The child kept his head down, clutching the can in his hand, his lips tightly pressed together.
Cui Tiq took him back to the cave, opened two more cans: "You stay in the cave, don't go out. If you're hungry, eat this.
Before I come back, you'd better remember some things—things that are of value to me.
Also, don't water the seeds outside anymore, or they'll grow up very fast."
The child asked, "You don't want them to grow up?"
"I just don't want them to grow up too fast."
The kid was still shaken up, yet he actually had the nerve to ask so many questions.
Cui Tiq left. The child hugged the cans, and in the cave stared silently toward the entrance.
...
De Yuan Village, the village chief Song Demei was sitting in the yard.
Not long ago, she had just killed the Local Deity designated by the Peddler.
Now the situation was excellent, yet a few villagers under her had suddenly been injured.
