Chapter 31
As dusk fell, weary birds returned to their nests, and smoke began to rise from each household’s kitchen.
Smoke also rose from the Fu household.
Having earned some silver today, even after redeeming Fu An and Fu Ning's parents, Yu Ying had some spare money left, so she indulged a bit.
She cooked extra rice, and with the locust flowers Fu An and Fu Ning had collected, she stir-fried three eggs, and then made a simple dish with cabbage in a clay pot.
Yesterday, when Uncle Chen brought lychees, she asked him to also bring some vegetables today.
Cabbage, radishes, and taro can last a few days without spoiling, so she got three cabbages, three radishes, and a small basket of taro.
Talking about frying cabbage in lard, she hadn’t enjoyed it much before due to the lack of oil. So this time, Yu Ying added a full spoon of oil, and even as a vegetarian dish, its fragrance wafted outside the yard.
The lard would last another three or four days. When she goes to Yu County the day after tomorrow, she plans to buy some meat to render more lard, and also get some spices to add to it, not only to preserve the lard longer but also to make it more fragrant.
Not just one meat and one vegetable dish, but also eating rice.
Though there was no meat, their meals were improving, something unimaginable for Fu An and Fu Ning in the past.
After all, they only got to eat eggs during festivals.
Yu Ying told them, "Tonight, I cooked extra rice, so we can all eat our fill."
Fu Wei looked up at Yu Ying, who wore a faint smile. His lips curved slightly, and after a moment, he lowered his gaze and continued eating.
After dinner, while Fu An and Fu Ning were washing dishes, Yu Ying fetched two buckets of water. By the time she finished, it was almost dark.
After washing up in the evening, she went back to her room to sleep with little Fu Ning.
As the night deepened, Yu Ying didn't sleep well, feeling somewhat cold and noticing the wind outside was different than usual.
It was urgent and fierce.
In her half-asleep state, she suddenly woke up, realizing something. Sitting up in bed, she heard a "whooshing" sound outside, accompanied by the faint noise of rain.
A hurricane had arrived.
Without any warning, it just appeared.
Yu Ying felt the house slightly shaking.
The sound of wind and rain grew louder, waking little Fu Ning beside her. She sat up and rubbed her eyes.
Fu Ning looked bewildered in the pitch-dark room, startled by the howling wind and rain outside.
Dressed lightly, Yu Ying suddenly felt a chill, shivering. She then remembered the grandmother and grandson sleeping on the floor in the next room and said to Fu Ning on the bed, “Stay in the room, don’t wander about. Auntie is going to check on your grandmother and brother.”
Fu Ning, hearing Auntie's voice, nodded.
Yu Ying, unable to see Fu Ning, swung her legs off the bed and groped around for her cloth shoes.
As she stepped out of the room, opening the bamboo door, a gust laden with raindrops hit her face, plastering her clothes to her body and whipping her loose hair wildly.
Standing at the doorway, the wind felt even stronger, and she could vaguely see the trees in the yard swaying.
Uncle He had said the wind wasn't usually strong and didn't cause much trouble, but why did she feel it was... unusually strong now?
Yu Ying left the room and closed the door behind her, braving the wind and rain to reach the other thatched hut, calling out, “Fu An, open the door.”
Unable to sleep due to the sudden hurricane, Fu Wei sat up in bed upon hearing her voice.
Fu An, shivering from the cold and half-asleep, seemed to hear Auntie's voice. Instantly awake, he hurriedly got up and fumbled to open the door.
As the door opened, the fierce wind, carrying fine rain, instantly filled the room.
Yu Ying quickly entered, closing the door behind her. The wind lessened inside, but the wailing sound outside was still audible.
Mrs. Luo, also awake, asked, “Yu Liuniang, why did you come over?”
In the pitch-dark room, Yu Ying could only speak into the darkness, “A hurricane suddenly struck tonight. The wind is strong, and it’s raining. You and Fu An can’t sleep on the floor.”
With both wind and rain, and a sudden drop in temperature, sleeping on the floor could lead to illness for both grandmother and grandson.
Not to mention, the possibility of snakes, insects, and rodents entering the house due to the storm made it even more dangerous.
After a moment of confusion, Fu An asked bewilderedly, “If we don’t sleep on the floor, where can we sleep?”
Yu Ying paused, realizing the dilemma – if not the floor, then where should they sleep?
The bamboo bed was occupied by Fu Wei, and she and Fu Ning were sleeping on the straw mat bed.
After a moment of silence, Yu Ying called into the darkness, "Er Lang?"
A deep, mellow voice responded from the darkness, "I'm here."
"Could you possibly share the bed with Fu An and Fu Ning tonight?"
Now, the only option was for Fu An and Fu Ning to sleep with him, and she would squeeze in with Mrs. Luo.
Fu Wei responded softly, "Okay."
Yu Ying said, "I'll bring Fu Ning over first, then join you and Mother later."
Mrs. Luo thought for a moment and agreed, "Alright."
As Yu Ying was about to leave, Fu Wei's voice came again from the darkness, "Be careful, the wind is strong."
"Understood," Yu Ying replied, then opened the door and left the room.
Soon after, Yu Ying returned, cradling Fu Ning in her arms.
Once inside, Yu Ying gently said to Fu Ning, "Ning Ning, tonight, would you like to sleep with your brother and uncle?"
At the mention of sleeping with her uncle, the little girl clung tightly to Yu Ying's neck, burying her face in her neck, showing clear resistance.
Her reluctance was unexpected to Yu Ying.
After a moment of silence, Luo Shi asked, "Does Ning Ning not want to?"
Yu Ying hummed in acknowledgment, but continued to persuade, "It's windy and raining tonight. Grandma and your brother can't sleep on the floor, so it has to be you and your brother sleeping with uncle. Grandma and auntie are already asleep. Will you be a good girl?"
Normally obedient Fu Ning was exceptionally uncooperative tonight, holding onto Yu Ying even tighter, as if afraid of being placed on her uncle's bed by her aunt.
Yu Ying couldn't fathom why she was so resistant, but after pondering, she figured out the reason.
It seemed that for a long time, Fu Wei had not spoken a single word to her.
To her, Fu Wei was a stranger.
Moreover, it might be because of a deep psychological trauma related to a previous uncle, which caused her to fear Fu Wei, her current uncle.
Forcing her to sleep with Fu Wei might backfire and affect her willingness to start speaking again.
At that moment, Fu An, with a curious tone, asked, "Why isn't Auntie sleeping with her sister and Uncle?"
In the ensuing silence, Fu An added, still puzzled, "In other families, husbands and wives sleep together. Why don't Uncle and Auntie sleep together?"
This question seemed to have bothered him for a while, as his words were full of inquiry.
After a moment of silence, Yu Ying chose not to delve into the complexities and simply said, "Our family’s situation is a bit different from others. Don’t ask why; I don’t know either."
Fu Wei: …
They weren't a real husband and wife, so how could they sleep together?
The situation now seemed to be at an impasse.
After some hesitation, Mrs. Luo suggested, "How about An An sleeps with Uncle, and I continue sleeping on the floor?"
Mrs. Luo was well aware of how big the straw mat bed was. It was just right for one person, and already a tight fit for Yu Ying and Fu Ning, maybe just squeezing in Fu An at most. But then, the person sleeping on the edge risked falling off.
Yu Ying, not having the heart to let a frail old lady sleep on the floor in such terrible weather while she took a better spot, was conflicted.
Yet, she was also apprehensive about sleeping on the floor, where centipedes and various insects might appear. She’d rather sleep propped up than risk it.
After a long silence, with the wind and rain outside growing fiercer, she realized they needed to make a decision quickly, or soon they wouldn't be able to leave the room at all.
Yu Ying reasoned that it was just about lying down clothed next to a man with a child in between, awkward but not really a big deal.
Having made up her mind, Yu Ying asked Fu Wei, "Er Lang, how about we make do together for a few nights?"
Hearing the intent in that soft voice, Fu Wei was momentarily stunned, speechless for a few breaths.
Even Luo Shi was taken aback upon hearing her pretend daughter-in-law's words, wondering to herself if Liu Niang was actually considering accepting Er Lang?
"Is it not okay?" Yu Ying, unaware of what the mother and son were thinking, asked again.
Fu Wei found his throat involuntarily tightening, unsure how to respond.
Although they were nominally husband and wife, they were not truly so and would eventually part ways, each pursuing their own paths.
If they shared a bed now, how would they untangle their relationship later?
Yu Ying sighed inwardly, thinking she had perhaps been too straightforward for the conservative Fu Wei.
She suggested, "I'll make do and sleep on the table for the night, and Ning Ning, An An can sleep with their mother."
"That won't do, I disagree," Luo Shi was the first to object.
Fu Wei fell silent.
Now it wasn't just up to Fu Ning; it was also up to him to decide.
Given the situation, either the two children would sleep with him, or they would follow her suggestion; there seemed no other option.
If possible, he was willing to sleep on the floor, but he knew without having to think further that both his mother and she would disagree.
In extraordinary times, one shouldn't be too concerned with the usual norms.
Fu Wei convinced himself, letting out a soft sigh, his voice reluctant yet slightly hoarse: "As long as you don't mind, it's fine."
With Fu Wei's agreement, Yu Ying felt relieved.
She spoke more tenderly to Fu Ning, “How about Auntie sleeps with you and Uncle, okay?”
Fu Ning thought for a moment, her tight grip around Yu Ying’s hands loosening.
Seeing this, Yu Ying continued to persuade, "The wind is so strong today, and it’s raining. You went outside earlier, you felt it too. If grandma and brother sleep on the floor, they might get sick. So tonight, Auntie will hold you while we sleep, okay?”
After a moment of hesitation, the little girl buried in her neck nodded.
Yu Ying sighed in relief, saying, “Ning Ning agrees.”
She instructed, “Fu An, help grandma move over to sleep.”
Fu An responded with a firm “Hmm,” seeming eager for Auntie and Uncle to sleep together.
Yu Ying put down Fu Ning and asked her to wait in the room while she escorted her grandmother to the next room and returned.
Initially, Fu Ning didn't let go, but, not wanting to upset her little aunt, she slowly released her grip.
When Yu Ying returned from the next room, she was already half-drenched. Calling out "Ning Ning," the little girl groped her way to Yu Ying’s side and then reached out her hand.
Yu Ying clasped her hand in return.
The Fu family was almost destitute, with situations like tonight's, where everything had to be done in the dark due to the lack of oil lamps, being quite inconvenient.
Thinking of this, Yu Ying realized she needed to add another essential item to her shopping list.
Only three people remained in the room: a child who was half-aware and unable to speak, and two individuals who were nominally husband and wife.
After a long silence, Yu Ying let out a quiet sigh and broke the silence, "I’m sorry for disturbing."
Fu Wei's voice was slightly deep: "No inconvenience."
After the awkward conversation, Yu Ying led Fu Ning towards the sound.
Since the room had little in it, just a bed and some tables and chairs against the wall, there was no worry of stumbling.
Reaching the bedside, Yu Ying felt around and touched the hard splints of bamboo, used to immobilize his legs, and said, "Given the situation, we have no choice. Don't overthink it, I don't mean anything else."
Fu Wei spoke softly, "I understand."
After speaking, he smelled the faint herbal fragrance from her, unconsciously holding his breath.
Yu Ying lifted Fu Ning onto the bed, removed her straw shoes, and instructed, "Move inside, be careful not to step on uncle's legs."
Fu Ning carefully moved to the inside of the bed. When Yu Ying climbed in past Fu Wei, she found the little girl had settled against the wall.
……
She had planned to have Fu Ning between herself and Fu Wei to alleviate some awkwardness, but how to do so now?
The bamboo bed was small; two people had to lie close together.
Fu Wei realized this too.
After a moment of silence, Yu Ying suggested to Fu Ning, "How about Ning Ning sleeps in the middle? I'm afraid I might move around in my sleep and press on uncle's legs."
After a thought, she added, "I'll hold you while we sleep."
Fu Ning was scared of her uncle, but not so much when her auntie was there.
Hesitating for a moment, she rolled over, then moved next to Fu Wei.
Fu Wei, feeling his little niece lying beside him, inwardly sighed.
Yu Ying couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
She lay down on the innermost side. As soon as she did, the little girl eagerly snuggled into her arms, and Yu Ying had no choice but to hold her.
Two people, barely acquainted, now lay together on a narrow bed. How could they possibly fall asleep?
Not to mention the howling wind outside.
Yu Ying had initially felt awkward lying next to Fu Wei, but now her unease was replaced by concern.
"Surely the house won't be blown away, will it?"
The room was silent, making the sound of the wind and rain outside even more pronounced. The house seemed to sway slightly, a sensation felt even on the bamboo bed.
Fu Ning, a bit scared, clung tightly to Yu Ying. Yu Ying gently patted her back, whispering, "Don't be afraid, auntie is here."
Moments later, Fu Wei picked up a thin quilt, its warmth cascading down as he draped it over Yu Ying and Fu Ning.
He said softly, "It's chilly at night, cover up."
Yu Ying was momentarily startled.
The Fu family had only two quilts. Knowing this, Yu Ying had given hers to the grandmother and granddaughter, planning to sleep with just her outer garment.
She had forgotten to bring her garment, and venturing out again might leave her completely drenched.
"What about you?" she asked quietly.
"The quilt is big enough, I've covered a bit too." In reality, he hadn't.
Yu Ying, not suspecting otherwise, continued to pat Fu Ning's back.
Sensing her breathing slow and her grip relax, Yu Ying knew she had fallen asleep.
With no trace of sleepiness herself, Yu Ying knew Fu Wei was also awake. Careful not to wake the little girl, she whispered very softly, "Can you sleep?"
Fu Wei's voice was equally low, "I can't sleep either."
Partly due to the harsh weather outside, and partly because of the two extra people in the bed.
"Since we can't sleep, let's chat for a bit," she suggested.
"What would you like to talk about?"
Yu Ying pondered and then said, "What do you think, when An An and Ning Ning's parents return, where will they sleep? Should we build another thatched hut? But even one more might not be enough."
One room for Fu Wei, another for his elder brother's family and the two children, one for Luo Shi, and she needed one too, not to mention a place to eat.
Thinking about it, one more room was far from enough.
After pondering, Fu Wei asked, "What do you propose then?"
Yu Ying considered and replied, "Last time, building that small kitchen and bath, along with a little outhouse, took five or six people a whole day. If we build something bigger, it would take at least two to three days. That's just for one room, so two would take five to six days. A day or two is manageable, but we can't expect others to neglect their work to build houses for us, right?"
"I could temporarily share a room with your mother, but if we don't build another room in advance, where will your elder brother stay when he returns?"
"Owing too many favors is hard to repay."
Fu Wei pondered briefly, then said, "If you don't mind, we could pay for the labor. Uncle He and Aunt He might not accept, but if we hire others, they will. We could hire one more person; it should take about four days to build a room. Then you can move into the new one. Since I'll be alone, this room can go back to my elder brother, and I'll move to the next room."
Yu Ying found this arrangement acceptable.
A moment later, she added, "Then, I’ll tidy up the small house for you. I'll make sure it's incredibly clean and neat, so you’ll feel comfortable and satisfied living there."
A hint of a smile appeared on Fu Wei's lips, and he responded softly, "Okay, I'll look forward to it."
Yu Ying began to imagine how she would arrange it, saying, "Next time I bring back firewood, I'll store it in the kitchen. I’ll get a bamboo bed, cover it with soft straw, a coarse blanket, and place a mat on top. A bamboo table, an oil lamp, and a bunch of fresh wildflowers. The windows will have cloth curtains, blowing in the wind, with sunlight filtering through, creating a warm and lazy atmosphere."
As she described it, a smile unconsciously appeared on her face.
This little house was her ideal home at the moment.
Hearing her words, Fu Wei couldn't help but visualize it as she described.
In his imagination, he entered the small house, pushing open the door to a room filled with warmth.
Turning around, he saw her arranging wildflowers at the table.
Sensing his presence, she turned towards him, her face blooming with a gentle smile.
In an instant, Fu Wei realized what he was envisioning and abruptly withdrew from the fantasy.
In the darkness, he turned his head towards the inside.
Though unseen, the feeling was palpable.
His heartbeat seemed to quicken.
Without hearing a response from Fu Wei, Yu Ying also turned her head outward, asking, "What do you think?"
Fu Wei hesitated for a moment before replying, "Let's arrange it as you described."
Yu Ying turned back, gazing into the darkness above, "Once our situation improves, we can build a mud-brick house. It'll be much sturdier, and we won't have to worry about hurricanes."
As they talked, the awkwardness gradually dissipated, and Yu Ying slowly relaxed.
Dreaming of a better life ahead, despite the storm raging outside, there was a semblance of tranquility within the house.
Fu Wei listened quietly to her words, responding appropriately to her thoughts from time to time.
Chapter 31
As dusk fell, weary birds returned to their nests, and smoke began to rise from each household’s kitchen.
Smoke also rose from the Fu household.
Having earned some silver today, even after redeeming Fu An and Fu Ning's parents, Yu Ying had some spare money left, so she indulged a bit.
She cooked extra rice, and with the locust flowers Fu An and Fu Ning had collected, she stir-fried three eggs, and then made a simple dish with cabbage in a clay pot.
Yesterday, when Uncle Chen brought lychees, she asked him to also bring some vegetables today.
Cabbage, radishes, and taro can last a few days without spoiling, so she got three cabbages, three radishes, and a small basket of taro.
Talking about frying cabbage in lard, she hadn’t enjoyed it much before due to the lack of oil. So this time, Yu Ying added a full spoon of oil, and even as a vegetarian dish, its fragrance wafted outside the yard.
The lard would last another three or four days. When she goes to Yu County the day after tomorrow, she plans to buy some meat to render more lard, and also get some spices to add to it, not only to preserve the lard longer but also to make it more fragrant.
Not just one meat and one vegetable dish, but also eating rice.
Though there was no meat, their meals were improving, something unimaginable for Fu An and Fu Ning in the past.
After all, they only got to eat eggs during festivals.
Yu Ying told them, "Tonight, I cooked extra rice, so we can all eat our fill."
Fu Wei looked up at Yu Ying, who wore a faint smile. His lips curved slightly, and after a moment, he lowered his gaze and continued eating.
After dinner, while Fu An and Fu Ning were washing dishes, Yu Ying fetched two buckets of water. By the time she finished, it was almost dark.
After washing up in the evening, she went back to her room to sleep with little Fu Ning.
As the night deepened, Yu Ying didn't sleep well, feeling somewhat cold and noticing the wind outside was different than usual.
It was urgent and fierce.
In her half-asleep state, she suddenly woke up, realizing something. Sitting up in bed, she heard a "whooshing" sound outside, accompanied by the faint noise of rain.
A hurricane had arrived.
Without any warning, it just appeared.
Yu Ying felt the house slightly shaking.
The sound of wind and rain grew louder, waking little Fu Ning beside her. She sat up and rubbed her eyes.
Fu Ning looked bewildered in the pitch-dark room, startled by the howling wind and rain outside.
Dressed lightly, Yu Ying suddenly felt a chill, shivering. She then remembered the grandmother and grandson sleeping on the floor in the next room and said to Fu Ning on the bed, “Stay in the room, don’t wander about. Auntie is going to check on your grandmother and brother.”
Fu Ning, hearing Auntie's voice, nodded.
Yu Ying, unable to see Fu Ning, swung her legs off the bed and groped around for her cloth shoes.
As she stepped out of the room, opening the bamboo door, a gust laden with raindrops hit her face, plastering her clothes to her body and whipping her loose hair wildly.
Standing at the doorway, the wind felt even stronger, and she could vaguely see the trees in the yard swaying.
Uncle He had said the wind wasn't usually strong and didn't cause much trouble, but why did she feel it was... unusually strong now?
Yu Ying left the room and closed the door behind her, braving the wind and rain to reach the other thatched hut, calling out, “Fu An, open the door.”
Unable to sleep due to the sudden hurricane, Fu Wei sat up in bed upon hearing her voice.
Fu An, shivering from the cold and half-asleep, seemed to hear Auntie's voice. Instantly awake, he hurriedly got up and fumbled to open the door.
As the door opened, the fierce wind, carrying fine rain, instantly filled the room.
Yu Ying quickly entered, closing the door behind her. The wind lessened inside, but the wailing sound outside was still audible.
Mrs. Luo, also awake, asked, “Yu Liuniang, why did you come over?”
In the pitch-dark room, Yu Ying could only speak into the darkness, “A hurricane suddenly struck tonight. The wind is strong, and it’s raining. You and Fu An can’t sleep on the floor.”
With both wind and rain, and a sudden drop in temperature, sleeping on the floor could lead to illness for both grandmother and grandson.
Not to mention, the possibility of snakes, insects, and rodents entering the house due to the storm made it even more dangerous.
After a moment of confusion, Fu An asked bewilderedly, “If we don’t sleep on the floor, where can we sleep?”
Yu Ying paused, realizing the dilemma – if not the floor, then where should they sleep?
The bamboo bed was occupied by Fu Wei, and she and Fu Ning were sleeping on the straw mat bed.
After a moment of silence, Yu Ying called into the darkness, "Er Lang?"
A deep, mellow voice responded from the darkness, "I'm here."
"Could you possibly share the bed with Fu An and Fu Ning tonight?"
Now, the only option was for Fu An and Fu Ning to sleep with him, and she would squeeze in with Mrs. Luo.
Fu Wei responded softly, "Okay."
Yu Ying said, "I'll bring Fu Ning over first, then join you and Mother later."
Mrs. Luo thought for a moment and agreed, "Alright."
As Yu Ying was about to leave, Fu Wei's voice came again from the darkness, "Be careful, the wind is strong."
"Understood," Yu Ying replied, then opened the door and left the room.
Soon after, Yu Ying returned, cradling Fu Ning in her arms.
Once inside, Yu Ying gently said to Fu Ning, "Ning Ning, tonight, would you like to sleep with your brother and uncle?"
At the mention of sleeping with her uncle, the little girl clung tightly to Yu Ying's neck, burying her face in her neck, showing clear resistance.
Her reluctance was unexpected to Yu Ying.
After a moment of silence, Luo Shi asked, "Does Ning Ning not want to?"
Yu Ying hummed in acknowledgment, but continued to persuade, "It's windy and raining tonight. Grandma and your brother can't sleep on the floor, so it has to be you and your brother sleeping with uncle. Grandma and auntie are already asleep. Will you be a good girl?"
Normally obedient Fu Ning was exceptionally uncooperative tonight, holding onto Yu Ying even tighter, as if afraid of being placed on her uncle's bed by her aunt.
Yu Ying couldn't fathom why she was so resistant, but after pondering, she figured out the reason.
It seemed that for a long time, Fu Wei had not spoken a single word to her.
To her, Fu Wei was a stranger.
Moreover, it might be because of a deep psychological trauma related to a previous uncle, which caused her to fear Fu Wei, her current uncle.
Forcing her to sleep with Fu Wei might backfire and affect her willingness to start speaking again.
At that moment, Fu An, with a curious tone, asked, "Why isn't Auntie sleeping with her sister and Uncle?"
In the ensuing silence, Fu An added, still puzzled, "In other families, husbands and wives sleep together. Why don't Uncle and Auntie sleep together?"
This question seemed to have bothered him for a while, as his words were full of inquiry.
After a moment of silence, Yu Ying chose not to delve into the complexities and simply said, "Our family’s situation is a bit different from others. Don’t ask why; I don’t know either."
Fu Wei: …
They weren't a real husband and wife, so how could they sleep together?
The situation now seemed to be at an impasse.
After some hesitation, Mrs. Luo suggested, "How about An An sleeps with Uncle, and I continue sleeping on the floor?"
Mrs. Luo was well aware of how big the straw mat bed was. It was just right for one person, and already a tight fit for Yu Ying and Fu Ning, maybe just squeezing in Fu An at most. But then, the person sleeping on the edge risked falling off.
Yu Ying, not having the heart to let a frail old lady sleep on the floor in such terrible weather while she took a better spot, was conflicted.
Yet, she was also apprehensive about sleeping on the floor, where centipedes and various insects might appear. She’d rather sleep propped up than risk it.
After a long silence, with the wind and rain outside growing fiercer, she realized they needed to make a decision quickly, or soon they wouldn't be able to leave the room at all.
Yu Ying reasoned that it was just about lying down clothed next to a man with a child in between, awkward but not really a big deal.
Having made up her mind, Yu Ying asked Fu Wei, "Er Lang, how about we make do together for a few nights?"
Hearing the intent in that soft voice, Fu Wei was momentarily stunned, speechless for a few breaths.
Even Luo Shi was taken aback upon hearing her pretend daughter-in-law's words, wondering to herself if Liu Niang was actually considering accepting Er Lang?
"Is it not okay?" Yu Ying, unaware of what the mother and son were thinking, asked again.
Fu Wei found his throat involuntarily tightening, unsure how to respond.
Although they were nominally husband and wife, they were not truly so and would eventually part ways, each pursuing their own paths.
If they shared a bed now, how would they untangle their relationship later?
Yu Ying sighed inwardly, thinking she had perhaps been too straightforward for the conservative Fu Wei.
She suggested, "I'll make do and sleep on the table for the night, and Ning Ning, An An can sleep with their mother."
"That won't do, I disagree," Luo Shi was the first to object.
Fu Wei fell silent.
Now it wasn't just up to Fu Ning; it was also up to him to decide.
Given the situation, either the two children would sleep with him, or they would follow her suggestion; there seemed no other option.
If possible, he was willing to sleep on the floor, but he knew without having to think further that both his mother and she would disagree.
In extraordinary times, one shouldn't be too concerned with the usual norms.
Fu Wei convinced himself, letting out a soft sigh, his voice reluctant yet slightly hoarse: "As long as you don't mind, it's fine."
With Fu Wei's agreement, Yu Ying felt relieved.
She spoke more tenderly to Fu Ning, “How about Auntie sleeps with you and Uncle, okay?”
Fu Ning thought for a moment, her tight grip around Yu Ying’s hands loosening.
Seeing this, Yu Ying continued to persuade, "The wind is so strong today, and it’s raining. You went outside earlier, you felt it too. If grandma and brother sleep on the floor, they might get sick. So tonight, Auntie will hold you while we sleep, okay?”
After a moment of hesitation, the little girl buried in her neck nodded.
Yu Ying sighed in relief, saying, “Ning Ning agrees.”
She instructed, “Fu An, help grandma move over to sleep.”
Fu An responded with a firm “Hmm,” seeming eager for Auntie and Uncle to sleep together.
Yu Ying put down Fu Ning and asked her to wait in the room while she escorted her grandmother to the next room and returned.
Initially, Fu Ning didn't let go, but, not wanting to upset her little aunt, she slowly released her grip.
When Yu Ying returned from the next room, she was already half-drenched. Calling out "Ning Ning," the little girl groped her way to Yu Ying’s side and then reached out her hand.
Yu Ying clasped her hand in return.
The Fu family was almost destitute, with situations like tonight's, where everything had to be done in the dark due to the lack of oil lamps, being quite inconvenient.
Thinking of this, Yu Ying realized she needed to add another essential item to her shopping list.
Only three people remained in the room: a child who was half-aware and unable to speak, and two individuals who were nominally husband and wife.
After a long silence, Yu Ying let out a quiet sigh and broke the silence, "I’m sorry for disturbing."
Fu Wei's voice was slightly deep: "No inconvenience."
After the awkward conversation, Yu Ying led Fu Ning towards the sound.
Since the room had little in it, just a bed and some tables and chairs against the wall, there was no worry of stumbling.
Reaching the bedside, Yu Ying felt around and touched the hard splints of bamboo, used to immobilize his legs, and said, "Given the situation, we have no choice. Don't overthink it, I don't mean anything else."
Fu Wei spoke softly, "I understand."
After speaking, he smelled the faint herbal fragrance from her, unconsciously holding his breath.
Yu Ying lifted Fu Ning onto the bed, removed her straw shoes, and instructed, "Move inside, be careful not to step on uncle's legs."
Fu Ning carefully moved to the inside of the bed. When Yu Ying climbed in past Fu Wei, she found the little girl had settled against the wall.
……
She had planned to have Fu Ning between herself and Fu Wei to alleviate some awkwardness, but how to do so now?
The bamboo bed was small; two people had to lie close together.
Fu Wei realized this too.
After a moment of silence, Yu Ying suggested to Fu Ning, "How about Ning Ning sleeps in the middle? I'm afraid I might move around in my sleep and press on uncle's legs."
After a thought, she added, "I'll hold you while we sleep."
Fu Ning was scared of her uncle, but not so much when her auntie was there.
Hesitating for a moment, she rolled over, then moved next to Fu Wei.
Fu Wei, feeling his little niece lying beside him, inwardly sighed.
Yu Ying couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
She lay down on the innermost side. As soon as she did, the little girl eagerly snuggled into her arms, and Yu Ying had no choice but to hold her.
Two people, barely acquainted, now lay together on a narrow bed. How could they possibly fall asleep?
Not to mention the howling wind outside.
Yu Ying had initially felt awkward lying next to Fu Wei, but now her unease was replaced by concern.
"Surely the house won't be blown away, will it?"
The room was silent, making the sound of the wind and rain outside even more pronounced. The house seemed to sway slightly, a sensation felt even on the bamboo bed.
Fu Ning, a bit scared, clung tightly to Yu Ying. Yu Ying gently patted her back, whispering, "Don't be afraid, auntie is here."
Moments later, Fu Wei picked up a thin quilt, its warmth cascading down as he draped it over Yu Ying and Fu Ning.
He said softly, "It's chilly at night, cover up."
Yu Ying was momentarily startled.
The Fu family had only two quilts. Knowing this, Yu Ying had given hers to the grandmother and granddaughter, planning to sleep with just her outer garment.
She had forgotten to bring her garment, and venturing out again might leave her completely drenched.
"What about you?" she asked quietly.
"The quilt is big enough, I've covered a bit too." In reality, he hadn't.
Yu Ying, not suspecting otherwise, continued to pat Fu Ning's back.
Sensing her breathing slow and her grip relax, Yu Ying knew she had fallen asleep.
With no trace of sleepiness herself, Yu Ying knew Fu Wei was also awake. Careful not to wake the little girl, she whispered very softly, "Can you sleep?"
Fu Wei's voice was equally low, "I can't sleep either."
Partly due to the harsh weather outside, and partly because of the two extra people in the bed.
"Since we can't sleep, let's chat for a bit," she suggested.
"What would you like to talk about?"
Yu Ying pondered and then said, "What do you think, when An An and Ning Ning's parents return, where will they sleep? Should we build another thatched hut? But even one more might not be enough."
One room for Fu Wei, another for his elder brother's family and the two children, one for Luo Shi, and she needed one too, not to mention a place to eat.
Thinking about it, one more room was far from enough.
After pondering, Fu Wei asked, "What do you propose then?"
Yu Ying considered and replied, "Last time, building that small kitchen and bath, along with a little outhouse, took five or six people a whole day. If we build something bigger, it would take at least two to three days. That's just for one room, so two would take five to six days. A day or two is manageable, but we can't expect others to neglect their work to build houses for us, right?"
"I could temporarily share a room with your mother, but if we don't build another room in advance, where will your elder brother stay when he returns?"
"Owing too many favors is hard to repay."
Fu Wei pondered briefly, then said, "If you don't mind, we could pay for the labor. Uncle He and Aunt He might not accept, but if we hire others, they will. We could hire one more person; it should take about four days to build a room. Then you can move into the new one. Since I'll be alone, this room can go back to my elder brother, and I'll move to the next room."
Yu Ying found this arrangement acceptable.
A moment later, she added, "Then, I’ll tidy up the small house for you. I'll make sure it's incredibly clean and neat, so you’ll feel comfortable and satisfied living there."
A hint of a smile appeared on Fu Wei's lips, and he responded softly, "Okay, I'll look forward to it."
Yu Ying began to imagine how she would arrange it, saying, "Next time I bring back firewood, I'll store it in the kitchen. I’ll get a bamboo bed, cover it with soft straw, a coarse blanket, and place a mat on top. A bamboo table, an oil lamp, and a bunch of fresh wildflowers. The windows will have cloth curtains, blowing in the wind, with sunlight filtering through, creating a warm and lazy atmosphere."
As she described it, a smile unconsciously appeared on her face.
This little house was her ideal home at the moment.
Hearing her words, Fu Wei couldn't help but visualize it as she described.
In his imagination, he entered the small house, pushing open the door to a room filled with warmth.
Turning around, he saw her arranging wildflowers at the table.
Sensing his presence, she turned towards him, her face blooming with a gentle smile.
In an instant, Fu Wei realized what he was envisioning and abruptly withdrew from the fantasy.
In the darkness, he turned his head towards the inside.
Though unseen, the feeling was palpable.
His heartbeat seemed to quicken.
Without hearing a response from Fu Wei, Yu Ying also turned her head outward, asking, "What do you think?"
Fu Wei hesitated for a moment before replying, "Let's arrange it as you described."
Yu Ying turned back, gazing into the darkness above, "Once our situation improves, we can build a mud-brick house. It'll be much sturdier, and we won't have to worry about hurricanes."
As they talked, the awkwardness gradually dissipated, and Yu Ying slowly relaxed.
Dreaming of a better life ahead, despite the storm raging outside, there was a semblance of tranquility within the house.
Fu Wei listened quietly to her words, responding appropriately to her thoughts from time to time.
