Fetching water

Stepping out of the door into the open, Tang He looked around as he would always do.

Birds were flying overhead, chirping their most recent melody, behind them the blue sky with a couple of pure white clouds in the distance. On the ground he saw the yellowing crops forming beautiful patterns as the wind blew through them and far off in the distance the dark green woods tried to give off their ominous presence.

As his mother knew he hated walking, especially after his chores done. She never explicitly warned him not to go into the forest, but Tang He knew anyways that it could be dangerous. Beasts ruled there and only a caravan could get through the roads unharmed.

Sadly, he couldn't see the river from his home, as the crops barred the view. Tang He had always loved watching the water flow. When he had nothing to do, he would go there and just daze into it never noticing the time going by with the water. Often one of his elder brothers would even come to fetch him then. Not without complaint, of course!

< Such a magnificent view! >

When Frank saw the world around full of life. He sighed and refocused.

< You need to get water every morning? >

'Mhh!'

Tang He started moving to the kitchen where he would find the bucket.

< Don't you have fields next to your home? Can't you take the water there? >

While walking Tang He brought his hand to his chin and said with a thinking expression:

'Ahh… mother told me the water is dirty, because of Fu Peng's rice fields. Father and he fought once about it.'

< I guess your father didn't win? >

'Everything got solved when backer Bai came and said, that it would be nice to have a second well in the village. I remember Village Chief Su having me counting some distances for that.'

The metal bucket wasn't shiny at all. There was actually rust flaking off on the inner side.

Disgusted Frank imagined drinking unclean water with rust swimming all around.

< Oh… I really hope the water in the well is clean! >

A bit amused Tang He answered:

'All clean. And father always says that if it ain't kill you it'll make ye stronger!'

< Oh sure, you will get strong… strong heavy metal poisoning that is. Having Iron like this is the same as eating small knifes >

Dragging the bucket outside, Tang He was intrigued:

'Isn't all metal heavy?'

Frank responded:

< Different kinds of metal weigh more or less. For example, gold is very heavy! >

Remembering something Tang He answered:

'Village Chief Su let me hold a gold coin once. It was much lighter than the bucket!'

< If you made a bucket the same size and thickness as this one from gold it would be more than two times heavier! >

A bit amused Frank started explaining while they headed to the well with a bucket in hands.

'Wooaahh! But isn't that a lot of gold?'

'Village Chief once got very angry when I mentioned 5 gold coins – you should better not let him hear what you just said, haha'

Tang He was chuckling, whereas Frank started thinking again:

< Gold as currency? Please, don't tell me there is silver and copper too… >

'100 copper in one silver and 100 silver in a gold coin. Why don't you like that?'

Disappointed Frank murmured:

< …horse-carriages, primitive housing with no running water or electricity, missing education and very old currency… >

< At the very least the country we are in, is absolutely non-industrialised. >

< What happened here? >

Frank assumed he woke up way in the future but still on earth. If it wasn't earth or they were in another universe altogether, Frank wouldn't be able to make too many conclusions. As there is no difference for now, the easiest explanation is most often the best one.

He concluded

< I need more information! >

< Maybe this Chief Su could reveal more about the world. >

Determined to find out more Frank asked:

< Yesterday, weren't you at chief Su's office? When are you going again? >

Remembering the taste of the sweet bun Tang He got excited.

'I don't know, but my mama is going there today. Elder Su wanted to discuss something with her.'

< Maybe you can ask you mother if you can come with her today? >

Smelling an opportunity Frank remarked half-asking.

A gust of wind rushed by. Tang He's face already getting heated up from the sun started feeling cooler again. Enjoying this, he stopped for a moment and closed his eyelids.

'I can ask …'

< Thanks! Do you want to train saying it? >

Eager Tang He opened his eyes again and exclaimed: 'YEAAH!'

Frank knew, that a boy who never speaks to anyone would get undivided attention if he talks for the first time. He can't be too conspicuous though, as that would warrant unwanted attention.

A harmless request like that should be a piece of cake in his opinion.

< Okay. Try and say it then on you own! >

Tang He thought for a short moment and said aloud:

"Mam, ca…I…com…withyuu…tuuuday?"

< Hmm! Not too bad already. I'll let you listen to me saying it, so pay attention…>

Tang He was silent, trying to listen to any slightest noise that would come to his ear. Of course, that would be a bit useless as Frank's voice was in his head. But Frank still applauded the effort.

< Mama, caaaan I coooome wiiithhh youuuu tooodaaay? >

< Now repeat! >

"Maama, caaaanI cooome wifuuu tooodayyyy?"

< You can do it!>

< …Wiiiith yooouuu… > Frank repeated

"Wifyuuuuu?" Tang He tried unsure.

< Better already! You are going to speak just like you brothers in no time at all!>

Just like that they spent the whole way to the well exercising and speaking. At the end Tang He was able to say it pretty decently as Frank didn't mind repeating himself over and over.

He did like working with children - even repetitive tasks weren't below him. This took his mind off the strange and difficult situation he was in. Locked in in a body of a small boy his old mind was trying its best not to think too much about anything, as that could hamper his relationship with the only living thing he could interact with.

Good thing Frank loved children.

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The well was not too far away from the Bai family and the pigpen a couple of families in the village used together. Because it was very early in the morning not many pigs were awake and Tang He couldn't hear much else then the rustling of the wind.

On the well two poles were connected by a beam at which's centre a thick rope hung dung into the darkness. But still reflections from the water could be seen on the walls and the roof of the well. Bright stripes ran across the greyish surfaces. In-between the cracks of some of the larger stones specks of green could even be found. A crank was positioned on the beam at one side.

For Tang He this crank was rather difficult to use as it was higher up that his shoulders and when it was on the top side he would normally need all of his strength to turn it further.

Today Tang He felt differently.

Without much effort He pulled the waterfilled bucket to the high position and secured the crank with one of the wooden shafts mounted to the pole.

Leaning down Tang He reached for the bucket inside and dragged it to the side of the well where he placed it on the wall.

After releasing the holding shaft, He prepared to carry the full bucket from the well down to the ground to fill his own bucket when Frank interrupted him:

< Hey! Be careful that is heavy! Straighten your back when you lift it! Work from the knees! >

Startled Tang He stopped what he was doing and asked back:

'Why?'

Frank was bit mad about the carelessness of his parents. Letting a small boy in his growth period carry things that heavy without even telling him how to do it without injuring himself. That is just irresponsible!

< It is very bad for your back if bend it like that when you carry heavy weights. >

< If your back isn't strong enough you can even injure yourself for life. Have you seen some of the elders walking with a bent figure? >

Recalling some of the elders Tang He exclaimed:

'Yeah, you are right. So why is that?'

< Many of them probably have back pains and can't really walk straight anymore because of it. >

'Reaallly?'

'Then if I carry this as you said, that won't happen?'

Tang He never knew that that sometinhg like this could occur. His father always told him that when your body hurts after a day of work, then it means he did a good job. And men should never complain.

Remembering some of the days where he tried to sleep but wasn't able to, he worried:

'I had pain in my back sometimes! What should I do?'

< Don't worry! If you are careful from now on everything will be fine. Children heal very well. >

< So if you lift the bucket. Bend your knees. >

Frank added as he wondered:

< Do you always carry a full bucket home? >

'Mhh! But half of it gets lost because I can't carry it properly. Elder brother Guo always laughs at me because of that.'

'But now I feel much stronger. I think I can bring it home more full.'

Startled Frank inquired:

< You feel stronger than …? >

'Yesterday. Today it is much easier lifting this bucket!'

Tang He returned as he picked up the full bucket and his knees bent down to place it on the ground.

Frank was silent as the boy poured the water into his bucket. When he was done he put the now empty bucket back in the well and tried to hold up his one.

< Wanna try something funny? Maybe you can even bring the full bucket home today … >

'Ohh? Tell me! Tell me!'

< Hmm... You can lift that bucket so it should be fine…. >

< Okay let go of the bucket and stand straight… >

< Imagine a pole along your back and hold your head straight. >

Tang He stood still and tried to straighten himself.

< Now, try to walk like that … >

< And remember don't bend over. It is very important! >

Taking it as funny game He started walking around the well in a very awkward fashion trying not to bend over at all. He noticed that he would need to make some steps he normally wouldn't have to so he would not fall.

A couple of minutes later Frank was pleased with the result and said:

< Okay now go to the bucket! >

< Bend your knees down and lift the bucket up. >

< … >

< Yeah, exactly like that! Now, remember your straight back and place the bucket on your head. Don't forget no bending! >

When Tang He placed the bucket on his head it almost fell down again and some of the water splashed down.

< Don't let go of the bucket! >

< Now stand up again. From the knees … exactly like that! >

< Good job! >

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A strange sight would have met anyone traveling on this road. A small boy was walking sometimes even slightly hopping with a bucket of water on his head. This went on for some time when Frank interrupted:

< Are other boys your age stronger than you. Why does your elder brother laugh at you? >

Getting a bit upset Tang He explained, that some boys a couple of years younger like Ma Qing are way stronger than him. And since he got ill a couple of times nobody expects him to become a strong man.

< Do others not become ill? Isn't coughing, having a running nose or getting a fever sometimes pretty normal? >

' No! Other children almost never get ill. Only very old people would get sick. '

< Babies don't get sick? >

'Mama said, healthy child means long good life and sick child is very bad!'

Tang He countered already getting annoyed by that topic.

For the rest of the way home nobody said a word. Understanding this as a delicate topic Frank marvelled in the beauty of the nature around him.

Soon they reached their house.