Zhang Xiaohua held the long sword in his hand, his arms crossed before him as he tilted his head up at the many white clouds drifting overhead, lost in thought.
Ji Xiaohua, meanwhile, entered the little house with buns in hand, beaming with joy.
"Mother, look what I brought back for you!"
The moment he stepped inside, Ji Xiaohua called out.
"Xiaohua, why are you back so early?" Ji Xiaohua's mother asked curiously, not responding to his question.
"Mother, I met a young master at the tea stall. He asked me to help him with something and said he'd pay me ten copper coins a day—oh, eleven copper coins. Look, he even treated me to these buns and had me bring back two steamers for you."
"What? Who told you that you could just run off from the tea stall? I asked Old Father Hao at the street corner to find you that job. It wasn't easy."
"Mother, I know, but..."
"No buts. You're far too bold, trusting anyone you meet. If someone tricks you, how am I supposed to go on living?"
"Mother, this young master is truly very nice, and... and the tea stall owner already won't let me go back."
"Ah, Xiaohua, why can't you ever let Mother stop worrying?"
With that, she struggled to rise from the bed. Ji Xiaohua hurried forward to support her. "Mother, rest. I'll feed you the buns."
Ji Xiaohua's mother could neither laugh nor cry. "Xiaohua, why won't you ever grow up?"
"What is it, Mother?" Ji Xiaohua asked, thoroughly confused.
Ji Xiaohua's mother looked lovingly at her son. Her son was only nine years old, after all, and she knew he was still terribly innocent. "He's a young master from a wealthy household. Since he has come to our home