Chapter 51
"Yuying said it can treat sunburn, so take off your clothes quickly, and I’ll apply it to you too."
Hearing his wife’s words and seeing the green, slippery mud on her face, Fu Zhen felt reluctant and replied, "I’m a man; it’s just sunburn, I’ll leave it. No need to apply that."
Wen Xing insisted, "It’s cool and comfortable. Not just your face, your skin is peeling from sunburn all over your body. You definitely need it."
Unable to argue with her, Fu Zhen said, "I’ll apply it after I bathe."
Wen Xing nodded, about to return to their room, when Fu Zhen called out, "Did Yuying say how long it needs to be kept on?"
She replied, "Once it dries, you can wash it off, about half an hour should do."
Fu Zhen thought for a moment, "Then let's not go back to our room yet, we can go back after washing."
After a pause, he added, "Mother’s eyesight isn't good, she might get frightened seeing it."
He himself had been startled, not to mention how his mother and son would react.
Wen Xing, thinking about the layer of green herbal mud on her face, realized it might indeed be frightening and nodded in agreement.
Fu Zhen fetched a bucket of water and went into the bath to wash, while Wen Xing waited outside.
When the sound of water stopped, Wen Xing looked up to see her husband stepping out of the bath, his chest and muscular body dripping with water.
The droplets on his chest followed the contours of his muscles, gathering at his abdomen before slowly sliding down, making her blush and avert her gaze.
Thinking about it, although they had been together, they hadn't shared a bed in five or six years.
First, after the birth of Fu Ning, she was busy caring for him, and her husband was constantly working to support the family.
Then, when they went to the quarry, it was even less feasible to be intimate.
Now, being alone together felt somewhat awkward.
Fu Zhen sat on a wooden stool in the kitchen, legs apart, and said, "Go ahead and apply it."
Wen Xing scooped some herbal paste into her hand and began applying it to her husband’s firm muscles. Her hands, rough from years of labor, seemed to soften with the slickness of the herbal paste.
Fu Zhen felt restless, but as he looked up at his wife's face covered in sticky herbal paste, his mind calmed down instantly.
To free up space for storing herbs, the He family came over in the afternoon to help build a thatched hut, make bamboo medicine racks, and weave winnowing baskets, after their morning herb gathering.
Fuyi made grasshopper toys from bulrush for his nephews and niece, as well as for the eldest grandson of the He family, and the children played joyfully in the yard.
Fu An and Fu Ning rarely had such carefree and happy moments.
Wen Xing watched over them, cautioning, “Be careful, don’t fall.”
Song Sanlang, who had been recuperating for about five or six days, also came over from the He family's home, leaning on a walking stick.
Fuyi's gaze deepened when he saw the crutch in Song Sanlang’s hand, then noticed Liuniang walking towards him.
After a moment of silence, he called Fu Ning over.
Yuying approached Song Sanlang and asked, "How is your wound healing?"
Song Sanlang replied, "It's gradually scabbing over."
Yuying said, "If there’s no issue in a couple of days, I’ll remove the stitches for you."
After nodding, Song Sanlang hesitated before asking, "How much do I owe for this treatment? I’ll bring it as soon as I save enough."
Yuying smiled and said, "When the Song brothers helped us build the thatched hut, they didn’t ask for payment, so why would I charge you now?"
Song Sanlang, grateful, responded, "It's different. That day I was just lending a hand, but this time, if not for your help, my leg might have been ruined."
Just as Yuying was about to respond, she felt a gentle tug on her clothes. Looking down, she saw little Fu Ning.
Fu Ning handed his little aunt a grasshopper he had woven and then turned to point at Fuyi, who was helping weave winnowing baskets in the courtyard.
Fuyi gave her a faint smile.
Yuying accepted the grasshopper from Fu Ning and also gently patted his little head.
Turning back to Song Sanlang, Yuying said, "I’m not running a clinic, and besides, these herbs were gathered by everyone together, so you really don’t owe me anything. If you feel indebted, you can come over and help once your leg is better."
Song Sanlang was silent for a moment before agreeing, "I’m idle anyway. Though I can’t move around much, my hands are still useful for helping."
Having agreed, Song Sanlang found a spot to sit and started helping with the weaving of the winnowing baskets.
Yuying glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Song Sanlang was close to the elder brother, not without reason; both men shared a similar nature, unwilling to owe others or take advantage, which is why they were as close as brothers.
Yuying then turned her attention to the grasshopper in her hand.
It was surprisingly realistic, almost mistakable for a live one at a casual glance.
She lifted it gently and flicked it, her eyes curving in a smile.
Fuyi quietly shifted his gaze from her, but just then Fu An seemed to realize something and exclaimed, "Uncle’s legs are not working well, and so are Song San's. Both are being treated by little aunt, and both are using the crutches she prepared. What a coincidence!"
Fuyi, without expression, turned to look at him and said calmly, "If you're free, come and help weave the baskets."
Fu An, who had just sneaked in some playtime, suddenly drooped his head, muttering softly, "I only played for a little while."
Though slightly unhappy, he obediently went to help, clumsily starting to weave the bamboo strips.
In the evening, after the He family and Song Sanlang had left and the village quieted down, Fuyi sat on a bench with his legs stretched out on a wooden stump in front, holding a long stick in his hands.
After saying "Watch closely," Fuyi held the long stick and slowly demonstrated three basic spear movements, his voice calm and deep: "The fundamental moves in spear techniques are blocking, seizing, and stabbing. They seem simple, but almost all subsequent techniques are closely related to these three."
Yuying, who was sorting herbs, heard this and curiously looked over at Fuyi.
Fuyi's movements were initially slow, but suddenly his expression sharpened, and his actions became faster and faster, almost blurring before her eyes.
She couldn't help but marvel, never having seen someone perform spear techniques so fluidly while sitting.
Not just Yuying, but her sister-in-law and Fu An and Fu Ning were equally mesmerized.
Fu An, watching his uncle, was full of admiration and started imitating the movements.
After several repetitions, Fuyi abruptly stopped, his sharp gaze softening almost instantly. When he looked up at his elder brother, he was calm and composed.
He tossed the long stick to Fu Zhen, who caught it steadily.
Methodically, Fuyi instructed, "Sink into a horse stance with your legs, hold the circle with your left hand for smooth movement, grip the end firmly with your right hand and position it near your waist."
Fu Zhen looked at the long stick in his hand and, following his younger brother's instructions, sank into a horse stance, then slowly began to mimic the movements he had just observed.
Repeating the three movements, his actions gradually transitioned from slow to fast, becoming more powerful, with the stick vibrating and creating a whooshing sound.
Fuyi watched his elder brother’s movements, his eyes slightly closed.
He had to admit, his elder brother indeed had a natural talent in this aspect.
Watching Fu Zhen quickly grasp the essence of the spear technique, Yuying vaguely guessed what Fuyi must have talked about with him the previous night.
In these chaotic times, with their family comprising mostly of the old, weak, and a bedridden member, having a strong protector was essential to avoid becoming victims.
While everyone was captivated by Fu Zhen's staff movements, only Luo Shi quietly wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and silently turned to enter the kitchen.
In both of her sons, Luo Shi saw the shadow of her late husband, stirring a mix of emotions in her heart.
Even after twenty-one years, she still couldn’t believe that her diligent, responsible husband, who cared deeply for his country and its people, would ever betray his nation.
But what can she do with her disbelief?
With these thoughts, she silently wept, covering her eyes.
Yuying calculated that it had been about two months since she started treating Fuyi's bones, meaning it was time to remove the bamboo splints.
After gathering herbs in the morning, Yuying asked her sister-in-law to prepare some hot water and bring it to the room. She then washed her hands and entered the room.
Yuying dried her hands with a towel from the table and told Fuyi, "It's been nearly two months since we began the bone setting. We can remove the bamboo splints now."
Drinking tea, Fuyi’s expression subtly changed upon hearing this. Setting down the cup, he looked down at his legs, which had been injured for months, and asked in a low voice, "Will they really heal?"
Yuying knew that despite his strong appearance, he was still apprehensive.
In a gentle voice, Yuying reassured, "With me here, why fear it won't heal?"
Hearing this, Fuyi's initially dim eyes brightened with a faint smile, looking up at her, "Then I place my hope in you."
Yuying smiled, "Don't overestimate me."
Fuyi rolled up his trouser legs to reveal the legs bound with bamboo splints.
After inspecting them, Yuying began to unwrap the bandages. Once all the splints were removed, his legs appeared slightly swollen and somewhat unsightly.
Fuyi glanced at his legs, his brow furrowing, and instinctively looked up at Yuying.
Seeing no look of disgust on her face, he silently heaved a sigh of relief.
Without any medical equipment, Yuying relied on her experience and intuition to carefully check whether the bones had healed properly.
Before examining, Yuying thought that she had been monitoring Fuyi's condition almost every day; if the bones hadn’t healed, her grandfather's reputation would be tarnished in her hands.
Yuying held her breath and meticulously examined the fracture site on Fuyi's legs repeatedly. Finally, when she was sure of their good recovery, she exhaled deeply.
"I thought you would be calmer than me," Fu Wei remarked, seeing her nervousness, which surprisingly relaxed him.
Yu Ying glanced at him and said, "I'm not a miracle healer. Naturally, I can't guarantee everyone will recover, and despite my confident words, I'm not any more at ease than you are."
Only after confirming that Fu Wei's leg bones had healed and without worrying about affecting his mood, did Yu Ying dare to express these thoughts.
"So… can I move now?"
Yu Ying nodded, "You can try moving your joints, but absolutely don't get out of bed to walk. Even if you must walk, wait until tomorrow and use crutches. And even then, avoid standing or walking for too long."
Mentioning the crutches, Yu Ying remembered they were still with Song Sanlang.
The stitches on Song Sanlang had been removed a few days earlier, and he was in the process of recovery. However, due to the use of ordinary thread and lack of medicines, the ghastly scar was inevitable.
Song Sanlang didn't mind the scar much, as long as it didn't hinder his work.
Yu Ying figured that Song Sanlang could now walk, albeit with a limp, so he probably didn't need the crutches anymore.
She planned to retrieve the crutches when she made her final check-up visit to his place at the He family's house the next morning.
Just then, her sister-in-law knocked on the door to bring in hot water. Seeing the bamboo and cloth strips on the floor, she exclaimed in surprise, "Has Erlang's leg really healed?!"
Yu Ying smiled and said, "Not yet, he still needs some time to recover before he can walk normally."
Hearing the words "walk normally," Fu Wei felt it was both a distant and imminent reality for him.
Lying on the bed for months had almost made him forget what it felt like to walk and run normally on the ground.
Since Fu Wei’s legs were exposed, Wen Xing felt it inappropriate to stay long and left after delivering the water.
Yu Ying checked the water temperature, found it a bit hot, and went out to fetch some cooler water.
Coming back inside, she saw Fu Wei exerting effort to move his legs.
Yu Ying didn’t disturb him; after a short while, Fu Wei's legs slightly moved.
Fu Wei felt sensation in his legs and a look of joy gradually appeared in his eyes.
Yuying mixed the water and placed the basin outside the bed, advising him, "Since you haven’t moved in a long time, your leg circulation is blocked, causing stiffness and swelling. It’s hard to move. Try soaking your feet and applying heat before attempting to move again."
The fracture was at the knee joint, making it difficult to bend, so soaking his feet would be challenging.
Yuying wrung out a cloth to half-dryness, intending to wash his legs, but Fuyi took the cloth from her hand, saying, "I can do it myself."
Not wanting her to touch his unsightly legs again, Fuyi preferred to handle it alone.
Yuying simply thought Fuyi was being stubborn and didn’t think much of it.
Fuyi bent over to wash his legs.
Watching him bend over, Yuying inwardly marveled at his resilient back strength, knowing such a movement would be very difficult for her.
Yuying washed the cloth again and handed it back to him.
After a simple wipe, Yuying soaked a towel in warmer water, wrung it to semi-dryness, and applied it as a hot compress on Fuyi’s knee.
Luo Shi, having heard from her daughter-in-law that the bamboo splints on Fuyi's legs were removed, hurried over.
After knocking and entering the room, seeing the situation, she looked anxiously at Yuying and asked with a trembling voice, "Liuniang, is Fuyi’s leg really getting better?"
Yuying glanced at Fuyi, signaling him to respond.
Understanding her gesture, Fuyi nodded towards his mother and replied, "I just felt sensation in it."
Luo Shi's eyes reddened with tears of joy upon hearing this, clearly moved to tears by the good news.
She quickly asked, "What should we be careful of afterwards?"
Yuying briefly explained some precautions to Luo Shi, also ensuring Fuyi was listening.
However, after explaining, Yuying's expression turned serious as she said, "Although he's almost recovered, apart from elder brother and sister-in-law, let's not tell Fu An for now. Even Uncle He and Aunt He should be kept in the dark."
The elder brother is reserved and not much of a talker. The sister-in-law is shy and spends most of her time at home, rarely going out and not fond of gossiping with other women in the village, evidently able to keep a secret.
The only concern was Fu An, who, being young, might not be able to keep the secret.
Luo Shi, hearing this, let her joy fade slightly, "I understand. I'll go over it carefully again with Xingniang and the elder son."
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief as Fuyi’s condition improved, understanding the need for discretion.
The next morning, Yuying retrieved the crutches.
Returning home, she saw the elder brother supporting Fuyi on his left arm, while Fuyi leaned on a crutch with his right.
This was the first time Yuying saw Fuyi standing up. Even though he wasn’t fully upright, his tall stature was evident.
Fu Zhen was tall, and Fuyi was not much shorter. Yuying thought that when Fuyi could stand straight, she would only reach up to his chin.
Seeing Fuyi able to stand brought joy to Yuying’s heart, and her face couldn’t help but show her happiness.
Fuyi looked towards Yuying as she entered from outside, sharing a smile.
After smiling, Fuyi slowly took a step forward.
This step was emotionally complex for Fuyi.
Once despairing, he had never imagined standing like a normal person again. Now, as things gradually improved, his mind was filled with myriad thoughts.
But regardless of the myriad thoughts, at least now he felt joy.
His lips slightly curved upwards, and his eyes also held a smile.
However, after just a few steps, sweat formed on Fuyi's forehead, and his knuckles gripping the crutch turned white.
Noticing that Fuyi had reached his limit but still wanted to keep moving, Yuying, who had been watching closely, furrowed her brows lightly and called out, "Fuyi, that's enough."
Fuyi exhaled and, not forcing himself further, let Fu Zhen help him sit down.
After sending the elder brother away, Yuying turned to Fuyi and said, "I know you’re eager, but as I’ve said before, we can’t rush this."
Fuyi didn’t argue: "I forgot for a moment, sorry."
Yuying sighed, "To heal properly, we need to take it slow."
Fuyi smiled faintly at her: "I’ve waited two months already, I’m not in a hurry. I just got too excited just now and wanted to walk more. I’ll be more cautious in the future."
Seeing that he seemed to understand, Yuying didn’t press the matter further.
With Fuyi’s legs recovering well, a major concern was lifted off Yuying’s mind. Now, her focus shifted to cultivating the fields and delivering the medicinal herbs.
The land was divided in two: half for growing medicinal herbs and the other half for vegetables.
The construction of the new two thatched huts was completed.
One was used for living.
The other was divided into two sections; one section was turned into a bedroom for Luo Shi, and the front part became the dining area, furnished with a table and a few stools.
The other hut became the new bedroom for Yuying and Fuyi, while the small hut was repurposed for storing herbs.
Yuying had initially planned to build another hut, but the He family father and son, along with Fu Zhen, seamlessly finished these two huts and then went to help Song Sanlang with his construction.
Building the large thatched huts was time-consuming, and since they were built during spare moments from their busy schedules, Yuying hesitated to ask for yet another hut.
After moving the bamboo bed and table to the new house, Fu Zhen and He Dajiang carried Fuyi, who still had to pretend to be lame, to the new house, before heading off to work on Song Sanlang’s hut.
Yuying and Fuyi sat on the bed in their new hut, looking troubled.
After a moment of silence, Fuyi spoke first: “They probably think it’s odd for a married couple to need an extra hut, so they might have just let it be.”
Sharing a hut with Yuying was inconvenient for Fuyi in many ways.
Seeing her look dejected, Fuyi pondered for a moment and then said, "I’ll talk to mother. I’ll stay in the small partition and let her stay with you. As for walking around…"
He paused and then continued, "I’ll walk around the dining hall after everyone has gone to bed."
Hearing Fuyi's suggestion, Yuying realized Luo Shi's room was too small. After fitting a bamboo bed and a small bamboo table, there was just a narrow corridor left.
The narrow corridor would make it extremely difficult for Fuyi to navigate with his crutches, and he could easily stumble and hurt himself.
Yuying turned to her roommate, furrowing her brows slightly, and sighed, "Mother’s room is too small, not conducive to your recovery, and I know it’s inconvenient for us to share a room. But now it seems like no arrangement of rooms is quite suitable."
The elder brother and sister-in-law obviously needed a room of their own; it wouldn’t be right to separate a couple after moving back home, would it?
The most suitable arrangement for Luo Shi was to stay with Yuying or alone.
But clearly, Luo Shi's small room and single bamboo bed couldn't accommodate her.
Hearing Yuying’s concerns, Fuyi gently rubbed his thumb against his calluses, silently thinking that he didn’t find their arrangement inconvenient.
His expression remained gentle: “I’m already used to it. My only concern is whether Liuniang feels uncomfortable.”
Truthfully, Yuying had grown accustomed to having Fuyi by her side at night and didn’t feel uncomfortable.
However, beyond sleeping arrangements, there were still many inconveniences.
Firstly, she had to change her clothes in the bathroom.
Secondly, during her menstrual cycle, she slept uncomfortably and had to go to the outhouse to change sanitary pads.
It was bearable now, but she dreaded the idea in winter when it was cold and dark outside.
After pondering, Yuying reluctantly accepted the reality of being unable to separate rooms, tentatively suggesting, “If it doesn’t bother you, shall we continue to share the room?”
Fuyi’s face showed little change as he calmly replied, “As long as you don’t mind.”
Seeing that they both agreed, Yuying began thinking about how to arrange the new room.
Since they couldn’t have separate rooms, they would need separate beds.
With a thatched screen added, changing clothes would be much more convenient.
With a plan in mind, Yuying stopped dwelling on the issue.
She got up, intending to remove the curtains from the old house.
As Yuying left the room, Fuyi subtly smiled, unnoticed behind her.
After removing the curtains, Yuying washed and dried them, then picked a small bunch of wildflowers.
She placed the flowers in a bamboo tube and brought them into the house, setting them on the table.
The new, larger room felt brighter than the previous small hut, but it also seemed quite empty.
Yuying thought that with her purse a bit heavier these days, she should buy some items to fill the space, rather than having it almost bare except for a bed and a table.
A few days later, when Fuyi saw the additional single bamboo bed in the room, he was silent.
Yuying smiled, “Although we still have to share a room, now that we can afford it, we don’t have to squeeze into one bed anymore, right?”
Fuyi’s gaze shifted from the bamboo bed to her, a faint smile appearing on his face: “You always think things through.”
Indeed, it was very… thoughtful.
Chapter 51
"Yuying said it can treat sunburn, so take off your clothes quickly, and I’ll apply it to you too."
Hearing his wife’s words and seeing the green, slippery mud on her face, Fu Zhen felt reluctant and replied, "I’m a man; it’s just sunburn, I’ll leave it. No need to apply that."
Wen Xing insisted, "It’s cool and comfortable. Not just your face, your skin is peeling from sunburn all over your body. You definitely need it."
Unable to argue with her, Fu Zhen said, "I’ll apply it after I bathe."
Wen Xing nodded, about to return to their room, when Fu Zhen called out, "Did Yuying say how long it needs to be kept on?"
She replied, "Once it dries, you can wash it off, about half an hour should do."
Fu Zhen thought for a moment, "Then let's not go back to our room yet, we can go back after washing."
After a pause, he added, "Mother’s eyesight isn't good, she might get frightened seeing it."
He himself had been startled, not to mention how his mother and son would react.
Wen Xing, thinking about the layer of green herbal mud on her face, realized it might indeed be frightening and nodded in agreement.
Fu Zhen fetched a bucket of water and went into the bath to wash, while Wen Xing waited outside.
When the sound of water stopped, Wen Xing looked up to see her husband stepping out of the bath, his chest and muscular body dripping with water.
The droplets on his chest followed the contours of his muscles, gathering at his abdomen before slowly sliding down, making her blush and avert her gaze.
Thinking about it, although they had been together, they hadn't shared a bed in five or six years.
First, after the birth of Fu Ning, she was busy caring for him, and her husband was constantly working to support the family.
Then, when they went to the quarry, it was even less feasible to be intimate.
Now, being alone together felt somewhat awkward.
Fu Zhen sat on a wooden stool in the kitchen, legs apart, and said, "Go ahead and apply it."
Wen Xing scooped some herbal paste into her hand and began applying it to her husband’s firm muscles. Her hands, rough from years of labor, seemed to soften with the slickness of the herbal paste.
Fu Zhen felt restless, but as he looked up at his wife's face covered in sticky herbal paste, his mind calmed down instantly.
To free up space for storing herbs, the He family came over in the afternoon to help build a thatched hut, make bamboo medicine racks, and weave winnowing baskets, after their morning herb gathering.
Fuyi made grasshopper toys from bulrush for his nephews and niece, as well as for the eldest grandson of the He family, and the children played joyfully in the yard.
Fu An and Fu Ning rarely had such carefree and happy moments.
Wen Xing watched over them, cautioning, “Be careful, don’t fall.”
Song Sanlang, who had been recuperating for about five or six days, also came over from the He family's home, leaning on a walking stick.
Fuyi's gaze deepened when he saw the crutch in Song Sanlang’s hand, then noticed Liuniang walking towards him.
After a moment of silence, he called Fu Ning over.
Yuying approached Song Sanlang and asked, "How is your wound healing?"
Song Sanlang replied, "It's gradually scabbing over."
Yuying said, "If there’s no issue in a couple of days, I’ll remove the stitches for you."
After nodding, Song Sanlang hesitated before asking, "How much do I owe for this treatment? I’ll bring it as soon as I save enough."
Yuying smiled and said, "When the Song brothers helped us build the thatched hut, they didn’t ask for payment, so why would I charge you now?"
Song Sanlang, grateful, responded, "It's different. That day I was just lending a hand, but this time, if not for your help, my leg might have been ruined."
Just as Yuying was about to respond, she felt a gentle tug on her clothes. Looking down, she saw little Fu Ning.
Fu Ning handed his little aunt a grasshopper he had woven and then turned to point at Fuyi, who was helping weave winnowing baskets in the courtyard.
Fuyi gave her a faint smile.
Yuying accepted the grasshopper from Fu Ning and also gently patted his little head.
Turning back to Song Sanlang, Yuying said, "I’m not running a clinic, and besides, these herbs were gathered by everyone together, so you really don’t owe me anything. If you feel indebted, you can come over and help once your leg is better."
Song Sanlang was silent for a moment before agreeing, "I’m idle anyway. Though I can’t move around much, my hands are still useful for helping."
Having agreed, Song Sanlang found a spot to sit and started helping with the weaving of the winnowing baskets.
Yuying glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Song Sanlang was close to the elder brother, not without reason; both men shared a similar nature, unwilling to owe others or take advantage, which is why they were as close as brothers.
Yuying then turned her attention to the grasshopper in her hand.
It was surprisingly realistic, almost mistakable for a live one at a casual glance.
She lifted it gently and flicked it, her eyes curving in a smile.
Fuyi quietly shifted his gaze from her, but just then Fu An seemed to realize something and exclaimed, "Uncle’s legs are not working well, and so are Song San's. Both are being treated by little aunt, and both are using the crutches she prepared. What a coincidence!"
Fuyi, without expression, turned to look at him and said calmly, "If you're free, come and help weave the baskets."
Fu An, who had just sneaked in some playtime, suddenly drooped his head, muttering softly, "I only played for a little while."
Though slightly unhappy, he obediently went to help, clumsily starting to weave the bamboo strips.
In the evening, after the He family and Song Sanlang had left and the village quieted down, Fuyi sat on a bench with his legs stretched out on a wooden stump in front, holding a long stick in his hands.
After saying "Watch closely," Fuyi held the long stick and slowly demonstrated three basic spear movements, his voice calm and deep: "The fundamental moves in spear techniques are blocking, seizing, and stabbing. They seem simple, but almost all subsequent techniques are closely related to these three."
Yuying, who was sorting herbs, heard this and curiously looked over at Fuyi.
Fuyi's movements were initially slow, but suddenly his expression sharpened, and his actions became faster and faster, almost blurring before her eyes.
She couldn't help but marvel, never having seen someone perform spear techniques so fluidly while sitting.
Not just Yuying, but her sister-in-law and Fu An and Fu Ning were equally mesmerized.
Fu An, watching his uncle, was full of admiration and started imitating the movements.
After several repetitions, Fuyi abruptly stopped, his sharp gaze softening almost instantly. When he looked up at his elder brother, he was calm and composed.
He tossed the long stick to Fu Zhen, who caught it steadily.
Methodically, Fuyi instructed, "Sink into a horse stance with your legs, hold the circle with your left hand for smooth movement, grip the end firmly with your right hand and position it near your waist."
Fu Zhen looked at the long stick in his hand and, following his younger brother's instructions, sank into a horse stance, then slowly began to mimic the movements he had just observed.
Repeating the three movements, his actions gradually transitioned from slow to fast, becoming more powerful, with the stick vibrating and creating a whooshing sound.
Fuyi watched his elder brother’s movements, his eyes slightly closed.
He had to admit, his elder brother indeed had a natural talent in this aspect.
Watching Fu Zhen quickly grasp the essence of the spear technique, Yuying vaguely guessed what Fuyi must have talked about with him the previous night.
In these chaotic times, with their family comprising mostly of the old, weak, and a bedridden member, having a strong protector was essential to avoid becoming victims.
While everyone was captivated by Fu Zhen's staff movements, only Luo Shi quietly wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and silently turned to enter the kitchen.
In both of her sons, Luo Shi saw the shadow of her late husband, stirring a mix of emotions in her heart.
Even after twenty-one years, she still couldn’t believe that her diligent, responsible husband, who cared deeply for his country and its people, would ever betray his nation.
But what can she do with her disbelief?
With these thoughts, she silently wept, covering her eyes.
Yuying calculated that it had been about two months since she started treating Fuyi's bones, meaning it was time to remove the bamboo splints.
After gathering herbs in the morning, Yuying asked her sister-in-law to prepare some hot water and bring it to the room. She then washed her hands and entered the room.
Yuying dried her hands with a towel from the table and told Fuyi, "It's been nearly two months since we began the bone setting. We can remove the bamboo splints now."
Drinking tea, Fuyi’s expression subtly changed upon hearing this. Setting down the cup, he looked down at his legs, which had been injured for months, and asked in a low voice, "Will they really heal?"
Yuying knew that despite his strong appearance, he was still apprehensive.
In a gentle voice, Yuying reassured, "With me here, why fear it won't heal?"
Hearing this, Fuyi's initially dim eyes brightened with a faint smile, looking up at her, "Then I place my hope in you."
Yuying smiled, "Don't overestimate me."
Fuyi rolled up his trouser legs to reveal the legs bound with bamboo splints.
After inspecting them, Yuying began to unwrap the bandages. Once all the splints were removed, his legs appeared slightly swollen and somewhat unsightly.
Fuyi glanced at his legs, his brow furrowing, and instinctively looked up at Yuying.
Seeing no look of disgust on her face, he silently heaved a sigh of relief.
Without any medical equipment, Yuying relied on her experience and intuition to carefully check whether the bones had healed properly.
Before examining, Yuying thought that she had been monitoring Fuyi's condition almost every day; if the bones hadn’t healed, her grandfather's reputation would be tarnished in her hands.
Yuying held her breath and meticulously examined the fracture site on Fuyi's legs repeatedly. Finally, when she was sure of their good recovery, she exhaled deeply.
"I thought you would be calmer than me," Fu Wei remarked, seeing her nervousness, which surprisingly relaxed him.
Yu Ying glanced at him and said, "I'm not a miracle healer. Naturally, I can't guarantee everyone will recover, and despite my confident words, I'm not any more at ease than you are."
Only after confirming that Fu Wei's leg bones had healed and without worrying about affecting his mood, did Yu Ying dare to express these thoughts.
"So… can I move now?"
Yu Ying nodded, "You can try moving your joints, but absolutely don't get out of bed to walk. Even if you must walk, wait until tomorrow and use crutches. And even then, avoid standing or walking for too long."
Mentioning the crutches, Yu Ying remembered they were still with Song Sanlang.
The stitches on Song Sanlang had been removed a few days earlier, and he was in the process of recovery. However, due to the use of ordinary thread and lack of medicines, the ghastly scar was inevitable.
Song Sanlang didn't mind the scar much, as long as it didn't hinder his work.
Yu Ying figured that Song Sanlang could now walk, albeit with a limp, so he probably didn't need the crutches anymore.
She planned to retrieve the crutches when she made her final check-up visit to his place at the He family's house the next morning.
Just then, her sister-in-law knocked on the door to bring in hot water. Seeing the bamboo and cloth strips on the floor, she exclaimed in surprise, "Has Erlang's leg really healed?!"
Yu Ying smiled and said, "Not yet, he still needs some time to recover before he can walk normally."
Hearing the words "walk normally," Fu Wei felt it was both a distant and imminent reality for him.
Lying on the bed for months had almost made him forget what it felt like to walk and run normally on the ground.
Since Fu Wei’s legs were exposed, Wen Xing felt it inappropriate to stay long and left after delivering the water.
Yu Ying checked the water temperature, found it a bit hot, and went out to fetch some cooler water.
Coming back inside, she saw Fu Wei exerting effort to move his legs.
Yu Ying didn’t disturb him; after a short while, Fu Wei's legs slightly moved.
Fu Wei felt sensation in his legs and a look of joy gradually appeared in his eyes.
Yuying mixed the water and placed the basin outside the bed, advising him, "Since you haven’t moved in a long time, your leg circulation is blocked, causing stiffness and swelling. It’s hard to move. Try soaking your feet and applying heat before attempting to move again."
The fracture was at the knee joint, making it difficult to bend, so soaking his feet would be challenging.
Yuying wrung out a cloth to half-dryness, intending to wash his legs, but Fuyi took the cloth from her hand, saying, "I can do it myself."
Not wanting her to touch his unsightly legs again, Fuyi preferred to handle it alone.
Yuying simply thought Fuyi was being stubborn and didn’t think much of it.
Fuyi bent over to wash his legs.
Watching him bend over, Yuying inwardly marveled at his resilient back strength, knowing such a movement would be very difficult for her.
Yuying washed the cloth again and handed it back to him.
After a simple wipe, Yuying soaked a towel in warmer water, wrung it to semi-dryness, and applied it as a hot compress on Fuyi’s knee.
Luo Shi, having heard from her daughter-in-law that the bamboo splints on Fuyi's legs were removed, hurried over.
After knocking and entering the room, seeing the situation, she looked anxiously at Yuying and asked with a trembling voice, "Liuniang, is Fuyi’s leg really getting better?"
Yuying glanced at Fuyi, signaling him to respond.
Understanding her gesture, Fuyi nodded towards his mother and replied, "I just felt sensation in it."
Luo Shi's eyes reddened with tears of joy upon hearing this, clearly moved to tears by the good news.
She quickly asked, "What should we be careful of afterwards?"
Yuying briefly explained some precautions to Luo Shi, also ensuring Fuyi was listening.
However, after explaining, Yuying's expression turned serious as she said, "Although he's almost recovered, apart from elder brother and sister-in-law, let's not tell Fu An for now. Even Uncle He and Aunt He should be kept in the dark."
The elder brother is reserved and not much of a talker. The sister-in-law is shy and spends most of her time at home, rarely going out and not fond of gossiping with other women in the village, evidently able to keep a secret.
The only concern was Fu An, who, being young, might not be able to keep the secret.
Luo Shi, hearing this, let her joy fade slightly, "I understand. I'll go over it carefully again with Xingniang and the elder son."
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief as Fuyi’s condition improved, understanding the need for discretion.
The next morning, Yuying retrieved the crutches.
Returning home, she saw the elder brother supporting Fuyi on his left arm, while Fuyi leaned on a crutch with his right.
This was the first time Yuying saw Fuyi standing up. Even though he wasn’t fully upright, his tall stature was evident.
Fu Zhen was tall, and Fuyi was not much shorter. Yuying thought that when Fuyi could stand straight, she would only reach up to his chin.
Seeing Fuyi able to stand brought joy to Yuying’s heart, and her face couldn’t help but show her happiness.
Fuyi looked towards Yuying as she entered from outside, sharing a smile.
After smiling, Fuyi slowly took a step forward.
This step was emotionally complex for Fuyi.
Once despairing, he had never imagined standing like a normal person again. Now, as things gradually improved, his mind was filled with myriad thoughts.
But regardless of the myriad thoughts, at least now he felt joy.
His lips slightly curved upwards, and his eyes also held a smile.
However, after just a few steps, sweat formed on Fuyi's forehead, and his knuckles gripping the crutch turned white.
Noticing that Fuyi had reached his limit but still wanted to keep moving, Yuying, who had been watching closely, furrowed her brows lightly and called out, "Fuyi, that's enough."
Fuyi exhaled and, not forcing himself further, let Fu Zhen help him sit down.
After sending the elder brother away, Yuying turned to Fuyi and said, "I know you’re eager, but as I’ve said before, we can’t rush this."
Fuyi didn’t argue: "I forgot for a moment, sorry."
Yuying sighed, "To heal properly, we need to take it slow."
Fuyi smiled faintly at her: "I’ve waited two months already, I’m not in a hurry. I just got too excited just now and wanted to walk more. I’ll be more cautious in the future."
Seeing that he seemed to understand, Yuying didn’t press the matter further.
With Fuyi’s legs recovering well, a major concern was lifted off Yuying’s mind. Now, her focus shifted to cultivating the fields and delivering the medicinal herbs.
The land was divided in two: half for growing medicinal herbs and the other half for vegetables.
The construction of the new two thatched huts was completed.
One was used for living.
The other was divided into two sections; one section was turned into a bedroom for Luo Shi, and the front part became the dining area, furnished with a table and a few stools.
The other hut became the new bedroom for Yuying and Fuyi, while the small hut was repurposed for storing herbs.
Yuying had initially planned to build another hut, but the He family father and son, along with Fu Zhen, seamlessly finished these two huts and then went to help Song Sanlang with his construction.
Building the large thatched huts was time-consuming, and since they were built during spare moments from their busy schedules, Yuying hesitated to ask for yet another hut.
After moving the bamboo bed and table to the new house, Fu Zhen and He Dajiang carried Fuyi, who still had to pretend to be lame, to the new house, before heading off to work on Song Sanlang’s hut.
Yuying and Fuyi sat on the bed in their new hut, looking troubled.
After a moment of silence, Fuyi spoke first: “They probably think it’s odd for a married couple to need an extra hut, so they might have just let it be.”
Sharing a hut with Yuying was inconvenient for Fuyi in many ways.
Seeing her look dejected, Fuyi pondered for a moment and then said, "I’ll talk to mother. I’ll stay in the small partition and let her stay with you. As for walking around…"
He paused and then continued, "I’ll walk around the dining hall after everyone has gone to bed."
Hearing Fuyi's suggestion, Yuying realized Luo Shi's room was too small. After fitting a bamboo bed and a small bamboo table, there was just a narrow corridor left.
The narrow corridor would make it extremely difficult for Fuyi to navigate with his crutches, and he could easily stumble and hurt himself.
Yuying turned to her roommate, furrowing her brows slightly, and sighed, "Mother’s room is too small, not conducive to your recovery, and I know it’s inconvenient for us to share a room. But now it seems like no arrangement of rooms is quite suitable."
The elder brother and sister-in-law obviously needed a room of their own; it wouldn’t be right to separate a couple after moving back home, would it?
The most suitable arrangement for Luo Shi was to stay with Yuying or alone.
But clearly, Luo Shi's small room and single bamboo bed couldn't accommodate her.
Hearing Yuying’s concerns, Fuyi gently rubbed his thumb against his calluses, silently thinking that he didn’t find their arrangement inconvenient.
His expression remained gentle: “I’m already used to it. My only concern is whether Liuniang feels uncomfortable.”
Truthfully, Yuying had grown accustomed to having Fuyi by her side at night and didn’t feel uncomfortable.
However, beyond sleeping arrangements, there were still many inconveniences.
Firstly, she had to change her clothes in the bathroom.
Secondly, during her menstrual cycle, she slept uncomfortably and had to go to the outhouse to change sanitary pads.
It was bearable now, but she dreaded the idea in winter when it was cold and dark outside.
After pondering, Yuying reluctantly accepted the reality of being unable to separate rooms, tentatively suggesting, “If it doesn’t bother you, shall we continue to share the room?”
Fuyi’s face showed little change as he calmly replied, “As long as you don’t mind.”
Seeing that they both agreed, Yuying began thinking about how to arrange the new room.
Since they couldn’t have separate rooms, they would need separate beds.
With a thatched screen added, changing clothes would be much more convenient.
With a plan in mind, Yuying stopped dwelling on the issue.
She got up, intending to remove the curtains from the old house.
As Yuying left the room, Fuyi subtly smiled, unnoticed behind her.
After removing the curtains, Yuying washed and dried them, then picked a small bunch of wildflowers.
She placed the flowers in a bamboo tube and brought them into the house, setting them on the table.
The new, larger room felt brighter than the previous small hut, but it also seemed quite empty.
Yuying thought that with her purse a bit heavier these days, she should buy some items to fill the space, rather than having it almost bare except for a bed and a table.
A few days later, when Fuyi saw the additional single bamboo bed in the room, he was silent.
Yuying smiled, “Although we still have to share a room, now that we can afford it, we don’t have to squeeze into one bed anymore, right?”
Fuyi’s gaze shifted from the bamboo bed to her, a faint smile appearing on his face: “You always think things through.”
Indeed, it was very… thoughtful.
