Chapter 20 - Someone’s Lying (1/2)

Jing Yi had been avoiding each and every girl of the village for two entire weeks. The women, who had called his reaction cute at first, weren't sure what to think anymore.

Madam Qiguan just laughed. ”Didn't I say so? He's just a coward. Which boy would run from a bunch of girls?”

Madam Pan, who had still argued for the boy some days ago, didn't know how to react. It wasn't surprising, that he ran away, when he saw Fa Chao Fu. That could be explained. But why did he also run from the rest? He couldn't have thought, that all girls were that troublesome, right?

Thinking of that, her maternal instinct kicked in. Her own boys were such troublesome creatures, she couldn't let such a cute and obedient boy go to waste! Her younger sister had just given birth to a baby-girl. Looking at all those boys, she could marry, when she grew up, Zhong Jing Yi was definitely the best. She couldn't let him come to be afraid of girls!

With this thought in mind, Madam Pan made her way out of the circle of women discussing the latest news and went over to where Madam Zhong and her son were.

Madam Zhong looked up, her eyes vigilant. She still hadn't forgotten how Madam Pan had tried to hinder her back then, when she had wanted to get her child. Who knew if something might have happened to Jing Yi, if the daoist master hadn't shown up?

Madam Pan knew, what Madam Zhong thought. Ever since then, she had mostly been ignored by her or treated with mistrust. She found it a little too much, but she understood, that Jing Yi was Madam Zhong's only child and that she was just over protective, so she didn't say anything.

”Ah, Madam Zhong, I heard from the others, that Jing Yi was a little afraid of the girls?”

”What about it?” Madam Zhong grasped Jing Yi's shoulders and pulled him a little closer to her.

Qiu Ling, who leaned not far from them at the corner of a house, lifted his head and watched Madam Pan. What is she doing now? Something seemed fishy, but he wasn't sure, what was going on.

”Mn, I … I was just asking myself, if there is a special reason? Maybe we can help somehow? Jing Yi is such a nice child. It would be a pity if he always had to be afraid around the girls. He doesn't like playing with the boys already, no?”

Madam Zhong pressed her lips together. That was indeed true. Jing Yi was always alone. As much as she loved having her child always around her and was afraid of him coming to harm, when he was out of her sight, she still didn't want to restrict him too much.

”I don't know of any special reason.” Her tone was a little more reconcilable than normally.

Madam Pan nodded and squatted down in front of Jing Yi. ”Jing Yi, is there something wrong with the girls, that you don't want to play with them?”

Jing Yi didn't answer. He still remembered, what the old man had told him. He couldn't tell anyone!

”You know, it's such a pity not playing with them. Who are you going to marry in the future, if you don't spend time with them?”

Qiu Ling snorted. The person he is going to marry? That would obviously be me! No reason to bring up any girls. My beloved doesn't have any need for them.

Jing Yi also didn't seem to care for Madam Pan's attempt to persuade him. Madam Zhong patted his head. ”It's alright. If he doesn't want to, Jing Yi doesn't have to spend time with them.”