At Zi hour, Feng Ruzhi once again stood by the Yellow River, staring out at the sails fluttering faintly in the moonlit …
At Zi hour, Feng Ruzhi once again stood by the Yellow River, staring out at the sails fluttering faintly in the moonlit breeze, waiting for the one who had promised to come home.
She remembered. A long, long time ago, when she was still a little kid, there had been someone else standing by the riverbank, arms akimbo, waiting. That figure, chewing on a sprig of foxtail grass, hair tousled like the wind had scruffed it apart, was a little frightening under the moonlight. Back then, A'Cuo had still been timid, unlike herself, who was already bold and brash. Without a second thought, she had grabbed A'Cuo by the collar, barreled past the cook standing at the doorframe, and sat down at the table in one breath.
Three seconds. Within three seconds of sitting down, the jibber-jabber would start.
"How many times do I have to tell you? Do not stay out playing until it's dark!"
"With your half-baked skills, if you run into the Unbound Cavern, you'll end up sold to the Ghost Revelry Hall!"
"Don't you dare play dead! I'm talking to you, A'Ru! You too, A'Cuo!"
If "Fox" A'Zheng was around, he'd strike a pose and try to smooth things over:
"Master Pops, come now, don't stand in the doorway. I'll keep an eye on them next time. It's not good to keep the master waiting, either."
If Mother were to clear her throat and look toward the door, that cook would instantly droop his head and shuffle himself inside. That was the signal for another peaceful night.
The moonlight remained the same. But the people beneath it were gone.