Hua Fushu lowered his head, stuck out his tongue, and rolled his eyes.
Seeing this, Ye Zelin smiled.
Hua Fushu called Lizhi and told her to bring the hot food from the kitchen stove. It was already past dinner time, so Hua Fushu specifically asked the kitchen to leave some food for Ye Zelin.
Lizhi brought the food. Ye Zelin had only had a steamed bun for lunch before entering the palace. He was so hungry that his stomach was sticking to his back. He devoured it in no time, leaving not a single grain of rice, and only some vegetable juice on the plate.
Hua Fushu was worried that he was thirsty, so he poured him a glass of warm water. "Why are you eating so fast? No one is trying to snatch the food from you, so you don't have to worry about choking."
Ye Zelin took the water. He was a little thirsty, so he drank the water and said, "Try to see what it feels like not to eat or drink since breakfast. Man is iron and rice is steel. If you don't eat for a meal, you will be hungry."
Hua Fushu had been hungry before and knew what it felt like to be hungry. It was truly unpleasant, but Ye Zelin's tolerance for hunger was far worse than hers. She chuckled and said, "It's just a meal. You're not as good as me. I remember when I was fifteen, there was a flood in Yiling, which submerged many villages and towns, killing many people. There was also an epidemic. It was not strictly controlled, and the people in the surrounding villages and towns were also infected. My master organized a team of doctors from Xinglin to go to the rescue, and I went too. There were so many people sick that I didn't eat all day and only drank a few sips of water."
Ye Zelin was stunned. He knew that she had been to the slums, but he didn't know that she had also been to the disaster area. Disaster areas were like that where corpses were everywhere, the ground was in a mess, and plagues were rampant. How could an ordinary teenage girl dare to go to such a place? Even a doctor who was well versed in medicine might not go there.
At this moment, he truly felt that Hua Fushu was no mean girl. She was so surprising, so remarkable. He looked at her intently and said, "I've heard that the plague is terrible and highly contagious. You're only fifteen or sixteen years old. Aren't you afraid of going to the disaster area with me?"
Hua Fushu was slightly startled. This was the first time someone other than her master had asked her this question. She smiled faintly and then asked Ye Zelin, "You are the son of a military family and a general of the Song Dynasty. Are you afraid when you go to the battlefield?"
Ye Zelin shook his head and said seriously, "Foreign barbarians have invaded the territory of the Song Dynasty and insulted our people. As soldiers, it is our duty as men to drive out the foreigners, protect the territory, and protect the people. What is there to be afraid of?"
Hua Fushu shrugged and spread his hands. "It is your duty as soldiers to drive out the barbarians and protect the peace of the border. Similarly, it is our duty as Xinglin people to save the dying and the wounded. There is nothing to be afraid of."
Ye Zelin raised his head slightly. Hua Fushu was an excellent doctor with great compassion and courage. He was worthy of everyone's admiration and praise, and he was no exception.
Lizhi had gone to pick up the dishes and chopsticks when Ruhuan arrived, holding a handful of lotus pods in her arms. "Brother, it's time to beg for wisdom. Mother asked me to invite you..." She paused, looking at Hua Fushu, feeling very reluctant to invite her as well. "And sister-in-law, let's go beg for wisdom."
Ye Zelin smiled and said, "I'll be right there."
Ruhuan said they would pray for cleverness tonight, but Hua Fushu was puzzled and said, "Today is only the sixth day of the first lunar month. Shouldn't we pray for cleverness tomorrow night?"
Ruhuan glanced at Hua Fushu, and her brows suddenly turned cold. Hua Fushu didn't even know the time for Qiqiao?
Ye Zelin explained: "You can pray for wisdom on the sixth or seventh day of the first lunar month. It doesn't have to be on the seventh day. In Fengjing, some families start praying for wisdom on the fifth day."
"I see." Hua Fushu responded. It turned out that she was ignorant, but it was not her fault. She had no interest in these folk customs and habits, and her knowledge of them was not comprehensive.
Hua Fushu saw that the lotus pod in Ruhuan's arms was large and beautiful, and it must taste delicious. So he walked over and looked at his sister-in-law with a smile, "Sister Ruhuan, give me a lotus pod."
Ruhuan didn't know why Hua Fushu needed the lotus pod. It was for Qiqiao, so she didn't want to give it to her.
Ye Zelin immediately understood Hua Fushu's intention of wanting the lotus pod, and looked over with a faint smile. Ruhuan had no choice but to pick a large lotus pod for Hua Fushu.
Hua Fushu happily took the lotus pod.
Ruhuan walked in front, Hua Fushu and Ye Zelin walked behind.
Hua Fushu peeled open the lotus pod, peeled a lotus seed and ate it. It was indeed delicious, with a fresh fragrance and a hint of sweetness.
She peeled two more lotus pods, ate one herself, and gave the other to Ye Zelin, placing it in his palm. She looked at Ruhuan in front of her, afraid that she would look back, and whispered, "Try it too."
Ye Zelin looked at the lotus seed in his palm, and then at Hua Fushu's look of caution against Ruhuan looking back, and he found it funny. However, he really laughed, but it was a silent smile, and he put the tiny lotus seed into his mouth.
They soon arrived at the courtyard. Ye Shiheng and his wife, Dugu Lanxi and his wife, Xu and Ye Songyan were already there. Even the stubborn and bad-tempered old general had arrived. This was the first time Hua Fushu had seen the Ye family so harmonious in the few months since he entered the family.
Hua Fushu secretly reached his hand back, and Sanqiao hurriedly took the uneaten lotus pod and hid it in his sleeve.
A table was set up in the courtyard, and various Qiqiao Festival items were displayed, including cute clay dolls, various fried fruits, dried fruits such as longan and red dates, embroidery needles and colored threads, five-ingredient basins, writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones, double-headed lotus flowers, wooden carvings of farmers and families, etc. The table was filled with things.
The wood carving on the table particularly caught Hua Fushu's attention. The wood carving was of a farmhouse: two small houses with a courtyard. Under the eaves, an elderly couple was leaning on crutches with kind faces. In the courtyard, several children were playing. One was sitting on the swing, one was pushing the swing, one was holding a windmill high, and one was lying by the pond peeling lotus pods. Under a tree, a pair of young brothers were laughing with their heads raised, saying something inaudible. Next to the chicken coop, two daughters-in-law were feeding the poultry. It was a scene of happiness and family harmony.
Hua Fushu was noticing the harmonious and happy scene among the farmers, but was even more impressed by the exquisite craftsmanship. He thought it must be worth a lot of money. Pointing at it, he said to Ye Zelin, "Is that also used for praying?"
Ye Zelin nodded, "That's called Guban."
Hua Fushu looked bewildered, "Old-fashioned?"
Ye Zelin chuckled: "This 'Guban' is not this 'Guban'."
Hua Fushu was educated, "Oh."
Ruhuan glanced at Hua Fushu and gave him a faint sneer.
Seeing the late couple, Ye Shiheng pretended to be displeased and said, "You don't even know how to call people when you see them."
Ye Zelin respectfully called out, "Grandfather."
Hua Fushu smiled kindly, "Old man."
The old general had no expression on his face and did not respond, but just nodded indifferently.
Ye Zelin was already accustomed to the old general's cold face, and Hua Fushu was still getting used to it, but he was not surprised.
The old general disliked his grandson Ye Zelin the most, so naturally he would not like his granddaughter-in-law who had a "bad record".
Well, if she doesn't like him, then she doesn't like him. She won't deliberately try to please someone who doesn't like her and she doesn't like him either.
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