Chapter Sixteen Leaving the Village

  After Zhao Fei and Zhao Yun returned to the courtyard, they did not see Zhao Hu and Li's figures, only Duan Er was playing alone in the courtyard.

  "Duo'er, where did Father and Mother go?" Zhao Fei called out to Duo'er, who was playing in the courtyard, asking about her parents' whereabouts. Duo'er looked up at Zhao Fei with a glance, then lowered her head again without responding. She just hummed softly.

  Zhao Fei was puzzled by Duo'er's behavior towards him. He hadn't done anything to upset this little lady today, so why was she treating him like this? Helplessly, Zhao Fei walked over to Duo'er and stroked her hair with a smile he thought was very charming, asking again: "Duo'er, what's wrong? Why aren't you answering your brother's question? Where did Father and Mother go?"

  But Duo'er pushed away the hand that was touching her head, pouting. "Don't touch my head, bad guy!" It seemed that this method no longer worked. Zhao Fei felt a bit at a loss for what to do next.

  At this time, Zhao Yun walked over from beside him, squatted down and touched Duer's head, asking: "What's wrong with Duer? Is he angry with his brother?" As soon as Zhao Yun came out, it was much more useful than Zhao Fei. It can be seen that Duer did not shake off Zhao Yun's hand, allowing Zhao Yun to touch her own head, and then said in a milky voice: "Stinky brother, bad brother. He actually went to play with Cloud Brother without bringing Duer along. Hmph!"

  Looking at Dou'er who was sulking, Zhao Fei couldn't help but laugh and cry. This little girl was originally angry about this.

  "Hehe, don't be angry, Duer. Your brother and I only went out because we had something to do. We weren't going out to play. If you want to go out and play, how about your brother and I take you out for a day when we're free?" Zhao Yun kept stroking Duer's head, softly comforting her. Duer's eyes sparkled with little stars, looking like a very ordinary scene, but in Zhao Fei's eyes, it looked like some creepy uncle trying to trick a little girl. Zhao Fei shook his head, shaking off the evil thought from his mind. Seeing that Duer didn't seem as angry anymore, Zhao Fei quickly chimed in. "That's right, brother and Cloud Uncle had something to do, if we were really going out to play, why wouldn't we bring you along?" "Really?" Duer asked half-believingly, looking like she still trusted Zhao Yun more than Zhao Fei.

  Looking at Duo's puzzled eyes, Zhao Fei couldn't help but feel annoyed. People are really annoying, just now she was still starry-eyed, and now she's doubtful. But Zhao Fei could only patiently say: "Of course it's true, would your Cloud Gege deceive you?" No choice, Zhao Fei had to bring up Cloud. Sure enough, when Duo heard Cloud's name, her expression immediately changed. "It's also possible, Cloud Gege wouldn't deceive me. Then I'll believe you this once." Seeing Duo looking at Cloud with a smile all over her face, Zhao Fei couldn't help but have a black line on his forehead. Am I or is Cloud your real brother? She doesn't trust me but trusts him instead. This little girl is hopeless.

  "Well, Duer, can you tell me where your parents have gone now?" Seeing that Duer was no longer angry, Zhao Fei asked again about the whereabouts of her parents. Since it was already late, they could leave the village after saying goodbye to her parents.

  "I don't know where my parents went either, they didn't tell me when they left. They just told me to let you know that they'll be back soon." Duer said innocently, her eyes fixed on Zhao Yun without noticing that Zhao Fei was about to enter a state of fury beside her. It seemed like she had just made a futile effort after all. In the end, she still didn't get the answer she wanted and could only shake her head in frustration.

  Just as Zhao Fei was at a loss for what to do, Zhao Hu and Li Shi walked in from outside the door.

  "Dad, Mom, why are you back so late? What were you doing just now?" Zhao Fei asked as he walked up to them. But seeing the abnormal expressions on his parents' faces, he quickly asked again: "Dad, Mom, what's wrong? Is there something going on? Why do your faces look so bad?"

  Originally, Mr. and Mrs. Zhao knew that Zhao Fei was going to leave the village, so they planned to give him some money for his journey in case of an emergency. However, due to Zhao Fei's serious illness over the years, most of their savings had been spent on his medical treatment, making their already poor household even more destitute. Although Zhao Fei's health had improved somewhat in recent months, their family's financial situation had not recovered. Of course, these things would not be told to Zhao Fei, so the couple decided to borrow some copper coins from fellow villager Mr. Zhao Cai for Zhao Fei's travel expenses.

  This Zhao is one of the relatively wealthy people in the village, and his family's fields are adjacent to those of Zhao Hu. Zhao Hu occasionally helps Zhao Cai with some farm work, so the two have a good relationship. However, when they arrived at Zhao Cai's house, before even mentioning borrowing money, they were met with cold ridicule by Zhao Cai's wife. Zhao Hu and his wife are honest people, and after being ridiculed like this, they didn't know how to bring up the topic of borrowing money. They didn't get the loan, and on top of that, they were ridiculed, which made them lose face.

  After being asked by Zhao Fei, Zhao Hu and his wife didn't know what to say, "Nothing, we just went out with your mother for a bit."

  "Really?" Zhao Fei asked in a puzzled tone.

  "Of course it's true." Zhao Hu nodded and said.

  After hearing his father's answer, he felt that his father was hiding something, but his father didn't say anything, and he didn't dare to ask further. Looking at his father's expression, even if he was entangled in this matter, his father wouldn't tell him, so Zhao Fei didn't continue asking.

  "By the way, Mother, how's my luggage that you've put away?" Zhao Fei turned his head to ask Li Shi.

  "Oh, that's about it. I've packed all the clothes. I'll go get them for you." I said and went into the house, and soon came out with a bundle of cloth, handing it to Zhao Fei. "The clothes are inside, as well as some food, and at the very bottom there is some loose change in copper coins, be frugal when spending."

  Zhao Fei was anxious as soon as he heard it. How many big sons are there in the family? If I let myself go, what will happen to the family? "Mother, why do you give me money? I'm going into the mountains with Yun Ge, not to the city. There's no need to spend money. Besides, the family still needs money, how can they manage if I take it away?" Zhao Fei hastily took out copper coins from his bag and handed them over to Li Shi.

  "You're going out, how can you not take some money with you?" Li repeatedly stuffed the money into Zhao Fei's hands, but he refused to accept it. Seeing that Zhao Fei seemed unwilling to accept, Li couldn't help but glance at Zhao Hu.

  "Alright then, since Xiao Fei doesn't want it, let's just forget about it. What Xiao Fei said is also true, we're not going into the city, so where would we need money?" Zhao Hu said, noticing Li Shi looking at him.

  "It's getting late, let's get going. If we're any later, we won't make it to Changshan before dark." Zhao Yun glanced at the time and reminded Zhao Fei to hurry up.

  "Alright, father and mother, I'm leaving." But Li held onto Zhao Fei's sleeve and wouldn't let go, her eyes welling up with tears. Seeing his mother like this, Zhao Fei felt at a loss for what to do. "Mother, you..." Li wiped away her tears. "It's nothing, Mother just can't bear to part with you, since you were little you've never left me before."

  "Alright, stop crying. Xiaofei isn't gone for good, maybe he'll be back in a few days." Zhao Hu comforted.

  "I know, but..."

  "Don't say that." Zhao Hu interrupted Li's words. "If we don't hurry, Fei Er and Xiao Yun will have to spend the night in the mountains."

  Upon hearing this, Mrs. Li let go of Zhao Fei's hand and said to him with concern: "Be careful on the road, son. Come back soon."

  "Don't worry, Mother, I'll be back soon. Father and Mother, take care of Diao'er too, I'm off." With that, Zhao Fei slung the bundle over his shoulder and strode out of the door with big steps.

  "Uncle Tiger, Auntie take care. And little Duan too. Yun has left." Zhao Yun patted Duan's head and also turned to walk out the door.

  "Cloud brother remembers promising Duer to play with Duer!" Seeing Zhao Yun leave, Duer hurriedly shouted.

  Watching the receding back, tears in Li's eyes began to fall again. Duan also looked very unhappy.

  "Alright, stop crying. Fei'er has grown up and can't be tied to your side all the time." Seeing his wife cry again, Zhao Hu hurriedly comforted her. "He's already gone far away. Let's go back inside."