76 Sweet Potatoes and Snow Peaches (1/2)

Xue'er looked up, and there Xiao Ya was, standing there, looking directly at her.

The girl's patched up clothing was all wet, and even dripping in water, yet she did not seem to care a single bit at all. The wet clothes clung to her skin, outlining her thin figure that one could count the ribs on her body that showed through.

”Xue, you're here, you found me after all!” Xiao Ya's face showed a brilliant smile as her hand grabbed onto Xue'er's free arm, and she was pulled into the worn down abode.

Perhaps, she should have seen this coming, Xiao Ya was extremely straightforward. Even in such a state, she had managed to muster up such a strength.

Xue'er was not the least bit angry, as she allowed her eyes to wander around this place. It turns out, she only needed a little push, or in this case, a strong pull to enter.

The rundown abode seemed to have been an actual house that had been left alone and abandoned after it became old and worn. It was actually not that bad, being able to provide shelter from the rain. It stood up quite well, though there were a few broken jars here and there to help catch the water that was leaking from a broken roof tile.

She sat herself down on a pile of straw in the corner, after being offered a seat from Xiao Ya. The straw was quite clean and had a fresh grassy scent that was hard to come by these days.

”So, what are you doing here?” Xiao Ya looked towards Xue'er with a curious look. Those eyes twinkled like bright stars, filled with such innocence but also maturity.

”Not sure, you said I could find you at the marketplace, so I came.” Xue'er replied.

Xiao Ya thought for a moment before coming to: ”Oh yeah, I remember telling you where to find me.”

Xue'er nodded expressionlessly.

”You should sit by the fire, it's easy to catch a cold in wet clothes.” Xiao Ya motions towards the little fire that was in the middle of the room, burning and warming up the small space.

”What about you?” Xue'er asks, as she eyes Xiao Ya's wet clothes.

[Strange how she cares about a stranger before thinking of herself.]

”Don't worry about me, I won't get sick from a little rain.” The girl said assuringly.

Yet Xue'er was not convinced and stayed in her spot. She looked at the fire that was crackling in the middle of the room. The crackling brought along with it, the scent of sweetness. The children were scattered about the room, all huddled together, yet there was no one that really stayed too close to the fire. Perhaps it was because they feared the temptation of the smell, that would make them want to come closer, burning them.

This scene made her wonder, what type of place was this, that there were so many children gathered here.

”What is this place?” She looked at Xiao Ya who was sitting there, with a piece of straw between her teeth.

”Oh, this is the place we come, when the police bureau is not open. We have got to stick together you know, or we'll get kidnapped.” Xiao Ya said, twirling pieces of stray straw between her nimble fingers to relieve her boredom.

[But, isn't it easier to get kidnapped when you're all in the same place?] Xue'er was wondering for a while before she could hear the shuffling of feet.

She looked up, to see that Xiao Ya had already disappeared from her spot. She looked toward the fire, where Xiao Ya and the children had sticks in their hands, poking and prodding at the earth that was below the fire.

[It turns out that they had been waiting for something to cook, no wonder no one came near the flames.]

Xiao Ya soon made her way back, with objects that were too hot to be held in her hand, so she had to use her clothes as a basket.

Xue'er felt the urge to laugh, but as Xiao Ya returned, she realized that one of the objects was for her. It was a strange elongated object that had a heavy density, and it was really hot. Xue'er noticed that as she held it.

”This is…?” Xue'er had a confused expression on her face.

”You've never had a sweet potato before.” Xiao Ya asked with her mouth agape. One had to know that this type of sweet potato was a staple when it came to food.

”I've had potato before, just not sweet potato.” Xue'er answered truthfully.

”Oh, you peel it before you eat. Like this.” Xiao Ya said as she demonstrated by breaking the potato in half, removing the outer purplish skin before taking a bite out of it.