Thought Of The Test
Even as Li Wei lay on the floor, a deep sadness pressed down on his chest. Yes, he had real food tonight. Yes, he had a chance to work in that grand house. But only if he passed the test tomorrow.
He had no idea what kind of test it would be. Would they ask him to clean? To carry heavy things? To memorize rules? Or something even harder, something he could never guess? The questions raced around in his mind like shadows.
At least, he thought, even if he was scared, he was going to try. For Ma. For Ying.
Slowly, exhaustion dragged him under. But his sleep was restless, haunted by strange dreams: dark shapes twisting around him, empty bowls, Ying's tiny voice echoing through long, cold halls. Poverty loomed like a cruel ghost, whispering that he would never escape.
When morning finally crept in, Li Wei's eyes snapped open. The weak sunlight fell across the folded clothes he had set aside. He sat up slowly, rubbed his eyes, and felt the leftover fear from the night's dreams clinging to him.
He took a deep breath and reached for the old shirt and pants. They were faded, but today they felt like armor. He put them on carefully, smoothing each wrinkle, trying to look as proper as possible.
He glanced once more at his mother, still asleep in the clinic, and then closed the door softly behind him.
On the road, he pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the faint echo of his pounding heart. He whispered to himself, "Good luck, Li Wei. You can do this."
Here comes Luck (Good Or Bad)
When he reached the big house, he stopped at the tall gate. The place looked even larger and more impressive in the morning light. Taking one last shaky breath, he raised his hand and knocked.
For a moment, everything went quiet. Then footsteps shuffled closer.
The door creaked open, and there stood the same maid he had seen the day before. Her eyes widened a little in surprise when she saw him dressed so much better than yesterday.
She gave him a small, almost secret smile and stepped aside. "Come in," she said gently.
Li Wei stepped forward, his heart leaping into his throat. He looked down at his clothes, hoping he seemed presentable enough.
At that moment, he wasn't just a poor boy anymore. He was a young man about to face a test that could change everything.
For Ma. For Ying. For a chance to belong.
As he crossed the threshold into that bright, polished hallway, he silently prayed: Please let me pass.
Inside, the head maid stood waiting with sharp eyes and a stiff posture. She glanced over Li Wei slowly, then nodded once, just slightly.
"Li Wei," she said, her voice sharp but not unkind. "If you are mopping the floor and important guests suddenly arrive, what would you do?"
Li Wei swallowed hard. His hands curled into tight fists at his sides, but he forced himself to lift his head. He remembered his mother's words, her thin fingers on his cheek.
He bowed deeply, then answered in a steady voice:
"If guests arrive while I am mopping, I will immediately stop what I'm doing, move my bucket and tools aside, and greet them respectfully. I will make sure the floor is not slippery, so they do not fall. Once they have safely passed, I will continue cleaning quietly without disturbing them."
The head maid's eyebrows lifted slightly. For a long moment, the room seemed to hold its breath. Then, slowly, she nodded; a real nod this time, firm and approving.
"Good," she said, with a hint of warmth in her voice. "Very good. You may stay and begin training today."
Li Wei felt a sudden rush of warmth flood through his body. His knees nearly gave out, but he stood firm, bowing deeply once more.
Thank you, he thought, though the words never left his lips.
Start Work
Li Wei's heart pounded as the head maid led him down a long hallway. She stopped in front of a small wooden door and pushed it open. Inside was a neat little changing room lined with shelves and hooks.
"These are for you," she said, handing him folded work clothes—a simple but sturdy blue tunic and pants, far better than anything he had ever worn.
Li Wei ran his fingers over the fabric in wonder. It felt strong and clean, almost too good to be real. He quickly changed, folding his old clothes carefully and setting them aside. When he looked at himself in the small mirror on the wall, he barely recognized the young man staring back.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped out and started his first task: mopping the grand hallway. He worked slowly at first, careful not to make any mistakes, but soon his confidence grew. He scrubbed every corner, leaving the floor gleaming like a river of moonlight.
After that, he gathered garbage from every room and courtyard, carrying heavy baskets out back to dispose of them properly. He opened the big gates when visitors arrived, bowing deeply and stepping aside with practiced care.
Though he was tired, every movement carried a quiet pride. He felt useful and seen—something he hadn't felt in so long.
By noon, sweat dripped from his brow, and his arms ached like they might fall off. He leaned on the mop handle for a moment, his breath ragged.
Just then, the maid approached, her sharp eyes softening when she saw how worn out he looked. "Come," she said. "It's time for your meal."
She led him to a cozy workers' room. A wooden table sat in the middle, already set with dishes. Li Wei's eyes widened in shock.
Steamed buns, golden and puffy. Stir-fried vegetables bright with peppers and mushrooms. Soft tofu in savory sauce. A bowl of fragrant white rice, warm and steaming. And even a small plate of sweet red bean cakes.
He sat down slowly, afraid it might all vanish if he moved too quickly.
"Eat," the maid urged gently. "You worked hard. You deserve it."
Li Wei picked up his chopsticks, hands trembling. He took one small bite at first, then another; suddenly, he was eating with tears slipping down his cheeks. He had never had so much good food at once.
For a long while, he forgot the world, lost in each flavor. But then he paused, looking down at the table.
"Please," he whispered, turning to the maid, "I don't want to finish it all. Can I have a wrapper? I want to bring some to my mother."
The maid stopped, her eyes searching his face. She saw the quiet sadness there ;the weight of years of struggle, the deep lines of worry. She nodded, her own eyes shimmering slightly.
Wordlessly, she brought him a clean cloth and helped him wrap the leftover food carefully. Li Wei bowed his head, his voice rough. "Thank you… thank you so much."
When he finished, he stood and cleaned up after himself without being asked. The afternoon sun was already starting to slip toward evening.
The maid walked him to the gate, her steps quiet beside his.
As Li Wei stepped out, he turned and looked back at the house—its grand walls, its clean floors, the promise it now held. He pressed the warm bundle of food against his chest, his heart so full it felt like it might burst.
On the road home, he thought of Ma and Ying. He imagined telling them he no longer needed to work under cruel Mr. Huang and how they would share this food together.
For the first time in years, he felt something like hope blooming inside him, fragile but bright.
Today was the beginning of a new chapter. As he walked through the deepening afternoon light, Li Wei's face broke into a soft, unstoppable smile.
On the road home, Li Wei held the bundle of food tight against his chest, warmth spreading into his tired arms. He could already picture his mother's gentle, grateful smile when he handed her the leftovers.
But as he turned onto his narrow alley, his steps faltered.
Smoke. Thick, curling into the orange evening sky.
His heart slammed into his ribs. He broke into a run, stumbling over stones and broken bits of wood, the bundle nearly slipping from his grasp.
When he reached his small house, he stopped dead.
His room, the little space he had called his own, where he kept his folded clothes and tiny treasures, was gone. Charred beams stuck out like broken bones, smoke still curling from the blackened ruins. The air smelled sharp and bitter, like ash and old sorrow.
Li Wei dropped the bundle of food, his breath catching in his throat.
"Why…?" he gasped, his voice hoarse and small against the crackle of dying flames.
His mother, at least, was safe—he reminded himself fiercely. She was still at the damp little clinic, resting. But now, he had no home to return to.
He stood frozen, fists clenched at his sides, eyes stinging not just from the smoke but from the sudden, overwhelming fear rising in his chest.
A breeze swept down the alley, tossing sparks into the darkening sky.
Li Wei took one shaky step closer to the smoldering remains, his mind whirling with questions. Who had done this? Why now? What did it mean for tomorrow?
In that instant, standing alone in the ashes of his only shelter, Li Wei realized that the real test had just begun. "Where… where am I going to lay my head tonight?"