Chapter 11: First Time Sharing a Table
Yu Ying spoke calmly, "That's my business."
After her words, the room fell into silence.
Not expecting such a reply, even the desolate Fu Wei was taken aback.
Yu Ying didn’t seek his approval, instead directly lifting the quilt from his legs.
Fu Wei regained his composure, examining her face with a faint gaze, and after a while, said, "Clean up the stains on your face, find a patron, and it'll be easy to ensure a worry-free life in terms of food and clothing. Why waste your efforts on the Fu family?"
Just about to lift Fu Wei's trouser leg to check the affected area, she was taken aback by his words, her pupils dilating slightly, a hint of surprise appearing on her face.
As if realizing something, she touched the “black spots” on her cheek, then looked at his world-weary face. Regaining her composure, Yu Ying asked, "When did you notice them?"
Fu Wei glanced at the stains on her face and said in a nonchalant tone, "Sometimes they're pronounced, sometimes faint. Isn't that meant to draw attention?"
Yu Ying frowned slightly; his face was handsome, but his words were far from pleasing.
Here, without even a bronze mirror, she could only apply wild fruit juice to her face by looking at her reflection in the water, and these busy days had made her forget about the “spots” on her face.
Thinking carefully, there were probably only a few who would notice the varying intensity of her spots.
Mrs. Luo's vision was poor, Fu An was still young and not given to complex thoughts, certainly not suspecting any deceit.
Since her arrival in this world, she had rarely interacted with others, and Aunt He had only started dealing with her recently, likely not noticing either.
Yu Ying looked at Fu Wei, wondering if he was the only one who had noticed.
After all, those destined for greatness were often far more astute and observant than others.
Yu Ying's pensive expression did not escape Fu Wei's notice.
What she was thinking, he could easily guess with a little contemplation.
"If you wish to continue hiding it, it must be subtle, not pronounced," Fu Wei spoke with a cold expression and tone.
Yu Ying fell silent, thinking how could she discern the intensity without a mirror?
After struggling for a moment, her gaze settled on Fu Wei, an unrealistic idea forming in her mind, but she dismissed it just as quickly.
He didn’t seem like a warm-hearted person; why would he help her?
"Then I will be more careful from now on," Yu Ying said and continued to roll up his trouser leg gently.
Seeing signs that the bandages had been tampered with, Yu Ying's expression darkened, and she looked up at the indifferent Fu Wei.
Staring at him solemnly for a while, she asked slowly, "Did you tamper with these bamboo splints, or move your leg?"
Yu Ying's voice was gentle and devoid of hostility, yet it carried a serious, commanding tone.
Fu Wei's eyes shifted slightly, meeting her indignant gaze, and after a long stare, he slowly replied, "Every human has basic needs, and so do I."
Yu Ying was taken aback, then realized that in the Fu household, there was no one to assist him, and everything was difficult for him to manage alone.
Despite this, Yu Ying paused before emphasizing the severity to him: "Even in an emergency, you must not move these bamboo splints. If the bones are displaced again, they will be much harder to realign."
Hearing this, Fu Wei slightly lifted his eyelids, a dead calm in his eyes, and said indifferently, "What does recovery matter? There will always be those who dislike my well-being. It's likely they will break again after healing."
As Yu Ying securely re-tied his bandages, she understood the implication of his words.
It was difficult for Yu Ying to judge the matter of their switched identities, as it was an accident with no right or wrong.
But if one were to trace the cause, it was all due to the wrongdoing of Fu Wei's foster father.
Perhaps the real son felt aggrieved, thus wanting to ruin Fu Wei, but the Fu family suffered more unjustly, all because of the treachery of his biological father.
If his father hadn't conspired with the rebels to frame Fu Wei's father for treason, how would their families have ended up seeking refuge in a temple?
If they hadn't sought refuge, how could the children have been switched?
Without him, how would the Fu family have faced such ruin and loss?
The prefect of Wuling owed the Fu family a debt that couldn't be repaid even with his life.
After re-tying the bandages, Yu Ying looked up at him and asked, "So you plan to just sit and wait for death?"
As Fu Wei looked at her, Yu Ying said, "Your death might end everything for you, but what about those who are still alive? Besides, you're alive now. Isn't being able to walk on two healthy legs better than your current state?"
Yu Ying averted her gaze, pulling down his trouser leg, and said indifferently, "If you don't want to be treated, tell me now, and I'll stop."
Having said this, she didn't look at him and turned to walk out of the house.
But just as she stepped out of the thatched hut, she seemed to remember something, withdrew her foot, turned her head towards Fu Wei on the bamboo bed, and narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "Did you just suggest I should clean up my face and find a patron to ensure a worry-free life? Are you implying I should resort to pleasing others with my looks?"
Fu Wei looked at her somberly and asked in a detached tone, "In these hard times, isn't it normal for men to be slaves, women to be courtesans, and children to be sold for survival?"
Yu Ying looked at him silently for a long time, wondering what he had gone through to have such a deep understanding of the harsh realities of life in just over a month in Lingnan, and whether he was already aware of the world's hardships.
Not knowing the answer, Yu Ying didn't delve deeper but said earnestly, "Resorting to pleasing others with one's looks is a choice of last resort. As long as I have other options and can support myself, I will never choose that path."
After these words, Yu Ying left the house with a stern face.
Fu Wei stared blankly at the empty doorway for a long while before finally shifting his gaze away.
Sitting quietly on the bamboo bed, Fu Wei looked out of the window, his eyes settling on the slender figure in the yard.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, he recalled her determined demeanor when she spoke, revealing an unyielding and tenacious spirit.
It was not just tenacity, but also full of vigor.
His thoughts drifted, remembering the skilled way she had set his bones and diagnosed him, a proficiency that couldn't be achieved without a decade of practice. Even men of similar age who had studied medicine from childhood didn't possess her calmness.
What kind of upbringing and environment could have nurtured a woman with such character and capabilities?
Outside in the yard, Yu Ying, who initially had no intention of cooking wild vegetables, ended up accepting the washed bracken ferns.
The bracken ferns are refreshing when served cold, but lacking ingredients, she could only blanch them in water and mix them with a bit of salt.
However, since there was only one clay pot currently being used to cook porridge, Yu Ying decided to first use the pot she had cleaned for brewing medicine.
She filled it with water and piled up a few stones to place the medicine pot on top.
Looking at Fu An, she said, "Boil the water here as well."
Fu An glanced at her, pouted, but still directed the fire into another makeshift stove.
Observing the two stone-built stoves, Yu Ying added another item to her list of needed tools—a clay stove for the table.
When buying the clay pot, she had inquired about the price: a single-mouthed clay stove was ten wen, and a double-mouthed one was eighteen wen.
A double-mouthed stove could cook two pots at once, saving both firewood and time.
Since Mrs. Luo and Fu Wei needed to take their medicine for a long time, a double-mouthed clay stove was essential.
For now, with no rain or wind, makeshift arrangements would suffice, but in windy or rainy conditions, they might be reduced to just boiling wild vegetables.
Suddenly, Yu Ying remembered that the Lingnan region typically experiences hurricanes and heavy rain from July to September each year.
Counting the months, it was now July!
A shiver ran down Yu Ying's spine as she turned to look at her dilapidated thatched hut, feeling a sense of dread.
Would the hut be blown away if a hurricane struck?
But... surrounded by mountains, there shouldn't be any severe hurricanes here, right?
If worse comes to worst, she thought of cutting down a few more thick bamboo poles and making ropes to reinforce the hut inside and out.
Yu Ying found herself burdened with yet another concern.
"It's bubbling, it's bubbling!"
Fu An suddenly shouted, snapping Yu Ying back to attention.
Fully alert now, she glanced at the bubbling clay pot, crouched down, and stirred the bottom with a wooden spoon to prevent sticking.
After stirring for a while, she scooped some out to check. The rice was just starting to change, needing more time to cook before adding the red mushrooms.
Yu Ying set aside the wooden spoon and took a basin to fetch water from the river.
The water needs of a household couldn't all depend on a child of only eight years.
Though resting her sprained foot was necessary for a quicker recovery, the current situation didn't allow her much rest.
After fetching two basins of water, she added the red mushrooms to the nearly ready porridge, covering the pot partially to prevent boiling over.
A faint, delicious aroma began to waft from the pot after a while.
Since the Fu family lived on the very edge of Lingshui Village, a good half-mile from the nearest neighbor, Yu Ying wasn’t worried that someone might smell the aroma and suspect her of poisoning the Fu family with red mushrooms.
Attracted by the fragrance, Fu An couldn't help but swallow his saliva, watching the fire even more diligently.
About half a quarter-hour later, the porridge was ready.
Making porridge for the first time, aiming for a delicious taste, and considering that none of them had large appetites, Yu Ying hadn’t added too much water, resulting in a rather thick red mushroom porridge.
The red mushrooms had turned the porridge a red color, which might be off-putting to the uninitiated.
But Fu An, who already knew the red mushrooms were not only non-toxic but also tasty, had been eagerly anticipating it.
Yu Ying added some salt to the porridge, stirring it before serving. She then had Fu Wei carry it to the bamboo table inside the house, following which she added salt to the ferns and stirred them as well.
Soon, a dish of ferns was ready.
Fortunately, the Fu family still had wooden plates and bowls; it would have been truly pitiful to lack even the basic utensils for eating.
Inside the house, Fu Wei watched as his nephew brought in the porridge, and soon a faint aroma wafted to his corner.
Moments later, he saw his nominal wife bring in a dish of wild vegetables.
Fu Wei slightly furrowed his brows.
Were they planning to eat their evening meal inside the house?
Since Fu Wei's arrival at the Fu residence, aside from sleeping on mats in the corner at night, they rarely stayed inside. Even meals were usually taken outside, as if to avoid disturbing him.
Were they no longer concerned about that?
Ignoring Fu Wei, Yu Ying said to Fu An, "Help me move the table next to the bed."
Fu An was surprised, but after hesitating and glancing at the appetizing porridge on the table, he quickly complied.
Eating her food meant playing by her rules, a realization he had come to accept.
Yu Ying and Fu An moved the table beside the bed, while Fu Wei looked at her coldly.
Yu Ying acted as if she hadn’t noticed his gaze, and just asked Fu An to call his sister and help their grandmother in.
When Luo Shi heard they were eating inside, she hesitated. Fu An urged, "Grandma, that woman and Uncle are waiting for us."
Hearing her grandson refer to Yu Ying as “that woman,” Luo Shi frowned and corrected, "She's your aunt."
Fu An retorted, "She's not any aunt. If she were, why wouldn't Uncle live in the same room as her, instead of squeezing in with us?"
Luo Shi was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to explain, but still insisted firmly, "Anyway, from now on you must call her aunt, not 'that woman'. Understand?"
Fu An sighed and reluctantly agreed, "Alright, I understand."
After the three generations of the family entered the house,
Fu Ning waited for her brother to help their grandmother sit down before she obediently climbed onto the bench.
Despite staring longingly at the porridge, famished, she sat upright without any other movement, her good behavior endearing.
Once everyone was seated, Yu Ying said softly, "The table is meant for eating, it shouldn't be left empty. Don't you think so, Erlang?"
Yu Ying glanced at the cold-faced Fu Wei.
Fu Wei met her gaze briefly but remained silent.
As he didn't speak, Luo Shi looked increasingly nervous, and everyone hesitated to start eating. Yu Ying also waited, just looking at him.
After a moment of silence, Fu Wei finally looked away and picked up his bowl, saying quietly, "Let's eat."
With his words, the tension on Luo Shi's face visibly eased.
"Grandma, sister, the porridge is quite hot. Be careful," warned Fu An, setting down his bowl after feeling the heat.
He glanced secretly at his uncle, who showed no change in expression or discomfort from the heat, and felt a sense of admiration.
Fu An turned his attention away, picked some ferns for his grandmother's bowl, then carefully spooned a little porridge, blew on it, and cautiously fed his sister.
Watching them, Yu Ying found it hard not to be moved.
She looked at Fu Wei, and he also glanced at his nephew, but sensing her gaze, he quickly looked away.
When Fu Ning tasted the flavorful and delicious porridge, her eyes brightened with delight.
After feeding his sister a few spoonfuls, Fu An finally managed to eat a spoonful himself. After tasting the porridge, he paused.
Moments later, he lowered his head, unwilling to let others see his reddened eyes.
It had been so long since he'd tasted such delicious porridge, and even longer since he had sat down to a good meal at this table.
He missed his father and mother so much...
Chapter 11: First Time Sharing a Table
Yu Ying spoke calmly, "That's my business."
After her words, the room fell into silence.
Not expecting such a reply, even the desolate Fu Wei was taken aback.
Yu Ying didn’t seek his approval, instead directly lifting the quilt from his legs.
Fu Wei regained his composure, examining her face with a faint gaze, and after a while, said, "Clean up the stains on your face, find a patron, and it'll be easy to ensure a worry-free life in terms of food and clothing. Why waste your efforts on the Fu family?"
Just about to lift Fu Wei's trouser leg to check the affected area, she was taken aback by his words, her pupils dilating slightly, a hint of surprise appearing on her face.
As if realizing something, she touched the “black spots” on her cheek, then looked at his world-weary face. Regaining her composure, Yu Ying asked, "When did you notice them?"
Fu Wei glanced at the stains on her face and said in a nonchalant tone, "Sometimes they're pronounced, sometimes faint. Isn't that meant to draw attention?"
Yu Ying frowned slightly; his face was handsome, but his words were far from pleasing.
Here, without even a bronze mirror, she could only apply wild fruit juice to her face by looking at her reflection in the water, and these busy days had made her forget about the “spots” on her face.
Thinking carefully, there were probably only a few who would notice the varying intensity of her spots.
Mrs. Luo's vision was poor, Fu An was still young and not given to complex thoughts, certainly not suspecting any deceit.
Since her arrival in this world, she had rarely interacted with others, and Aunt He had only started dealing with her recently, likely not noticing either.
Yu Ying looked at Fu Wei, wondering if he was the only one who had noticed.
After all, those destined for greatness were often far more astute and observant than others.
Yu Ying's pensive expression did not escape Fu Wei's notice.
What she was thinking, he could easily guess with a little contemplation.
"If you wish to continue hiding it, it must be subtle, not pronounced," Fu Wei spoke with a cold expression and tone.
Yu Ying fell silent, thinking how could she discern the intensity without a mirror?
After struggling for a moment, her gaze settled on Fu Wei, an unrealistic idea forming in her mind, but she dismissed it just as quickly.
He didn’t seem like a warm-hearted person; why would he help her?
"Then I will be more careful from now on," Yu Ying said and continued to roll up his trouser leg gently.
Seeing signs that the bandages had been tampered with, Yu Ying's expression darkened, and she looked up at the indifferent Fu Wei.
Staring at him solemnly for a while, she asked slowly, "Did you tamper with these bamboo splints, or move your leg?"
Yu Ying's voice was gentle and devoid of hostility, yet it carried a serious, commanding tone.
Fu Wei's eyes shifted slightly, meeting her indignant gaze, and after a long stare, he slowly replied, "Every human has basic needs, and so do I."
Yu Ying was taken aback, then realized that in the Fu household, there was no one to assist him, and everything was difficult for him to manage alone.
Despite this, Yu Ying paused before emphasizing the severity to him: "Even in an emergency, you must not move these bamboo splints. If the bones are displaced again, they will be much harder to realign."
Hearing this, Fu Wei slightly lifted his eyelids, a dead calm in his eyes, and said indifferently, "What does recovery matter? There will always be those who dislike my well-being. It's likely they will break again after healing."
As Yu Ying securely re-tied his bandages, she understood the implication of his words.
It was difficult for Yu Ying to judge the matter of their switched identities, as it was an accident with no right or wrong.
But if one were to trace the cause, it was all due to the wrongdoing of Fu Wei's foster father.
Perhaps the real son felt aggrieved, thus wanting to ruin Fu Wei, but the Fu family suffered more unjustly, all because of the treachery of his biological father.
If his father hadn't conspired with the rebels to frame Fu Wei's father for treason, how would their families have ended up seeking refuge in a temple?
If they hadn't sought refuge, how could the children have been switched?
Without him, how would the Fu family have faced such ruin and loss?
The prefect of Wuling owed the Fu family a debt that couldn't be repaid even with his life.
After re-tying the bandages, Yu Ying looked up at him and asked, "So you plan to just sit and wait for death?"
As Fu Wei looked at her, Yu Ying said, "Your death might end everything for you, but what about those who are still alive? Besides, you're alive now. Isn't being able to walk on two healthy legs better than your current state?"
Yu Ying averted her gaze, pulling down his trouser leg, and said indifferently, "If you don't want to be treated, tell me now, and I'll stop."
Having said this, she didn't look at him and turned to walk out of the house.
But just as she stepped out of the thatched hut, she seemed to remember something, withdrew her foot, turned her head towards Fu Wei on the bamboo bed, and narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "Did you just suggest I should clean up my face and find a patron to ensure a worry-free life? Are you implying I should resort to pleasing others with my looks?"
Fu Wei looked at her somberly and asked in a detached tone, "In these hard times, isn't it normal for men to be slaves, women to be courtesans, and children to be sold for survival?"
Yu Ying looked at him silently for a long time, wondering what he had gone through to have such a deep understanding of the harsh realities of life in just over a month in Lingnan, and whether he was already aware of the world's hardships.
Not knowing the answer, Yu Ying didn't delve deeper but said earnestly, "Resorting to pleasing others with one's looks is a choice of last resort. As long as I have other options and can support myself, I will never choose that path."
After these words, Yu Ying left the house with a stern face.
Fu Wei stared blankly at the empty doorway for a long while before finally shifting his gaze away.
Sitting quietly on the bamboo bed, Fu Wei looked out of the window, his eyes settling on the slender figure in the yard.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, he recalled her determined demeanor when she spoke, revealing an unyielding and tenacious spirit.
It was not just tenacity, but also full of vigor.
His thoughts drifted, remembering the skilled way she had set his bones and diagnosed him, a proficiency that couldn't be achieved without a decade of practice. Even men of similar age who had studied medicine from childhood didn't possess her calmness.
What kind of upbringing and environment could have nurtured a woman with such character and capabilities?
Outside in the yard, Yu Ying, who initially had no intention of cooking wild vegetables, ended up accepting the washed bracken ferns.
The bracken ferns are refreshing when served cold, but lacking ingredients, she could only blanch them in water and mix them with a bit of salt.
However, since there was only one clay pot currently being used to cook porridge, Yu Ying decided to first use the pot she had cleaned for brewing medicine.
She filled it with water and piled up a few stones to place the medicine pot on top.
Looking at Fu An, she said, "Boil the water here as well."
Fu An glanced at her, pouted, but still directed the fire into another makeshift stove.
Observing the two stone-built stoves, Yu Ying added another item to her list of needed tools—a clay stove for the table.
When buying the clay pot, she had inquired about the price: a single-mouthed clay stove was ten wen, and a double-mouthed one was eighteen wen.
A double-mouthed stove could cook two pots at once, saving both firewood and time.
Since Mrs. Luo and Fu Wei needed to take their medicine for a long time, a double-mouthed clay stove was essential.
For now, with no rain or wind, makeshift arrangements would suffice, but in windy or rainy conditions, they might be reduced to just boiling wild vegetables.
Suddenly, Yu Ying remembered that the Lingnan region typically experiences hurricanes and heavy rain from July to September each year.
Counting the months, it was now July!
A shiver ran down Yu Ying's spine as she turned to look at her dilapidated thatched hut, feeling a sense of dread.
Would the hut be blown away if a hurricane struck?
But... surrounded by mountains, there shouldn't be any severe hurricanes here, right?
If worse comes to worst, she thought of cutting down a few more thick bamboo poles and making ropes to reinforce the hut inside and out.
Yu Ying found herself burdened with yet another concern.
"It's bubbling, it's bubbling!"
Fu An suddenly shouted, snapping Yu Ying back to attention.
Fully alert now, she glanced at the bubbling clay pot, crouched down, and stirred the bottom with a wooden spoon to prevent sticking.
After stirring for a while, she scooped some out to check. The rice was just starting to change, needing more time to cook before adding the red mushrooms.
Yu Ying set aside the wooden spoon and took a basin to fetch water from the river.
The water needs of a household couldn't all depend on a child of only eight years.
Though resting her sprained foot was necessary for a quicker recovery, the current situation didn't allow her much rest.
After fetching two basins of water, she added the red mushrooms to the nearly ready porridge, covering the pot partially to prevent boiling over.
A faint, delicious aroma began to waft from the pot after a while.
Since the Fu family lived on the very edge of Lingshui Village, a good half-mile from the nearest neighbor, Yu Ying wasn’t worried that someone might smell the aroma and suspect her of poisoning the Fu family with red mushrooms.
Attracted by the fragrance, Fu An couldn't help but swallow his saliva, watching the fire even more diligently.
About half a quarter-hour later, the porridge was ready.
Making porridge for the first time, aiming for a delicious taste, and considering that none of them had large appetites, Yu Ying hadn’t added too much water, resulting in a rather thick red mushroom porridge.
The red mushrooms had turned the porridge a red color, which might be off-putting to the uninitiated.
But Fu An, who already knew the red mushrooms were not only non-toxic but also tasty, had been eagerly anticipating it.
Yu Ying added some salt to the porridge, stirring it before serving. She then had Fu Wei carry it to the bamboo table inside the house, following which she added salt to the ferns and stirred them as well.
Soon, a dish of ferns was ready.
Fortunately, the Fu family still had wooden plates and bowls; it would have been truly pitiful to lack even the basic utensils for eating.
Inside the house, Fu Wei watched as his nephew brought in the porridge, and soon a faint aroma wafted to his corner.
Moments later, he saw his nominal wife bring in a dish of wild vegetables.
Fu Wei slightly furrowed his brows.
Were they planning to eat their evening meal inside the house?
Since Fu Wei's arrival at the Fu residence, aside from sleeping on mats in the corner at night, they rarely stayed inside. Even meals were usually taken outside, as if to avoid disturbing him.
Were they no longer concerned about that?
Ignoring Fu Wei, Yu Ying said to Fu An, "Help me move the table next to the bed."
Fu An was surprised, but after hesitating and glancing at the appetizing porridge on the table, he quickly complied.
Eating her food meant playing by her rules, a realization he had come to accept.
Yu Ying and Fu An moved the table beside the bed, while Fu Wei looked at her coldly.
Yu Ying acted as if she hadn’t noticed his gaze, and just asked Fu An to call his sister and help their grandmother in.
When Luo Shi heard they were eating inside, she hesitated. Fu An urged, "Grandma, that woman and Uncle are waiting for us."
Hearing her grandson refer to Yu Ying as “that woman,” Luo Shi frowned and corrected, "She's your aunt."
Fu An retorted, "She's not any aunt. If she were, why wouldn't Uncle live in the same room as her, instead of squeezing in with us?"
Luo Shi was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to explain, but still insisted firmly, "Anyway, from now on you must call her aunt, not 'that woman'. Understand?"
Fu An sighed and reluctantly agreed, "Alright, I understand."
After the three generations of the family entered the house,
Fu Ning waited for her brother to help their grandmother sit down before she obediently climbed onto the bench.
Despite staring longingly at the porridge, famished, she sat upright without any other movement, her good behavior endearing.
Once everyone was seated, Yu Ying said softly, "The table is meant for eating, it shouldn't be left empty. Don't you think so, Erlang?"
Yu Ying glanced at the cold-faced Fu Wei.
Fu Wei met her gaze briefly but remained silent.
As he didn't speak, Luo Shi looked increasingly nervous, and everyone hesitated to start eating. Yu Ying also waited, just looking at him.
After a moment of silence, Fu Wei finally looked away and picked up his bowl, saying quietly, "Let's eat."
With his words, the tension on Luo Shi's face visibly eased.
"Grandma, sister, the porridge is quite hot. Be careful," warned Fu An, setting down his bowl after feeling the heat.
He glanced secretly at his uncle, who showed no change in expression or discomfort from the heat, and felt a sense of admiration.
Fu An turned his attention away, picked some ferns for his grandmother's bowl, then carefully spooned a little porridge, blew on it, and cautiously fed his sister.
Watching them, Yu Ying found it hard not to be moved.
She looked at Fu Wei, and he also glanced at his nephew, but sensing her gaze, he quickly looked away.
When Fu Ning tasted the flavorful and delicious porridge, her eyes brightened with delight.
After feeding his sister a few spoonfuls, Fu An finally managed to eat a spoonful himself. After tasting the porridge, he paused.
Moments later, he lowered his head, unwilling to let others see his reddened eyes.
It had been so long since he'd tasted such delicious porridge, and even longer since he had sat down to a good meal at this table.
He missed his father and mother so much...
