Zhan looked at him quietly and said softly,
"Please."
The young man raised his head and looked at him.
"Where would I even see you to give you the food?"
Zhan fell silent for a moment, thinking.
Then he said, "There are flowers near our gate. You could leave the food there. When I come out, I'll take it."
The young man smiled slightly.
"Really?"
Zhan nodded.
"Alright," he said.
Zhan stepped a little closer.
"Promise you will do that, please."
"I will," he replied.
Zhan's eyes widened with excitement.
He clasped his hands together.
"Thank you very much. May heaven reward you. Bye!"
He quickly turned and hurried back home.
The young man watched him leave.
No one noticed Zhan when he entered the house. He placed the items he bought on a chair and went back outside to continue washing the dishes, now working happily.
Around five o'clock, he finally finished and went inside.
Ming gave him a large pile of her children's clothes to fold and place in the cupboard.
When he finished, it was almost 5:30 PM.
He sat quietly beside a chair as everyone was called to the kitchen to collect their food.
Zhan stood up as well. He knew Ming would insult him if she noticed he didn't come.
That day they had prepared cassava with chili sauce.
After they forced a plate into his hands, he walked back to the living room and stared at the food.
He dipped his hand into the steaming sauce and tried to eat a little.
But he couldn't swallow it.
He secretly glanced at everyone in the living room, trying hard to keep his face normal.
Everyone else was focused on the Mexican film playing on television.
At his former home they never watched such films, so he didn't even understand it.
Slowly, he slipped outside carrying the plate.
He placed it on the veranda and hurried toward the gate.
Kneeling beside the flowers near the gate, he prayed quietly that the young man had kept his promise.
Carefully he lifted the flowers and looked inside.
There it was.
A white plastic bag.
His eyes lit up.
He grabbed it quickly and opened it.
Inside was a takeaway container and a bottle of Mixed fruit juice.
Zhan dropped the bag for a moment and jumped with excitement.
Then he grabbed it again and hurried inside, almost stumbling as he ran.
He went straight to the backyard and found a hidden corner where he could sit.
Opening the takeaway box, he saw rice with chicken and chili sauce on the side.
His face filled with joy.
He began eating eagerly, nodding his head and even closing his eyes in happiness as he tasted the food.
Within minutes he finished everything.
Then he opened the drink and drank about half before he couldn't continue.
He hid the bottle carefully.
After that he took the empty takeaway container outside and threw it into the large trash bin near the gate.
When he returned, he wiped his mouth.
Suddenly he saw the cassava plate he had left earlier.
He quickly looked away as if it were something unpleasant.
Taking it like a piece of trash, he walked outside and gave it to a wandering beggar boy.
Then he returned to the house and washed the plate at the tap.
Just then San noticed he had not been in the living room for a while.
She followed him.
Zhan quickly walked behind her holding the washed plate.
Shi asked sharply,
"Where were you?"
Zhan showed her the plate.
"I went to wash it."
Shi suddenly cried out.
"So you threw away the food we gave you?"
Zhan panicked.
"No, Aunt. I didn't throw it away."
Ming said angrily,
"You're lying. Do you think you're too good to eat that food?"
Zhan pleaded.
"But I didn't throw it away."
Shi frowned.
"Then what did you do with it?"
"I gave it to a beggar," Zhan said quietly.
Ming grabbed a cup and threw it at him.
"May God judge you!"
Zhan ran quickly toward the door when he saw Shi standing up angrily.
He waited nervously near the gate until his uncle returned.
Just like the previous day, his uncle brought him back inside and scolded everyone loudly.
He warned them that if Zhan fell sick with malaria because they left him outside again, he would not spend a single coin treating him....they would be the ones responsible for taking him to the hospital.
No one dared to argue.
After finishing his angry speech, he went inside.
:
:
The next morning, after everyone had gone to school, Zhan started washing the dishes from the previous night.
Many of them had dried food stuck on them.
He worked for almost an hour at the tap before leaving the rest and going inside.
Shi looked at him.
"Are you finished already, you lazy boy?"
Zhan shook his head.
"I've only finished half."
She shouted at him to go back and complete the work.
Zhan stepped outside again and looked at the clock.
It was already 9:30 AM.
As he walked toward the gate, he looked around the quiet street.
No one was outside.
He slowly lifted the flowers near the gate.
Just like yesterday....
there was a white plastic bag.
Zhan grinned widely and grabbed it quickly.
He rushed into the backyard again, looking around carefully.
Inside the takeaway container were fried potatoes with eggs.
He closed his eyes and smiled.
There was also a small water bottle inside the bag.
When he opened it and smelled it, he realized it was milk tea.
His eyes widened.
"Wow."
He carefully sipped it to make sure it wasn't too hot.
Once he started drinking, he couldn't stop until the bottle was almost empty.
Then he began eating the potatoes and eggs with the fork inside the bag.
He finished everything with difficulty because he was already full, but he didn't want to waste any food.
Afterward he threw away the container and washed the bottle, then placed it back near the flowers.
When he returned inside, Ming showed him a cup of black tea and a dry piece of bread.
"If you want it, there it is," she said coldly. "No one is going to chase you around with food."
Zhan shook his head without even looking at it.
"I'm already full, Aunt."
Ming stared at him in surprise.
Then she smiled strangely.
"Very well."
Zhan sat down in his favorite position.
Soon he felt sleepy from the heavy feeling in his stomach.
Within moments, he fell asleep.
✴✴✴
This secret arrangement continued for almost two months.
Every day the young man left food for Zhan near the flowers.
They never met again after their conversation at the shop.
But every two days Zhan left a small thank-you note in the flowers.
What confused Shi and Ming the most was that Zhan was beginning to look healthier and stronger.
Despite the heavy work they gave him every day, he was gaining weight and looked well.
Sometimes he didn't even touch the food they prepared.
Finally Ming said one day,
"I'm telling you, that boy must be eating somewhere else. Look at him. He doesn't eat our food, yet he looks healthier every day…"
Shi said,
"I'm confused too. And you know he never goes anywhere except the shop, and he always returns home quickly."
Ming replied,
"For now, we should just watch his movements carefully."
That afternoon, Zhan sat quietly in the living room, waiting for everyone to go to their rooms so he could retrieve the food hidden near the flowers by the gate.
They were watching a movie and showed no intention of leaving.
Zhan stood up and picked up a few plates from the living room, even though he had already washed dishes earlier that morning.
"Aunt, I'll go wash these," he said.
Shi replied,
"Do you even need to ask? Isn't that your job?"
Zhan hurried outside...exactly what he had been hoping for.
As soon as he stepped out, Shi and Ming followed quietly and looked around the compound.
They couldn't see him.
Shi began walking toward the gate, but Ming stopped her.
"Wait. Look, his feet are over there."
Before they could say another word, Zhan returned carrying a plastic bag.
They quickly pressed themselves against the wall.
Zhan didn't notice them. He walked to his usual spot and sat down.
He opened the container...steaming noodles with fried eggs...and placed a bottle of mixed fruit juice beside it.
Suddenly, Shi and Ming stepped forward.
Zhan froze.
They stared at the food, just as shocked as he was.
Both of them gasped loudly.
Ming demanded,
"Who gave you this food, Zhan?"
Terrified, Zhan tried to run, but Ming grabbed him.
"Where did you get it?" she shouted.
His body trembled.
"Please forgive me," he said.
Ming slapped him hard.
"So that's why you stopped eating our food? Have you started behaving shamelessly behind our backs? Today you will tell us exactly who gives you this food!"
Through tears, Zhan said,
"His house is over there…"
They dragged him outside immediately.
Without even adjusting their headscarves, both women stormed toward the house he had pointed at.
"Take us there," they ordered.
Zhan cried as he followed them in fear.
When they reached the gate, he said in a trembling voice,
"This… this is the house."
Ming widened her eyes.
"You come here?"
Zhan shook his head quickly.
"I only came once. The man brings the food and leaves it in the flowers near our gate. Please forgive me."
Shi began knocking loudly on the gate.
The security guard opened it.
"Where are the owners of this house?" she demanded.
"Who are you?" the guard asked.
Ignoring him, Shi pushed past him angrily.
"You'll see soon enough," she snapped.
Ming followed her, dragging Zhan behind.
They entered the living room.
Ming greeted loudly, almost shouting.
A young woman came out first and greeted them politely.
They answered briefly and asked for her mother.
As the girl turned to call her, the woman herself walked into the living room.
She approached slowly, looking confused.
Ming spoke first.
"Dali, good afternoon."
Dali replied calmly,
"Good afternoon. What brings you here?"
Shi said sharply,
"Nothing good. Where is your son?"
Dali frowned.
"My son?"
"Yes," Shi insisted angrily. "Let him come out and explain what is going on between him and this boy."
Dali looked puzzled.
"Please don't make noise in my house. Tell me what happened first."
Ming replied firmly,
"There will definitely be noise, because this matter could even reach the court. Your son has been behaving inappropriately with our boy."
Dali stared at them in disbelief.
Her daughter also stood there speechless.
Zhan stood quietly, trembling, tears falling from his eyes.
At that moment, Yulan walked into the living room.
He stopped and looked at everyone in surprise.
His mother, now clearly angry, pointed at Zhan.
"Yulan, what is going on between you two?"
Before he could speak, Zhan hurriedly said,
"Nothing, Aunt. He only brings me food and leaves it in the flowers so I can take it."
Ming struck Zhan across the mouth.
"Did we ask you?" she shouted.
Yulan stood there silently, shocked.
His mother repeated firmly,
"I'm talking to you, Yulan."
He turned toward her.
"Mom, I don't think I have time to explain myself to all these women. I only know that the boy told me he was always hungry and wasn't being given food at home… so I helped."
Dali's eyes widened.
"Helped with what?"
Yulan replied,
"He asked if I could leave food for him near the flowers by their gate. That's all. We only met once at the shop. I haven't even seen him again until today."
He continued,
"Since when did helping someone become a crime? If they weren't leaving him hungry, why would he say he's always starving? The only reason I helped him was because I know how dangerous it is to leave someone hungry. Otherwise, what connection do I even have with him to give him three meals a day?"
While he spoke, Shi and Ming stared at Zhan in disbelief.
Ming finally said,
"Well, let this be the first and last time. Take those three daily meals of yours and give them to beggars or orphans instead. Don't ever come near our gate with food again."
Shi added,
"That's right. And God will judge between us and him if he goes around telling people we starve him. Today he will learn his lesson."
They dragged Zhan toward the door.
Zhan clasped his hands together and looked at Yulan.
"I'm very sorry," he said softly.
Shi hit him again and pulled him out of the house.
Dali turned to her son.
"From this moment on, you will stop whatever you are doing."
Ming replied coldly,
"That would be best."
Then she left.
That day Zhan was beaten and insulted until he nearly lost consciousness.
He kept calling for his mother in tears.
Eventually they left him alone.
They even took the noodles and eggs he had brought and ate them themselves.
****
From that day forward, Yulan never left food for him again.
Within two days Zhan became weak and thin again.
He still couldn't force himself to eat the food they cooked.
Sometimes hunger nearly made him faint, so he tried to swallow a little, but often he vomited afterward.
He walked as if a strong wind could knock him over.
One day he went to the shop to deliver a list of items they had sent him to buy.
The shopkeeper joked with him as usual, but Zhan said nothing this time.
Suddenly he heard someone call his name.
He turned and saw Yulan standing behind him.
Zhan smiled weakly.
"Good evening."
"How are you?" Yulan asked softly.
"I'm fine," Zhan replied.
Yulan studied his face carefully, noticing how thin he had become.
Zhan took the items he bought and turned to leave.
"Bye."
"Zhan," Yulan called again.
He turned back.
"You're always hungry, aren't you?"
Zhan stayed silent, tears filling his eyes.
Yulan sighed.
"I'm sorry I can't help anymore."
Zhan shook his head slightly.
"Don't worry. I appreciate what you did before."
Yulan reached into his pocket and counted five thousand in cash from his wallet.
He handed it to Zhan.
"Hide this. You can buy biscuits or donuts and eat them here at the shop."
Zhan remained silent.
Yulan gently placed the money in his hand and nodded.
"Yeah."
"See you another time," he said.
Tears filled Zhan's eyes.
"Thank you."
They went their separate ways.
When Zhan reached home, he hid the money.
He wanted to go out at night to buy food, but he was too afraid.
So he only drank water and went to bed hungry.
That night they had cooked beans.
Two days later Zhan sat alone in the courtyard, sifting a large sack of flour Shi had given him to clean.
Flour covered his entire body, making him look white as if he had been standing inside a milling machine.
Tears had dried on his face.
Shi had been beating him all morning, claiming the work was not done properly.
Now he worked slowly after crying until he had no tears left.
Suddenly the gate opened.
Zhan looked up.
His stepmother was standing there.
He froze.
She also stood still, staring at him.
Tears filled Zhan's eyes.
He ran to her and hugged her tightly.
"Mommy!"
She held him close.
Then she pulled him back slightly and looked at him from head to toe.
Her eyes filled with tears.
She gestured for him to pick up his sandals.
Zhan hurried to get them. They were old and torn, but he put them on anyway.
His stepmother held his hand and walked him out of the house.
"Mommy… are you taking me with you?" Zhan asked through tears.
She simply nodded. She couldn't speak.
As they walked past Yulan's house, Zhan smiled slightly.
"Mommy, I have a friend here. Can I go say goodbye? He has been very kind."
For the first time she looked directly at him.
Softly she said,
"Another time, dear."
Zhan nodded and continued walking.
They reached the main road and stopped a ride to the motor park.
Soon they boarded a vehicle traveling to the city she live.
Zhan quickly fell asleep on his mother's shoulder. He had been awake since dawn.
When they arrived in City, she gently woke him.
They stepped out and took another small ride to the house where she now lived.
It was a large compound with four small buildings, each containing a living room and bedroom.
In the center was a large kitchen, and nearby were two bathrooms and two toilets.
There was also a covered well beside the kitchen.
This was the house where Zhan's stepmother now lived with her husband, a businessman who had another two wives.
Several children were playing in the courtyard since it was Thursday evening.
Three young girls sat on a mat nearby, busy with their phones.
Zhan's stepmother greeted the younger children briefly.
Without speaking to the girls, she took out a key and opened her room.
Zhan stood quietly, looking at the children while they stared back at him.
From the kitchen, another wife named Shafa peeked out and looked at them.
Their eyes met briefly before she quickly looked away.
Another woman...the senior wife...peeked through a window but also avoided eye contact.
Zhan's stepmother finally opened her door and pulled him inside.
She lifted the curtain and uncovered the doorway because the room had become very hot.
NB
Let's hope is not another hell Zhan come again.
💚💙❤🖤