Chapter 6: A New Family!
The walk to Cheng's house was freshening as they walked across the lush green lawns, decorated with beautiful flowers and trees. She saw the training grounds from a distance where rows upon rows of students were having their class.
They arrived at a beautiful two-storey house with red tiled roof and brick walls.
"Wow! It looks as if we have entered the world of fairy tales!" Xiu marvelled.
"Rest assured! There are no bears though Goldilocks!" chimed Cheng and they both giggled.
"I can't be Goldilocks! I have black hair!"
Cheng eyed her waist length, shiny black, straight hair and said, "And very beautiful, too! I wish I had hair like you, too!" running her hand through her brown, shoulder length wavy locks.
"Cheng!"
"Hmm"
"I am scared! What if your family doesn't allow me to stay here?"
They had reached the door.
Cheng opened the door, stepped inside, and yelled, "Guys! I am home!!"
She turned back towards Xiu and said, "You need to get inside to find that out!"
As Xiu stepped in, she saw a house that was neat, warm and cosy, making it a perfect home for its inhabitants.
"Cheng! Is that you?" An attractive middle-aged woman came out from what appeared to be the kitchen, as she was still holding a spatula in her hand.
"Mom!" Cheng ran into her embrace.
"Such a surprise! Why didn't you inform us before?"
"That would have ruined my surprise, you know!"
"Oh! And who is she?" Mom asked when she saw a girl behind Cheng.
"She's my friend, Xiu. Xiu, my Mom!"
"Hello Madam Ming!"
"Hey! Who's Madam, Huh? Call me Auntie!"
With that, she came forward and hugged the speechless Xiu. Cheng chuckled at her and then said, "Mom! We are starving! Can we please eat before the complete introductions?"
"Ok! Dinner would be ready in about fifteen minutes. How about you two freshen up? By that time Dad and Dong would be here, too."
Cheng showed her into the guest room on the first floor. It had a wonderful view of the mountains and training grounds. She gave Xiu a change of clothes, "Go take a shower. I'll go and freshen up, too! My room is just beside yours. The room opposite to ours is my younger brother's room. He's not home right now. Come into my room if you need something else. There is zero coverage here, so cell phones are as good as dead here."
"No worries! I don't have a cell. I'll use the old methods of communication if needed," she giggled.
Cheng smiled and left.
They both got down twenty minutes later. Cheng guided her into the kitchen. It was quite a large one, and a part of kitchen was being used as the dining area. It had a large dining table with 12 chairs around it.
"My Mom loves cooking and entertaining a lot!"
Xiu nodded in response.
"Make your self useful girls and lay the table. The boys must be about to come."
"Mom! My Dad is O-L-D, OLD. Not a boy anymore!" Cheng teased her mother.
"He's still a boy for me!" Mom said lovingly.
The girls laughed.
"Hey! Stop making fun of me! You'll know this when you find someone you love!" She scolded them in mock anger.
"You tell me how did you meet Xiu?"
And then they both told her about Xiu's predicament. By the end of the story, Xiu had begun to sob quietly.
Mom left cooking, came and hugged her.
"Silly girl! Why are you crying? You've got us! So what if that rascal has left you? From today onwards, you're my second daughter. Now this is your home, too!" Xiu was touched. She couldn't believe that heavens had sent such nice people her way. She felt that she might, just might get out of her miseries if such kind people were by her side. She hugged her back.
"Thank you so much Auntie! I don't have words to express my gratitude!"
"What gratitude?" A male voice startled them.
"Dad!" Cheng ran to hug him and her brother who was following him.
"My dearest child is home!" Dad kissed her forehead lovingly.
"Yes! She's your dearest child and what are we? Your step children?" Dong smirked
"Don't get jealous! I'm THE best!" Cheng stuck out her tongue at her brother, who hugged her and ruffled her hair.
"I missed you, munchkin!"
"I missed you, too, Bro"
"Uhmm" Dad cleared his throat and said, "We have a guest here"
"Hello Uncle! I am Xiu" she politely introduced her self.
Elder Ming nodded and smiled at her.
"Xiu is going to stay with us. We'll get the introductions done later. Let's eat first or it'll get cold."
The food was delicious. They all ate amongst small talk as the family caught up with each other. Xiu kept eating and listening, feeling for the first time how loving a family could be. Their love and care for each other could be felt easily. Xiu felt safe and warm for the first time in her life. She was truly thankful that Cheng had found her that day, or she would still be stuck there; alone and miserable.
Later, Xiu cleared the kitchen while Cheng washed the dishes. Then they all sat together having green tea, discussing Xiu's case once again. Dad and Dong also welcomed her warmly in their house after hearing her sad tale.
"Dad! Xiu was thinking about taking up a job. She's a doctor by profession."
"What a coincidence! The doctor at our academy had to return to his family as his father was old and sick. How about you join us Xiu?"
"Really?" Xiu was astounded
"See I told you. I am so lucky. Meeting me has changed your luck, too!" They all laughed at Cheng's statement, even the teary eyed Xiu.
"Xiu! We try to have doctors of both traditional Chinese and modern medicine. They both work in coordination, so our students and staff members get the best treatment at the right time. I hope you've nothing against the traditional Chinese medicine. We highly respect the elderly doctor we have with us." Dad explained
"Oh no! Uncle. I strongly believe that in some aspects, only traditional Chinese medicine can work, while in some particular cases, modern medicine works well. I am impressed that you care about your students and academy staff so well. I am sure working with the Elder would benefit my knowledge and experience."
"I must add that the pay is not too much as compared to large cities but agreeable enough for doctors to come forward to offer their services." Dong said
"I cannot thank you enough for taking me in without batting an eye. Any pay is good enough for me. The kindness that you have shown me is something I can never repay."
"Enough with all the melodramatic dialogues every one! Let's hit beds. I am too tired. And Brother, don't you dare wake me up at 4 am for training. I am here for only ten days, and tomorrow I need a break!"
Dong thought for a while and then said, "You're already slacking in the city. All right, all right! I'll give you a day but you have to be on the training ground the next morning on time! And you, too, Xiu!"
"WHAT? Me? I have never trained in my whole life!"
"Doesn't matter. We'll start from the basics. It's the academy rule. Every one has to train!"
"Come on Xiu! It actually is fun once you get the hang of it!" Mom said.
"Yes, Mom is right! Join me for a few days and see how it goes!"
Seeing no other option, Xiu had to agree to this.
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"How could she leave? She had no other place to go!" the first young man said in frustration.
"All of this is because of you! Now I am stuck in this mess. I was looking forward to my vacations. She's ruined them! UHH"
"You need to find her. She couldn't have gone far." The second older man said.
"If you had some brain, you wouldn't have left her alone. It's all your fault that she's missing. You can say goodbye to your vacation, unless you find her within two days."
"AHHH! Why me? I had to think about the mission, too! "
"Because you are her HUSBAND! If you haven't forgotten that!"
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