Romantic tales of sacrifice
Li Xiaobao was a somewhat famous rural writer. He liked to read his completed articles with rhythmic modulation to his woman. Li Xiaobao’s reading was melodious, and the woman would listen with a smile, nodding continuously.
Li Xiaobao lived at the foot of a mountain, surviving on his meager writing fees and the crops he grew, leading a frugal life. The village had two wells: one close to Li Xiaobao’s house, just two hundred meters away; the other farther away, a full two kilometers.
The nearby well had bitter water, which tasted unpleasant; the distant well, however, had sweet water, perfect for making tea with a delicious, mellow flavor.
Li Xiaobao’s woman was the most beautiful wife in the village. Since marrying Li Xiaobao, she devoted herself entirely to taking care of him. Every morning, she would carry two buckets and sway her way to the sweet water well two kilometers away to fetch water.
By this time, Li Xiaobao would also be up, exercising for a while. After breakfast, he would begin reading and writing. When the woman returned, she would always make sure to give him a steaming cup of sweet tea.
The outside world was fascinating, and gradually, many of the village men and women went out to work. Whenever they returned, they brought back many new stories and items. Seeing their lives improve, Li Xiaobao’s woman often lowered her head in thought. Seeing this, Li Xiaobao feared that her heart would be swayed by them, so he would quickly pull her back and gently stroke her head.
Recently, Li Xiaobao’s voice suddenly became hoarse. He read his completed articles to the woman, but his voice sounded dry. The woman listened, quickly shook her head, and told him to stop.
The next day, Li Xiaobao started another day of writing. Soon, the woman came in, handed him a cup of cold water, and then left. Li Xiaobao, feeling extremely thirsty, took a big gulp. “Yuck!” He spat the water out immediately, “Why is this water so bitter? It’s from the bitter well!” Li Xiaobao shouted loudly. He went outside and saw that his woman was already gone.
That night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep: “My woman used to go to the far well to fetch sweet water for me. Now that my voice is hoarse, she should be getting good water for me. Why did she take the shortcut to get bitter water? She mentioned wanting to see the outside world a few days ago. Could she have some other thoughts?”
The next day, he quietly observed his woman. Sure enough, she got up early, picked up a bamboo basket with some clothes in it, and went out. “Is she planning to run away?” Li Xiaobao followed her secretly to find out.
Li Xiaobao followed his woman up a hill. She took out clothes from the basket, changed into rough linen clothes, and entered a dense thorny forest with the basket. Li Xiaobao followed her and saw her picking something under a small tree by a rock, feeling puzzled.
After she left, he went to the rock and found that the small tree was the only bitter tea tree in the village. He had heard his father say that bitter tea brewed with water from the bitter well was the best cure for hoarse voices.
Li Xiaobao seemed to understand something. He hurried home and indeed saw his woman roasting the picked tea leaves in a pot, her hands covered with fine scratches.
Li Xiaobao knew that her hands were scratched by the thorns while picking bitter tea for him. His heart warmed, and tears fell from his eyes. He stepped forward, hugged his wife tightly, and said emotionally, “Thank you, Afang…”
The woman was startled. She looked back at Li Xiaobao, gesturing and signaling something. Li Xiaobao understood: his mute wife was signaling that a cup of filtered sweet bitter well tea was already on the table.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
