Chapter 44 It's Chinese New Year: The hateful academic genius, the despicable second uncle.
After Dr. Wu left, Yao Ruyi still pretended to be asleep, trying to remain calm.
At first, she pretended to be stiff and didn't dare to move, but as she pretended, she got sleepy and actually took a nap. When she woke up again, it was completely dark. The room was empty, with only her there. She had worked up a sweat and felt much better.
I moved my hands and feet, and although I was still a little weak, I wasn't so weak that I would collapse after taking a few steps.
She slipped on her shoes, grabbed the bed frame, and groped her way to the long table where she usually dressed. She pulled out a small drawer, found a tinderbox in the darkness, and gently blew on it. A spark flew out, finally bringing a sliver of light to the room. As soon as she lit the oil lamp, her first priority was to rush off to the outhouse.
After sleeping all day and drinking so much herbal medicine, she was feeling suffocated.
I ran inside as fast as I could.
A moment later, she breathed a sigh of relief and gently patted her aching abdomen as a sign of respect for her bladder before slowly turning around with the lantern.
Looking up, I noticed a figure in the courtyard.
Lin Wen'an seemed to have just come out of the shop. With New Year's Eve approaching and this kind of thing happening at home, the shop was naturally closed. But there was only this one general store in Guozijian Alley, and since it suddenly closed, people would come knocking on the door every few days. Some came to buy odds and ends, while others came to ask why it was closed today. Even Jasmine and her children had come to peek through the crack in the door.
The whole family was poisoned, even the cats and dogs were not spared. Wangwang and the little dog Dahuang were also forced to drink a lot of medicine by the veterinarian, who also tried to induce vomiting by gagging their throats and squeezing their bellies. The cats and dogs were also pricked with needles several times, but fortunately they did not eat much and their lives were not in danger.
They were all listless at the moment, pitifully curled up in the kotatsu to sleep. Uncle Cong had to take care of this and that, so only Lin Wen'an patiently explained to the neighbors again and again.
Yao Ruyi was unaware that the story of her mushroom poisoning had already spread throughout the Imperial Academy, becoming quite a legend. At this moment, looking at Lin Wen'an who was watching her from a few steps away, she felt so embarrassed and desperate that she wanted to tear her hair out.
Why did it have to be her second uncle? It would have been better if it were Uncle Cong, Three-Inch Nail, or even Grandpa Yao! She looked down at herself, her lotus root-colored padded jacket crumpled like pickled vegetables, with only a coat over it, her hair disheveled, her eyes still sleepy, and there were probably still sleep marks on her face. She had run to the outhouse in a flash and had been seen!
Lin Wen'an had just returned to the courtyard. He had just sold two catties of soy sauce and two catties of vinegar for Ruyi. He didn't know how many times he had to explain the reason for closing the door. He wiped his hands, turned around and saw a gray shadow dart past him. It took him a while to realize who it was.
"Being able to run so fast means you're much better." He stopped and asked with feigned concern, "Awake? Are you feeling better?" As he spoke, he unconsciously took a half-step forward and raised his hand to check her forehead temperature.
Yao Ruyi stared wide-eyed, frozen in place.
Lin Wen'an realized his mistake after placing his hand on it and quickly withdrew it.
Last night... I've gotten used to it.
In the chaos of last night, Doctor Wu came to see us and prescribed an emetic. He said that fortunately, the toxicity was not severe and had not penetrated our internal organs; we just needed to rest after vomiting, and he would come back early the next morning. So, during the night, Uncle Cong had to take care of Dr. Yao, Cong Xin, and Three-Inch Nail all by himself, which was simply too much for him. Uncle Cong was also extremely embarrassed to enter a woman's room late at night, so only Uncle Lin Wen'an could fill in.
This is the inconvenience of not having female servants in the house. Lin Wen'an sat at the door of Ruyi's room, guarding the bubbling medicine pot, gently fanning the flames with a fan, wondering if he should find an old woman to take care of things.
Otherwise, if the whole family consists of men, it would indeed be inconvenient for Ruyi.
The fever subsided as the decoction was prepared, and he gave it to Dr. Yao, San Cun Ding, and Cong Xin. After vomiting violently, their fevers subsided and they were able to sleep peacefully. Only Ru Yi's fever persisted despite taking the medicine. Although Physician Wu had instructed him that fever at this time was a good thing, as it would help release the toxins, and that there was no need to suppress the fever with decoction too early, he was still somewhat uneasy.
At first, he would only go in every now and then to change her wet towels. But in the middle of the night... he simply fetched water and sat by her bedside all night.
Because she cried in her dream.
It was only when Lin Wen'an saw her cry like this that he realized for the first time that tears could flow continuously even with eyes closed, and that people could sob aloud even in their dreams. She didn't know how much injustice she had suffered or how many deep secrets she had hidden, but she cried silently, her whole body trembling and curling up.
She was already feverish and sweating from being poisoned by the mushrooms, and later she cried until her face was covered in tears, even her neck and arms were soaked. Lin Wen'an was helpless and could only sit quietly beside her, wiping away her tears and sweat, but he could never wipe them all away.
Later, seeing her crying with her hands unconsciously clenched into fists, as if in a dream, desperately trying to hold onto something, yet only able to watch it slip away between her fingers. Her ten fingers were clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned red and white, and her fingertips were clearly sunken in. Lin Wen'an could not ignore this, so he forcibly pried her fingers open one by one.
She would pry it open, then curl it back up; she seemed to always want to hold onto something, making it difficult for her to sleep soundly.
He then placed his hand in hers and let her hold it.
Perhaps because she had something to lean on, she gradually stopped crying, only occasionally letting out a sob. Her body no longer trembled so violently and she was so grief-stricken, and she slowly relaxed.
Her palms were sweaty and hot, yet soft and delicate. Her hand bones were slender, and her wrists were thin, but they weren't the kind of hands that were as thin and pale as scallions.
Not only her hands, but Ruyi was quite different from the other women.
Unlike previous dynasties, the Song people always regarded slenderness as beauty. Zhao Feiyan, who could dance on a palm, was the role model for women of the time. Many daughters of officials and noble families practiced dieting and waist-binding, all to maintain their graceful appearance.
As for Ruyi, Lin Wen'an had always seen her eat meat and rice in large bowls. When he first returned, Ruyi's chin was still a bit pointed and her body was thin, but over the days, he watched as Ruyi fed herself with a bowl of rice and a plate of meat until she became plump and chubby.
Eating is almost her top priority.
But she doesn't look fat at all. She has a very flattering figure; her small frame hides any extra weight. Her features are bright and striking, with big eyes and a slightly upturned nose. Because of the soft flesh on her cheeks, her dimples appear even deeper when she smiles.
It was precisely because of the hidden flesh that Lin Wen'an was slightly startled by the soft touch when he held her hand.
His small hands could easily encircle and hold her palms... Lin Wen'an couldn't resist and secretly pinched her palm with his thumb—her palms were thick and soft, like newly harvested cotton, pressing on them felt like pressing on a thick cotton quilt.
It also looks a bit like a dog's paw pads.
As dawn approached, Lin Wen'an, holding her hand, sat down in a chair and fell asleep.
But he seemed to have only dozed off for a moment. Just as the sky began to turn blue, he woke up again. He saw that the hand he had been holding was now being held in her palms, like a doll. She pressed his large hand against her cheek and they stayed like that until dawn.
Lin Wenan gazed at her quietly.
When Yao Ruyi said, in her delirium, that they were both little bitter gourds, he initially found it a bit absurd and laughable. But after that night, he suddenly understood why she said that. The person who always had a bright smile on her face, so cheerful and radiant, had, like him, once lurked in the abyss unseen by others.
Lin Wen'an once thought that Ruyi was the moon he had accidentally glimpsed from the abyss.
I only realized now that it wasn't like that.
The bright moon never hangs in the azure sky. She is right beside him, in that dark and deserted abyss.
The light shines only on him.
Lin Wen'an's gaze softened, and with the hand that she wasn't holding, he gently brushed her sweaty hair aside. He bent down, gazing at her peacefully sleeping face, noticing that her cheeks were still burning hot and flushed, and her chin was damp, whether from unwiped tears or sweat, he couldn't tell.
He then took a handkerchief and wiped it off for her.
While wiping away sweat, he accidentally pulled on the hand she was holding. As if afraid the hand would escape, she gripped it even tighter, muttering in her sleep, "Bitter melon...don't get eaten..."
Lin Wen'an lowered his eyes, but finally couldn't help but laugh.
It's bitter melon again.
Alright, you and I are both bitter gourds.
Two melons grow together, weathering wind and rain, sharing the same branch and vine, and thus their hardship is no longer so.
*
By New Year's Eve, Yao Ruyi and the other three unlucky fellows, along with a few unlucky cats and dogs, had finally recovered to about 80% health. Doctor Wu no longer came to check their pulses every day, but only prescribed a few doses of medicine to be decocted and taken. He also instructed them to eat half-eaten and half-eaten, to eat light meals, and to eat small meals frequently. He said that once the root of the illness was cured, he would discuss other matters. After saying this, he bid farewell and went home for the New Year.
But this year, we definitely can't have a lot of meat and fish.
Early on New Year's Eve, Yao Ruyi sat in her shop, which had finally reopened after being closed for many days, and sighed deeply. Uncle Cong had already taken Doctor Wu's medical advice as gospel, declaring that on New Year's Eve, he would only cook a pot of chicken porridge, some light vegetables, and some tofu, and would not cook any other meat.
They said they would cook at most one more pot of glutinous rice balls or "jiaozi" to symbolize family reunion, but they wouldn't allow Yao Ruyi and the others to eat more than that, limiting each person to three. How could anyone live like this? Could this still be called celebrating the New Year?
When Yao Ruyi's resistance was futile, Uncle Cong sternly reprimanded her, "Being poisoned by food is no small matter. If it really leaves a lasting illness, damaging your spleen and stomach or harming your kidneys, what will you do in the future? Is it more important to eat a bite of food or to live? If you eat less today, you can eat more tomorrow. Don't you understand this principle, young lady? No, you are not allowed to eat a single piece of meat!"
That makes a lot of sense, especially the saying "Eat one less bite today, eat one more bowl tomorrow," which convinced Yao Ruyi. She thought about it with difficulty, and since she also valued her life, she had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Poor thing, she had planned many dishes for the New Year's Eve dinner: Kung Pao Chicken, Braised Fish, Four Happiness Meatballs, Shredded Pork with Sweet Bean Sauce, Braised Pig's Trotters, Lamb Soup, Garlic Ribs, Honey Chicken Wings... She even wanted to order two Peking ducks from Chen Ji Restaurant, but now she can't eat any of them!
Yao Ruyi rested her chin on her hand, looking sorrowfully into the quiet alleyway. She let the wind brush her face, wishing she could sing in her heart: "Little bitter gourd, hanging on the vine, lost its mother at the tender age of two or three..."
Although it was New Year's Eve, every household in the alley had hung up newly made peach wood charms and washed their doors, windows, courtyards, and grounds clean, but it still felt unusually deserted.
Xiao Song's family went back to Liu's old house in the outer city with Liu Zhubu to celebrate the New Year. Xue Apo also took Jasmine back to her hometown in Chenqiao Town. Lin Si Cao, with his five sons, hired two large carts, loaded some luggage and New Year's gifts, and also went back to his elder brother's house in Zhuxian Town to celebrate the New Year.
During the New Year holidays, large families often gather together. Even those who have separated from their families, as long as they haven't become irreconcilable enemies, will inevitably return to their old home for a reunion. The eldest branch of the family organizes these gatherings, with the entire clan eating and drinking together. Xiao Song and his family left late. For example, Dr. Jiang's family had already left the city in the afternoon after the court announced a lockdown and holiday early in the morning.
In an instant, almost all the neighbors in the alley had left, leaving only emptiness.
Before leaving, Aunt Ying specially brought Little Stone to buy the Great Horse General. Yao Ruyi picked out the most majestic one carved by Carpenter Zhou for him, and also gave him a suit of armor and a saddle, and gave him a discount. This made Little Stone so happy that he was dizzy all day long. He hugged the Great Horse General and kept snuggling up to Aunt Ying, as if he had suddenly been hit by a pie, so happy that he couldn't even walk.
For him, this was the best New Year's gift.
At the time, Yao Ruyi had just recovered from a fever, and her face was still a little pale. She had opened the shop to let in some fresh air and hadn't planned to do any business. She was quite surprised that they had suddenly arrived. She had thought that Aunt Ying might not be willing to buy this for Xiao Shitou.
Everyone in the alley knew that the Lin family was struggling financially.
She knew that when other families came to buy oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, they would usually weigh it by the pound or two or three, but Aunt Ying would always weigh it by the pound, even though she had the most family members.
Moreover... the aunties next door often come to the general store to chat and relieve boredom. Even widows like Madam Cheng, who have to support their sons' education, often come to eat some mixed vegetables. Only Aunt Ying rarely comes.
I suppose it's because she's short on money, and also because she has so much work to do! With so many people in the family, if she couldn't afford to ask Aunt Kui to do the laundry, just washing the family's clothes alone could keep her up until midnight. Not to mention cooking, cleaning, and making clothes for the whole family for all four seasons by hand. I've heard that Aunt Ying even does her own embroidery and sells it on consignment at Madam Cheng's tailor shop.
A set of the Great Horse General set, costing 300 coins, would be enough for the Lin family to live on for a day or two.
Unexpectedly, Aunt Ying seemed to have come to a realization this time. She looked at Little Stone, whose mouth was never closed with happiness, rubbed his head, and instructed him, "Hold it carefully, or there will be no way to repair it if you break it."
Little Stone wished he could worship General Namu, and nodded repeatedly.
Yao Ruyi was afraid that he would be afraid to play because he was afraid of breaking it, so she said, "It doesn't matter if it breaks. Bring it to me and I will ask Zhou the carpenter to repair it. As long as it is not broken into pieces, it can be repaired."
Little Stone's eyes lit up immediately, and he rushed over to hug Yao Ruyi: "Sister Ruyi, you are the best, the best in the world. I will definitely come to run errands for you and watch the shop from now on!"
Yao Ruyi and Aunt Ying were both amused by him. Aunt Ying pinched his ear and said with a smile, "What a little flatterer! He flatters me like this at home too, saying that I'm the best mother in the world and that he'll take care of all the chores at home from now on. His sweet talk has me completely bewildered, and I even came over and actually bought it for you."
Little Stone chuckled.
The mother and son then took their leave. As Little Stone carried General Ma in one arm and pulled Aunt Ying along with the other, he kept looking up at Aunt Ying as they walked out of the grocery store.
Yao Ruyi heard him worrying for his mother, which was quite sensible: "Mother, what should we do if we buy General Ma? Will we still have money for the New Year?"
Aunt Ying looked up at the sky, then down at him, and smiled self-deprecatingly: "Just have fun and enjoy the New Year. Don't worry about these things. Your mother has figured it out. In previous years, to avoid being looked down upon by your aunts and uncles when we went back to the old house, I always tried to put on a show of wealth by buying a lot of gifts, afraid of being gossiped about. But what good is saving face? How much have they ever helped us? No matter how hard life gets, we still have to get through it together with your father and your brothers. This year, let's not do that foolish thing of saving face. Instead of buying a bunch of things for others, let's make some new clothes for our family and buy some things you like!"
Little Stone didn't quite understand, but he could tell that his mother was genuinely happy when she said those words, and wasn't forcing herself. That was enough. His mother's happiness made him happy too.
And the Malaysian general was even happier!
The mother and son held hands and walked briskly back to pack their bags.
Yao Ruyi vaguely overheard their conversation and inwardly agreed with Aunt Ying's words—after all, life isn't meant to be lived for others to see. She remembered a line she'd read in a book in her past life; what was it again? She'd always felt it made a lot of sense. Oh, she remembered! It was from Shi Tiesheng's book, which said: "Treating the suspicious eyes of others as flickering will-o'-the-wisps, boldly walk your night path." [Note]
If Aunt Ying can take things in stride, her future will surely get better and better.
Thinking of this, Yao Ruyi counted on her fingers. Apart from the Cheng family and the Meng family, all the other neighbors had left. Only some students at the Nanzhai Academy remained who had not yet returned home.
The alley was eerily quiet; she sat there for half an hour without a single customer. She figured there wouldn't be any business today. Yao Ruyi leaned on the counter, calculating the time. She decided to close the shop and shut down after her second uncle returned from the palace—even if they only had one pot of porridge today, they still had to celebrate the New Year properly.
Lin Wen'an went to the palace early this morning. It was customary for officials of the fifth rank and above to attend the New Year's banquet, and they also had to pay their respects to the Emperor and receive a year's reward. However, Yao Ruyi knew that in addition to these two routine matters, Lin Wen'an was also going to the palace to seek justice for the four unfortunate people.
It seems the palace is thoroughly investigating the poisonous mushrooms; I wonder if there have been any results. However, my second uncle said that the mushroom cultivation technique at this time was very primitive. It involved using wood cut down from the mountains that had previously grown mushrooms, placing it in a humid and warm greenhouse, providing only a suitable environment, and cultivating the mushrooms using the spores remaining on the wood itself.
I've heard that the Imperial Kitchen sends people south every year to collect all kinds of rotten wood, wraps it in damp cloth, and transports it back to Bianjing (Kaifeng), specifically to obtain rare fungi species from the Central Plains for cultivation.
Therefore, apart from very common fungi like wood ear and shiitake, the types of fungi that could be harvested in the palace's warm chambers varied each year; sometimes there were termite mushrooms, sometimes tree mushrooms. This year, it's highly likely that the eunuchs cultivating the fungi weren't paying attention, and some poisonous fungi were mixed in. Many of these poisonous fungi weren't particularly vibrant either, looking quite similar to the grayish appearance of ordinary fungi. If it were an unintentional mistake, that would be one thing, but there's also the fear of spies from the Liao and Jin dynasties. Therefore, dozens of people in the palace have been brought in for questioning.
Upon hearing this, Yao Ruyi thought the Empress Dowager was incredibly lucky; cultivating mushrooms at this time was entirely dependent on the weather, quite carefree indeed. However, it also served as a reminder that in the future, when going to the market in the spring, even though it would be the peak season for mushrooms, she should avoid buying any mushrooms other than shiitake mushrooms, as they might have been picked from the wild or grown suddenly on old wood, and the sellers themselves might not even know whether they were poisonous or not.
Before entering the palace, Lin Wen'an made a point of knocking on Yao Ruyi's door, calmly asking if she wanted anything in particular. He said coldly, "The mushrooms bestowed by the palace have caused such a commotion; there must be an explanation. If I hadn't returned home early that night, you would all have been poisoned and wouldn't have received timely treatment, which could have led to the massacre of your entire family."
Yao Ruyi had been avoiding him for most of the day because he had touched her forehead in front of her, and now, hearing him ask her this question, her ears started burning again. She wondered if she had lost her mind, because just looking at Lin Wen'an made her heart pound like a drum, and something... was wrong.
Originally, she wanted to calm down and think about what was going on. But Lin Wen'an seemed unaware of her thoughts and treated her as always, speaking no differently than before, making Yao Ruyi feel even more that she was just being delusional and pathetic.
So when he asked that, Yao Ruyi had no choice but to turn away from him, and with her brain almost turned to mush, she thought about it seriously for a while. Suddenly, she remembered something and immediately told Lin Wen'an about her plan to do snack business with Xingguo Temple. She scratched her head and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I've heard that Xingguo Temple has a deep connection with the royal family. I wonder if I could mention it briefly? I don't want anything else, I just hope for fair cooperation. Please don't take advantage of my status as a commoner to arbitrarily lower the price and make me suffer losses for no reason."
Lin Wen'an nodded, then paused and asked, "Is that all?"
Upon hearing this, Yao Ruyi sat up straight with delight. Could she make another request?
Fully energized, she mustered her courage and explained in detail her plan to set up a study room, even shaking her finger somewhat shyly: "...Originally, I wanted to hang some curtains and place a few hand warmers under the eaves of my own courtyard, recruiting only three or five students to try it out. But a few days ago, I looked at the returned questionnaires, and many students were eager to open it soon. About a dozen or twenty people came to the shop to inquire, so I thought that the space under the eaves definitely wouldn't be enough. It would be better to rent a proper room in the alley and run it properly. However, I asked Master Meng, and now there are only two empty rooms left in the alley, all vacant after being confiscated by corrupt officials. No one outside the shops is qualified to buy, sell, or rent them out; the deeds are in the hands of the imperial court. If you have time, Second Uncle, could you ask for me how much silver it would cost to rent a room from the officials, and if there could be a discount..."
Given the official's tendency to "pawn or sell" everything at a discount, Yao Ruyi eventually lost her confidence and could only ask if she could rent it to him at a lower price.
Lin Wen'an understood and nodded again, "Understood, I'll take care of it."
Then he left.
As Yao Ruyi watched his businesslike back, a strange sense of loss welled up inside her. The feeling of her heart sinking was almost unbearable; she suddenly leaned back on the bed, stared blankly for a while, then hugged her rabbit doll and talked to herself. Afterward, she buried her face in the rabbit and silently cried out a few times.
She rolled around on the bed like a pancake.
She might have really messed up her brain.
After waiting for about half an hour, the alley remained deserted, so Yao Ruyi closed the window and bolted the shop door. When she returned to the courtyard, she first went to check on Wangwang and Dahuang. She lifted the blankets around the stove, and found them all huddled together, fast asleep.
Fortunately, they were all fine. Yao Ruyi reached in and rubbed each one.
In the kitchen, Uncle Cong led Sancunding and Cong Xin to wash rice and vegetables, preparing to cook porridge. Sancunding and Cong Xin, as expected of those who often did chores, were strong and healthy. They were able to get out of bed the day after vomiting, and by the third day they were completely recovered, showing no signs of having been poisoned.
She glanced at the large pot of porridge, sighed, and then peeked into Grandpa Yao's room.
The old man was tidying up her old books and homework, squinting as he took them out one by one to look at them. Other teaching materials would take some time to compile, so Yao Ruyi wanted to sort out the collection of excellent poems and essays from the Imperial Academy first. But Grandpa Yao seemed to dislike them all, throwing one into the basket and putting another aside.
However, Grandpa Yao did gain something; he selected more than a dozen satisfactory pieces and stacked them up. Yao Ruyi curiously called out "Grandpa," and flipped through the policy essays, current affairs articles, and some poems that Grandpa Yao had carefully chosen on the table. After that, she was completely taken aback.
The coursework of these former students that caught Grandpa Yao's eye all belonged to one person.
It wasn't anyone else; every single one was signed "Lin Wen'an," and all of them were written before he turned seventeen. Grandpa Yao had preserved them all extremely well; although the papers were yellowed, each one was perfectly intact, without even a scratch or tear. It was clear at a glance that he was extremely satisfied with this assignment.
She took a deep breath and carefully arranged the documents.
That hateful academic genius, that despicable second uncle.
Back then, he must have been the lifelong enemy of other students at the Imperial College.
Since she had nothing else to do, she squatted down to help Grandpa Yao organize the things. There were several boxes piled up, and it would take Grandpa a long time to finish them all by himself.
While tidying up, she even discovered a thick box full of letters exchanged between Grandpa Yao and Lin Wen'an over the years. Grandpa Yao had taken each letter out of its envelope according to the date and stored them away, so the contents were easy to see at a glance.
Yao Ruyi saw that it was a letter and didn't dare to look at it, but Grandpa Yao caught a glimpse of her outstretched hand and said with a smile, "It's alright, you can look at it as you please."
A thought struck her, and she looked up at Grandpa Yao with a smile; she really wanted to see it.
What kind of person was her second uncle in the past? She often wondered about it.
The letters spanned eight years. At the beginning, the teacher and students inquired about each other's health and recommended folk doctors or prescriptions. Later, they shared many daily trivial matters. Each letter was very long, but they always ended with the earnest words "hoping you are well".
Yao Ruyi initially squatted on the ground to read, but later sat down to read it carefully. From afternoon until sunset, she felt both moved and warmed by what she read, and she couldn't get enough of it.
She couldn't see what was so good about the stack of articles that Grandpa Yao had compiled for her second uncle, but in the letters, in every little detail and every word, even though the language was the most ordinary, she saw that what made Lin Wen'an different from others was not his writing style, but his state of mind.
In particular, Lin Wen'an was initially unable to get out of bed due to severe injuries and lay in bed for two years. He could only walk around the yard with the help of his father. These days of depression and pain were almost unbearable for him. However, in a letter to Grandpa Yao, he wrote: "One day, a sparrow came to the window. It had a round head and a short body. It stood in the morning light and preened its feathers. I stretched out my arm with all my might and finally sprinkled the rice porridge on the windowsill. I watched with a smile as it lowered its head and pecked at the grains until it finished eating. I felt that there was still something to cherish in this world."
Although still unable to walk properly, the student is doing well and hopes for the teacher's well-being as well.
Grandpa Yao replied, "Very good, birds are comforting."
Yao Ruyi read through the letters one by one until the very end. In Lin Wen'an's most recent letter, when he inquired about Grandpa Yao, he wrote: "How is the teacher? Thanks to the renowned doctors that the teacher searched for and found for me, I am gradually able to get up and walk. Although I cannot run or jump, I no longer have to trouble my father's back. Today, I followed the doctor's advice and walked slowly along the riverbank."
The summer days are long, and as I stroll along the stream, even the water seems to boil. I wonder if the capital is as hot as Fuzhou at this time? This journey is aimless, yet I've caught the pleasant scent of the vibrant growth of flowers, plants, and trees in Fuzhou. You always write to me saying you're well, but Wang Yong's letter mentions that you are suffering from illness. I am deeply worried, and once I am feeling better, I will definitely return to the capital to visit you.
I hope you are well, sir.
Upon reading this, she also breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a deep sense of empathy.
That's good, the illness has finally gone, and this person has pulled through.
Lin Wen'an and Grandpa Yao's correspondence was always a matter of months, with each letter lasting only once every few months. Sometimes, Lin Wen'an would write about late summer in one letter, and by the time Grandpa Yao received it, it would already be autumn. By the time he replied, it would be late winter or even early spring. But these slow and leisurely letters made Yao Ruyi lose track of time as she read them.
The post road is long and the letters are few and far between, yet the slow pace of writing can nurture the most enduring affection. And this bond between teacher and student, having transcended the passage of time, unfolds gently before Yao Ruyi.
She couldn't help but touch the corner of her eye.
Only when Uncle Cong called for dinner did Yao Ruyi reluctantly put the letter back where it belonged. Stepping outside, the night was already deep outside the eaves. A few fireworks occasionally bloomed in the direction of the Imperial Street, and in the distance, the crisp sound of children setting off firecrackers could be faintly heard, along with the clear laughter of children carried on the breeze.
Yao Ruyi looked up.
Where the stars are in full bloom, the silver trees and fiery trees burst into bloom one after another; it's the New Year.
But even after she finished her porridge and asked Sancunding and Congxin to go to the shop to get some fireworks to set off at the door, her second uncle still hadn't returned. As night deepened, Yao Ruyi, having slept too much these past few days, felt no sleepiness. She moved a rattan chair to the shop to keep vigil for the New Year, urging Grandpa Yao and the others to go and rest.
Especially Uncle Cong, who had been working tirelessly for them for days, hadn't even finished his porridge before his eyelids started drooping. Yao Ruyi quickly shooed him back to his room to rest, and then, when Uncle Cong wasn't looking, secretly left a thick red envelope under his pillow. She did the same to Sancunding and Cong Xin.
Staying up all night alone is quite boring, so Yao Ruyi would occasionally light one or two small "ground mouse" fireworks and throw them out of the window into the alley. Watching them spark and spin around on the paving stones was quite interesting.
It was probably around midnight, she couldn't remember exactly, and she couldn't stay awake any longer, so she leaned over the counter and dozed off.
Firecrackers and fireworks were going off all the time outside, so she wasn't sleeping soundly.
Suddenly, she smelled a strong, sweet, warm wheat scent, and felt a sudden weight on her shoulders, as if a large, loose-fitting robe with a faint medicinal fragrance was gently covering her shoulders.
The clothes still held a lingering warmth. Yao Ruyi was not yet fully awake, but the warmth seemed to sting her heart, causing her to tremble suddenly.
She hurriedly opened her eyes and looked up.
Lin Wen'an was standing close by, bending down to drape a coat over her shoulders.
Seeing that she suddenly woke up, her movements also froze.
In the dim candlelight, she met a pair of eyes that were dark and clear, illuminated by the candlelight and the flickering fireworks outside the window.
Amidst the falling fireworks that resembled stardust, his gaze fixed on her was also illuminated by the flickering light.
Yet, all that remains is a reflection of her tiny self.
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Another chapter as a reward! [Sprinkling flowers]
Note: Quoted from Shi Tiesheng's work "Random Thoughts During a Sickbed".
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