Let Go of that Eunuch! [Fantasy/Humor | COMPLETED]

25. Noodle Soup

"So you're my grandma?" I mumble through a mouthful of delicious noodles. Without waiting for her answer, I slurp up another mouthful of noodles, my cheeks bulging like a squirrel storing acorns for the winter.

"I should never have let you go," The old woman dabs at her eyes with the corner of her apron. "My poor child... (sniff)... now you've even lost your memory..."

Seeing her getting emotional again, I try to change the topic.

"Ahem... um, how did I end up in the palace?"

Grandma Jin sloshes the soup around angrily as she recalls the day her son's debtors held him for ransom. It turns out that Jin's father had a terrible gambling addiction. Even his wife leaving wasn't enough to stop him from going back to the Du Fang's (Casino's) cup and dice games. At the thought of this, Grandma Jin throws the clean chopsticks back into their wooden container with a loud clatter.

"Your useless father had gathered so much debt that they threatened to kill him if we didn't come up with money straight away."

I nod thoughtfully, picking up a salted peanut and popping it in my mouth as though I was listening to someone else's story. Which, come think of it, I was. 😳

"I told them they could do whatever they wanted, I'd disowned that man years ago and he had nothing to do with us now! But they didn't believe me... they just wouldn't leave us alone. Fu Zhai Zi Chang, they said..."

(Fu Zhai Zi Chang: A father's debt should be paid off by his son.)

"...So you sold me into the palace?" I ask casually.

Grandma Jin's mouth droops as though she was hurt by my words. However, she quickly regains composure by taking in a deep breath.

"No dear, you did that to yourself. What's more, at the time, they were only taking young boys in to become eunuchs..." Her eyes start watering again as she shakes her head sadly. "Since you left, you never once contacted me. You must've blamed me..."

Eek, I wasn't good with waterworks. Handing her a greasy cloth, I mumble, "Uh, ah...I'm here now, aren't I?"

She sniffles, using the cloth to wipe her eyes before settling into the seat next to me.

"Jin, tell me you're not thinking of going back there...?"

I think of Director Lan whose splitting image I could paint with my eyes closed. I think of the fellow eunuchs who lived only to serve their masters. I think of the child and woman brutally slaughtered on the street, of Monk Yang's blood splattered against the pure white snow, unfurling like a shower of plum flower petals.

"No," I reply quietly, placing the bowl on the table. "I won't be going back."

Grandma's wrinkles break out into a relieved smile. She pats the back of my hand softly. "Good, good."

I stand up, assisting her with the closing of the stall.

The next day, there were more guards patrolling the streets than usual. Apparently, there had been a major change in the palace.

I try to ignore the whispers spreading throughout the city as I went about my daily activities.

One of the most powerful men beside the emperor himself... arrested... beheading in four days...

I immediately think of Director Lan, and my heart skips a beat.

Well, it might not be him.

Besides, even if it was him, it served him right for committing all those evil crimes! >_< Not to mention, he didn't even bother pretending to consider taking responsibility for his perverted actions towards me.

Hmmmph!

I shrug off the heavy feeling in my stomach, carrying a wicker basket filled with seasonal vegetables back to Grandma's stall.

I spend the next few days learning how to split firewood and raise a proper fire. I kept myself busy by memorising the exact amount and type of herbs and spices that needed to be put into different bone broths to make tasty soup. I kneaded and stretched lumps of dough out into thin strands of noodles and cleaned hundreds of empty bowls. I didn't give myself any time to think of Director Lan.

"Ow!"

Putting down the scallions I was chopping, I study the cut on my finger before wiping my hands on a cloth. It had been three days since I last saw the Director and I was growing more distracted with each passing day.

"This is ridiculous!" I berate myself, "He was the one who told you never to show your face to him again! And now you have the candour to worry about him?"

Angel Jin: ......Um, yeah? 😳😳😳

I pause for a second before throwing the cloth onto the table, dashing into Grandma Jin's modest hut, changing into a clean set of clothes and dashing back out again.

"Where are you going, Jin?" Grandma calls out worriedly from the courtyard. She was in the middle of feeding wheat grains to the three fat chickens we owned. Rest assured they were very much alive and definitely not charcoaled zombie chickens. Ahem.

"I forgot the potatoes!" I shout back, hurrying out onto the street. "I'll be back soon!"

"What?" Grandma yells, confused. "But we don't need any potatoes!" 😐

I wave at her as I run out onto the street, "Bye Gran!"

Grandma heads into the kitchen, picking up the scallion I had so cold-heartedly deserted and shaking her head at the stove.

"But Jin, this soup won't taste good with potatoes..." she laments  sadly.

~•~

A/N: Oh, I forgot to add a note! Why are my chapters getting lengthier? 😂 Buddha, please take me back to the 500 word chapters near the start of this story!

(Buddha: Why you bring me into this chapter la? You can't do one without me, no? 🌚)