Chapter 83: The Charm of Money
The road was muddy as they walked barefoot. The calico cat trailed beside Song You, stepping in the mud with tiny, delicate steps. It left behind little holes and tiny flower-like paw prints. The mud had effectively become a pair of shoes for her feet.
“Ah!” The calico cat blinked when Song You lifted his foot and splashed mud onto her face. So she started trotting with small, quick steps at an angle to distance herself a bit from Song You, but they continued to move forward together.
Ahead, there were signs of habitation. Through the morning mist after the rain, the city came into view.
Song You suddenly stopped in his tracks. The calico cat followed suit, looking up at him. Following his gaze, it glanced curiously toward the distant houses.
There were a few thatched cottages, fields in front and back, and cherry trees nearby.
A few children were stealing cherries. Cherries were often called “the first of all fruits,” and even though it was only March, they were already ripe. Strings of red pearls hang among the green leaves, filling the branches. Two of the children had climbed the tree, two more were standing under the tree holding out their clothes to catch the cherries, and another child was keeping watch.
As Song You watched, they noticed him. In that moment of distraction, a figure emerged from one of the thatched cottages, and the child on the lookout failed to notice.
“Which families are you from?” The loud shout startled the children, making them scatter in panic.
The three at the bottom of the tree bolted, and the two on the tree quickly jumped down. They were lucky to be barefoot, as they would have lost their shoes otherwise. The old man, wielding his cane like a club, chased after them.