Xie Liangchen waited for a long time in front of the blacksmith shop before the apprentice came out wiping sweat.
The young apprentice was only about ten years old and usually helped the blacksmith stoke the fire. His face was dark from spring to winter, perhaps stained by smoke or scorched by fire.
"Sister Chen," the apprentice was very delighted upon seeing Xie Liangchen.
Xie Liangchen handed the boy a bag of beans: "Hei Dan asked me to bring these for you." Every time they visited, they would bring some food for the apprentice.
The apprentice looked embarrassed: "Sister, you don't need to bring me more, life isn't easy at Chen Family Village."
Xie Liangchen smiled: "It's not worth much, just something to pass the time with."
Kids always liked having something to snack on, and these beans were pretty much all that could be spared from Chen Family Village.
The apprentice lowered his eyes as he accepted the beans: "Thank you, Sister Chen."
