Chapter Thirty I Want to Eat Another Bowl of Rice

  Yang Fan felt extremely heavy-hearted, he knew that Tian Ai Nu kept emphasizing her father's helplessness and her not hating him precisely because the hurt she suffered in childhood was too deep, especially the abandonment by her own family members. It was like a nightmare that couldn't be shaken off. She didn't want to hate but couldn't forget either, so she could only use this method to repeatedly lull her heart into numbness.

  Tian Ai Nu's eyes welled up with tears as she said softly, "But heaven didn't abandon me. Probably because I had something to eat for those three days, I somehow gained some strength and woke up. I climbed out of the well by holding onto the crumbling brick stones and followed a group of refugees fleeing from place to place, wandering everywhere. Later...I was taken in by a mill owner."

  Tian Ai Nu smiled and said, "The owner of the mill told his wife that he would first take me in as an apprentice and raise me, and when I grew up, he would give me to his foolish son as a daughter-in-law to continue their family line. When he said these words, he didn't say them behind my back, he knew I had no choice. Actually, I was very happy, at least I could eat my fill.

  At that time, I was still not tall and thin as a rake. The mill owner gave me food just enough to keep me alive. I had no strength, accidentally knocked down by the donkey pulling the mill, and didn't even have the strength to get up. The blindfolded donkey continued to pull the mill in circles, trampling me to the point of exhaustion.

  Getting treatment costs money, the mill owner thought it wasn't worth it and threw me out of the village. The starving refugees surrounded me with greedy eyes, wanting to devour me alive. At this moment, a sudden rapid horseshoe sound came, the rider looked very spirited, dressed neatly, due to the plague raging on, they all had thick towels covering their faces, only revealing a pair of eyes.

  Among them, one person gave me a cold look. Perhaps they had already seen all sorts of human tragedies on the way, and I didn't see any intention to save me. I thought that I was about to be eaten by people, but he had clearly passed by my side, yet suddenly turned back.

  Those several starving people rushed towards me with their white teeth, wanting to eat my flesh raw. At this time, that person swung the whip in his hand, and the weak and listless starving people fell down under his whip like paper-cut people. I was rescued. He treated my wounds and gave me food...

  Yang Fan asked: "Why did he change his mind and want to save you?"

  Tian Ai Nu fell silent for a moment, then replied: "Later on, he told me that along the way, he saw too many people dying. Some looked at them with pleading eyes; some were terrified of death and wailed in despair; while others were numb and indifferent, ignoring them..."

  Tian Ai Nu took a deep breath and said, "And I... He said that in the eyes of this six-year-old girl, he saw liberation and calmness. A six-year-old child can have such a transcendent gaze beyond life and death, he thought it was very unusual, so... he saved me..."

  Tears welled up in her eyes, Tian Ainiu lifted her head, and after a long while, when she slowly lowered it again, although her eyes were moist, the tears had already disappeared. She hadn't let them fall. She gazed at Yang Fan, enunciating each word: "My name is one I chose myself. Tian Ainiu, no one loves a slave, but heaven loves slaves."

  She said these words while still tightly holding Yang Fan's hand, and Yang Fan could feel that in those hellish days, the blows she suffered were not only from drought, locusts, and plague, nor just witnessing brutal deaths and looting by disaster victims, but also came from her own father.

  Yang Fan said softly: "No matter what, all that is already in the past, don't always keep it in mind."

  Tian Ai Nu slowly withdrew her hand, the palm smooth as silk, and although her hand was already out, the slippery and delicate feeling still lingered on her fingertips. She used a sword, but surprisingly there wasn't a single callus in her palm, which could only be achieved by someone who had practiced martial arts under certain conditions and carefully taken care of their hands.

  Yang Fan became even more curious about the mysterious girl, but he didn't think to pry deeper, just like he had his own secrets, he understood and respected other people's secrets.

  Tian Ai Nu's mouth corners slightly hooked, with a hint of sarcasm, said: "You don't understand, although your family situation is not good either, but at least you have a stable life, at least you have food and clothing, how would you know what I've been through?"

  Yang Fan fell silent, actually he also had an unfortunate experience, but compared to the torture Tian Ai Nu suffered, he felt that what he went through was at least a sudden blow, far less than the endless despair and pain she endured day and night. So he didn't refute Tian Ai Nu's words, he remained silent for a moment, gazing into her eyes and said: "Do you know how I feel after hearing your story?"

  "How does it feel?"

  "I want to eat another bowl of rice."

  Tian Ai Nu: "......"

  Yang Fan said softly: "No matter what, all that is already in the past. What was unfortunate is not the greatest misfortune, the greatest misfortune is being trapped in memories of misfortune and unable to extricate oneself, allowing that misfortune to forever affect you. You are still alive now, living very well, this is happiness!

  "You know what kind of suffering you've been through, so now you should live a good life instead of drowning in the painful past! Cherish those who are alive even more when remembering the dead. This is what an old man over 100 years old told me, and I have been doing it ever since, so I'm living happily."

  Tian Ai Nu slightly raised an eyebrow and said, "Does what he says necessarily make sense?"

  Yang Fan's face showed an exceptionally respectful expression, and he said: "He said it, I believe! Besides, the old man has lived to such a great age, far more than we have experienced in life. His words may not be the most reasonable in this world, but they must be more reasonable than mine. Anu, heaven blesses you, letting you survive, and you are still alive in this world. So, you should strive to find happiness in this world, don't waste heaven's blessing on you!"

  Looking into Yang Fan's exceptionally sincere eyes, Tian Ai Nu's heart skipped a beat. Yang Fan's genuine tone revealed no hint of pretence, making her even more suspicious of her own judgment. However, she still couldn't be certain. After all, what she was doing had serious consequences, and being moved...

  The owner of that mill took her in and threw half a bun at her. She was even more touched than she is now. People's hearts are really thick-skinned.

  Tian Ai Nu said softly: "I will."

  Tian Ai Nu's delicate eyelids slowly lifted: "I think... I'll have another bowl of rice."

  Two people looked at each other and smiled, the smile was like a quiet midnight, a bright lantern suddenly lit up, in that instant it illuminated each other, warming their hearts. This was her second smile, she looked very beautiful when she smiled, Yang Fan thought, she should smile more often.

  Tian Ai Nu got up and said: "You've been called to finish all the dishes, I'll go get some more, what do you want to eat?"

  Yang Fan said: "I want to eat some light dishes, such as... wild vegetables with sauce!"

  "This is simple, it will be fine soon."

  Tian Ai Nu wore a lovely apron and walked into the kitchen with a very feminine gait.

  Yang Fan added: "The sauce needs to be stir-fried for a moment, and add an egg!"

  Tian Ai Nu replied: "Good!"

  Her slender figure disappeared into the kitchen, and a moment later, the aroma of fried eggs and sauce wafted into Yang Fan's nostrils. Yang Fan closed his eyes, took a deep sniff, savoring the flavor of the sauce, and when he opened them again, his gaze sparkled brightly.

  This time, Yang Fan ate very slowly, no longer like a starving ghost reincarnated. He ate his rice while watching Tian Ainiu eat, she ate even more slowly, her movements were elegant and beautiful to look at.

  A gentle hand stirs the soup, with a shy smile serving you. No matter how exquisite the soup is, without the accompaniment of the latter sentence, it loses its enchanting scenery. In this world of mortals, one needs a woman like an immortal fairy to accompany them, and only then does the ordinary give birth to an ineffable flavor, making people more handsome and food more fragrant.

  This is a feast for the eyes.

  The peace and warmth were soon broken, as a sudden burst of footsteps echoed through the courtyard. Before the two could react, the person had already rushed in... P.S. Early morning, sincerely asking for recommendation votes!