Corn often hid in corners and cried. Only his grandfather and grandmother patiently comforted him, giving him the warmest care in the world, and teaching him how to weave bamboo baskets and such...
At the end of every year, they went to the market together to sell things. Though Corn was young, he was very strong and never let his grandfather and grandmother tire themselves out.
But as year after year passed, the corn stalks grew taller and taller, while they grew shorter and shorter, until he could no longer make out their figures.
Corn had no great ambitions, nor did he know how vast heaven and earth were. He only wanted to stay by his grandfather and grandmother's side, only wanted to guard this insignificant patch of cornfield.
Later, he learned that his grandfather and grandmother actually had children. At year's end, those people robbed them of their savings and cursed them viciously...
Corn trembled as he hid outside the house, too afraid to speak. But when he saw the shovel standing beside him, he finally could not endure it any longer!
He hoisted the shovel and beat them bloody and mangled by himself, leaving them howling without end.
Even as they fled, they kept cursing him as a bastard, a monster, saying that he and the two old fools would die horrible deaths.
Corn's whole body shook. His hands were covered in blood, and his eyes were vacant. Yet his grandfather and grandmother did not blame him; they comforted him for a long while instead.
After some days passed, his grandfather and grandmother took several copper coins from an embroidered handkerchief stained with dirt.
Clear, simple smiles hung on their faces as they discussed sending little Corn to the town to learn some martial arts...
Corn said nothing.