In rural China, there is a saying, "The cock crows at midnight, the dog barks at daybreak".
On this day, the village chief's well-fed and robust rooster crowed four times, yet the tranquil Liu Jia mountain village remained silent.
It was only when Dahuang, the dog at his side, licked him several times that Gu Chichi finally groggily rubbed his eyes.
It was pitch black outside, still raining heavily without stopping for three days and nights.
"Grandfather…"
"What's this about grandfather? You rascal, you better get up and beg for food for me!"
Before Gu Chichi could finish speaking, Liu Juyan kicked him.
The Liu's home was tiny, and Gu Chichi was living in a makeshift doghouse outside the yard. At this time, a kick from Juyan almost kicked this seven-year-old baby into the slush!
"Beg for... food…" Gu Chichi sniffled due to his frozen nose, recalling that his home with his grandfather had already been occupied by Liu Juyan and her alcoholic man.
Six months ago, his kindly grandfather, out of pity for her husbandless state, let her live with them.
Who knew that in such a short time, not only did Liu Juyan quickly consider this place her home, but she also forced Gu Chichi, at the mere age of seven, to beg for food every day before dawn.
He had been begging for six months.
During this half-year, he and his grandfather lived on charity meals while Liu Juyan and her man not only occupied their house but also started farming, their lives improving progressively.
Gu Chichi shot Juyan a resentful glance but still unwillingly slid open the door gap, "I'll go, I'll beg for food right now! But I still want to see Grandfather first!"
Since his birth, Gu Chichi was left in this small mountain village by his parents, and his grandfather was his only relative.
After Grandpa Ah broke his leg half a year ago, his condition has been getting worse...
"What are you looking at, huh?" The drunken Er Mazir roughly shoved Gu Chichi away. "If I can't beg for food later, I'll sell you to Wang Ergou at the village entrance to be his wife!"
Everyone knew that Wang Ergou was a shameless old lecher who would only stoop to petty theft.
Gu Chichi shivered and picked up her bowl, which had a corner missing, from the rainwater. Wiping her tears, she ran off.
Liu's village was impoverished. Getting food was always a problem. Gu Chichi had long become a notorious little beggar within miles. Thus, when it was daylight, she didn't manage to get much good food.
Starved to the point of feeling faint, Gu Chichi unknowingly walked toward the village head's house.
"Grandpa Village Chief..." She scratched her head, managing a shy smile.
"Is it Chichi? Have you eaten yet?"
The Village Chief was a kind old man. He glanced at Gu Chichi's empty bowl and knew what happened.
He let out a sigh, "Qiaolian, fill up Chichi's bowl with some leftover rice, and some cornbread..."
"Why should I?!"
The Village Chief's daughter-in-law had long been fed up with this little beggar who kept turning up during meal times. She put on a stern face instantly.
"Is our household wealthier or do we have more land than others? Why does she keep coming here to beg for food? She can't even carry a pail of water. What good is there in keeping her? Even a dog is more useful than her!"
"Qiaolian..."
As the Village Chief was about to say something, his daughter-in-law burst into tears, "It has been raining non-stop for three days and nights. I don't know how long the dam at the entrance of the village can hold! I saw a few families packing their belongings and preparing to leave today. What if our village gets flooded? Can you... can you still think about the life and death of this little beggar?!"
"The dam hasn't fallen yet. What are you panicking about!" The Village Chief filled Chichi's bowl with rice. "If it really comes to that point..."
Bang!
Before the Village Chief could finish, the door was flung open forcibly.
A group of panicked villagers rushed in, shouting, "Village Chief, it's terrible! The dam has collapsed! The water is coming down from the mountain, Old Gu's house is already flooded!"
