Afflicted refugees

2 years have passed since the two old women found the girl.

The new family is constantly on the move with the other refugees in search of a place to stay, traveling from village to village or a refugee camp until a small farm was receiving refugees and they managed to stay in a small room in a makeshift inn.

With the basket in hand, the one-eyed old woman enters the room observing little Yao rocking a makeshift wooden crib.

Inside her, Xian Yu is peacefully asleep.

Xian Yu is a combination of the names of the two old women, Little Yao's name is Yao Yu and the one-eyed old woman is Xian.

They were both orphans, but Little Yao was raised by a maid adopting her last name and Xian lived on the streets, she got that name because a friend gave her that nickname when she saw the beauty she had when she washed her face. To avoid being caught, Xian smeared mud on her face to hide it. When the maid picked her up, but she died in a robbery.

Xian knew how to fight and managed to kill the thief, but could not save the maid. Due to this and the deep guilt, she felt she decided to take care of Yao Yu, over time the two became inseparable taking care of each other creating a relationship of sisters.

And even on one occasion when they bathed together they saw that their physical features were almost identical, the difference was that Xian's left eye was always closed and Yao Yu's eyes were diffuse.

"Big Sister, welcome back" Little Yao helps Xian with the basket.

"Luckily I got some more meat and rice. That stingy Ye is difficult to persuade, if he was young he would have already emptied his post "Xian sits on a chair while giving a mischievous smile.

"The older sister is no longer of an age to do those things, but now I see you more animated and full of energy" Little Yao puts things in order.

"It's true since we started taking care of little Yu I no longer feel so tired and the old discomforts that I had in the joints are gone" Xian does a little stretching with her arms.

"I also feel improvement in my joints and I have more strength than before, besides that, I do not get tired as often" Little Yao picks up the sleeping Xian Yu who is now twice in size, but light in weight.

"My granddaughter Yu hasn't opened her eyes yet." Little Yao shows a worried face.

From the moment Xian Yu was picked up, she has never opened her eyes, plus she didn't cry or get dirty like a normal baby.

Both old women were very worried about such a situation, but because Xian Yu responds to stimuli and there was no sign of discomfort, the worry gradually lessened.

They also didn't try to open her eyes themselves, as it may harm her in some way.

In addition, by being close to her, the physical and mental health of both elderly women has begun to improve.

Xian looks at Yao Yu rocking Xian Yu carefully "Sometimes I think it would have been better to marry Yan Xiao"

"Again with that big sister theme" Little Yao complains about some melancholy.

"Sorry, sometimes I can't help but feel nostalgic" Xian comments and heaves a long sigh.

In the past, when both sisters nearly starved to death, Yan Xiao found them stealing food and after a short fight, managed to convince them to work as waitresses at his little inn in exchange for room and board.

They worked for a few years helping each other and protecting themselves from depraved men, Yan Xiao also protected them and there were times when he almost lost his life.

There was an occasion where Yan Xiao asked Yao Yu for her hand in marriage. Yao Yu wasn't sure about it due to a promise he made to Xian that both of them should share happiness and not just one.

At that time Xian agreed with such a proposition that Yao Yu marry Yan Xiao, but Yao Yu did not want Xian to be left alone and came up with the idea that both of them should marry.

Xian was stunned by Yao Yu's suggestion and asked Yan Xiao for a few days to make a better decision.

Yan Xiao agreed and said that he agreed to marry the two of them and do their best to make them happy.

But one night some men knocked on the door violently and demanded that Yan Xiao hand over the sisters.

Yan Xiao led the sisters through a secret passage and told them to leave and that he will search for them later.

Both sisters watched from afar as Yan Xiao was dismembered and the inn destroyed.

"Perhaps we should have enjoyed that moment of happiness and forgot about my prejudices" Xian comments wistfully.

"I know that Big Brother Yan was a good man and I was willing to marry him, it's just that I didn't want to enjoy this happiness alone and you just watched. I wanted us to forget the past and live a new life together "Yao Yu says with tears.

"I know" Xian comes over and helps her wipe her tears "sometimes it is difficult to overcome traumas, despite being strong on the outside I am weak on the inside"

"Although fate has denied us having children of our own, now we have a granddaughter who is our consolation and our reason to move forward"

Xian caresses Xian Yu's small hands and her fingers are caught by a plump hand.

Xian felt a very great sweetness. She tries to carry Xian Yu when a ruckus is heard outside.

"What's going on?" Little Yao asks concerned.

Xian looks out the window and quickly secures the door.

"I have managed to see fighting at the entrance and the nearby camps, hide" Xian quickly prepares the hiding place, a hole behind a closet.

"Big sister comes quickly" Xian also tries to enter, but feels a knock on the door and quickly plugs the hole.

Xian takes a knife and hides in a dark area

"Please, someone save us"