Generosity

"Mr Shi, you don't look like from this area?" Chao Xiang asked changing the subject after seeing his awkward reaction. And he didn't want to corner himself any further.

"Ah… I'm from the north, came here to take the scholar exam that will be held during the mid-autumn festival." Bo Lin replied without delay.

"Oh... I see, I hope your struggles are not in vain and will fulfil as you wish" glad the atmosphere was relaxed but he knew he had to put off being in the forest longer than he wanted. So, he just wanted to quickly end this conversation and go home with Qing Yang because his wife must have been waiting at home, worried.

"Thank you for your prayers, I will try my best" he simply answered and firmly because he didn't want to disappoint Chao Xiang.

"Hmm…. Can you walk?" asked Chao Xiang wanting to make sure he didn't abandon the person she just helped go in vain.

Bo Lin tried to get up on his own but with both hands wrapped in cloth, he couldn't rely on his hands to support himself to get up. So, he used both sides of his back arm, pressing against the tree behind him. Then he stood up straight. He frowned slightly as his knees when it straightened out, his face looking pained but luckily not as painful as it was when the wound hadn't been treated.

Then he tried to walk, unfortunately his legs act against his will, his body was unbalanced, and almost fell to the ground again if not for Chao Xiang's spontaneous resistance.

"I think it's better that take you to your destination" said Chao Xiang decided which was answered with a shy smile on Bo Lin's face.

"I'm sorry Mr Shu for troubling you again" Bo Lin tried to bow but with his body wrapped by Chao Xiang it was not possible for him to move much.

"Alright, let's get out of this forest first." After saying that Chao Xiang leaned Bo Lin against the tree behind him.

He stepped over to the place where the medicinal plant pot was. he lift it up, then swing back to his back so that it can be in the pelvis on his shoulders. Then he tidied up his bag which Qing Yang had opened to collect the dew. After he finished, he then walked towards Bo Lin again. But before that he stopped before Qing Yang and spoke. "Qing Yang, can you help me carry my bag?" she quickly nodded her head and took the bag from her father's hand.

Chao Xiang held Bo Lin's left hand, lifting it to the level of his shoulder. Wrapped his arms around his neck. With a nod from Chao Xiang the three of them stepped out of the forest.

After leaving the forest, Chao Xiang asked Bo Lin again, "Mr Shi, where are you headed? I'll take you there."

"If it's not too much trouble, can Mr Shu take me to an inn which is not far from the palace and which is not too expensive?" he asked hesitantly, feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable had troubled Chao Xiang a lot.

"Oh, I thought you have relatives or at least acquaintances to stay, while you take the scholar exams," said Chao Xiang, confused. From Bo Lin's clothes, he is not someone from the lower-class family like himself. At least he's from a noble family. But it turns out that appearances can deceive anyone.

"Ah… I don't have any relatives and acquaintances here, Mr Shu, if you don't mind, because I don't know this area either," said Bo Lin, holding back his pitiful face because he didn't want to look too weak, especially in front of a little girl who had been watching him for a long time towards him with sharp eyes.

Chao Xiang thought for a moment, from the appearance of Bo Lin not like a criminal. Moreover, he came all the way here just to take the scholar exam. It would be very unfortunate if he met a criminal, robbed him and in the end, he couldn't attend to the scholar exam.

With this conclusion, he said without hesitation, "What if you stay at our house, but you know we are not noble people, so our house is far from nice and luxurious but at least comfortable to live in. you can sleep in the storage room if you don't mind as we only have one bedroom for the three of us."

Hearing this, Bo Lin's eyes opened wide with emotion. He did not expect that Chao Xiang could be so generous to him. After all, they just got to know each other. "Thank you for your kindness, no Mr Shu, no problem at all to me. I can sleep anywhere" he said trying to bend down, wanting to express his deepest gratitude.

The three of them, went back to Chao Xiang's house. Qing Yang walked in front who occasionally glanced back. Making sure that she didn't walk too fast leaving her father and the person her father had just helped.

Bo Lin limped along being led by Chao Xiang. Passing a path that sometimes has large boulders or holes in several places because of the carriage wheels that running too fast, causing the road to be damaged. The road began to flatten as it passed the village by the coast. Passed by some people's houses. And finally arrived at the front of the house.

Qing Yang was too eager to tell her mother that they had brought a stranger into the house, shouting "Mom, we are Home" impatiently she pushed the door open and then rushed in shouting "Mom…, Mom…."

Her mother had been waiting anxiously because they didn't usually come home late. Coming out of the house, smiling to see Qing Yang running towards her. When she was close to her mother, Qing Yang put her hands on her mother's legs and said "Mother, there is a scholar brother" she said briefly which made his mother's eyebrows knit together, squinting her eyes trying to digest her daughter's words.

Soon Chao Xiang entered from the gate with a stranger beside him. Amazed.

Chao Xiang explained everything to his wife regarding him bringing home foreigners who would stay at home while he took the scholar exams.

"You don't mind, do you?" he asked his wife with a calm but pleading face. Because he knows his wife does not carelessly accept strangers into their house, moreover, this is for the safety of her daughter.

"You know, I can never refuse your request if you show that pitiful face of your like that" said his wife squinting at her husband with a wide smile on her lips while shaking her head.

"You take him to the storage room to rest, I will start preparing dinner" his wife informed him, turning her body towards the kitchen but before stepping she looked at her daughter "Come, Qing Yang, help me prepare dinner". She reached out her hand and was greeted by her daughter enthusiastically. The two of them left Chao Xiang and Bo Lin, who had been sitting in the front yard of the house since a long time ago.

Chao Xiang walked over to him "Come, Mr Shi, I'll take you to your room the rest, but before that do you need to wash your face first?" he informed as he asked which was answered with a slight nod by Bo Lin. Then he held Bo Lin's right arm with both hands. Helping him stood up and they both walked off the terrace.

The afternoon passed quickly, the bright bluish clouds changed to a reddish color on the western horizon. The sun hung elegantly there. like a pendant that gives off the warmth of twilight.

Qing Yang ran nimbly between the dining room and the kitchen. Store cutlery and bring food that is ready to be served at the dining table. After all ready. Qing Yang ran to the terrace of the house to call her father, who had been sitting in the courtyard for an hour chatting with the scholar brother.

"Father, Mother said, dinner is ready." Qing Yang said in a small voice beside her father, embarrassed. Trying to hide herself from scholar brother.

Chao Xiang smiled at her, pinched her chubby cheeks, and said "OK, let's eat together" he said to Qing Yang, then he turned to look at Bo Lin. Helped him stood up then walked into the dining room.

The atmosphere of the dining room is full of warmth. Bo Lin felt that he was welcome in this house without any distance between strangers. And he was very grateful to have met them.