The Person Outside the Door

And that was it.

"That simple?"

The innkeeper smiled awkwardly. "As I told you before, sir, Black Stone City doesn't care much about identity tokens, so it's always been this simple. Besides, that lot at the household registry have bored right through the rice jar. They're a despicable bunch."

"Oh, vermin are everywhere. Besides, rice without bugs isn't good rice."

The innkeeper agreed wholeheartedly. Remembering something, he said seriously, "Oh, right, there's one more thing I hope you'll keep in mind, sir."

"What is it?"

"There are monsters causing trouble around the White Conch River, south of the city! More than fifty people have died in five years! Please be careful, sir. You'd best not go there at night."

Ye Fu knew, of course. They were the three monsters he had run into last night. Even so, he frowned and asked, "More than fifty people have died. Why hasn't anyone dealt with them?"

"Alas, who knows? Black Stone City won't do anything, so how could we?"

Ye Fu nodded and didn't think much more about it. Those three foolish monsters were gone anyway. What concerned him more was the question of an "employee," which had been on his mind for some time.

He considered asking the innkeeper for more help, but he felt embarrassed about troubling him again and again, so he said nothing about it.

He chatted with the innkeeper for a while longer and heard a few things about Black Stone City. The innkeeper didn't stay long. After saying, "You can come to me again if you need anything," he left.

Ye Fu could tell that the innkeeper wanted to get on good terms with him. He didn't mind. Since he was going to live here, knowing a few people would make things more convenient.

Chapter 10: The Person Outside the Door

The courtyard grew quiet. After standing there for a while, Ye Fu even found it a little lonely. It was the first time he had felt lonely in all the time he had lived alone. Back then, he hadn't felt anything even when spending the New Year by himself, yet now that he had come to this new world, being alone felt a little lonely.

He put it down to the absence of a phone and computer. Socializing online was still socializing. But now, there was no such thing.

And so, he could hardly wait to find someone to bring a little life into the courtyard.

He found some paper and a brush and wrote several large characters with heavy strokes:

"Seeking one hardworking person to manage household affairs. Food and lodging provided, generous wages."

After some thought, he added, "A woman around forty preferred." He figured someone like an auntie would generally be better at housework and helping out. After all, most cleaners were aunties.

Then he added the address of the residence and went out. After following the winding path, he posted the "help wanted notice" on a parasol tree in the busy marketplace, then went back to lie in the sun.

With no phone or computer for company, his leisure time really was boring. Ye Fu held a sprig of silver leaves above his eyes, with the faint gleam of the pear blossoms and the warm sunlight behind it.

For no particular reason, he thought of the girl named Yu Mu from last night. His expression grew somewhat complicated, probably because of the rather unfeeling dispute they had had.

He picked up the red hair ribbon she had left behind and examined it.

He didn't much like accepting other people's things without good reason, and wanted to return it to her. But inwardly, he didn't really want to see the girl.

And so he wrestled with it for quite a while.

He could take many things in stride, yet he could also get caught up in the smallest details, stubbornly worrying at them like an ox drilling into a horn.

At last, he gave a quiet sigh. "Forget it. If fate brings us together again, it won't be too late to return it to her then." Thinking of "meeting again," he couldn't help recalling how Yu Mu had wanted to say something more after saying, "If I have a chance to meet you again, Senior..." when she left last night.

He was utterly helpless and conflicted.

A while passed like that.

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone was knocking urgently at the door.

Ye Fu looked over. "Could it be someone here for the job?"

"Come in," he called.

The door didn't open all the way, only a crack. An eye appeared in the gap, clear and bright, fluttering with anticipation and curiosity. At the same time, Ye Fu clearly saw a scar beneath it. It wasn't big, but it was conspicuous.

"Don't stand outside. Come in," Ye Fu urged again.

But the door still wasn't pushed open, and a new emotion appeared in the eye. A little nervousness.

Shy? Ye Fu wondered.

Seeing that the person still showed no intention of coming in, he sighed helplessly, got up, and walked over.

"Ah!" came a soft cry from outside. When she saw Ye Fu approaching, the eye vanished at once.

Ye Fu opened the door.

Looking down, he saw a girl in tattered clothes crouching nervously in the corner of the winding path, the hair hanging over her forehead still damp.

At first glance, Ye Fu instinctively took her for a beggar. Her appearance made it hard to think otherwise.

Her hair was a mess, and there wasn't a clean spot on her body except for her face. Even that was clearly freshly washed, with a few traces of dirt still clinging to her chin. Perhaps she had washed it especially to come here.

"Who are you looking for?" Ye Fu spoke gently. He had always felt goodwill toward the poor and vulnerable. After all, he had lived through such hard times himself, and felt it keenly.

She opened her mouth but said nothing. Biting her lip, she was terribly nervous. The nervousness in her eyes looked as though it might turn to tears and spill out at any moment.

Ye Fu didn't mind. He bent down, trying to bring his eyes level with hers. "Are you looking for the previous owner of the house?"

She hurriedly shook her head, sending droplets from her hair onto Ye Fu's face. She noticed her mistake at once. Her hands, their backs grimy, clenched into fists, and her nose turned red. She was so nervous that her right foot involuntarily edged backward. She was not only nervous, but also a little afraid.

Ye Fu wiped the water from his face. He had taken in everything the girl did.

She was afraid.

Ye Fu thought about it and soon understood. It was perfectly normal for a timid beggar to fear people. She had most likely been bullied over something before, or she wouldn't have reacted by "shrinking back" before Ye Fu had even shown any anger.