章 90: Chapter 90 - Following the bread crumbs part 1
Zou Yue caught a train and travelled for an hour or so to reach to that remote village. The whole place looked less populated. There were only few houses scattered here and there. He glanced around.
'Now I just have to find that grocery store,'
He walked down the road that was in between two paddy fields. This whole place looked lush and rustic.
An old man covered completely in mud came opposite him.
"sir. sir.. Please can I ask you something?" he stopped him.
The old man glanced at him up and down. "Darn old man, you really have a young voice for your age,"
Yue blinked. Only then did he realise that old man was talking about his getup. 'I screwed that up,' he cleared his throat. "Can you tell me where Grace groceries is?"
"Grace? like old Gracia's store?"
"I guess so..."
"It's right that way," he pointed to the unending road. "Just walk ahead. You will find her. Why are you asking about that shop specifically?"
"I'm searching for someone. I just got a clue that person might be working there," he nervously looked at him.
"Who?" the man turned slightly vigilant.
"Tian Ai. Have you heard of her anywhere?"
The old man suddenly frowned. "Never heard of anyone with that name before," he said and moved away.
Zou Yue weirdly looked at him. 'Did I say something wrong?'
He swiftly walked in the direction that man told him to. Soon he ended up in the interior part of the village.
The shop was easy to find the store that old Murong mentioned. It was right next to the residential area of the village.
He stepped inside. The small bell tied to the door jingled.
"oh, Han you can keep the vegetables near the counter? Oh and there is money there, take it. I'll be out in a minute," a young girl shouted from a separated area of the store.
It was separated by a small screen. From here, he could see the black pants that girl was wearing.
His heart started to pound loudly. 'Is that her? Is that Tian Ai? Am I going to see her finally? but...' he was in an old man cosplay. if she sees this, she might get weirder out.
There was no going back anymore. He had to face her.
"Excuse me?"
The clattering sound paused. A young lady walked out with gloves on. It obviously had kimchi spice stuck to it. "Oh sorry, I'll be with you in a second,"
The woman hurriedly took off her gloves and came close.
Yue peered into her eyes. They were brown, but... her whole face was completely different. She was shorter than him and also had a cute, round face.
"Do you have anything you want to buy?" the girl awkwardly whispered.
"Um.." Yue picked out the packet of gum nearby and paced it.
"That will be a dollar,"'
Yue gave it to her, yet he stood there. The words in his mind refused to come out.
"Sir, can I help you?"
"you see... i.. I might know you." he whispered, taking a deep breath.
"ohh kay.. but I don't know you, sir. I know everyone in this village and I have never sen you,"
"I am your younger brother!" Yue blurted out.
The girl just looked at him weirdly and backed away.
"Don't be scared.. it's just this is makeup," he pulled off the scar on his face and wiped away the dark makeup off. "I am your younger brother, Tian Ai...."
The girl just backed away even further. "Wait, Tian Ai? You know her?"
Yue froze. "You are not her?"
"yes I am not, I am Gracia"
"oh.."
"oh..."
Both of them awkwardly stood there. "Can you tell me where I can find her?"
"Tian Ai? she left town years ago. I don't know where she is though."
Yue frowned. "When? When did she leave?"
"Seven years ago," she moved close a bit. "But she never told me she had a brother,"
"I don't think she knows that I exist. We... we were separated a long time ago,"
"oh I see... so.. is there anything else. I am presently making kimchi..."
"Do you need help?" he awkwardly offered.
The girl, contrary to his expectation, accepted his offer.
"Wash your face though you look like a creep," Gracia showed him the bathroom.
Yue went there and washed his face clean. He flattened out his hair with his best efforts and walked out.
The young girl was carrying a huge box with difficulty.
He ran to her to help.
"You come lift this. I will be paying you ten dollars per hour....." she almost dropped the crate. "Holy shit. Where did you come from?" she whispered under her breath.
"Um, from the bathroom,"
The girl suddenly touched his face. "Oh dear lord look at that skin. It's flawless. You really do resemble her,"
Zou Yue's eyes trembled slightly. "d—does she look like me?"
"yeah like 70%, but her eye shape is different in other than that." she placed a hand over his eyes and glanced at his chin and lips. "Definitely alike,"
Zou Yue smiled widely. "I see... do you have a photo of her?"
"I do!" she happily ran inside the small room. She reached out to the top shelf of the messy clutter and took out a small sheet. "Here",
With trembling hands, Yue took it from her. But soon his excitement only came to disappointment.
The photo was smudged with an unknown substance on it. Only a small part of her chin was seen.
"Shit, I think that must be my ink.." she mumbled, trying to wipe it, but the ink had already dried over.
"Do you have any other photo?"
"No, just this one. I had to pull her to take this one," she said, gesturing to the photo. The young lady's face was clearly seen. She was happily hugging his elder sister's shoulders tight.
Yue gently caressed the ink smudge. "Was she happy?"
"I believe so.. but Tian Ai was complicated. She rarely expressed her feelings outright. But when you get to know her, you get to see the kindest and sweetest girl you will ever know," the young girl smiled softly.
Suddenly, she patted his arms. "You said you will help me out, right? Why don't you start by helping me make Kimichi?"
"Gladly. but can I have this photo as a payment?"
"Sure if you want to," she pulled him to the small room and showed him the huge tub filed with Chinese cabbage. "gloves." she tossed a small glove at him.
Yue swiftly got to it. He rubbed the spices in to the cabbage and smashed it a little to give it a good taste.
The young girl watched him intently. "Have I seen you before?"
Yue glanced at the newspaper scattered on the ground. His photo in that party was printed with a bold title saying Murong granddaughter was bullied?!
He chuckled softly. 'I bet Tian Ai saw this. I hope she did not give up hope on her family,'
"I have definitely seen you somewhere," she mumbled softly, placing all the spiced up cabbages in another basket.
"I don't think you would have," Yue whispered.
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