5.03.1.1 Dragon & The Evil Eunuch: Dragon Uncovered

5.03.1.1 Dragon & The Evil Eunuch: dragon Uncovered

A small village near the capital city of Xianyang.

Yu approached the young man. He wasn’t getting better, his skin had an unhealthy green tinge.

It was tradition. All poor farmers. At harvest, everyone helped each other out. Pooling labour, working a field in turn. The women together, cooking for the men.

5.31.12

Field owner - Yu:

Rest. Get back to full strength. You’re still not well. You needn’t help out today.

Xiaolong:

I’m fine, Uncle Yu. Working helps the muscles recover. It’s good for me.

Concerned, Yu placed his hand on Xiaolong’s shoulder. Conscious again of the lean muscle there. But he’d been sick for days. And not getting better.

Farmer - Fang:

You do have the strength of three men. True, your help gets in the harvest faster.

Farmer - Fang:

Give yourself a break. Everyone’s turned out today. Rest. Get well.

Xiaolong wasn’t going to let them down. He was an outsider. They’d taken him in, one of their own. He repaid their kindness with hard work.

Xiaolong:

Thanks for your concern. But I’ll stay. I’ll rest at lunch, Uncle Fang, thank you.

Farmer - Ta:

You’re too good to us.

Farmer - Laosung:

At least, let us thank you with some rice. You got somefor your xifan*?

*xifan = congee

Xiaolong:

more than enough. What you gave last week will last a year, Laosung.

Xiaolong didn’t have his own field. He returned their kindness with the strength of his back. The only way he had to pay them back.

Farmer - Laosung:

You do the work of three men. Only right to get three men’s pay.

Xiaolong:

You make me rich at this rate.

Farmer - Laosung:

In your dreams!

Farmers:

Ha Ha Ha!

Field owner - Yu:

You bring us luck. Our own lucky charm. I’d swear the crops get better and better. Since you came.

Farmer - Ta:

Our own ‘Little Dragon’, the great Feng Shui animal. That’s what your father called you, eh? Fending off thieves and bad luck.

*Xiao Long = Little Dragon

Farmer - Laosung:

And how long since the soldiers came plundering? Not since that time you saw them off. Our own fearsome ‘Little Dragon’.

Farmers:

Yes, yes...!

Farmers:

Yes..!

Xiaolong smiled at their silly comments. But it was good to feel accepted. He threw himself into the work. But he wasn’t himself. Not since that incident...

He wouldn’t give in to weakness. The muscles of his broad back soon ran with sweat. Knotted arms attacked hefty sacks of rice. Thick-muscled thighs plodded relentlessly back and forth hefting heavyweights. Showing his gratitude.

Xiaolong:

(But.!?!)

He wasn’t up to full strength, his injuries still plagued him. He couldn’t account for how weak he felt. This work was no more arduous than before. It was tiring him out, though. Doggedly he dug into his stamina. He was paying back their kindnesses. Illness would not get in his way.

Series Novel 8.04.1 part I : The corresponding novel version with high-resolution pictures.

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