Fu Yucheng grumbled as his nose was pinched: "I won't say anymore, our child is a little tiger, even stronger than tiger cubs in the mountains."
He slipped a piece of gummy candy into Yun Tangyin's hand. "Is it sweet? It's even smoother than maltose. Let our little tiger have a sweet treat too."
Yun Tangyin smiled sweetly, "You have such a sweet tongue."
Suddenly, she touched the gauze on his arm. "Shouldn't you change the dressing tomorrow? Apply two more layers of ointment than last time, it will heal faster."
Fu Yucheng snuggled closer to her: "Having you change my dressing is more effective than any ointment."
Suddenly remembering something, she said, "Oh right, I made another small bamboo medicine box. It's lighter than the wooden one, perfect for storing your morning sickness medication, and it's easy to find."
The medicine box was engraved with a small lotus flower. When Yun Tangyin opened it, she saw that it was divided into several small compartments: "It's even more exquisite than the ones you can buy in town. Your hands are truly amazing."
She popped a preserved plum into his mouth. "Is it sour? It's better than sugar to cut through the richness."
The next morning, just as Yun Tangyin was about to change Fu Yucheng's dressing, he grabbed her wrist.
Yun Tangyin tapped his arm: "Changing the dressing? You're more distracted than anyone else."
Seeing him obediently stretch out his arm, she couldn't resist popping a red date into his mouth. "Is it sweet?"
Song Yushuang came in carrying a bamboo tray with freshly boiled eggs on it: "Eat quickly, boiled eggs can reduce swelling, they're more effective than ointment."
She shoved one into Yun Tangyin's hand as well, saying, "You should stretch your legs too, it's better than sitting all the time."
Fu Yucheng rolled the egg on Yun Tangyin's leg: "I'll roll it for you, it's less effort than you doing it yourself."
The egg slowly spun on her lap, warm like the spring sunshine.
Yun Tangyin rolled an egg on his arm: "You need to reduce the swelling too, it's better than just relying on ointment."
She suddenly slipped a packet of dried tangerine peel candy into his pocket, saying, "Hold one in your mouth when you change your dressing later."
At lunchtime, Yu Xia brought in a bamboo food box containing a plate of steamed yams: "Acheng, eat quickly. I added honey, so it's softer than when it's stir-fried. It'll help soothe your wounds."
She put a piece in Yun Tangyin's bowl as well, "You should eat some too, it's refreshing compared to always eating meat."
Just as Fu Yucheng was about to put some yam into Yun Tangyin's bowl, she stopped him with her chopsticks, saying, "You're injured, so you need to eat more. I can reach it."
She put a piece of pork rib in his bowl, saying, "This is good for calcium."
Yu Xia covered her mouth and laughed: "The way you two are pushing each other around like that."
As she spoke, she added another spoonful of soup to Fu Yucheng's bowl, "Drink more, it's more nourishing than anything else."
In the afternoon, Fu Yucheng was weaving a bamboo basket by the headboard, while Yun Tangyin was embroidering a baby hat beside him. Suddenly, she heard a rustling sound coming from the bamboo basket. Looking down, she saw a small bamboo rabbit lying inside: "When did you weave this? It's even more exquisite than the last one."
Fu Yucheng stuffed the little rabbit into her hand: "I made this while you were in school, it's better than doing it when you're idle."
He put another small bamboo rat into the bamboo basket, saying, "It's a toy for our children; it's sturdier than a rag doll and won't break if dropped."
Yun Tangyin laughed, pinching the bamboo rat: "You've made up stories about every little animal in the mountains? It's going to become a zoo."
She popped a piece of pumpkin pancake into his mouth. "It's freshly made, sweeter than cold."
Fu Yucheng chewed on a biscuit and said, "When I get better, I'll weave you a bamboo screen, carved with flowers and plants. It'll be prettier than a cloth curtain and can also block out the sun."
Yun Tangyin shook her head: "No need for that trouble. Having you with me is better than anything else."
She slipped a thread into his hand. "Help me thread this needle."
In the evening, Fu Yuanshan brought in a small bamboo wooden horse: "It's made for the kids, perfect for rocking and playing with."
At dinner, Fu Yucheng ladled a bowl of corn porridge into Yun Tangyin's bowl: "This corn is freshly harvested, it's more fragrant than the old kind, drink more."
Fu Yucheng quickly ate, and Song Yushuang looked at them and smiled: "Your life is sweeter than honey, it makes me happy just watching you."
She slipped a mooncake into Yun Tangyin's hand, saying, "It's freshly made, with more filling than last year's. Try it."
That night, Yun Tangyin changed Fu Yucheng's dressing. Seeing that the wound had basically healed, she breathed a sigh of relief: "The gauze can be removed tomorrow, which is faster than expected."
She applied a layer of ointment to his arm. "This is the last time."
Fu Yucheng snuggled closer to her: "Once the bandages are removed, I can hold you properly."
The next morning, as soon as Fu Yucheng removed the bandages, he hugged Yun Tangyin tightly: "I can finally hug you again, it feels better than anything else."
He slipped a small bamboo basket into her hand. "Come on, let's go out into the yard and soak up some sun. It's better than staying cooped up inside."
Yun Tangyin laughed as he held her: "Slow down, you're even crazier than before you were injured."
She slipped a piece of sesame candy into his pocket, saying, "Eat it as you walk."
The sunlight in the courtyard was warm and cozy. Fu Yucheng sat on a bamboo stool, and Yun Tangyin leaned against him, playing with a bamboo butterfly in her hand. Suddenly she said, "Although these days of recuperation are boring, they are sweeter than ever before."
Fu Yucheng lowered his head and kissed her forehead: "As long as you're here, life is sweeter than any other day."
He slipped a small bamboo rattle into her hand. "Listen."
The sound of the rattlesong echoed in the courtyard, mingling with the gentle tinkling of the bamboo wind chimes, like an endless sweet song, soaking the days in the courtyard with honey-like sweetness.
As soon as the sound of the rattle drum faded, Fu Yuan was carrying a hoe into the yard. Seeing the two of them cuddling in the yard, he deliberately coughed twice: "Haven't you had enough sun yet? You're more attached to warmth than newly hatched chicks."
He poured some freshly picked greens into the bamboo basket. "They're fresh from the field, much fresher than those from the supply and marketing cooperative. Make a green vegetable and tofu soup for Yinyin; it's better than always drinking meat soup."
Yun Tangyin stood up with a blush on her face: "Big brother, you've come at the right time. I'll go pick some cilantro; it'll smell better than just scallions."
Fu Yucheng quickly pulled her back: "Sit still, you're better at taking on jobs than anyone else."
She then gestured with her chin toward Fu Yuanzheng, saying, "Big brother, go pick them; you'll be faster than Yinyin."
Fu Yuanzheng walked towards the vegetable garden with a smile: "You spoil her so much, like a mother hen protecting her chicks."
Song Yushuang was drying soybeans with a bamboo sieve when she watched Fu Yucheng massage Yun Tangyin's legs: "Your arm is just healed, so you're not idle?"
She shoved a handful of roasted melon seeds into Yun Tangyin's hand, saying, "It's better to crack them open than to sit and stare blankly."
Yun Tangyin fed Fu Yucheng a sunflower seed: "You should have one too."
At night, Yun Tangyin leaned against Fu Yucheng's chest, listening to his heartbeat, and suddenly said, "Let's go to the market tomorrow, it's better than staying at home."
Fu Yucheng nodded: "Okay, I'll buy you floral fabric and make you a new dress."
He slipped a small bamboo wallet into her hand. "I woven a wallet. It's sturdier than a cloth one and makes it easier to carry money. Take it with you tomorrow."
Yun Tangyin touched the pattern on the wallet: "It's even prettier than the ones I bought. But, with your hand just healed, are you really sure you can go to the market?"
She snuggled closer to him. "It's okay, I'm here. I'll protect you. Anything will be alright."
Fu Yucheng hugged her tightly: "It's good to have you. I should be the one protecting you."
The bamboo wind chimes outside the window tinkled softly, as if providing a sweet accompaniment for the young couple. Moonlight streamed in through the bamboo window, casting long shadows of the two, intertwining them in a warm, inseparable embrace.
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