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墨書 Inktalez
She seemed to have not yet become familiar enough with him to call him by a different name.
After a moment of hesitation, she managed to calm her tangled thoughts and looked at Ming Yi, saying softly, "Divine Doctor, please take a look at your master. Let's diagnose everything here; I'm worried that this bump might have caused him to say something nonsensical." As she spoke, she innocently widened her eyes and looked up at Shen Muhan, even kindly pointing at her own head as a suggestion.
Speaking of looking up, Xia Muxin felt a bit annoyed. She was at least two heads shorter than this man and barely reached his shoulder. Standing in front of him made her feel small, and more importantly, it diminished her presence. Moreover, the way he looked at her always gave her an uncomfortable feeling.
Ming Yi was taken aback. His master hadn't shaved for several days, and his chin was covered in stubble. The harsh environment of the border had left them severely dehydrated and short on supplies. Coupled with his numerous injuries leading to excessive blood loss, he appeared strikingly handsome but had lost a significant amount of color; he looked much older than before. It was no wonder Miss Muxin thought so.
Shen Muhan looked at Xia Muxin with confusion. Had he offended this girl somehow?
"Master, let's clean the wounds first."
Seeing this, Ming Yi quickly brought over the medical kit and spoke in a pleading tone.
Shen Muhan withdrew his probing gaze and, in front of Xia Muxin, took off his thin white undershirt. Xia Muxin's face flushed red as she shot him an annoyed glare, muttering "pervert" under her breath before quickly running out.
*
A quarter of an hour later, Shen Muhan's wounds were re-bandaged. Ming Yi was about to throw away the blood-stained clothes when Shen Muhan called out to him. Ming Yi was puzzled; although the conditions on the battlefield were harsh, his master had always been a neat freak and usually discarded anything dirty. Moreover, these clothes were stained red with blood—could they even be cleaned?
Shen Muhan pulled out a biography from under the pillow and casually flipped through a few pages. Seeing Ming Yi's puzzled expression, he cleared his throat lightly with his fist against his mouth and said, "She doesn't like waste."
Ming Yi's mind went blank for a moment as he stared in disbelief. His master had gone to the border to secretly investigate the matter of Fake Salt but had encountered chaos there instead. Young Master Mu Qing had led a small team of elite soldiers to quell the unrest but fell into an enemy trap and was ambushed on the way. Knowing this, his master had gone alone to the enemy camp without waiting for other brothers to regroup, engaging in a battle of wits and courage for three days before finally rescuing Young Master Mu Qing.
During those three days and nights, his master neither ate nor slept. When the Brothers arrived, he emerged from the burning enemy camp covered in blood while half-carrying the unconscious Young Master Mu Qing. After settling Young Master Mu Qing down with basic bandaging, he disregarded the brothers' advice and hurried back on horseback, eager to see Miss Muxin first.
Upon learning that she had gone to Fushou Tower, he turned around to follow her there. When he found out that Miss Muxin's mother was injured, he rushed to Fushou Tower to report to his master. At that time, his master's face was as dark as if he wanted to kill someone. He took Ming Yi with him to Sister Tang's place to gather some precious medicinal herbs before sending Ming Yi back to Daimiao Mountain with a horse cart. On the way back, they encountered Miss Muxin riding through the rain at full speed.
The rain was pouring down heavily, making visibility nearly impossible. If Miss Muxin's horse collided with their cart, the consequences would be dire. Yet without regard for his own safety, Shen Muhan leaped out of the cart at once and caught the unconscious Miss Muxin while falling heavily onto the muddy road below. His numerous wounds reopened from the impact as blood pooled in the muddy depression beneath him, leaving them all in shock and unsure of what to do next.
They moved the master and Miss Muxin into the carriage. The master only changed into clean clothes and tended to his wounds briefly. Upon arriving at Miss Muxin's home, he immediately began treating Aunt Xia. Throughout the journey, while changing clothes and cleaning his wounds, the carriage continued to jolt along. He frowned and gritted his teeth in pain several times, while they could only watch anxiously.
Ming Yi couldn't understand why a man like the master, who could have any woman he wanted, wouldn't simply bring Miss Muxin back to the capital. Doing so would not only allow her to live a good life but also avoid unnecessary disasters.
After some thought, he couldn't help but speak up, "Master, since you have feelings for Miss Muxin, why not bring her back to the capital?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Muhan's lips curled into a charming smile as he placed the book on the bed. His gaze drifted through the door towards the distance. "I won't bring her back yet because I want to wait until she grows up. Once she can handle the wolves and tigers of the capital, I will naturally bring her over."
Ming Yi understood; this was merely to protect her. The master was being considerate. Miss Muxin was still just a child, and the pressure at home was already enough for her to bear. If those people in the capital found out that the master had taken an interest in a country girl, it would surely cause chaos. Miss Muxin's family would never have peace again. He could only hope that Miss Muxin would understand the master's good intentions.
"Are you done yet?"
Xia Muxin felt a bit dizzy; after all, she had stormed out earlier in anger when Shen Muhan had undressed in front of her. His injuries were indeed serious; although they had been treated with medicine, blood was seeping through the bandages. Just looking at him made her feel pain. She felt guilty for causing him to fall earlier because of her. Initially, she hadn't planned to make dinner, but now she felt compelled to do so.
Thinking that enough time had passed, she stood outside and called out.
"All set, Miss Muxin. You can come in now."
Ming Yi was the first to react; he turned to glance at Xia Muxin and respectfully said before quietly stepping out of the room.
Xia Muxin nodded slightly at him before entering.
She first glanced at the person on the bed; he had changed clothes but still wore a thin white shirt. His arms were wrapped in gauze, and it was clear from beneath that shirt that other injured areas were also bandaged.
"Um... don't wrap the gauze too thickly; it's hot outside and it might get inflamed. Also, change the medicine regularly and avoid cold water," she hesitated for a moment before reminding him.
Upon hearing this, Shen Muhan's eyes lit up as he stared intently at her.
Xia Muxin felt a shiver run down her spine under his gaze. Remembering what she needed to do, she added, "Um... could you please step outside? I need to cook and I'm afraid the smoke will bother you."
Upon hearing this, Shen Muhan smiled, his eyes sparkling like the brightest stars in the night sky, and it was a smile filled with gentle warmth. In an instant, he said, "It's nothing, I've long gotten used to it."
What???
Xia Muxin was speechless. He was clearly someone from a noble family, tall and perfectly built, exuding an air of elegance with every gesture. Yet here he was saying such things to her; could she really believe him?
However, she didn't want to complicate matters. After all, he was her benefactor, and she had already caused him trouble—first by bumping into him and then by making him fall and aggravate his injury. Setting aside everything else, she felt it was only right to show basic hospitality. In this remote area, the best way to repay him was to ensure he had enough to eat.
Since he wasn't leaving, she couldn't just force him out.
After some thought, she walked over to the stove and picked up some dry twigs to start a fire.
Perhaps it was because of the rain yesterday; since waking up, she had been sweating coldly and feeling hot and cold intermittently. At that moment, she felt dizzy and despite several attempts, the fire wouldn't catch. Suddenly, a large hand reached over, gently taking the fire starter from her hand while grabbing a handful of dry twigs. He glanced at her and said, "Let me do it!"
Xia Muxin stared at him for a moment, feeling as if she were in a dream. After a while, she realized he was holding her hand along with the fire starter. Her face flushed slightly as she softly said thank you, withdrew her hand, and turned to wash the rice.
Shen Muhan watched her blushing face, his lips curling into a charming smile once more.
With two big men around, she ended up washing two portions of rice—large portions at that. If cooked properly, it would fill a bamboo tube enough for a strong man.
After washing the rice, she began cleaning the pot, pouring in clean water before placing the bamboo tube inside to cook.
During this time, she would often bring back fresh pork ribs or marrow from Town. Just two days ago, she had leftover marrow that had been scalded with hot water when she returned late the previous night; it was still quite fresh. She cut some lean meat and a few slices of ginger to add in and washed some fresh mushrooms as well. Once the rice was cooked, she'd boil the marrow in the pot with ginger for flavor.
There were also dried Pipi vegetables at home; she took some out to soak in water and retrieved a two-pound dried fish from the barrel. Armed with a knife and bowl, she went outside to prepare the fish.
From the moment she started washing the rice, Shen Muhan's gaze never left her. He watched her skilled movements and focused demeanor with each passing moment, feeling a surge of emotions within him. At the same time, he felt a pang of sympathy for her and wanted to know how she had managed all these years on her own.
Last time he hadn’t found an opportunity to get close to her; he hadn’t realized how poor her family was or that so many injured people relied solely on her for support.
He was a soldier who had faced even harsher environments, living and dying alongside his brothers, tasting blood on the edge of a blade. Even when he went days without a grain of rice, he never felt much hardship. But seeing her, so small yet strong, made his heart tremble with pain.
Xia Muxin skinned the fish and noticed Ming Yi standing at one end, watching the ants move their home. Feeling a bit shy, she spoke up, "Um..."
"Just call him Ming Yi," came Shen Muhan's low voice from behind her.
Before she could finish her sentence, Ming Yi straightened up, looking at Xia Muxin with a humble expression, as if waiting for her command.
Xia Muxin smiled at him and said, "Could you please help me kill that wild chicken?"
Following her point direction, Ming Yi saw a three-pound wild chicken squatting in the corner of the eaves along with a plump rabbit. He readily replied, "Sure!"
With that, he took several big steps forward, grabbed the wild chicken, and took the knife from Xia Muxin's hand before stepping aside.
Xia Muxin also entered the house with the skinned fish and a bowl of fish entrails.
As soon as she stepped inside, she couldn't help but burst into laughter.
The room was filled with thick smoke mixed with steam from cooking; everything was hazy. If it weren't for the choking sensation, she would have thought she had walked into the foggy morning of Daimiao Mountain.
"This fire is burning well; how can there be so much smoke!"
At that moment, Shen Muhan was squatting in front of the stove, fanning his face with his palm while blowing into the stove. He occasionally looked up at the thick smoke filling the room, frowning in helplessness as he said.
Xia Muxin suppressed her laughter, set down what she was holding, and walked over. She picked up a long stick and poked at the fire in the stove. Instantly, not only did the flames flare up, but the smoke also decreased significantly.
Turning around, she saw Shen Muhan stretching his neck to peek into the stove like a curious child. When he noticed Xia Muxin looking back at him, his gaze became slightly awkward. He grabbed some firewood to add to the stove but was stopped by Xia Muxin.
"Adding more firewood will just fill it up; it will create even more smoke later. If there’s no space, even if you add more wood, the temperature won't rise. The rice may cook but won’t have that fragrant aroma."
Shen Muhan was bewildered; how was he supposed to know that making a fire had so many intricacies? Just as he was about to change the subject, Xia Muxin smiled and used her sleeve to wipe his face.
"Well, it's still too dark. Just wash it off with water later."
Perhaps it was because he had just leaned down to blow on the fire, causing some wood ash to fly up and land on his face. What had started as just a small speck now spread across his otherwise handsome features, creating a striking contrast of dark and light. Xia Muxin realized she had made a mistake and struggled to suppress her laughter. She withdrew her hand, shook her shoulders, and said something before getting up to busy herself with other tasks.
Shen Muhan didn't mind; although he had experienced many things, he had never squatted by a stove to make a fire. He had no idea how amusing his face looked at that moment. Seeing Xia Muxin get up, he also reached up to wipe his own face before returning to the task of stoking the fire.
At that moment, Ming Yi came in carrying a freshly killed wild chicken. Xia Muxin took a small wooden bucket over; it contained hot water left over from cooking rice. Fortunately, the weather was warm, so it wouldn't cool down quickly. She placed the wild chicken into the bucket to scald it.
"Miss Muxin, let me handle this. You go do something else."
Seeing her roll up her sleeves to pluck the chicken feathers, Ming Yi quickly took the bucket from her and suggested.
This was something he was good at. They often camped outside and would hunt game meat to satisfy their hunger. He usually took care of the killing, cleaning, and plucking of feathers. As for his medical knowledge, that came from years of learning under Sister Tang, as the master and mistress wanted him to avoid injuries while out in the wild. However, he only learned the basics while the master became quite skilled; it was somewhat embarrassing for him.
"Alright, then I’ll leave it to you!"
Xia Muxin wiped the sweat from her forehead and accepted Ming Yi's kindness without refusal. Once she saw him take the bucket outside, she returned to the stove. Noticing that the marrow was nearly done cooking, she added in some mushrooms she had prepared earlier and covered the pot to continue simmering.
While waiting for it to cook, she stepped outside to gather some perilla leaves. Wild perilla grew abundantly at their doorstep; in previous years, they had let it grow wild, but now it proved useful.
In just a moment, the room filled with a rich mushroom aroma. After washing the perilla leaves, Xia Muxin used a large basin to ladle out the marrow soup. Thankfully, she had prepared all necessary household items beforehand; otherwise, there would have been nowhere to put the soup.
Next, she began preparing a fish soup. There was still a grass carp in the bucket weighing over three pounds, but since fish helped wounds heal better, she chose to use mackerel instead. She soaked sour chili peppers and green beans in vinegar but discarded them since sourness could cause scarring on wounds. Instead, she simply sautéed the mackerel in hot oil for a bit before adding water. During this time, she chopped some large ginger pieces and added them when the fish was almost cooked along with some perilla leaves.
Adding perilla leaves wouldn’t affect the injured person negatively; however, if she drank a bowl of steaming fish soup and broke into a sweat, it would help dispel any chill from being caught in the rain—perhaps even alleviating her dizziness. After all, perilla leaves were known for detoxifying and promoting sweating; adding an egg could also serve as a remedy for colds.
As for wild vegetables, she stir-fried them but added one sour chili pepper during cooking; otherwise, it would be too bland and likely unsatisfying to eat.
She finally took out some Sour Pickled Beans and chopped up the wild chicken's offal. This would be the only dish to accompany the rice today: Stir-fried Chicken Offal with Sour Pickled Beans.
After preparing everything, she had Ming Yi go pick three Lotus Leaves. The Daimiao Mountain was picturesque, and there was a Lotus Root Pond nearby, but it seemed that people in this era didn't eat Lotus Roots; they only admired the flowers. However, the pond was too deep, and she wasn't confident she could dig up any Lotus Roots.
While Ming Yi was off gathering the Lotus Leaves, she used the ingredients to marinate the wild chicken. It took Ming Yi half a stick of incense to return. Xia Muxin took the fresh Lotus Leaves and briefly blanched them in the pot of boiling water. Then she wrapped the wild chicken in the Lotus Leaves, covered it with a thick layer of mud outside, and set it on a rack at the door to roast.
Once the mud was heated through, the chicken would be cooked.
Seeing Xia Muxin starting to set the table for dinner, Ming Yi hurried over to help but was gently turned down by Xia Muxin, who held back a laugh and said, "Um... Brother Ming Yi, you might want to help your master clean his face first."
At her words, Ming Yi, holding a handful of chopsticks, froze. Turning around, he saw his master looking over. With just one glance, Ming Yi quickly dropped the chopsticks and took several deep breaths to calm himself before rushing to the carriage to fetch a clean towel.
Shen Muhan was quite perceptive. Connecting Xia Muxin's strange expression from earlier—trying not to laugh—he immediately understood what was going on. He walked a few steps to a wooden bucket filled with water and scooped some into a smaller bucket with a ladle. After some effort, he carried it outside and set it down in a well-lit area. Waiting for a moment until the water settled, he looked down.
Upon seeing it, his gaze darkened. When he looked up again, a smile reminiscent of a Gray Wolf appeared on his face. "Xia Muxin, come here!"
Being called out left Muxin feeling perplexed and slightly anxious. She wondered if this man was really that petty; it was just dirt on his face—why look at her with such an unkind smile?
Nevertheless, she set aside what she was doing and walked over. Shen Muhan reached out to Ming Yi, who understood immediately and respectfully handed over the towel before instinctively going to set the table.
"Help me wash my face!" Shen Muhan took the towel and placed it in Xia Muxin's hands while half-squatting down and gently raising his chin as he spoke softly.
Xia Muxin tightly grasped the towel; it seemed to carry a faint herbal scent. She had noticed that same refreshing aroma while cooking earlier; she liked it very much.
"Can't Brother Ming Yi help you wash?" Washing his face might seem trivial, but this was ancient times; if neighbors saw this and it got out, her reputation would be ruined. Of course, she didn't care about such so-called reputation; what mattered were her family's thoughts.
"Ming Yi is a man."
"......" I'm still a woman! Don't you know men and women shouldn't have such close interactions?
Xia Muxin gritted her teeth in frustration; this man was clearly making things difficult for her. With a swift motion, she rolled up her sleeves and threw the towel forcefully into the wooden bucket. Then, bending down, she soaked the towel and wrung it out, using all her strength to wipe his face. His complexion, which was neither dark nor pale, turned bright red from her vigorous scrubbing.
"Come on, put a little more strength into it. If I end up with a scar, I'll hold you responsible. Since you can't find a wife anyway, you might as well settle for me early," Shen Muhan teased.
It was impossible for him not to feel pain from her vigorous rubbing, yet he felt oddly pleased. In all his life, no woman had ever dared to treat him this way. Her stubborn and unyielding nature was exactly to his taste. In a good mood, he naturally spoke more directly.
Uh...
Xia Muxin paused for a moment, letting the towel drop into the bucket with a splash. She stood on tiptoe and looked at Shen Muhan for a while before slowly saying, "All done, Uncle. Your complexion doesn't look too good. How about we send Brother Ming Yi to Town to buy you some makeup?" After saying that, she slipped away into the house.
Ming Yi, who was setting the chopsticks at the table, trembled slightly as several chopsticks fell to the ground with a clatter. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself and looked down to see Xia Muxin had already picked them up, washed them clean, and placed them back on the table.
Meanwhile, Shen Muhan walked in with a lighthearted demeanor and sat down at the table as if he were at home.
Summer Forest had been on edge since Aunt Xia's incident and had been keeping a close watch on her ever since. Both his older brother and Songzi had been injured to varying degrees. It wasn't until all the dishes were served that Xia Muxin called them over. As for her father, who claimed he wasn't hungry and didn't want to eat, Xia Muxin simply brought the food to him so that he could stay close to her while still having something to eat.
This wasn't a battlefield or a camp; Ming Yi didn't dare sit at the same table as Shen Muhan. However, due to Xia Muxin's family's warm hospitality and Shen Muhan's subtle eye signals, he reluctantly took a seat at the table.
Xia Muxin served a bowl of fish soup in front of Shen Muhan and reminded him, "This fish soup is fresh and light; it's very beneficial for your recovery. You should drink more."
Hearing this, Ming Yi hesitated with his chopsticks poised above the bowl. The soup contained only a few slices of ginger and some leaves; there was no visible oil at all. It truly was different from the salty broth he was used to.
However, Shen Muhan showed no hesitation. He picked up the bowl, smiled gently at Xia Muxin, and drank the soup down in one go.
After finishing it, he felt unsatisfied; after all, he had watched her prepare it. Although it was merely boiled in water, he hadn't expected it to taste so good.
Even the best chefs at home couldn't produce such delicious flavors with top-quality ingredients.
Of course, he didn't know that while cooking, Xia Muxin focused on purity—the original flavor of the ingredients was always the best taste. Just like this fish soup made from dried fish; in modern times, it would be one of the best-selling soups for promoting wound recovery right outside hospitals.
Xia Muxin also drank a bowl of fish soup, instantly feeling much more relaxed. At the same time, she tore off a chicken leg for Songzi and reminded Xia Tieshu to drink more marrow soup. She had been making soup frequently lately, almost becoming an expert at it. Xia Tieshu understood that she did all this for his leg and the baby in their mother's belly, claiming that bones could help with calcium. So, every time, he would drink two large bowls of bone soup.
"Sister, how did you make this chicken? It smells so good and tastes amazing," Songzi exclaimed, his mouth covered in grease. With each bite, he sighed in delight and finally couldn't help but ask.
Xia Muxin didn't explain much; she simply patted his head and said indulgently, "If you like it, I'll make it for you often."
After dinner, it was already dark outside, and the wind and rain began to rage again. Fortunately, she had asked her brother to repair the Thatched Cottage earlier, so they weren't living in a pond. Xia Muxin lit an oil lamp. With two more men in the house, she felt a bit uneasy; even taking a bath became inconvenient. In the end, she carried a bucket to the back door and quickly washed up. Since she had changed clothes after getting caught in the rain during the day, she didn't feel uncomfortable not washing thoroughly at that moment.
After finishing everything, she went to check on her mother and found Er Dan Ge there as well, bringing a few fresh eggs. They exchanged a few casual words before Er Dan Ge left.
Shen Muhan was still sleeping on his newly built wooden bed, with blankets and such taken from the carriage. Ming Yi had moved into the carriage; he had initially wanted his master to sleep there, but since Shen Muhan refused, he reluctantly took the spot himself.
Their parents shared one room while Songzi and his brother slept in a makeshift room behind the Thatched Cottage. Xia Muxin had a room to herself; after closing the door and making her bed, she felt exhausted and heavy-headed but couldn't fall asleep.
In the end, she childishly started counting sheep until she dozed off.
The next day, she woke up a bit late. Her head still felt somewhat dizzy but was noticeably better than yesterday.
After getting dressed and ready, she stepped outside to find Ming Yi sweeping the yard with a broken broom. Xia Muxin hurried over to offer to help him but was refused by Ming Yi.
"Miss Muxin, we are eating and staying here; it's only right that we do these chores," he insisted.
Xia Muxin knew this must have been ordered by Shen Muhan; if she insisted on helping, it would only cause trouble for Ming Yi. She smiled at him lightly before running off to check on the vegetables they had planted just a few days ago.
Due to yesterday's heavy rain, the sprouting Amaranth was now buried under mud, with only a few tender green shoots peeking out weakly as if struggling against fate. Xia Muxin felt some regret but reminded herself that having something was better than nothing. Natural disasters were unavoidable. As for the String Beans, they seemed fine; once the weather cleared up and the soil dried out, she could clean them up a bit.
With yesterday's rain on her mind, she thought about the Golden Python and decided to prepare breakfast early since everyone else was still asleep.
"Brother Ming Yi, when will my mother wake up?"
At the same time, she couldn't help but worry about her mother and decided to ask Ming Yi.
Ming Yi felt a bit awkward. He had only learned the basics; the real expert was still their master. Yesterday, he had followed his master's instructions step by step. If it weren't for his master's injury, he would have taken matters into his own hands.
"Miss Muxin, don't worry. She will wake up in a day or two. Due to the excessive blood loss, her body is quite weak, so it's normal for her to sleep longer."
"Alright, then I'll trouble you during these days."
Upon hearing this, Xia Muxin sighed in relief and politely thanked him before entering the room.
Shen Muhan was already awake and was sitting at the head of the bed, flipping through yesterday's biography.
"Uncle, you're holding the book upside down. Can you really read?"
As soon as Xia Muxin entered, she saw Shen Muhan seriously looking at the biography, but he was holding it upside down. Xia Muxin was still simmering with anger from the incident of washing her face yesterday and wouldn't miss the chance to tease him.
Shen Muhan remained calm. Without changing his expression, he placed the book on the bed and said in a low voice, "I always read like this; it helps cultivate reading speed and improve memory." He then picked up a nearby teacup to sip tea.
Xia Muxin couldn't help but smile and replied leisurely, "Indeed, Uncle is quite special. I hope I won't see you walking on your head tomorrow morning."
Chuckle...
This girl truly had a maddening potential.
Wait, how did she know that he was holding the book upside down?
Logically speaking, she shouldn't be able to read...
During his moment of confusion, Xia Muxin poured a jar of oil into a small wooden barrel and carried it outside.
"Hey, sis, what are you doing? Why did you pour the oil into the barrel?"
Songzi had just gotten up after visiting the restroom. He went to the riverbank to wash his hands and was about to enter the house when he saw Xia Muxin carrying half a barrel of oil. Curiosity got the better of him, and he asked.
Xia Muxin glanced at him and noticed that the swelling on his face had gone down considerably. She sighed in relief and replied, "It's nothing. How is brother doing?"
Yesterday, she had been so confused that she hadn't inquired about Xia Tieshu's injury. Now, thinking back on it made her feel a bit guilty, especially since he still hadn't gotten up, which worried her.
"Don't worry, sis. Brother is fine; he's been bundling firewood for quite a while now!"
Uh...
Xia Muxin gave Songzi an awkward smile, set down the wooden barrel, and ran to the back of the Thatched Cottage. Sure enough, she found Xia Tieshu tying up some bundles.
"Muxin, you've worked hard. You've been busy taking care of everything while also considering brother's feelings. Look, he's doing well."
Xia Tieshu had intended to lean on his cane to get some water but stopped when he saw her arguing with Shen Muhan. He had heard their conversation clearly. After returning to sit down and continue bundling firewood, he noticed Xia Muxin standing behind him, staring silently for a while. Being straightforward by nature, he couldn't hide his feelings, especially from his younger sister. The events of yesterday had frightened the whole family; she was only twelve years old yet had to bear so much burden. He felt guilty instead.
Xia Tieshu was always attentive but not good at expressing himself. When he said this, Xia Muxin found herself at a loss for words. She stepped forward, wrapped her arms around Xia Tieshu gently, and said softly, "I'm glad you're okay!"
After saying that, she turned around and got busy again.
Breakfast was simple; Xia Muxin made scallion buns and pan-fried meat pancakes, along with leftover marrow soup from last night. Though simple, it satisfied everyone.
After two hearty meals, Ming Yi was thoroughly impressed by Muxin's cooking skills; even palace chefs couldn't compare!
After breakfast, Ming Yi repaired the cart and headed to town to fetch medicine for Shen Muhan. Upon learning this, Xia Muxin asked him to get some medicine for their family as well and gave him eighty taels out of the one hundred taels they earned yesterday. Ming Yi refused to accept it at first, but in the end, Shen Muhan spoke up. He explained that during this time, Xia Muxin was responsible for their food and lodging, and they would pay her accordingly later on; thus, they would settle the medicine expenses later as well.
Xia Muxin accepted his suggestion. After all, she had many places where she needed money right now. In a few days, she had to go to Dayao Village to purchase Fava Beans. Once she saved enough money, she planned to buy a larger piece of land and build a house before the winter snow arrived. However, the most important thing at the moment was to reclaim her family's grain.
With these thoughts in mind, she felt invigorated. She washed the dishes, grabbed the oil, and took a fire starter as she headed towards the Wang family.
Shen Muhan had only gone to change his clothes in the back and when he came out, he did not see Xia Muxin's shadow. After looking around outside and still not finding her, he assumed she had gone to Aunt Xia's room.
“Muxin, is this medicine brewed with three bowls of water into one bowl?”
At that moment, Summer Forest brought out the prenatal medicine. In the past, Aunt Xia would brew the medicine herself, or Xia Muxin would help her. Although he generally knew how it was done, he still felt uneasy and wanted to clarify.
“Uncle Xia, isn’t Muxin in Aunt’s room?”
Seeing Summer Forest call out like that made Shen Muhan's heart skip a beat, and he asked in a calm voice.
Shen Muhan was a benefactor of the Xia Family, and given his status, Summer Forest treated him with great respect. After a moment of hesitation, he replied, “No, I haven’t seen her since she finished eating.”
“Songzi!” Upon hearing this, Shen Muhan called out loudly into the house.
Songzi immediately appeared, staring blankly at his father and the handsome Big Brother with a puzzled expression.
“Have you seen your sister?” Shen Muhan had already guessed what Xia Muxin was up to but couldn’t help but ask.
“Sister... I just saw her pouring oil into the wooden barrel. She must be preparing to make Orchid Beans!” Songzi didn’t find it strange; as long as their mother and the siblings in her belly were fine, they were also doing well. His sister was surely thinking about how to earn money.
Upon hearing this, Shen Muhan inwardly cursed and said to Summer Forest and Songzi, “Uncle, Songzi, you both stay at home and don’t go anywhere.” After saying that, he put on a black long coat and walked out directly.
At the Wang family’s place, chaos reigned at that moment.
Meng Family stood with hands on hips, reprimanding Liu Mazi and others who were bowing and nodding in response:
"I say, are you all a bunch of pigs? Did you grow up eating grass? With so many of you, how can you not keep an eye on a single horse? That horse is worth several dozen taels. You all, even a year of hard work wouldn't make up for this loss. Hurry up and bring it back to me, even if I have to burn down the Xia Family's Thatched Cottage to do it."
She had only gone to discuss a business deal, and when she returned home, her best horse was gone. They said it had been forcibly ridden away by that dead girl, Xia Muxin.
"Mother, please don't get so worked up. That wretched girl won't be able to bounce around for long. With her mother missing, given her fiery temper, she’ll probably come knocking on your door for a scolding."
Zhou Qinglian set down the lotus seed porridge beside the Meng Family's Tea Table and gently helped Meng Family calm down while exhaling softly in comfort.
"When that wretched girl comes back, just wait and see if I don’t break her legs, just like her useless brother who can't go out or marry anyone. Let’s see if she dares to act so smug then."
For days now, she had been infuriated by Xia Muxin's antics. Moreover, she had heard from Tang Sanwan that Xia Muxin often went to town and returned each time with a lot of goods and various medicines. She was puzzled about how Xia Muxin was making money. Besides, in Daimiao Mountain, that money should be earned by the Wang family; she wouldn’t allow anyone else to encroach on her financial territory.
"Oh dear, this is serious! Madam Wang, Lord Wang, that Xia Muxin seems to have hit the jackpot; she actually brought a man back with her! And he arrived in a carriage! I heard he can even practice medicine. Aunt Xia is not dead, and the baby in her belly is fine too."
Tang Sanwan had stayed at Zhou Yousheng's house until late last night and had been inquiring about Xia Muxin's family situation. During dinner, she saw a man coming in and out of their house; he was quite handsome too. This morning, she saw him leaving in a carriage. Last night, Er Dan had gone to the Xia Family, so she went to investigate. However, Er Dan pointed at her nose and scolded her for being one of those bad people who were harming Uncle Xia's family, saying things like Aunt Xia was doing well and the children were fine. So early this morning, she couldn’t hold back her anger and rushed over to report.
"What did you say?"
Meng Family glared with lifeless eyes, grabbing Tang Sanwan by the collar with gritted teeth, almost squeezing out a few words through clenched jaws.
- End of Chapter -
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