Standing Next To You

Bei Sangyun was still regretting that she did not accept the cookies. She had been thinking about the two cookies as she walked on her way home.

While she was feeling sad and regretful, the noise in front caught her attention.

The peaceful River Village was very crowdy and noisy today.

The entrance of the village was full of people.

Bei Sangyun ran and joined the crowd. But she was too small to see anything. She heard the surrounding people talk among themselves.

"Is that a car? I have never seen such a stunning car before. Is it brand new?"

"I heard only rich people in the city can have a car. They brought so many imported goods. The Chuan family is indeed on another level."

"Have you seen the Young Master? He is like an angel! I have never seen a child so fair and beautiful!"

"Since they are here, we will be able to have a big feast!"

Bei Sangyun also wanted to see the car and the beautiful young master they were talking about. She looked at the gap between their legs. She used her small height and crawled on the ground. Even though she was small, she was very fast.

When she saw an empty space in front of her, she hurriedly walked towards that area and stood up.

She was finally at the front!

She patted the dust on her big shirt and looked at the front.

There was a big shiny white object with four wheels parked beside the yard. The men in the village chief's family took the luggage from its back and carried it inside the big house.

Bei Sangyun opened her mouth wide in awe. This was also her first time seeing a car.

The car was so handsome!

She then saw a little head beside the car. The boy was covered by a large thick coat from head to toe. Bei Sangyun only saw the boy's back and she was not able to confirm if he was fair and beautiful like the villagers said.

But... wasn't he hot?

The weather now was close to summer. Yet his whole body was covered.

The boy went inside without turning back. He disappeared after a while.

Bei Sangyun watched the busy people at the front who were moving things in the big house. From afar, she saw the village chief talking to a dignified old lady. The village chief looked respectful and polite.

Bei Sangyun stayed with the crowd until the village chief shooed them away.

"There's nothing else to see. The young master need to rest so everyone should go back. We will have a welcoming feast two days later."

The villagers cheered. They dispersed while happily talking about slaughtering their pigs and hen for the festival.

Bei Sangyun also dispersed with them. She was affected by the excited atmosphere. She earnestly listened to the villagers who made plans for the festival. She was looking forward to that day.

Although she did not know the Young Master they were talking about, he must be someone great for the whole village to throw such a grand feast. If she attended the feast, she would be able to eat a lot of free meat!

Bei Sangyun was so excited. She wanted to go to her grandma and asked her how to be invited to the festival.

In the farthest back of the River Village, was the most remote place where only one hut stood. Compared to the other areas in the River Village, this place was isolated and seemed detached from the rest of the village.

Bei Sangyun arrived in a small courtyard. She ran inside and excitedly told her grandma what she had seen today.

"The young master is fair and beautiful! The car is big and stunning! They have a lot of imported goods!" Bei Sangyun just repeated the words she had heard earlier. She believed that all of them were true.

Grandma Bei knocked on her head. "You made your shirt dirty again. How many times have I told you to make sure you always keep clean?"

Bei Sangyun pouted. Her grandma was not even excited by her news. "Grandma, there will be a feast two days later, can I come?"

"Why will you come? You are not even invited."

"But they said everyone in the village will celebrate!"

"What will you celebrate for? Do you know the Chuans? Don't make trouble. Even though you don't have classes tomorrow, you have to feed your two chickens."

Bei Sangyun's eyes suddenly lit up. "Grandma, should I slaughter Little Sang?"

Little Sang was one of the chickens that Bei Sangyun was taking care of.

Grandma flicked her forehead again. "You said you will keep Little Sang alive until she lay eggs. "

"Then Little Yun...."

"You said you will sell him after you graduated kindergarten. Don't think about it. These two chickens are your entry for elementary school."

Bei Sangyun had a long face. If she could not slaughter any of her chickens, how could she attend the feast? Everyone in the village was bringing something to eat.

"Ah! How about I roast some potatoes?" Bei Sangyun asked excitedly.

She knew where to dig the potatoes in the mountain.

"Why do you want to go to the Chuans?" Grandma Bei did not answer Bei Sangyun's inquiry but asked a question instead.

"Because there will be a lot of food!" Bei Sangyun did not hesitate to answer.

"Grandma, you said we can't beg for food or other things from other people. If I attend the festival, I'll be able to get food freely. It's not the same as begging. I will receive free food because of my cooperation. It's like how teacher draw us stars when we attended every class."

Bei Sangyun was afraid that her grandma would use the 'don't beg' card and won't approve of her attending the festival. So she made an explanation before her grandma says anything.

Grandma Bei was speechless.

She looked at Bei Sangyun who seemed ready to argue with her all day just to attend the festival. She sighed.

"....Fine. But don't make trouble. You don't have to roast potatoes. Just help the other villagers and do some errands. They might avoid me but if it's you, they will allow you to come with them."

Bei Sangyun cheered. "Thank you, Grandma! I will surely get meat for you!"

Grandma Bei just shook her head. She was already old and was not tempted to eat meat like the old days.

It was Bei Sangyun, her little child, who needed to eat a lot more.

Grandma Bei was always guilty whenever she saw the scrawny figure of her granddaughter. She knew she could not provide a good life for Bei Sangyun.

Perhaps she should be more lenient and let her granddaughter play like this from time to time.