50: Chapter 50 Little Grass: I Have Place to Go

By the time he returned to his dilapidated courtyard, the sun had already begun to set.

Chen Mo pushed open the creaking wooden door, and the courtyard was silent.

"Little Grass?"

He called out.

The pile of firewood in the corner stirred, and a small, thin figure crawled out.

Little Grass's face was dirty and her hair was like a bird's nest, but her eyes were startlingly bright.

She was still clutching half an unfinished sweet potato in her hand. Seeing Chen Mo, she grinned, revealing a row of teeth that hadn't fully grown in yet.

"Big Brother Chen, you're back!"

Little Grass hid the sweet potato behind her back, as if afraid Chen Mo would snatch it from her, then suddenly remembering something, she trotted over, looking up at him with a face full of excitement.

"Big Brother Chen, I have some good news to tell you!"

Chen Mo took the steamed bun from his chest and handed it to her: "Eat this first. What good news? Did you find some money?"

Little Grass took the bun, her eyes shining even brighter. She took a big bite and said indistinctly: "It's not money, it's... I won't have to trouble you anymore! I have somewhere to go!"

Chen Mo's heart skipped a beat.

"You have somewhere to go? Where?"

Little Grass swallowed the bun in her mouth, wiped her mouth with her sleeve, and said with an innocent expression: "This morning, an auntie with red lips passed by. She saw me sitting at the door and came over to talk to me. She said I looked like a clever and pretty girl, and asked if I wanted to live a good life."

Chen Mo's face darkened.

"What kind of good life did she say?"

"She said..." Little Grass counted on her fingers, her eyes full of longing, "She said there's a place called Yichun Courtyard, and it's wonderful there. You get to eat white rice every day, have meat, wear smooth silk clothes, don't have to sleep on a straw nest, and there are warm stoves in the winter."

Chen Mo's fingers clenched tightly, his nails digging into his palms.

"She also said as long as I'm obedient, I can enjoy a good life there in the future. I won't have to do heavy work, just serve tea and pour water for people."

Little Grass became happier as she spoke, as if that "paradise" were right before her eyes, "If I'm lucky, I might even be noticed by a wealthy master and taken home to be a servant girl; that would be even better, and I wouldn't have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of my life!"

After finishing, Little Grass looked at Chen Mo expectantly, like a child waiting for praise.

In her little head, this was simply a windfall. She could have enough to eat, and she wouldn't be a burden to Big Brother Chen; it was killing two birds with one stone.

Chen Mo looked at her small face, slightly flushed with excitement, and at those eyes so clear they could reflect shadows, feeling as if someone had stuffed a lump of wet cotton into his chest, blocking his breath.

Disgusting.

A physiological sense of disgust surged up from his stomach.

This child had no idea what the three words "Yichun Courtyard" meant. She only heard "white rice" and "new clothes."

To a child terrified of hunger, what was dignity? Could it be eaten?

"Big Brother Chen, that auntie said to wait for her at the door tomorrow..." Little Grass, seeing Chen Mo not speaking, tugged cautiously at his sleeve, "Am I... allowed to go?"

Chen Mo took a deep breath, crouched down, and brought his eyes level with Little Grass's.

"Little Grass, do you know what Yichun Courtyard is for?"

"I know." Little Grass nodded and said matter-of-factly, "It's for serving people. That auntie said serving people isn't shameful. My mother used to wash clothes and serve people too, as long as they gave her food to eat."

Chen Mo looked at her, his throat dry.

She thought there was no problem.

This was the most despairing part. In this man-eating world, those who were being eaten even felt it was a blessing.

Tiger Li's words rang in his ears again: "Send her to Yichun Courtyard, she'll have something to eat... if she's lucky, becoming a concubine wouldn't be bad..."

Chen Mo suddenly felt that it was a mistake not to have punched Tiger Li earlier.

"You're not going."

Chen Mo's voice was very soft, but very hard, like a piece of iron.

Little Grass was stunned, the light in her eyes dimming slightly, feeling a bit aggrieved: "Why? There's meat to eat there..."

"Because that is no place for a person." Chen Mo stood up, his tone unquestionable, "That food is bought with one's life. If you go there, your life will be ruined."

"But..." Little Grass wanted to argue; she didn't understand what it meant to be ruined, she only knew that being hungry was very painful.

"There are no buts." Chen Mo interrupted her, his tone stern, "If you dare to go, don't call me brother in the future. And I won't have you as my little sister."

Little Grass was frightened, her eyes instantly reddening, tears swirling in her eye sockets but not daring to fall. She could only bite her lip tightly and lower her head.

Chen Mo looked at her appearance, feeling terrible himself. But he couldn't explain. Explaining what a brothel was, what sex work was, to a seven-year-old child was too cruel and too pale.

"Come with me."

Chen Mo grabbed Little Grass's dirty little hand and turned to walk out.

"Where... where are we going?" Little Grass asked with a sob.

"To find you a place where you can eat without having to risk your life."

Chen Mo pulled her out of the courtyard gate, didn't go far, and turned directly into the next door.

Next door was a blacksmith shop.

Before they even entered, they could hear the "clang, clang" of forging, and a wave of heat hit them, mixed with the acrid smell of burning coal.

"Uncle Zhang!"

Chen Mo stood at the door and called out.

The forging sound stopped abruptly. A bare-chested, black-faced man with muscles like lumps of iron walked out. He was holding a large hammer that had just been quenched, still emitting white steam.

Seeing it was Chen Mo, the black-faced man's originally fierce face immediately broke into a beaming smile. He threw the large hammer to the ground and rubbed his hands as he came up to meet him.

"Oh, Little Mo! Why are you here? A rare guest, a rare guest indeed!"

Behind Blacksmith Zhang, a woman wearing an apron hurried out, holding a kitchen knife in her hand. Seeing Chen Mo, she hurriedly put down the knife, wiped her hands on her apron, and looked at him with great respect.

"Little Mo, quickly, come inside and sit! Dear, hurry and pour some tea!"

This family had genuine awe and respect for Chen Mo from the bottom of their hearts.

"No need for tea."

Chen Mo waved his hand and pulled out the shrinking Little Grass from behind him.

"This is the daughter left behind by Old Man Li next door, named Little Grass. Old Man Li passed away a couple of days ago, and this child has nowhere to go."

Blacksmith Zhang and his wife exchanged glances, not daring to interrupt, waiting for what Chen Mo would say next.

"I'm on duty during the day and I'm busy, so I don't have time to look after her." Chen Mo looked at Blacksmith Zhang, his tone flat but with an undeniable air, "I want to foster her in your home. She doesn't need to be treated like a Young Miss; just give her something to eat, don't let her starve, and don't let anyone bully her, that's all."

Upon hearing this, Blacksmith Zhang immediately slapped his chest loudly, sending sweat droplets flying.

"Little Mo, what are you saying! Since you've asked, it's our own business! Never mind a bite to eat, even if we have to save the meat from our own mouths, we won't let this girl go hungry!"