Night of the Broken Gliph

“Little brother Chui, why are you here again? Are you going home?” The coachman laughed. He was always happy to see Chui Yim. “Nope, I’m going to my friend’s home this time. It’s West of Borneon,” Chui Yim answered politely as he pulled Lam Ming onto the coach. 

“This kid isn’t like you! He’s a shy one! Hahaha!” The coachman glanced at Lam Ming, laughing. 

“Yeah, I do have thicker skin.” Chui Yim nodded in agreement. Thanks to their deal, Chui Yim only paid ten silver taels for the trip. 

Watching Chui Yim spend the ten silver taels, Lam Ming’s eyes showed pain under his fringe. He pulled Chui Yim over and whispered, “Brother Chui, I don’t understand what you said about time being money, but I know that the ten silver taels you just spent was real money! It isn’t too tiring to walk, and we won’t waste money either.” 

“Kiddo, that’s not true.” 

The coachman said as he directed his hardyhorse west. He was obviously skilled as the transition was smooth. “Look, you’re saving two hours for just ten silver taels, four if you count the both of you. Not just that, but you’re paying for my service too, and you can do anything you want on the wagon. For young brother Chui, he usually reads, rests or cultivates on his way home, which is something that you can’t do if you walk.

“My partner needs food too.” The coachman laughed, patting his hardyhorse. “Both of us need food and shelter, and ten silver taels really isn’t much.” 

Chui Yim smiled thinly at the coachman’s words, while Lam Ming went deep into thought. After realising that he saw Chui Tin as a father, Chui Yim now saw Lam Ming as a true friend after his company yesterday. As friends, Chui Yim felt that he should impart some of his matured mindset to him. But since everyone had a different set of values, Chui Yim only brought up the idea and left Lam Ming to think about it himself. 

Who knew if Lam Ming might conclude something different from him?

But that will be his choice to make. 

Seeing that both children kept silent, the coachman went back to concentrating on the journey. 

Taking the hardyhorse was indeed much faster than walking. They arrived at Borneon within half an hour. 

Lam Ming pointed out where his house was and the coachman followed his directions. They reached their destination in no time. 

After Chui Yim and Lam Ming got down. Lam Ming started digging inside his huge backpack for something. It wasn’t easy, and he only managed to find it after some time. 

It turned out to be a giant bun. It was larger than regular buns, and it looked like a piece of large flatbread. He made it for himself to eat while walking home. 

“Old coachman, you are right. Both you and your horse need food. Here’s a bun for you, can you give us a larger discount when you ferry us again?” 

The coachman and Chui Yim exchanged glances before bursting into laughter. “Young brother Chui, your friend is so cute! Hahaha! Alright! I’ll give you a larger discount in the future, hahaha!” The coachman left as he munched onto the bun. “This bun is surprisingly good… hmm… It’s fine to give them a discount…”

Chui Yim smiled. This might be how Lam Ming deals with things. It’s very much like him. 

Both kids continued on their journey. After a turn, they arrived at a house. Rather than a village, it looked more like a hidden house. 

The house was deep inside the woods, right next to a lake. It was a small wooden house surrounded by many colourful plants and flowers arranged beautifully outside. 

There was a white path made of crushed rocks among the bush that made crackling noises when stepped on. Chui Yim was amazed at the sight before him. He turned to look at Lam Ming, who looked like someone in poverty and then back at the stylish and beautiful house. They didn’t seem to go well together. 

“Mummy, I’m home!” Lam Ming ran into the house, stepping on the white coloured stones. He ran so fast that Chui Yim was startled. He looked like a snail that actually had the speed of a rabbit. Perhaps he is physically strong, too?

Chui Yim followed behind slowly. He didn’t go into the house but stood outside. It was a simple house that didn’t even have a segregated kitchen. The stove and kitchenware were in the living room, near a big stove fueled by firewood.

It was a weird design, seeing how they put the kitchen and living room together. Chui Yim spotted two small doors in the house, and one should be Lam Ming’s room. 

“You’re back?” A gentle voice rang out, and Chui Yim saw Lam Ming hugging a woman who was facing him. The woman had her hair tied in a bun, and she wasn’t very tall. 

Lam Ming snuggled up into her hug, breathing the woman’s scent greedily. Only after a while did he remember Chui Yim’s presence. “Mother, I brought brother Chui back with me!” 

“Oh?” The woman turned around slowly, looking at Chui Yim. “You’re the Siu Yim that Siu Ming always spoke about? Come in, don’t just stand there. Just treat this as your home.” 

Chui Yim was in a daze seeing the woman. She looked like an ordinary woman, but if you looked closer, you would be able to see Lam Ming in her. She had a gentle smile that was best described as similar to the sunset: it wasn’t the brightest glow, but rather one that gave off warmth. 

It made Chui Yim relax. 

“Um… Sorry to trouble you.”