Chapter 5: The Starting point.

"Even if it will anger you, I must have to stay here, and this child will be here too with us."

"Hate the child? The fact that you brought you here with care is hateful." She looked at Ri and mockingly replied to Ji.

"I am ashamed to be an irresponsible father, I am not pretending to repent on what I did back then by taking care of a child, in front of you. I have accepted what I did wrong, my sin is punishable by heavens. But you see, I didn't bring him here; I was told to." Ji took Ri closer to him and his voice was humble and sounded sincere he further added, "This child Ri is adopted by Du but for some reason will be living with this family."

"I will let Ri live here with us, but you are not allowed to live here and that's final." Mei bended over slightly putting her hand behind Ri's head to support his head and other hand behind his back. She held him and was curious about Ri. Then without looking at Ji Er, she was about to leave.

Ji Er was saddened and but was firm to live by their side. "Even If I have to live with humiliation, I will, what about my grandchild? Do you know what dangers waits for her in the future?" there was sense of longingness and urgency. Ji Er cannot let the only child of his son to be vulnerable and in any kind of danger.

As She heard about her daughter being in danger, she was baffled and stopped mid-way and abruptly said, "What dangers? My daughter? She is just a child. Whom can she offend in this state?" she thought for a while and became angry "Are your own grudges with others, going to haunt my daughter?"

"No, no, no, didn't Du say anything about magic capacity? She has it!" drops of sweat rolled on his cheeks and nose, with fear of developing a misunderstanding that he cannot afford, he refused it.

"She, has it? My daughter is one of those with magic capacity." She was happy that her child was saved by Du and was out of danger, but this fact has generated ripples of delight in her mind with tinge of wariness.

Ji sighed with relief as he saw her angry face slowly turning normal. "He must have kept it hidden for time being and discussed with me only." He further added, "This for time being is not detectable by naked eyes, but soon after she turns ten-year-old, it will be troublesome to hide the fact."

Mei was now calm and was willing to listen to Ji Er, as now it involved her daughter's safety and future. She started to think<I will not be able to protect her, even if I hire someone her until she reaches one of the peaks, there is no guarantee that information won't leak. Troubles may find am careful. He can better manage this type things>

Ji with confidence and certainty said, "You may be able to safely look after her until she reaches one of the peaks, but you cannot be sure, while I can guarantee my granddaughter's safety."

"You will be living in guest room of this house, while Ri will be with us in inside." Mei was about to cross the door and headed to her room with Ri in her arms, she stopped and softly said, "Your granddaughter, her name is Di, whether she will accept you, it depends on her and I am not like those evil people who incite hatred inside the heart of those little and pure ones."

She looked at Ri and said, "But still I cannot let you go near her, we are not clear yet. This child, you can visit him, and you will have your say in his life, and all I will do is take care of him for Uncle Du."

"Take this prescription of medicinal potion and treatment information that Du suggested with you." Ji Er stood up with effort and firmly grabbed support with wooden stick. "And don't let his ugly side to be revealed in front of others. Let him adapt to this type of hiding from the start. It's better for him and is requested by Du." He then handed over the remaining potions that he already had and the prescription to Mei.

Now Ri's hunger was on another stage, so he started crying loudly in Mei's arms. She immediately started swinging him in her arms and hurriedly left for her room. On her way she saw only those teary eyes but not the single part of his body was visible, she felt uneasy about child having such scars to hide himself completely.

Mei called housekeeper Li and ordered her to prepare warm milk and bring it up, Li brought it sooner. "Now take this and prepare the potion that is needed for bandages not the one which is written on front." Li left hurriedly.

Then Mei took out the potion that Ji gave her and mixed it with the warm milk. Now she properly sat down with bowl of mixture on matt and Ri in her lap, with elevated posture. Still moving Ri for soothing him. She reached out for the cloth covering his mouth and head, to feed him. As she unwrapped the cloth, she was heavyhearted to see the face of Ri, a burned left cheek, a deformed tip of left ear due to excessive burning. She fed him with warmth in her eyes. 

Ri gave indication of his stomach being full and fell asleep. She then put that covering dispiritedly onto him again. Then quietly stood up and arranged bed and cushions to put him. Going outside with some money she shouted, "Uncle Li, come here, please."

"Yes, madam" Li came inside and bowed.

"Take this money with you, buy a bassinet." She handed over the pouch she was holding.

Li left for the Rai City, Mei then returned to the kitchen and inquired housekeeper Li about the potion. "Madam, the illustration provided here on this prescription here is easy to understand and the ingredients are simple, we have those ingredients. It will be ready in a half an hour."

<Di is awake, oh she will also need some attention> Mei swiftly ordered, "Once done with this, prepare warm water for bath and come over to the room with those potions."

Mei came into the room, now she had to take care of two children. <I need to be more careful from now on> 

.....

From his guest room door Ji saw Li preparing to go outside the village to city. He approached guard Li and made inquiries. Li answered obediently and left. 

.....

Housekeeper Li came in Mei's room with potions and bandages, she carefully kept them on the table and said, "I have prepared the bath, if it is for Ri, I will bath him neatly, Madam."

"It will not take more time; I will personally do it. You keep an eye on Di, tell me if there is problem." She further instructed, "One more thing, clean this corner and make it spacious for a Bassinet to fit."

Mei took Ri for a bath <It should be uncomfortable for him to wearing such bandages and develop rashes, a proper bath is must> she took off all the bandages, she had earlier seen his burned face so now she was able to contain her shock and did not avert her eyes from Ri. Still, it was difficult to touch that burned skin and injuries, she hardened her heart and gently washed off all the wounds and skin that had greenish tinge of medicine. The image of Ri's ugliness got printed on her mind. She then properly wiped him and wrapped him inside the white cloths.

She came inside her bedroom with Ri, and indicated housekeeper Li to leave, then she soaked bandages with prepared potions and wrapped around Ri covering him entirely, but for his face she put over a separate comfortable soft cloth around his head and kept small opening for him to breath properly. Mei then put Ri on the earlier prepared bed and moved closer to her daughter's bassinet, to feed her milk. <Sorry Di, I kept you waiting>

.....

The Li couple at afternoon prepared the bassinet for Ri. Mei put him in bassinet, Ri looked at her kept looking until he fell asleep.

Ri finally got his home, the family who care for him. There were two children beside each other with magic capability, what waited for them in future was uncertain. It was the starting point of Ri's life.

.....

As Ji saw that guard Li had returned from his trip to Rai city, Ji summoned him to his room and requested him to convey a message to Mei.

As she heard the message from guard Li she nodded and left the room with Di. She came at the door of the guest room and stopped there.

Ji Er did not blinked his eyes to carefully imprint her granddaughter's appearance, he was so delighted and when he got his request fulfilled, he nodded happily, then Mei left with Di.

......