The sky was already dark, and Yu Tingwan returned to the old house.
She roughly made something to eat, washed up a bit, then lay down on the couch.
Obviously very sleepy, but she couldn’t fall asleep.
Yu Tingwan pursed her lips, turned her head to look at that pair of cotton shoes.
Inside was stuffed full of cotton, the stitching fine and tight, just by looking one could tell they were warm. Hui-niang usually scrimped and saved, but when it came to her pair of children, she truly was willing.
Yu Tingwan, as if driven by a ghost, sat up from the couch and put them on herself.
Got off the bed and walked a few circles.
Very warm, very comfortable.
Also fit her feet.
—
The next day turned out to be a rare sunny day.
The light was warmly melting, as if it could drive away the cold of winter.
Villagers ran to and fro, full of joy, all saying it wouldn’t be long before the road to the county town would be unsealed.
But Yu Tingwan knew, it wouldn’t.
Instead, around evening, the cold wind would become even more reckless, bean-sized snow pellets would scramble to fall down, followed closely by a pouring rain overturning everything.
She was probably not going to be able to go up the mountain again.
Thinking of this, Yu Tingwan felt a bit unwell.
She thought over and over, and took out the money she had gotten from Old Man Qian yesterday.
The Wei family’s door was half open.
In the courtyard, Wei Zhao was placed in a rocking chair to bask in the sun.
His eyes were closed, his expression indifferent.
Hui-niang was at the side weaving a bamboo basket.
Yu Tingwan came at this time.
She stood at the doorway.
The little girl saw Hui-niang walking over, awkwardly said: “These wild fruits I can’t finish eating, brought some for Aunt.”
As if it was she couldn’t finish—wild fruits couldn’t fill the stomach, she clearly didn’t have enough to eat.
Hui-niang looked over, the wild fruits in Yu Tingwan’s hands were plump and round, should be she picked the best ones, washed and brought them.
Yu Tingwan: “These wild fruits aren’t worth much money. Next time if I pick better ones, I’ll send them over again.”
She pursed her lips: “Won’t take your shoes for nothing.”
Before Hui-niang could refuse, she stuffed them into her arms.
Hui-niang saw her attitude was firm, then knew this girl had a proud spirit, unwilling to take advantage, so she didn’t act politely with her anymore.
Yu Tingwan again softly and gently asked: “Can I buy some vegetables from Aunt?”
People of Xilin Village lived by farming, and the cellars would all store food. Cabbage, sweet potatoes, radishes—these kinds could be stored long-term, every household had them.
Yu Tingwan placed a few wen under Hui-niang’s eyelids.
“Aunt just give as you see fit.”
“How could I take your money.”
Hui-niang called out: “Come in and talk.”
Pulling Yu Tingwan inside, thinking of how there were many wild dogs in the village, and afraid they would collide with A’Lang, she closed the door in passing.
“You wait, I’ll go get it now.”
Hui-niang hurried toward the backyard cellar. Midway, her steps paused, she seemed to remember something, then quickly turned back and adjusted the fire under the medicine pot to a lower heat.
Once she left, Yu Tingwan began to size up the Wei family courtyard.
Not considered big, but tidied up very cleanly.
Looking and looking, her eyes turned toward Wei Zhao in the courtyard.
He was wearing coarse cotton clothing, not a wedding robe. Eyes closed, from time to time he coughed softly.
Fragile, breakable, the contours of his brows and eyes carried a few traces of lingering sickly aura.
Clearly not the one who pressed on her body, praising her for being fair-skinned.
But Yu Tingwan just felt very uneasy.
She really couldn’t figure it out.
At that time, what part of Wei Shen did she like?
She could tell she wasn’t forced—she was quite satisfied with this marriage, and quite satisfied with Wei Shen as a person.
Satisfied that he couldn’t lift his shoulders or carry with his hands?
The little girl’s scrutiny was unrestrained, with no concealment at all. She scanned Wei Zhao from head to toe back and forth three times, still couldn’t come up with an answer.
“Kang kang kang—”
At this moment, someone pounded the door heavily.
Outside stood a hunchbacked old woman, full head of white hair, sharp-tongued and mean.
“Wei Shouzhong! I raised you to adulthood, was it so you could anger me?”
“You married a wife and forgot your mother, huh!”
“Give me the money! What’s the use of treating some sick weakling. I’m doing this for your own good!”
Thinking about how everyone outside was now criticizing Wei Qintian for being heartless, not going to visit Wei Shen, Old Lady Wei got even angrier.
She shrilled: “What’s there to see in Wei Shen! Qintian’s wife is pregnant again—could he come over and catch bad luck? Wei Shen ought to take the misfortune on behalf of Qintian!”
“Why didn’t he just die out there? What did he come back for!”
“Back then the decision was made by this old lady—do you dare be unconvinced!”
“Don’t be ungrateful! Qintian, this child, is filial and sensible, willing to be adopted into your family—you all should be burning tall incense in thanks!”
Here she goes again.
Yu Tingwan furrowed her brows.
This Old Lady Wei had to come cry out once every day.
Before, when she went out and wasn’t home, it didn’t matter—but wouldn’t she have to hear her yelling every day from now on?
And Wei Shen still needed peace and quiet to recover.
Just as she was thinking, she saw Wei Zhao move.
The man lifted his eyelids, slowly stood up.
It wasn’t obvious when he was lying down, but once he stood, he was actually very tall.
He looked a bit unsteady—probably pulled at his wound.
But Wei Zhao didn’t mind in the slightest, nor did he care who was nearby. He reached out to pick up the medicine pot that was bubbling and boiling.
The words at Yu Tingwan’s lips were swallowed back down.
She even gasped sharply.
Wouldn’t that burn off a whole layer of skin?
Wei Zhao had practiced martial arts for years—his hands were covered in thick calluses. He acted as if he felt nothing at all, walking toward the outside.
Outside, Old Lady Wei was still cursing enthusiastically.
But the village tail [村尾 – the end of the village] didn’t have many households, so even if she howled, no one would respond. She had just planned to stop and catch her breath.
Then the door suddenly opened.
Before she could react, scalding hot medicine spilled out.
A shriek rang out.
Yu Tingwan snapped out of her daze.
Old Lady Wei was up there in age, but her body was still tough. If she went crazy and lunged at Wei Shen—what then?
Wei Shen could barely walk a few steps without swaying—wouldn’t he end up a pile of dirt?
She didn’t dare think any further. Although the astonishment in her eyes hadn’t faded, her body had already reacted.
She rushed forward, and just as Old Lady Wei bent over in pain, she shut the door—and didn’t forget to bolt the latch. Her movement was smooth as flowing water, completely cutting off Old Lady Wei’s hopping curses and filthy words outside the door.
Back pressed against the door, Yu Tingwan could actually understand Wei Shen.
Bullied right to his doorstep—even a clay figurine would have a temper.
If it were her in Wei Shen’s place, let alone being physically weak—even if she were buried in the ground, she would have to crawl out of the dirt to show Old Lady Wei a thing or two.
But Yu Tingwan just couldn’t understand how he could be so ruthless toward her.
Her gaze slowly lowered.
“You…”
She dryly asked: “Your hand—is it okay?”
Wei Zhao, sick and feeble, walked back, casually tossed the medicine pot to the side, and lay back down again.
The frustration of the past few days seemed to have found a place to vent.
He had put up with that old woman for a long time.
The gloom in Wei Zhao’s eyes had faded quite a bit. There was even a hint of pleasure between his brows and eyes.
Wei Zhao had just closed his eyes, when he suddenly thought of something, and looked over at Yu Tingwan.
What did she just ask?
Wei Zhao tried to think.
For once, he was even willing to open his golden mouth and respond to her.
Not having spoken in a long time, his voice was a bit hoarse.
“Oh. Don’t know them.”
Old Lady Wei comes every day to curse you to die, and you say you don’t know who she is?
Yu Tingwan: ???
She fell into a daze, then quickly reacted.
She didn’t ask you that!
How are you even more perfunctory than she is?
I asked how your hand is, and you told me you don’t know the person outside.
She went to look at Wei Zhao’s expression.
And saw that Wei Zhao was very pleased with this answer.