Chapter 28 Ma Family Eldest Son
As expected, Lin Changning developed a fever that evening.
Shiro had a particularly hard night's sleep. He spent the whole night preparing medicine and taking pulses, and it wasn't until dawn that the two of them ate some porridge before finally going to sleep.
After resting until noon, Shi Lang felt relieved to find that Lin Changning's fever had subsided. It was Shi Lang's foresight that he had given her the medicine to help her recover, which prevented her illness from getting worse. With the fever gone and her body sweating, Lin Changning felt much better by noon.
Juro was exhausted from the ordeal, and his steps were unsteady as he went out.
The two tidied up, ate some millet porridge, and then had three bowls of the sour and spicy pickled vegetables that Aunt Hu had brought over.
After they finished eating and cleaned up, Aunt Hu brought over some coarse grain cakes to visit them.
News travels very fast among the military households on the frontier. Yesterday, Lin Changning saved someone, and today Aunt Hu heard about it. Fearing that the two young men wouldn't take care of themselves, she got up early and brought them a bowl of her own pickled vegetables. Now she's brought some flatbread to help them out.
Lin Changning, dressed in his younger brother's light blue cotton robe, sat in the courtyard basking in the sun, feeling comfortable and relaxed.
Aunt Hu brought in the pancakes and the children: "Changping, are you feeling better? I steamed some coarse grain pancakes. I suppose you don't have much food left at home. Here, have some for yourselves tonight."
Lin Changning smiled and replied, "Thank you, sister-in-law. I'm much better now. Thank you for your concern. My fever has subsided. Yesterday, I caught a chill, and my tenth brother is letting me sunbathe to get rid of the cold."
Aunt Hu put the coarse grain cakes on the stove and led the children out, saying, "Children, don't be so polite. You should rest well for a few days and not take your health for granted."
"Oh, I know, Auntie. She's free right now, so why don't you teach them to read?"
Sister-in-law Hu is a good person, and her husband is also an honest man. When she is not at home, she often helps Shilang with chores. Naturally, one should repay kindness in return.
Sister-in-law Hu said embarrassedly, "Oh dear, you're still sick, how could I let these two rascals bother you!"
Lin Changning picked up a twig and smiled gently: "It doesn't take much effort. If you have time, you can take a look and learn together."
The woman blushed slightly: "Oh dear, I'm so old, I'm afraid my brain isn't sharp enough to learn this."
Two children, around seven or eight years old, quickly brought over small stools: "Mom, Uncle Lin teaches so well, let's learn together!"
Sister Hu made two "ouch" sounds, clearly embarrassed, but she really wanted to learn to read. These days, people who can read are looked up to wherever they go.
Lin Changning looked at Sister Hu with clear and gentle eyes and joked, "Let's go together, sister-in-law. Whether we have one sheep or three, it's all the same."
"Well then, sister-in-law, just sit and watch."
Lin Changning sat in the courtyard, and the two clever little devils poured fine sand around him. Lin Changning wrote characters stroke by stroke, and the three of them learned very carefully.
They wrote one down and recognized it, and she told them interesting little stories. The two children listened attentively, and Aunt Hu was also engrossed in listening.
The group was having a great time learning when someone suddenly appeared outside the door. A young man, nearly 1.8 meters tall, stood there, looked around the courtyard, and asked hesitantly, "Is this Lin Changping's house?"
Lin Changning looked up at the unfamiliar young man outside: "Exactly."
Sister-in-law Hu looked up and whispered to Lin Changning, "This is the eldest son of Chief Ma. He must be here to thank us for what happened yesterday."
Ma Jia Dalang's eyes lit up when he saw the handsome young man inside teaching people to read. He carried a bag of pastries and a piece of meat and went inside.
"I am the elder brother of the girl who fell into the water yesterday. My second brother and I have been at the garrison recently and just returned home today. My father, Ma Zhong, is injured and unable to come, and my mother is busy taking care of my younger sister, so she asked me to bring some small gifts to express our gratitude. We also want to thank you for saving my sister yesterday. The gifts are few and far between, and please don't find them offensive..."
Lin Changning stood up, looked at the robust and handsome young man, and politely declined: "It was just a chance encounter, nothing to mention. These days, life is tough, why bring anything?"
These days, everyone is struggling. The fact that this family, with two sick members, was willing to cut such a large piece of flesh suggests they love their daughter dearly.
Ma Jia Dalang carried the things around and looked them over. When he saw the kitchen, he went there and said, "I heard from Aunt Qin that the young man went into the water yesterday with his injuries. He is truly righteous. I must accept these things, otherwise I won't be able to explain to my mother when I get back."
As he spoke, he stuffed the things into the stove, and after coming out, he looked at Lin Changning and scratched his head, appearing somewhat reserved.
Sister-in-law Hu helped bring over a stool, and saw that Shilang, who had come in, had already come out carrying hot water and dried herbs.
Lin Changning invited someone to sit at the stone table: "Then thank you, brother. We don't have anything good at home, but my younger brother often picks some herbs to make tea. Please have a taste."
Shilang took out a few rough porcelain bowls and put them down. Seeing that she had something to do, Sister Hu said goodbye and left with the children. Shilang saw them off and turned around to find Lin Changning chatting with Ma's eldest son.
"I really thanked you yesterday, brother. Seeing that you are still sick, I guess you caught a cold yesterday. My family is truly ashamed."
Lin Changning waved his hand: "It burned down yesterday, but it's almost healed today. How is Miss Ma?"
Ma Jiada's expression instantly darkened: "I was unconscious all night and just woke up during the day. My mother is watching over me at home."
Remembering what Wan Jin had said, Lin Changning instantly understood: "Then it really is inseparable from people. Treating them well and taking them out for a stroll, finding them some things to do might be better."
Hearing this, Ma Jiada hesitated and asked, "Young brother, do you know my sister?"
Lin Changning hesitated. She did know, but it wouldn't be appropriate to say it outright.
“Brother Ma, Bai Changsui offended me a few days ago, and I beat him up. It was your father who carried out the punishment that day. Wan Jin and I also received a few lashes, but I think the brothers who carried out the punishment held back, and we were both fine. However, that eunuch Bai Changsui was beaten to death. Afterwards, I asked him a few questions. I'm sorry, but it concerns Miss Ma's reputation, so I won't say anything carelessly.”
Ma Jia Dalang's heart sank to the bottom. He remembered clearly what his mother had said that morning: Lin Changping was new and might not know about his sister.
If he is a gentleman of noble character, then we can test the waters to see if the engagement is right. We can use the incident of falling into the water to arrange a marriage for my sister. With my father and the others' support, I think Lin Changping will not refuse.
But now that people know, although her sister has not lost her innocence, what happened back then was still shameful. Otherwise, she wouldn't have kept trying to kill herself. It would be hard for any man to accept that his wife has been insulted.
"Thank you, young man. I have many things to attend to at home, so I won't bother you any longer. I will come to thank you with my mother when my father is feeling better."
Lin Changning exchanged pleasantries again, saw the man out, and was somewhat puzzled, wondering why Ma Jia Dalang had suddenly changed his expression. However, he didn't think much of it and went back to the stove.
Looking at the large piece of red and white meat, I felt a surge of joy.
"Tenth Brother!! It's time for a meat feast tonight!!"
—Ma Family
"Brother, how is it? What about the young man from the Lin family?"
Ma Dalang sat in the inner room with a bad expression: "Mother, I've inquired about the young man from the Lin family. He's fifteen this year. He used to be a scholar, but after his father and brothers passed away, he joined the army. I met him today. He's not very old, but he seems exceptionally steady and reliable. He's good-looking, and his character should be fine too. He's good in every way. But he knows about my sister's situation. I'm afraid this marriage won't work out."
Liu looked at her unconscious daughter and tears streamed down her face: "What should I do? My poor Third Sister."
Ma Erlang brought in the medicine and said, "Whether it works out or not is another matter. Father is a commander of a thousand men, after all. Once Third Sister is feeling better, she can take Father to visit him. We can just spend more money. That Bai guy is already dead. He even hugged someone in front of everyone. If he doesn't marry her, how can Third Sister face people? I think he's a kind person who dared to go into the water with injuries in this weather. As long as the marriage can be arranged, Third Sister will have a way to survive. Brother, we are both in the army. We'll get promoted in the future."
A tear rolled down the cheek of the girl lying on the bed as she opened her eyes: "Mother, brother, I won't marry..."
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