Chapter 2: Natural Disaster, Man-made Disasters?
Sixth year of Longwu, the Wei estate.
Chaos had suddenly erupted in the estate when a tiny figure darted down the halls and around the pillars, running at breakneck speed. Behind him, a housekeeper gave chase while shouting non-stop, “Slow down, slow down! Young master, little ancestor, please! It’ll be the death of me if you take a tumble!”
The boy was none other than Wei Yuan. He had just turned three this year, but he was unusually tall and sturdy. Children from mountain villages and farm households generally had a small build, so he was already taller than many seven- or eight-year-olds in town.
It was at this moment the aroma of delicious food wafted out of the main hall. Little Wei Yuan abruptly stopped in his tracks like a fish caught mid-air by a fishing line and changed direction.
In the main hall, Philanthropist Wei and his two wives were seated at the dining table. The food was ready. Two earthenware bowls were set on the table. One was a bowl of flatbreads and brown multigrain steamed buns, and the other a bowl of yellow multigrain porridge. The other four dishes were pickled peas, salted radish, stir-fried shredded radish, and a small plate of preserved pheasant.
This was the lunch at the home of Philanthropist Wei, a wealthy household in the county.
Little Wei Yuan had been famished for a while. He split open a steamed bun that was almost bigger than his own head and stuffed a couple slices of pheasant inside. Then, he devoured every last bit of the food in the blink of an eye. One steamed bun wasn’t enough for him, though, so he ate another two flatbreads and a bowl of porridge. It was only then that he was barely full.
After he finished lunch, little Wei Yuan jumped off his stool and saluted Philanthropist Wei and his two wives. Then, he vanished from the main hall like smoke.
Philanthropist Wei and his two wives did not really touch the food. It wasn’t until little Wei Yuan had finished his meal and left that they began eating. The Third Lady said, “Yuan’er grew up so fast. He’s only three, but he’s already got the appetite of an adult. He knows his etiquette as well, though it’s a shame that he doesn’t like to talk. If Fourth Sister was still around—”