Ping'an Lane, at the gate of the courtyard where Chen Xu resides.
A young boy with wheat-colored skin was curled up, squatting by the door. Beside him was a pair of baskets, filled to the brim but covered with a coarse linen cloth, making it impossible to discern what was inside at a glance.
The boy was dressed in a half-old, not-new indigo short coat. Although the cuffs and lapels were patched, they were kept neat and clean.
Chen Xu alighted from the carriage at the end of the lane, leaned on his crutch, and came to the front of his home. The moment he made eye contact with the boy, the boy immediately leapt up joyfully from the ground.
"Second Brother!" the boy called out repeatedly, rushing forward with joy and enthusiasm, but came to a halt just as he was about to collide with Chen Xu.
Then, his gaze fell on Chen Xu's right hand holding the crutch, and his expression changed instantly: "Second Brother, what happened to you?"
