Li wei the known sword maker walked through the windy path leading to his house at the far end of the village. He felt very hungry after enduring a hard labor for the day. His stomach gnarled at him making some rumbling sound. He felt so embarrassed as some passerbys looked at him and shook their head in pity. He couldn't wait to be home. He was imagining the food he would eat when he got home. He forged ahead walking faster. Along the way, he came across a big ball of rag that reeked of blood. His curiosity took a better part as he approached closer to the spot to have a clearer view. He was shocked to his marrows at his discovery. He discovered that the object he mistook for a rag was actually a human. Precisely a little child. He could barely identify the gender of the child because of the blood and dirt that smeared the little creature. He wondered what parent could be so heartless to abandon their child just like that.His face contorted in anger as he thought of the right way to deal with those that were responsible for her condition. The child was probably a beggar with no parent that was why she was abandoned to die. He swore to himself that the child's welfare would be his absolute responsibility from that day onwards. He checked her pulse to be sure she was still breathing; he was so joyful that she was alive. He carried in his arms not minding the blood and dirt that would stain his immaculate white attire. If he didn't hurry fast enough, he would definitely lose the child. Some people felt disgusted by his attitude of helping someone he didn't know. Their looks said it all as some avoided his path. He didn't care about the opinion of others; what mattered to him at the moment was the possible way to save the child's life. His heart wrenched in agony as he imagined the troubles the little child had been forced to go through. The child felt so weightless in his arms, he could feel the bones of the child. Very light as paper. He wondered why people were so heartless towards their fellow humans. He soon arrived home and his wife Li lan who was a doctor properly administered some medication to the young lad.
At first, Lan was confused when she saw her husband carrying a tiny bloody creature in his hands. But her passion to save lives quelled all the questions stirring in her heart. She swung to action and rescued the life of the child. She wondered who had battered the child to that extent. She and her husband had longed to have a child for many years but all their efforts were futile. Even the fact that she was the best doctor who was vast in the best healing technique. Her medical practice didn't come to her aid. Medically, she would never be able to bear a child. All her attempts to adopt a child was in vain. She had always wished to have a daughter. She cried when she saw the pitiful state of the little girl. After bathing the child thoroughly, she discovered the child was an adorable little girl. But the bones that protruded from her body and thin frames showed how much the girl lacked a lot of food. She wished the girl could become her child. She didn't know that same thought was running in the heart of her husband. Anyway, she was determined to give the girl a better life with or without taking ownership of the child.
The girl had been unconscious for three days and they hoped she woke up sooner.
Ling mei slowly opened her eyes as bright light from the window pierced her eyes. She noticed the bed was so cozy and succulent. She snuggled herself under the blanket.The air felt fresh and fragrant. She looked at herself and observed that her dirty tattered clothes had been replaced by a lovely looking clothe. Her smelly, muddy long hair was neatly arranged and decorated with some accessories.She closed her eyes again and opened it to be sure she wasn't dreaming.But everything kept staring at her eyeball to eyeball. She pinched herself hard to be sure this wasn't an illusion. Indeed, it was reality and not a dream. She recalled how she slept on trees,dirt and gravel after the demise of her parents.She had never had shelter over her head since that period. Her back usually ached each morning till she adapted to such life. She recalled how she lacked good clothes. She smiled wryly because she only owned one cloth which was patched all over with diverse unmatching colours and holes of different sizes. Infact that was her best cloth. She didn't own a single shoe, she walked bare footed around because the shoes she owned was undersized and spoilt beyond repair. It was difficult to eat daily, she had to beg for alms. Only some kind hearted persons dropped something for her. She usually ate once a day on special occasions. She was very thankful each day she saw a meal to eat. Some other days, she had nothing to eat. It was not surprising that she looked so scrawny and thin like something the wind would blow off at anytime. She was usually treated with disdain because she was a beggar. Nobody seemed to care about her predicament.Those in the higher class of the society either avoided her like a pest with a deadly disease; some made derogatory speeches about her making jest of her wretched look. Whenever she saw any family with their kids it reminded her of her parents. She was no longer under the care of anyone. Her life didn't matter at all. She had tasted poverty. She could give a full description of poverty. She now had a first hand experience of what it felt like to be a beggar with no parents at all.
She recalled that it was luxury to have a bath. She couldn't remember the last time she had bathed since her parents died. That was the reason for the stench but now it was replaced by a fragrant scent.
A little pain hit her head as some memories flowed slowly reminding her of what happened before. The bigger boys who were beggars bullied her because she refused to join them to pick pocket. She knew it was wrong and her parents would never support that if they were still alive.They would snatch her food and money and live her hungry for days. They finally coerced her into joining them and taught her their bad ways. Her conscience always pricked her whenever she stole from people but the boys threatened her life.They would always send her on such missions and leave her with only crumbs. Infact, she was not willing to participate in the proceeds of such missions. She decided to stand up to them and put an end to such things. She was no longer ready to be compelled to do things against her will or for her food snatched. Unfortunately, the boys who were up to ten in number beat her badly which resulted to her fainting before they fled. But she wondered what happened afterwards….
Was she still alive? was she in an illusion? If this was a dream, she definitely didn't want to wake up from such dream.
As she was still pondering on her thoughts, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
Who could that be? Have those wicked boys come back to torment her?
Rays of the sun reflected on an old man with a beautiful woman. She guessed the lovely woman was his wife. She was carrying a tray of food. The aroma of the food penetrated Ling mei's nostril. Hmmmm! She was already salivating. It had been a long while since she tasted wonderful homemade dishes like the one before her. She could tell that the woman standing before her was a good cook. She forced herself to focus on deciphering the people before her.
" I'm Li wei and I saw you lying helplessly by the way while returning from work. So, I decided to offer a hand of help. My wife is a doctor, she treated you. But what really happened to you?" said Li wei as he stared pointedly at the little girl.
He was filled with relief that she had finally woken up. This would mark the fourth day since she had been unconscious.
Ling mei looked at their faces as if trying to read their minds but all she could see emanating from their expression was deep love, joy and happiness. They seemed to care about her. She was grateful to God for them. She felt she could open up to them. She weakly narrated her ordeal to them from the point her parents died. She didn't omit any detail. When she was done with her tale; she observed the lady was shaken. Lan had to excuse herself because she didn't want to shed tears in the presence of the little girl.
" Well, I have a little secret. I'm always masked. My late parents wore me a mask to protect me and hide my identity from the Assassinators. I was told to never pull it. But I'll reveal my true face to you both. I guess I can trust you right? "
"Yes, you can dear" they said unanimously
After contemplating for some few seconds, she took off the mask leaving the couple utterly stunned. They both watched her with mouths agape.Indeed, the girl before them was the most adorable little child they had ever seen. She looked so pretty that they just couldn't take their eyes off her. She had cute eyes with beautiful long lashes that fluttered as she blinked. Her skin was as white as porcelain and so smooth. She was the fairest child they had ever seen. Her nose was pointed and perfectly shaped to suit her pearl shaped face. Her lips was very pink. Her black Raven hair was quite long for her age. It was shiny with a silky touch. Her beauty was ethereal as though an angel had descended. They had never seen any child whose beauty compared to hers. They soon recovered from their shock.
Ling mei was surprised the way they stared at her as though she was a piece of art. She quickly put on her mask back. This action of hers helped to bring them back to their senses.
"Please can you grant us the privilege of becoming your new parents?" Lan asked almost tearfully too scared of what the answer could be. She would be heartbroken if the girl rejected their offer.
What would be her opinion? Would she accept them wholeheartedly ? Will she permit them to shower her with love?