Chapter 32
On the second day of the hurricane, Luo Shi and Fu An were unscathed, but Yu Ying, the healthiest in the family, fell ill.
After dozing off for a short while, Yu Ying woke up feeling dizzy and lethargic, her body burning with fever.
Fu Wei, who had not fallen asleep, heard her faint moaning. Turning towards her, he could see her vague silhouette in the dim light of dawn.
With a slight furrow in his brow, Fu Wei softly called out twice, "Liu Niang? Liu Niang?"
In her drowsy state, Yu Ying seemed to hear Fu Wei's voice. Her mind muddled, she murmured a response, "...Hmm?"
"What's wrong?" Fu Wei asked.
Being a doctor herself, Yu Ying, despite her clouded mind and sluggish response, realized something was amiss.
"I think..." She raised her hand to touch her forehead, weakly saying, "I have a fever."
Fu Wei's expression tightened, and without a second thought, he reached out towards her, guided by instinct and the faint light. Upon touching her face, he was alarmed at how burning hot it was.
Immediately withdrawing his hand, Fu Wei called out towards the next room, "Fu An, Fu An!"
His voice was muffled and barely audible over the sound of the wind and rain, reaching the next room as a faint, indistinct sound.
But Fu An, having assisted his uncle for two months, was quick to detect the call.
He sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes.
Luo asked him, "What's wrong?"
Fu An crawled over his grandmother and off the bed, sleepily saying, "I think my uncle called me, I'll go check..."
Hearing the hurried wind outside, Luo felt worried and cautioned, "Be careful."
Fu An acknowledged her advice and then opened the room door.
Upon opening the room door, one could see the trees in the courtyard and the larger trees in the distance being violently swayed by the fierce wind, causing Fu An to feel frightened.
He thought that if he stood in the courtyard, his small frame would surely be blown away by the wind.
Although fearful, he overcame his fear and, steadying himself against the wall, made his way to the neighboring room.
The room was locked from the inside, and after Fu An called out for a while, Fu Ning, who had been asked by Fu Wei to open the door, managed to open it with some effort.
Fu Ning, anxiously grabbing her brother's hand, wanted to pull him to the bed, but Fu An first made sure to close the door.
Once the door was closed, Fu Ning hurriedly pulled her brother by the hand to the bedside.
Fu An called out, “Uncle.”
Fu Wei instructed him, “Go fetch some cold water, and bring your little aunt’s towel as well.”
Hearing this, Fu An asked anxiously, “What happened to little aunt?”
Fu Wei simply replied, “Just go and get ready.”
Yu Ying coughed twice and sat up in bed, saying, “I’m fine, just a bit sweaty. Also, with the strong wind and rain outside, don’t run around. It’s dangerous.”
Hearing his aunt's weak voice, Fu An's face changed, seemingly guessing she was ill, and quickly said, "I'm not afraid."
After speaking, he ignored Yu Ying's dissuasion and ran out the door.
Yu Ying wanted to call out but couldn't stop him.
Fu An brought over the clay stove and pot, then went back out to fetch a basin of water to boil.
As the sky brightened, Yu Ying, dragging her weakened body, got out of bed and prepared a fever-reducing medicine for herself.
Yu Ying had placed medicinal herbs in both rooms, making it convenient now, saving her the trouble of braving the wind to fetch herbs from the next room.
After preparing the medicine, she was about to brew it when Fu An insisted, "I'll boil it, auntie, you should lie down!"
"You should rest too, don't push yourself," Fu Wei also advised.
Yu Ying, indeed lacking the energy to brew the medicine, lay back down on the bed.
Fu Ning also climbed back into bed and sat beside her, clutching the quilt tightly, her eyes red as she looked at her aunt.
Yu Ying reassured her, "Don't worry, auntie will be fine after a good sleep."
Fu Wei looked down at her, speaking softly, "Rest well, don't think about anything today. I and Fu An will keep an eye on the fire."
These days, she seemed to have endless energy, but even the strongest tire eventually.
She might have been tired for a long time, just bearing it alone without saying a word.
Yu Ying nodded but still felt uneasy and further instructed Fu An, "Go out again later, bring grandma to this room, and also bring the rice and vegetables in a basket. Let's not go out anymore today."
"Okay, auntie, you rest. I can take good care of them."
Yu Ying hummed in acknowledgment and then drifted back into a drowsy sleep. Soon, she felt a cool cloth being placed on her forehead.
Shortly after, she felt someone gently lifting her head, and she seemed to hear Fu Wei's voice, "Open your mouth and drink some hot water."
She instinctively opened her mouth, and the next instant, warm water flowed in, bringing a comforting warmth to her throat.
In a state between sleep and wakefulness, Yu Ying seemed to see her long-lost family members, who were asking about her well-being, urging her to take good care of herself and not to overwork.
They reminded her to eat on time, to dress warmly in cold weather, and to be wary of ill-intentioned people when outside.
As the dream progressed, whether in the dream or outside it, tears soaked the corners of Yu Ying's eyes.
Perhaps, Yu Ying was aware that she might never be able to return home, so in her dream, she made her final farewells to her family and friends.
Her tears flowed even more fiercely.
Seeing his aunt crying, Fu An panicked and asked, "Uncle, why is auntie crying?"
Fu Ning looked at her aunt with red, teary eyes, wondering why her perfectly fine auntie from yesterday was now sick.
Fu Wei's gaze fell on her sorrowful and suppressed expression. Silently, he wiped away the tears from the corners of Yu Ying's eyes with the cloth.
After a moment, he said, "Perhaps she's in a lot of discomfort."
But he knew she must have dreamt of something from her past.
He never asked about her past, but he could guess that she must have come from a happy and fulfilling environment, one that nurtured her optimistic and resilient nature.
He didn't know what strange circumstances she had gone through to become the Yu Ying of today, but he knew it wasn't her choice.
Now that she had fallen ill, those buried sorrows were breaking through the surface. Fu Wei understood this all too well.
Noon.
After waking up for a short while, Yu Ying opened her eyes to see the four members of the Fu family gathered around the bed.
The concern on the faces of the three family members was evident, and Fu Ning’s eyes were red and swollen, clearly having cried.
Perhaps it’s during times of illness that one feels most vulnerable, so seeing so many people around her bed, Yu Ying suddenly felt less alone.
The next day, although there were still residual winds, the hurricane had passed.
The hurricane was much stronger than before, devastating the village. Many houses were destroyed, and even those left standing were in disarray.
The Fu family's house, having been reinforced, suffered only minor damage with some thatch blown off the roof. The yard, however, was in complete chaos.
Thatch, dry branches, leaves, and wild grass littered the ground.
While each household began tidying their messy yards, the Fu family remained busy at Yu Ying's bedside.
Yu Ying's illness struck as suddenly and heavily as a mountain collapse.
"Her fever has subsided, but she remains very weak. Fu An is busy tending to everything, while young Miss Fu Ning refuses to leave her aunt's side, insisting on accompanying her."
"By noon, the wind had ceased, and every household had tidied up their courtyards, except for one or two that were still wailing and lamenting."
"After the hurricane, two men dressed as yamen runners rode horses towards Lingshui Village."
"They had escorted a prisoner from Wuling County to Lingnan and were entrusted to visit Lingshui Village in Jade County to inquire about the situation."
"Upon entering the village, the two men dismounted their horses. Seeing the yamen runners, the villagers felt fear and kept their distance."
"One of the men stopped a woman and asked sternly, 'Do you know where the Fu family, who were granted amnesty, live?'"
"Trembling, Aunt Cui Lan replied, 'Yes, I know.' Pointing towards the Fu family's direction, she said, 'At the very edge of the village, closest to the mountain, there are four thatched cottages.'"
"As they were about to leave, the other man turned to the woman and asked, 'Do you know the situation with the Fu family?'"
"Aunt Cui Lan thought to herself that the Fu family must have gotten into trouble again, or perhaps Mrs. Yu, who frequently goes to the county town, had offended someone."
"Offending someone, that's good..."
"Feeling a secret sense of glee, Aunt Cui Lan elaborated on the Fu family's situation: 'The Fu family consists of a blind old lady, a lame son, a mute granddaughter, and only one normal grandson. Oh, and there's an indecent daughter-in-law!'"
"Hearing this, the two men exchanged glances and asked, 'How is she indecent?'"
"Swallowing her saliva, Aunt Cui Lan whispered, 'That new bride of the Fu family has a lame husband. Perhaps discontented, she often uses selling herbal medicines as an excuse to meet men in Jade County. If not for these rendezvous, where would she get the money for new pots and buckets? Although she has dark spots on her face, her figure and fair skin are appealing. Once the lights are out, you can't see her face, but the touch...'"
"Before she could finish, the two men, uninterested in her ramblings, pulled their horses away and left."
"Once they were out of sight, Aunt Cui Lan spat disdainfully and muttered to herself, 'The Fu family really brings misfortune, all because of that jinx, Mrs. Yu.'"
"The two men, following the woman's directions, found the described location. They tied their horses at a distance and one of them went to investigate."
"Approaching the courtyard, they saw a scene of utter disarray, as if the place was abandoned and derelict, with the houses nearly collapsing."
"As someone emerged from a house, one of the men quickly hid himself."
"The figure was a child, dressed barely better than a beggar, who began sweeping the dry leaves in the courtyard with a broom."
"For some reason, the child soon crouched down, burying his head in his knees, his body trembling as he sobbed quietly, as if burdened with unspoken grievances and bullied."
"Shortly after, an old lady with her eyes covered in bandages also came out, her face gaunt and devoid of any liveliness."
"Such a state could only be the result of life's harsh trials, leading to their current despondent and neglected condition."
"Seeing this, the man thought to himself that the Fu family's current situation was indeed dire and unfortunate, enough to report back."
"However, recalling that the person who entrusted them was a high official's son, who specifically instructed to confirm if Fu Er Lang's leg was truly crippled, he hesitated."
"With this in mind, he dared not be too negligent."
"After pondering for a moment, he returned to consult with his companion and then came up with a plan."
"Fu An believed that his aunt fell ill due to overworking for the family, and it was her tireless efforts that had gradually improved their home. Seeing her sick and weak now reminded him of his own lack of kind words to her in the past, filling him with remorse and leading to an overwhelming outburst of tears."
"Madam Luo shared the same thoughts as her grandson, feeling that it was for the sake of the family that Liu Niang had collapsed from exhaustion. Guilt-ridden and worried, her face remained clouded with sorrow."
"As the grandmother and grandson were in their gloomy state, suddenly two yamen runners armed with swords appeared. They burst into the courtyard with a stern expression, loudly declaring, 'Official business! We are pursuing an escaped convict. Stand aside!'"
Chapter 32
On the second day of the hurricane, Luo Shi and Fu An were unscathed, but Yu Ying, the healthiest in the family, fell ill.
After dozing off for a short while, Yu Ying woke up feeling dizzy and lethargic, her body burning with fever.
Fu Wei, who had not fallen asleep, heard her faint moaning. Turning towards her, he could see her vague silhouette in the dim light of dawn.
With a slight furrow in his brow, Fu Wei softly called out twice, "Liu Niang? Liu Niang?"
In her drowsy state, Yu Ying seemed to hear Fu Wei's voice. Her mind muddled, she murmured a response, "...Hmm?"
"What's wrong?" Fu Wei asked.
Being a doctor herself, Yu Ying, despite her clouded mind and sluggish response, realized something was amiss.
"I think..." She raised her hand to touch her forehead, weakly saying, "I have a fever."
Fu Wei's expression tightened, and without a second thought, he reached out towards her, guided by instinct and the faint light. Upon touching her face, he was alarmed at how burning hot it was.
Immediately withdrawing his hand, Fu Wei called out towards the next room, "Fu An, Fu An!"
His voice was muffled and barely audible over the sound of the wind and rain, reaching the next room as a faint, indistinct sound.
But Fu An, having assisted his uncle for two months, was quick to detect the call.
He sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes.
Luo asked him, "What's wrong?"
Fu An crawled over his grandmother and off the bed, sleepily saying, "I think my uncle called me, I'll go check..."
Hearing the hurried wind outside, Luo felt worried and cautioned, "Be careful."
Fu An acknowledged her advice and then opened the room door.
Upon opening the room door, one could see the trees in the courtyard and the larger trees in the distance being violently swayed by the fierce wind, causing Fu An to feel frightened.
He thought that if he stood in the courtyard, his small frame would surely be blown away by the wind.
Although fearful, he overcame his fear and, steadying himself against the wall, made his way to the neighboring room.
The room was locked from the inside, and after Fu An called out for a while, Fu Ning, who had been asked by Fu Wei to open the door, managed to open it with some effort.
Fu Ning, anxiously grabbing her brother's hand, wanted to pull him to the bed, but Fu An first made sure to close the door.
Once the door was closed, Fu Ning hurriedly pulled her brother by the hand to the bedside.
Fu An called out, “Uncle.”
Fu Wei instructed him, “Go fetch some cold water, and bring your little aunt’s towel as well.”
Hearing this, Fu An asked anxiously, “What happened to little aunt?”
Fu Wei simply replied, “Just go and get ready.”
Yu Ying coughed twice and sat up in bed, saying, “I’m fine, just a bit sweaty. Also, with the strong wind and rain outside, don’t run around. It’s dangerous.”
Hearing his aunt's weak voice, Fu An's face changed, seemingly guessing she was ill, and quickly said, "I'm not afraid."
After speaking, he ignored Yu Ying's dissuasion and ran out the door.
Yu Ying wanted to call out but couldn't stop him.
Fu An brought over the clay stove and pot, then went back out to fetch a basin of water to boil.
As the sky brightened, Yu Ying, dragging her weakened body, got out of bed and prepared a fever-reducing medicine for herself.
Yu Ying had placed medicinal herbs in both rooms, making it convenient now, saving her the trouble of braving the wind to fetch herbs from the next room.
After preparing the medicine, she was about to brew it when Fu An insisted, "I'll boil it, auntie, you should lie down!"
"You should rest too, don't push yourself," Fu Wei also advised.
Yu Ying, indeed lacking the energy to brew the medicine, lay back down on the bed.
Fu Ning also climbed back into bed and sat beside her, clutching the quilt tightly, her eyes red as she looked at her aunt.
Yu Ying reassured her, "Don't worry, auntie will be fine after a good sleep."
Fu Wei looked down at her, speaking softly, "Rest well, don't think about anything today. I and Fu An will keep an eye on the fire."
These days, she seemed to have endless energy, but even the strongest tire eventually.
She might have been tired for a long time, just bearing it alone without saying a word.
Yu Ying nodded but still felt uneasy and further instructed Fu An, "Go out again later, bring grandma to this room, and also bring the rice and vegetables in a basket. Let's not go out anymore today."
"Okay, auntie, you rest. I can take good care of them."
Yu Ying hummed in acknowledgment and then drifted back into a drowsy sleep. Soon, she felt a cool cloth being placed on her forehead.
Shortly after, she felt someone gently lifting her head, and she seemed to hear Fu Wei's voice, "Open your mouth and drink some hot water."
She instinctively opened her mouth, and the next instant, warm water flowed in, bringing a comforting warmth to her throat.
In a state between sleep and wakefulness, Yu Ying seemed to see her long-lost family members, who were asking about her well-being, urging her to take good care of herself and not to overwork.
They reminded her to eat on time, to dress warmly in cold weather, and to be wary of ill-intentioned people when outside.
As the dream progressed, whether in the dream or outside it, tears soaked the corners of Yu Ying's eyes.
Perhaps, Yu Ying was aware that she might never be able to return home, so in her dream, she made her final farewells to her family and friends.
Her tears flowed even more fiercely.
Seeing his aunt crying, Fu An panicked and asked, "Uncle, why is auntie crying?"
Fu Ning looked at her aunt with red, teary eyes, wondering why her perfectly fine auntie from yesterday was now sick.
Fu Wei's gaze fell on her sorrowful and suppressed expression. Silently, he wiped away the tears from the corners of Yu Ying's eyes with the cloth.
After a moment, he said, "Perhaps she's in a lot of discomfort."
But he knew she must have dreamt of something from her past.
He never asked about her past, but he could guess that she must have come from a happy and fulfilling environment, one that nurtured her optimistic and resilient nature.
He didn't know what strange circumstances she had gone through to become the Yu Ying of today, but he knew it wasn't her choice.
Now that she had fallen ill, those buried sorrows were breaking through the surface. Fu Wei understood this all too well.
Noon.
After waking up for a short while, Yu Ying opened her eyes to see the four members of the Fu family gathered around the bed.
The concern on the faces of the three family members was evident, and Fu Ning’s eyes were red and swollen, clearly having cried.
Perhaps it’s during times of illness that one feels most vulnerable, so seeing so many people around her bed, Yu Ying suddenly felt less alone.
The next day, although there were still residual winds, the hurricane had passed.
The hurricane was much stronger than before, devastating the village. Many houses were destroyed, and even those left standing were in disarray.
The Fu family's house, having been reinforced, suffered only minor damage with some thatch blown off the roof. The yard, however, was in complete chaos.
Thatch, dry branches, leaves, and wild grass littered the ground.
While each household began tidying their messy yards, the Fu family remained busy at Yu Ying's bedside.
Yu Ying's illness struck as suddenly and heavily as a mountain collapse.
"Her fever has subsided, but she remains very weak. Fu An is busy tending to everything, while young Miss Fu Ning refuses to leave her aunt's side, insisting on accompanying her."
"By noon, the wind had ceased, and every household had tidied up their courtyards, except for one or two that were still wailing and lamenting."
"After the hurricane, two men dressed as yamen runners rode horses towards Lingshui Village."
"They had escorted a prisoner from Wuling County to Lingnan and were entrusted to visit Lingshui Village in Jade County to inquire about the situation."
"Upon entering the village, the two men dismounted their horses. Seeing the yamen runners, the villagers felt fear and kept their distance."
"One of the men stopped a woman and asked sternly, 'Do you know where the Fu family, who were granted amnesty, live?'"
"Trembling, Aunt Cui Lan replied, 'Yes, I know.' Pointing towards the Fu family's direction, she said, 'At the very edge of the village, closest to the mountain, there are four thatched cottages.'"
"As they were about to leave, the other man turned to the woman and asked, 'Do you know the situation with the Fu family?'"
"Aunt Cui Lan thought to herself that the Fu family must have gotten into trouble again, or perhaps Mrs. Yu, who frequently goes to the county town, had offended someone."
"Offending someone, that's good..."
"Feeling a secret sense of glee, Aunt Cui Lan elaborated on the Fu family's situation: 'The Fu family consists of a blind old lady, a lame son, a mute granddaughter, and only one normal grandson. Oh, and there's an indecent daughter-in-law!'"
"Hearing this, the two men exchanged glances and asked, 'How is she indecent?'"
"Swallowing her saliva, Aunt Cui Lan whispered, 'That new bride of the Fu family has a lame husband. Perhaps discontented, she often uses selling herbal medicines as an excuse to meet men in Jade County. If not for these rendezvous, where would she get the money for new pots and buckets? Although she has dark spots on her face, her figure and fair skin are appealing. Once the lights are out, you can't see her face, but the touch...'"
"Before she could finish, the two men, uninterested in her ramblings, pulled their horses away and left."
"Once they were out of sight, Aunt Cui Lan spat disdainfully and muttered to herself, 'The Fu family really brings misfortune, all because of that jinx, Mrs. Yu.'"
"The two men, following the woman's directions, found the described location. They tied their horses at a distance and one of them went to investigate."
"Approaching the courtyard, they saw a scene of utter disarray, as if the place was abandoned and derelict, with the houses nearly collapsing."
"As someone emerged from a house, one of the men quickly hid himself."
"The figure was a child, dressed barely better than a beggar, who began sweeping the dry leaves in the courtyard with a broom."
"For some reason, the child soon crouched down, burying his head in his knees, his body trembling as he sobbed quietly, as if burdened with unspoken grievances and bullied."
"Shortly after, an old lady with her eyes covered in bandages also came out, her face gaunt and devoid of any liveliness."
"Such a state could only be the result of life's harsh trials, leading to their current despondent and neglected condition."
"Seeing this, the man thought to himself that the Fu family's current situation was indeed dire and unfortunate, enough to report back."
"However, recalling that the person who entrusted them was a high official's son, who specifically instructed to confirm if Fu Er Lang's leg was truly crippled, he hesitated."
"With this in mind, he dared not be too negligent."
"After pondering for a moment, he returned to consult with his companion and then came up with a plan."
"Fu An believed that his aunt fell ill due to overworking for the family, and it was her tireless efforts that had gradually improved their home. Seeing her sick and weak now reminded him of his own lack of kind words to her in the past, filling him with remorse and leading to an overwhelming outburst of tears."
"Madam Luo shared the same thoughts as her grandson, feeling that it was for the sake of the family that Liu Niang had collapsed from exhaustion. Guilt-ridden and worried, her face remained clouded with sorrow."
"As the grandmother and grandson were in their gloomy state, suddenly two yamen runners armed with swords appeared. They burst into the courtyard with a stern expression, loudly declaring, 'Official business! We are pursuing an escaped convict. Stand aside!'"
