Clearly speaking the truth, yet Yu Tingwan still provoked Wei Zhao.
Wei Zhao no longer spoke a single word to her, even pulled away the blanket in Yu Tingwan’s hand and pressed it under himself, closed his eyes and ignored her.
This matter was very serious.
But… Yu Tingwan didn’t care.
She sat at the bedside, used her fingertip to poke Wei Zhao’s back.
“How many mouthfuls of blood have you vomited?”
A muffled grunt came from Wei Zhao’s mouth.
He lifted his eyelids, no emotion visible in his eyes: “You…”
Last time when she said he was poor, Wei Zhao had this exact expression!
It was an unpleasant memory.
Thinking about it now still felt sad.
Yu Tingwan frowned and interrupted: “If it’s unpleasant to hear, then don’t say it.”
She added: “Coughing blood is not a small matter, how can you hide it from Auntie and the others?”
Wei Zhao didn’t respond.
Yu Tingwan thought for a moment, guessed it must be Wei Shen who was afraid of scaring Father and Mother. Mountain roads are impassable, what can Hui Niang and Wei Shouzhong do even if they know? They’d still just be anxious in vain.
He could be considered to have put thought into it.
Yu Tingwan: “I understand now.”
“You didn’t hide it from me, one is you didn’t want to drag me down, trying to make me retreat from difficulties, two is you didn’t treat me as an outsider.”
Wei Zhao wanted to die: ……
No, you don’t understand.
Yu Tingwan was understanding.
“If I were you, I would do the same.”
“But you were also careless, just now blood dripped in the courtyard, if they saw, wouldn’t your cover be blown?”
The young girl’s tone was calm: “But don’t worry, I covered for you, just now before coming in I already buried it with snow.”
Truly thank you very much.
Wei Zhao refused to communicate with Yu Tingwan.
Yu Tingwan seeing him like this, also wasn’t disappointed.
Back then when Xiao Xu-shi entered the household, Hu Dalang disliked Xiao Xu-shi’s ugly appearance, all these years didn’t show much good face, but at night the commotion in their room was never small, and now they even had a child.
He and Wei Shen were not like that couple.
Her appearance was still decent.
Strictly speaking, it was still Wei Shen who picked up a bargain.
Even if in the future they don’t talk about conjugal love, they can still achieve mutual respect like guests.
Yu Tingwan poked Wei Zhao again: “All married couples are unfamiliar with each other at the beginning, you need to adapt.”
“It’s my first time being someone’s wife, I don’t have much experience. If anything I did made you uncomfortable, then you can just…”
The young girl paused.
She had always been reasonable, only when pushed too far would she argue with people. Unless Wei Shen did something to anger her, she would absolutely not make Wei Shen uncomfortable!
She softly said, “Then just reflect on yourself a bit.”
No one had ever said such a thing to Wei Zhao.
Wei Zhao had hundreds of ways to make a person wish they were dead, those who feared him were as numerous as the carp crossing the river.
Every word Yu Tingwan said was challenging his patience.
It was quite novel.
The young girl was even very magnanimous: “I know your body is unwell, having a bit of a temper is understandable. I won’t take it to heart.”
She poked Wei Zhao again.
As she spoke, she sensed something off in the feeling under her fingertip.
The young girl’s gaze looked down, fell on Wei Zhao’s back—where her fingertip touched was damp.
She fixed her eyes and looked carefully, voice trembling:
“How… how come it’s bleeding?”
Only then did Wei Zhao get the chance to faintly make a sound: “You… poked my wound.”
Back then the Po Yun Spear had pierced in from the chest, forcibly stabbed through to the back.
[Note: “破云枪” (Po Yun Spear) is a weapon name, literally “Cloud-Breaking Spear.”]
The bleeding had only just stopped, hadn’t fully scabbed yet. With Wei Zhao’s intentional or unintentional movements, the wound became inflamed and swollen.
Yu Tingwan’s eyes suddenly widened, a flash of panic appearing.
“Then why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Wei Zhao weakly: “I… also wanted to say.”
“Sorry. But how could you be…”
So fragile!
Wei Zhao’s tone was flat: “You don’t know how much strength you used?”
Yu Tingwan felt extreme guilt: “I’ll apply medicine for you.”
“No need.”
Wei Zhao: “I won’t die for now.”
———
Hui Niang originally intended for them to spend more time together and get familiar. With Yu Tingwan watching over him here, she was also at ease. After thinking for a moment, she called out a greeting and went out the door.
The snow on the ground was thick, stepping on it made ge zhi ge zhi sounds.
Hui Niang came out of the house and walked toward the west.
The weather was cold, and along the way, she didn’t run into any pedestrians.
She knocked on the door of the lizheng’s house.
It was Li Lian who came to open the door. Seeing that it was Hui Niang, a trace of surprise flashed in her eyes: “What brings you here? Is there something wrong? But it’s unfortunate timing, your uncle isn’t home at the moment—I’ll go fetch him now.”
Hui Niang quickly stopped her: “I’m not looking for Uncle, I’m looking for you, Auntie.”
Li Lian was a bit surprised, and quickly invited her into the house to talk.
“Whatever it is, speak freely. If I can help, I definitely will.”
She guessed: “I heard about yesterday’s matter too—you and your husband want to get A’lang a wife. But tight on money?”
“It’s not about borrowing money.”
Hui Niang was a bit nervous: “Half a year ago, didn’t your family’s Third Girl plan to get married? Only the groom’s elder passed away at that critical moment and had to observe mourning, so the wedding had to be postponed.”
“I remember Auntie mentioned before, you bought red fabric to make a wedding dress for Third Girl. But then that happened, and considering a young lady’s figure changes a lot, you were worried that once the dress was made, it might not fit later, so you just stored it at the bottom of a chest.”
“I wanted to come ask—could Auntie sell it to me?”
Li Lian was stunned.
“Your family’s A’lang is getting married?”
Hui Niang smiled: “The date is set in these few days. Auntie must come have a cup of wine.”
Li Lian understood now. So urgent—it must be Shouzhong and his wife trying to chong xi for Wei Shen.
[Note: “冲喜” (chong xi) is a Chinese folk custom where a marriage is arranged hastily for someone who is seriously ill or has bad luck, in hopes the happy event will drive away misfortune.]
She agreed immediately: “This is something I can decide. I was just keeping it around to collect dust anyway. Wait a moment—I’ll go get it.”
She accepted the money Hui Niang handed over, added some hot water, then went to her granddaughter’s place and soon came back carrying the red cloth.
The material was red, and Wan Niang had fair skin—wearing it would definitely look good.
Hui Niang accepted it and was about to take her leave.
Li Lian said: “I’m heading out too, I’ll walk you part of the way.”
She walked out with Hui Niang, couldn’t help but say: “Really is a series of happy events. Your family’s A’lang is getting married, and the girl I’ve been matchmaking these past few days—it looks like she’s going to succeed too.”
She was especially confident!
“I finally found another decent young man—just from Chu family in Sandun Village.”
Hui Niang was shocked: “Chu family? That Chu family boy is indeed good, but Auntie, don’t you know his mother is famously difficult?”
“I know.”
Li Lian waved her hand, unconcerned: “But that Chu Mother fell ill recently, nearly gone.”
“I have to tell that girl quickly. If she’s willing, I’ll make a trip over to Sandun.”
Strike first to gain the upper hand.
Just waiting for the person to breathe their last.
Hui Niang: …
After all, it hasn’t happened yet, so Li Lian couldn’t reveal too much. She quickly pulled the topic back: “I’ve seen all the girls in that matchmaker’s hands—just don’t know which one is A’lang’s wife. But since you and your husband chose, it surely won’t be a bad one.”
“You’ve misunderstood, Auntie.”
Hui Niang spoke directly: “That girl is from our own village. You should know her too.”
Li Lian: ??
Who in the village couldn’t think straight, wanting to enter the Wei family’s door?
She already had an answer in her heart.
Don’t tell me… it’s that Silly Girl.
Li Lian was shocked.
But in Hui Niang’s eyes, there was a hint of a smile: “It’s Wan Niang.”
Upon hearing it wasn’t the Silly Girl, Li Lian quickly patted her chest: “Then that’s good, that’s good. I thought it was…”
Her voice suddenly cut off.
She stared wide-eyed: “Who??”