Death Flute
Back to the Nada Valley

In the Nada Valley, the Four Silver Tamburs were playing around with Ouwyang Lee. If there is no busyness, they like to take care of the child and let the child act as they please with them.

Ouwyang Lee was already able to limp in and speak a word. It's tiny and adorable. He rarely cries and always smiles showing dimples on his left cheek. His pair of eyes were round and shining sharply like eagle eyes.

The boy became the outpouring of attention of the entire inhabitants of the Nada Valley.

Kam Sien was upholding it on his shoulders and taking him running around the valley. His three brothers beat each other and cause a stomping rhythm.

A Lee soared happily over Kam Sien's shoulder.

“Wow! Waduh!” erang Kam Sien's. “You're so heavy, huh?”

“Ha ha!” A Lee laughed to the point of screeching.

Fu Ming, Lo Hian, and Hauw Lam laughed at Kam Sien who seemed overwhelmed to calm A Lee down. The three of them had often carried A Lee and had always bothered to make it. A Lee can never be silent when carried by anyone. Only in his mother's arms could he remain silent and curl up spoiled.

They were indeed playing around with A Lee, but they did not neglect the duty of guarding the Nada Valley at all. Therefore when two people approached, they were immediately on guard.

But when the two approached, they were immediately overjoyed.

The four of them immediately approached and swarmed Ouwyang Ping. They did not even notice the young man who was with Ouwyang Ping for being too happy to see the girl again.

“Nona Ping-er!” exclaim Fu Ming.

Lo Hian breathed a sigh of relief. “Wah! I can hardly believe it!” yells. “Finally Miss came home too!”

“Ya, Miss. We missed you so much. You left for so long,” continued Hauw Lam while staring attentively. “Why is your body so thin and pale?” added worry. Of the four of them, he was the one who loved Ouwyang Ping the most.

Kam Sien had not been able to speak since he was monopolized by his brothers. So he approached Sen Khang who was watching them while smiling amusedly. He watched Ouwyang Ping fuss over answering the back-to-back questions.

“Mr Khang, apparently you came with Miss Ping-er.” Kam Sien stood in front of Sen Khang, complete with A Lee still on his shoulder.

Sen Khang did not answer. He was stunned to see the handsome and plump boy. He was even more astonished because suddenly the boy turned his head and looked at him with a sharp look through his eyes that were exactly Mr. Ouwyang Cu. And that sharp gaze disappeared then was replaced by an adorable wide smile.

Kam Sien noticed Sen Khang's astonishment and laughed. “Mr Khang, apparently you were surprised to see it. You recall? When you came home to the Bamboo House first, the Madam was pregnant. This is Ouwyang Lee, his son. His call was A Lee, but we called him Young Master Lee.”

Smile of Sen Khang widened. He approached Ouwyang Ping. “Ping-er, you already have a sister!” said.

For a moment, everything was silent. Ouwyang Ping gaped and turned to look at the boy who was on Kam Sien's shoulder. He looked at A Lee. A Lee returned his gaze with his round and sharp shining eyes. Then the boy smiled widely and showed his dimples. Her plump cheeks and reddish color notched with funny.

“My...?” murmured Ouwyang Ping slowly. “So I have a sister..” he keeps watching his sister closely.

His sister is very handsome and cute, plump and adorable. Her eyes glowed sharply, but her smile was very charming. Ouwyang Ping's heart was instantly withered and warm. He placed his harp on the grass— which was immediately taken by Hauw Lam, then approached Kam Sien.

The girl extended both of her hands to A Lee. The boy almost jumped off Kam Sien's shoulder and dropped himself into Ouwyang Ping's second arms. Both hugged tightly and warmly.

Sen Khang and the Four Silver Tamburs watched them dumbfoundedly and moved. How gentle and loving Ouwyang Ping's current facial expression was! And behold, how spoiled and sweet A Lee was towards that unknown older sister! Apparently the bond of brotherhood makes the two instantly close to each other.

“Let's go in,” Fu Ming's take after they've been silent for a while. “They all must be so happy to see you guys!”

Sen Khang turned to his left-right, looking for Chien Wan and Sung Cen. But he did not find them. He turned towards Lo Hian who was by his side. “Uncle Lo, where are Uncle Sung and Chien Wan?”

Lo Hian glanced at Ouwyang Ping— who had not heard at all because of their considerable distance—before replying, “Kakak Sung was visiting his daughter at Bukit Merak. And Mr. Wan. he left a few weeks ago. Said he wanted to travel.”

Sen Khang sighed in disappointment. Though he came to Nada Valley with the intention of wanting to meet Chien Wan.

***

Ouwyang Kuan and Sui She were having a light conversation with Mr. Ouwyang Cu. They're talking about Chien Wan. They wanted to ask that Chien Wan immediately start thinking about her future and look for a suitable girl to be invited to foster a family. They were not unaware of the difficulty Chien Wan forgot about her past. But man cannot live only in the past!

“Master! Look who's coming!”

Mr. Ouwyang, his son, and son-in-law frowned, then looked up to see Ouwyang Ping enter while holding A Lee followed by Sen Khang.

“Ping-er?” exclaimed Ouwyang Kuan with a somewhat trembling voice. He stood up and went before the daughter he had missed. “Ping-er, did you really come?”

Ouwyang Ping smiled sweetly at his father with tears in his eyes. “Dad, I'm home.”

Ouwyang Kuan hugged his daughter lovingly and longing. A Lee whined in a squeeze, making his father and brother laugh despite tears.

Sui She approached somewhat timidly. He still felt awkward and guilty towards his stepdaughter. Is Ping-er really not mad at him?

Ouwyang Ping turned his head and smiled at his stepmother. “Mother, how are you?”

Sui She's heart immediately felt relieved. He held Ouwyang Ping's arm warmly. “Mother is fine, just.. feel anxious about your situation. We're all always thinking about you, Ping-er. Are you okay?”

“I'm fine, Bu.”

“Ping-er!”

Ouwyang Ping turned his head and saw his grandfather standing up while shaking his waist. “Kakek.”

“Ayya! Where have you been these two years? Just leave, not once did you give me news! Don't you care we're here worried half dead?” asked Mr. Ouwyang Cu upset. “Basic you're a bad boy!”

Ouwyang Ping looked at his grandfather. The eyes of Mr. Ouwyang Cu are full of longing even though his words are thin. His heart feels warm. “I'm sorry, Grandpa. Believe me, I did not do anything shameful the name of Nada Valley,” he said.

Sui She interrupts, “Here you go, Dad. Ping-er just arrived.”

Mr. Ouwyang pouted.

Ouwyang Ping glanced at A Lee who was in his carriage while playing with his long hair. He smiled softly at the cuteness of his sister.

“Mother, thank you for giving me this sweet little sister,” she said slowly.

Sui She's lips twitched as she smiled. He was shocked to hear the words of his stepdaughter. He loved this girl with all his heart. Although Ouwyang Ping was born from the womb of his love rival, and had a face very similar to his rival, but the purity and sincerity of the girl had touched his heart.

Sen Khang smiled. His presence was again ignored. But he doesn't mind. He waited until all the novelty died down before greeting, “Aunt, Uncle, Grandpa.”

Ouwyang Kuan turned his head and smiled. “Oh, Sen Khang!” he shouted, only to realize that the young man had come with his daughter.

Sui She looked over. “You haven't been here in a long time, Sen Khang.”

“Sorry, Bi. The work at Wisma Bambu is endless,” elak Sen Khang laughed.

“Where might the work run out? If not abandoned, until old age you will never come here!” gerutu Mr. Ouwyang.

Sen Khang grimaced.

“Do you guys not have a road dispute with Chien Wan? A few weeks ago he said goodbye, he said he wanted to find Ping-er!” ask Mr. Ouwyang.

Ouwyang Ping was aghast.

Sen Khang glanced at him, and quickly replied, “No, Kek.”

“Hm! Then you must be at loggerheads!”

When he heard Chien Wan go to look for him, Ouwyang Ping felt sad mixed with relief. He himself was not sure if he could meet Chien Wan. At the moment he has tried to forget Chien Wan, and as long as he is not near Chien Wan his efforts can be successful. But he was not sure if he could resist his feelings when he met Chien Wan face to face. He is not sure if he has managed to consider Chien Wan as his brother and not his lover.