his weakened brother a bowl of thin porridge. Chen Du persuaded him to drink most of it; Niuwa stopped partway through to save some for Grandma 24.

Over the next three years, Niuwa attended Mr. Wang’s school. He memorized the Thousand Character Classic and the Analects, learned to compose matching couplets, and sometimes tested Chen Du on his lessons 25 26.

Appearance

• At nine, Niuwa was small and thin, with gaunt cheeks and slightly protruding ribs 24.
• By twelve, he had grown to approximately 1.6 meters, reaching Chen Du’s shoulder. He had coarse, thick hair and fine down on his upper lip 26.

Personality

Niuwa was caring toward his family despite their hardship. He brought his hungry brother porridge, tried to save some for Grandma, and promised to buy her meat every day when he grew up and earned money 24 25.

He was curious about the parents he scarcely remembered and troubled by the losses caused by war. He asked Chen Du why people could not settle their differences through discussion, imagining a peaceful world where families had enough food and clothing 26.

Relationships

• Gouwa / Chen Du — Niuwa’s older brother. Chen Du inhabited Gouwa’s body and lived with Niuwa for three years; Niuwa did not know he came from another world 24 26.
• Grandma — Niuwa’s grandmother and caregiver. She encouraged his studies and hoped he would earn an official degree 25.
• Mother — She hid Niuwa and Gouwa in a cellar before drawing soldiers away from them. Niuwa was too young at the time to remember what she looked like 24 26.
• Father — Forcibly conscripted when Niuwa was young; the family received no news of him afterward 24.
• Mr. Wang — Niuwa’s private tutor, who praised his recitation of the Thousand Character Classic 25 26.

Death and Legacy

While Grandma went to town to pawn her jade bracelet, Chen Du left Niuwa at home doing his homework and followed her. They returned to find Qinghe Village burning after a Yan Kingdom raid 26 27.

Chen Du found Niuwa beneath a collapsed wall, mortally wounded but still alive. Niuwa recognized Chen Du and Grandma and addressed them before dying in Grandma’s arms 27. He had been clutching a steamed bun saved for his brother 36.

Niuwa’s death and the destruction of Qinghe Village fueled Chen Du’s fury against Yan. Chen Du remembered him during the sword strike that destroyed a hundred thousand Yan soldiers, and later when he learned that the Motian Sect had used the realm’s wars and deaths to cultivate a divine ability 29 39.

Notable Quotes

“Grandma, when I grow up and make lots of money, I’ll buy you meat to eat every day.” 25

“If there were peace under heaven, our father would still be here, and our mother wouldn’t have died. Everyone would have food to eat and clothes to wear. Wouldn’t that be good?” 26

“Grandma... brother...” 27