Translator: AlfredoPoutineSoup  Editor: DesTheSloth
âFortunately, I found some sweet potatoes.â Old Feng said with smiles, âBut the fruit tastes sour.â
Tao Xiaman looked at Old Feng. She felt relaxed upon hearing his voice and smiled. âI havenât eaten sweet potatoes in a long time.â
Old Feng tried to ask her. âCan you see anything now?â
Tao Xiaman shook his head with smiles. âYes. I can see now but it is very blurred.â
Old Feng sighed with a relief. He sat down and buried the sweet potatoes under the bonfires. âNo wonder you look happier now.â
Tao Xiaman spread her hands to the fire and nodded, âI never thought how a bit of light was so important.â
Old Feng didnât respond.
Tao Xiaman asked, âOld man, can you borrow me your cellphone?â
Old Feng shook his head and answered, âDo you want to call your families? But I donât have one.â
Tao Xiaman sighed, âI want to call my fiancé. He must be worried now.â
Old Feng reminded, âItâs foggy now. I will take you back tomorrow.â
âThatâs the only way left.â Tao Xiaman felt sorry, âOld man, sorry. You wouldnât have to stay here if you didnât meet me.â
Old Feng shook his head, âItâs okay. Chatting with you is better thanâ¦â He lowered his voice and looked at Tao Xiaman, ââ¦staying alone.â
Thinking of his words, Tao Xiaman empathized with this solitary old man. âOld man, did your daughter abandon you? Why do you not meet with her?â
âItâs all my fault.â Old Feng shook head.
âErâ¦â Tao Xiaman comforted him, âOld man, you should speak to her directly, you two are not enemies.â
Old Feng broke off the firewood and whispered, âReally?â
Tao Xiaman sighed, âMaybe⦠I have no right to say so. I havenât seen my father in a long time too.â
âWhy not?â Old Feng raised his voice.
Tao Xiaman said nothing and hugged her knees. She was sinking into deep thought while looking at the fire.
Old Feng sighed too. âSorry.â
âNo⦠itâs nothing.â Tao Xiaman shook her head.
She wanted to share her feelings but she couldnât find a suitable person. The old man knew nothing about her. Maybe he would be a great listener. âOld man, Iâ¦â She raised her head, âMy father is a murderer.â
Old Feng trembled. He put the firewood down and managed to breathe shallowly.
âWill you despise me?â Tao Xiaman was nervous.
âOf course not.â Old Feng shook his head, âI have no right to look down upon others.â
âOld man, youâ¦â
âItâs nothingâ Old Feng took a deep breath, âEveryone has their story. I have nothing to comment about others.â
Tao Xiaman smiled with a relief, âThe world will be more peaceful if people can be tolerant as you are.â
Old Feng frowned, âDo you care a lot about how people see you?â
Tao Xiaman shook head and continued, âI donât know. I canât remember a lot of things from my childhood. But some will still come into my mind just like a clock, reminding me when I forget them⦠I am afraid of them.â
âAfraid?â
Tao Xiaman raised her head and tried to hold back her tears in an effort, âAt that time when my father was arrested⦠the families of that victim vented their anger on meâ¦â
Tao Xiamn smiled bitterly, âCan you imagine that⦠they accused me of being a daughter of a bloody murderer⦠Everyone gave me cold looksâ¦â
âHow could they treat you like this! You are just a kid.They! They! They! â Old Feng was sorrowful. He threw the wood into the fire heavily.
Tao Xiaman was shocked, âOld man, why are⦠you so agitated?â
âIâ¦â Old Feng sighed, âI heartily sympathize with you!You shouldnât undertake your fatherâs faults.â
Tao Xiaman smiled bitterly. âI donât knowâ¦maybe this way, they can they feel better.â
The cave was quiet. A tantalizing aroma of sweet potatoes filled the air.
âItâs done, right?â Tao Xiaman said lightly, âIt smells good.â
âWait a moment.â Old Feng nodded. He held the food with hands after taking it from the fire by wood but the potato was too hot causing Old Feng to be scalded and he shouted out.
âAre you alright?â Tao Xiaman held Old Fengâs finger and blew. âWhy didnât you wait until ti got cooler?â
âI was impatient.â Old Feng smiled bitterly
Tao Xiaman started smiling and put the potato in her hands carefully using her sleeve. She added, âMy father was always burned by hot potatoes too.â
âYouâ¦still remember that?â
âWhat?â Tao Xiaman was stunned.
âNothing, letâs start eating.â
âHere you go.â Tao Xiaman smiled and provided Old Feng with half of the potato.
They began eating without a word.
This was the most delicious potato that Old Feng ever tasted these years. A meal, where he could chat and see his girl happily. He had looked forward to this meal for many years.
â¦
Old Feng didnât notice when Tao Xiaman began to fall asleep. She had gone through too much today. He was watching the fire as it died out. He still wanted to ask her more. âXiaman? Xiaman?â
âYes?âShe gave a yawn. âIs something the matter?â
âDo you want to see your father? Maybe he misses you.â
âI donât knowâ¦â She was too tired, âI donâtâ¦knowâ¦how to face himâ¦â
âXiamanâ¦â Old Feng turned back and saw her sleeping. He sighed, âXiaman, I am sorry.â
â¦
Old Feng broke off the firewood one by one gradually and threw them into the fire. He sat alone at midnight with a newfound inner peace. Walking toward Xiaman, he tried to touch her face gently⦠but he dared not.
Maybe she had a great dream now as he could see her smile on her face. Old Feng sighed and walked out of the cave under the misty moonlight. He stood for a while and made a decision.
âYou can show up now.â Old Feng said, âI know you are there⦠Boss.â Luo Qiu appeared after his word.
âIs there anything you summoned me for?â Luo Qiu asked.
Old Feng sighed after a silence. âThank you for your help with this meeting⦠Itâs enough.â
âIt is nothing, thatâs my promise.â Luo Qiu looked at the watch and continued, âHer eyes will recover soon.â
Old Feng nodded. He wanted to say something but not. Finally, he requested, âSend me back to the prisonâ¦â
âCustomer.â Luo Qiu said, âAccording to our contract, the deal has begun. You will get nothing if you stop here. But if you go ahead, I can let you go back to finish that wedding dress.â
âIt doesnât matter now.â Old Feng looked at that cave deeply. âIt was valuable to have a dinner and chat with her. I have no regrets now. I only care for myself but did not think about her feelings. I shouldnât be in her life. Her life would be beautiful without meâ¦â Old Feng walked to Luo Qiu. âSoâ¦send me back, please.â
âI understand. I will make it as you wish.â
â¦
Tao Xiaman woke up from the cold air.
She could see clearly now but she didnât find that old man who accompanied with her last night. She noticed the fire had died out with only a coat covering her. Later, she heard someone calling her name. It seemed that many people were looking for her. Walking out of the cave, she found a helicopter in the sky.
It was dawn. âHelp, Iâm here! Iâm here!â She shouted.
A while later, someone from the rescue team found her. She looked back at the cave, feeling that everything that happened felt like a dream.