He naively believed that was the most tragic event in the world, unaware that what followed would reveal the depths of human malice.
When he first started living with his uncle's family, though he found it a little uncomfortable, he quite enjoyed having meals prepared and clothes washed for him. So, when people asked him how his aunt and uncle treated him, he truthfully answered. The villagers nodded to themselves, thinking they were kind-hearted.
He expected life to continue smoothly, but one day his aunt asked him to go outside the village to find his uncle, claiming he was attending to something important. If anyone asked where he was going, he was told to say he wanted to see the outside world and have some fun.
Little did he know, that trip would lead him to his uncle, but he would never be able to return home.
He would never forget that morning. He looked up at his uncle, confused. "Uncle, why did you bring me to the city?"
In his memory, his parents rarely took him to the city for outings. They only went to buy daily necessities during the New Year, which was his happiest time of the year.
"Alas, your uncle is incapable. Your cousin has reached the age to study, but you know our family's financial situation. We don't have extra money to send him to school, so I have to ask for your help."
"What can I help with?" he asked, a little curious. His cousin always secretly bullied him, and their relationship was not good. Hearing that his cousin wanted to study, he felt nothing. Besides, he was so young, how could he help? He was puzzled.
"You'll know in a moment. Your uncle has some business to attend to in the city. You'll go to my friend's house and wait for me to return, without making a fuss." He crouched down, meeting his eyes, and instructed.
He couldn't remember how long it had been since he had seen his uncle so gentle. He nodded involuntarily.
He only remembered his uncle taking him to a large courtyard. Inside were many children his age, both boys and girls. His uncle went into a room to talk with a woman, telling him to wait there for a while.
For some reason, he felt that the woman's gaze was very unsettling. The children around him also looked at him with indifference. Normally, with so many children in one courtyard, they would be playing wildly, but they all kept their heads down, busy with their own activities, which made him feel uneasy.
Soon, his uncle came out, smiling. "This is Mama Li. You'll stay with her for now. Be good. I have something to attend to and must leave."
Feng watched him leave with his own eyes, wishing he could call out to him, to take him along, not wanting to stay in this dreadful place. But seeing his uncle's eagerness to leave, he was afraid of causing trouble and could only let it be.
The next day, the so-called Mama Li gathered all the children. The boys lined up, and the girls lined up. She began to teach them the etiquette of noble households.
The intelligent Feng immediately sensed something was wrong. He looked timidly at Mama Li. "My uncle said he would come to pick me up soon. What's the use of a poor country boy learning all this?"
"You can't go back. To tell you the truth, your uncle sold you. You belong to me now." Mama Li looked at him mockingly. After entering this line of work, she had seen too many families torn apart and too many corrupt hearts. There were not a few like him. She didn't care to see his shocked expression.
Although he wanted to tell himself that none of this was true, he remembered his uncle's parting words clearly. His uncle had been unusually gentle that day, and everything pointed to it, but he hadn't expected people to be so wicked. Besides, he was so young, even if he knew they intended to sell him, he was powerless.
That night, he cried himself to sleep in bed. But the next day, he still had to do as they said. That morning, to make an example, Mama Li had held down a child who tried to escape and beat him severely on a stool in front of all the children.
The child's screams and the bloodstains on his buttocks constantly echoed in Feng's mind. He would often wake up startled in the middle of the night.
Thus, he stayed in the small courtyard for a month. One morning, Mama Li had them gather at the entrance and board a carriage bound for the capital.
They had expected this day to come and accepted it calmly. After arriving here, a group of children would disappear every so often. When they returned, Mama Li would smile and say they had sold well, encouraging them to work hard and one day serve in a noble household, which would be better than a life of poverty in the countryside.
Some children believed this and looked forward to the future. But Feng didn't think so. If that were the case, why would his uncle sell him and use the money for his cousin's education, instead of selling him as well?
After about ten days of travel, they arrived in the bustling capital. It was his first time seeing such a lively scene, yet he couldn't feel happy.
Soon, they arrived at another large courtyard. Several people stood before them, scrutinizing them. After bargaining with Mama Li, they paid a sufficient sum of money, and Mama Li left with a smile.
A moment later, his suspicions were confirmed. The people looked at them with discerning eyes and said sternly, "You are from small places. Let me tell you, this is the capital, the emperor's city, filled with officials and nobles. This is your chance to change your fate. You will all perform well tomorrow, or you will be sold to a mine to dig."
Everyone trembled at the words. They, from small places, knew that mines were not good places; once inside, they would never get out alive. The court thought it was too easy for condemned criminals to die, so they had to extract all their value.
Therefore, from childhood, they had heard many rumors, such as having to work day and night in the mines, and any mistake would result in no food, leading to death either from exhaustion or starvation.
So, early the next morning, everyone worked with unusual diligence. They followed the matchmaker to one establishment after another, standing in line obediently. Feng, being a boy with a handsome and delicate appearance, was quickly taken in by the Prince Li's mansion.
Ten other children, all boys, were also kept. As soon as they entered the courtyard arranged by the steward, a fierce-looking man appeared before them and began to grope them all over without a word.
Soon, four people were selected and asked to follow him. Feng was among them.
Although his heart pounded, he had already entered this place, and his life was no longer his own to control. He could only do as he was told. Suddenly, he felt a sense of despair.
Even more surprisingly, the man took them out through the back door and onto a carriage. They were leaving this place, but hadn't they just been selected? Why were they leaving again? He had many questions but dared not ask them.
The carriage traveled further and further into seclusion until it reached a mountain. Following the man into the depths of the mountain, they saw a secluded villa.