Chapter 3

“Cindy, where do you live?” Lance turned to her, his voice impatient.

Cindy opened her mouth to answer, but a voice suddenly called out through the rain p>

“Who are you looking for p>

Both Lance and Cindy jumped, startled by the unexpected sound.

Claire, though, noticed a man approaching, flashlight in hand, his steps steady despite the muddy ground. He looked like he had just come straight from the mountains, wearing a broad straw hat and an old rain cape. His pants were rolled up to his calves, his bare feet caked with mud. Over his shoulder, he carried a hoe, and dangling from it was a woven basket.

Bathed in the car’s headlights, he looked every bit the simple farmer.

Cindy recognized him right away. “Pearce, it’s me. Cindy p>

Pearce blinked, squinting to see her better. “Cindy? I almost didn’t recognize you. Didn’t you call and say you were switched at birth, that you found your real parents? And who are these two p>

Cindy nodded quickly. “Yeah, I did. This is my brother, Lance,” she said, gesturing to him first. Then she turned to Claire. “And this is your sister p>

“Hello,” Pearce said, studying them with quiet curiosity.

“Cindy, how come you’re back at this hour?” he asked.

“I Cindy hesitated, glancing over at Lance for help.

Lance stepped in. “We’re just here to drop Claire off. She’s your family’s real daughter p>

Pearce stared, surprised. Who brings someone home in the middle of the night like this?

Lance was already losing patience. “Alright, we’ve done what we came for. We’ll be leaving now p>

He tossed Claire’s suitcase out of the car without a second thought, then turned back to Cindy. “Get in p>

Cindy looked apologetically at Pearce. “Our mom is still at the hospital. We really have to go.” It wasn’t that she didn’t like the village. She was just worried about her mom.

“Wait, hold on Pearce called after them. “It’s pouring out here. Why don’t you come inside and wait for the rain to stop before heading back p>

Lance glanced back at the little village, his distaste obvious. “No thanks. We’re not used to places like this p>

Pearce tried to be hospitable. “You came all this way, and we didn’t have a chance to prepare a proper thank-you. I just picked these on the mountain. If you don’t mind, please take some,” He took down the basket from his hoë and held it out.

Lance didn’t bother to look at the basket. “Thanks, but we don’t need things like that. Keep them for yourselves p>

Cindy felt a wave of embarrassment. Everything in that basket was just everyday stuff for the village. She couldn’t really blame Lance for not caring.

Before Pearce could say

another

word, Lance had already started the engine and was driving away. He shouted out the window, “There’s

nothing good in a place like this Just a bunch of worthless junk from the mountain, and you’re trying to give it away like it’s special p>

Pearce’s smile faltered and faded away.

He had heard every word. So this was what they were like. Definitely not easy people to get along with.

He turned to look at Claire. She was

soaked, her hair sticking to her face, but you could still tell she was a beautifulgirl. Her eyes showed no fear of the unfamiliar no hint of disgust for the countryside. She just looked calm, steady, as if nothing could shake her.

For some reason, Pearce felt his heart ache a little for her.

“You’re Claire?” he asked gently.

“Yes.” Claire’s eyes drifted to his basket, where she immediately spotted a huge reishi mushroom, bigger than a bowl.

Her eyes sparkled. That was wild reishi, rare and valuable. It wasn’t just about the money, either. Mushrooms of that quality were almost impossible to buy anywhere.

Pearce had offered it as a gift, and Lance had just mocked it as junk?

Claire rolled her eyes inwardly at Lance’s ignorance, but she was secretly relieved. Giving something like that to Lance would’ve been a real waste.

She looked up at Pearce. “Would you mind taking me to Cindy’s house? I can carry the basket for you p>

She reached out to pick up the basket herself.

Pearce shook his head, smiling kindly. “No need, I can manage. You’re not used to these village paths yet. Be careful or you’ll slip p>