“Woof woof woof~”
“I’m back.”
Xu Yi pushed open the wooden door. Little Huang, who had been guarding the house for half the day, joyfully bounded over. Compared to when they first met, Little Huang had grown a full size larger now. His fur was smooth to the touch, and he had grown quite a bit.
Little Huang’s changes weren’t limited to just his physique; his eyes had changed too. His amber-like eyes had become increasingly bright and orange, reflecting Xu Yi’s bending figure.
He unwrapped the oil paper package that was still warm: “Been waiting anxiously, haven’t you? I brought you roasted meat. Eat slowly… why are you looking at me like that? I’m not going to eat yours.”
After playing with Little Huang for a while, he went inside the house and placed the medicinal herbs on the cleared tabletop, then turned and went to the kitchen to boil water.
Since coming here, he had only drunk boiled water. Even the water in Little Huang’s drinking bowl was boiled.
After the water was boiled and poured into a ceramic jar, Xu Yi prepared to make dinner.
He washed rice and millet together, using a ceramic jar to cook the rice. When it was eighty percent done, he could place the washed and cut cured meat slices on top to steam. Once the fragrance of the cured meat emerged, he could season it.
He drizzled two circles of soy sauce over it, then cracked an egg into the center. Watching the egg white gradually become white and firm, Xu Yi tossed a handful of vegetables on top and dissolved a small spoonful of coarse salt in hot water, pouring it over the steamed vegetables.
Before long, this cured meat rice was ready. Xu Yi extinguished the fire and brought out the ceramic jar.
This cured meat rice was one of only two dishes Xu Yi could present with any competence. Compared to other dishes, the steps were simple and easy to manage, and it wouldn’t turn out terribly bad. It just couldn’t be eaten too often.
As the sky gradually darkened, Xu Yi lit the oil lamp.
Rice cooked in a ceramic jar had a layer of golden-brown crust at the bottom. When eaten hot, it was crispy and chewy, tasting even better than soft cooked rice.
It was just a bit hard on the teeth.
After finishing his meal, Xu Yi didn’t rush to rest. He’d bought back quite a lot of medicinal herbs. He returned to his room to first soak the herbs that needed soaking, and those that needed processing were no exception.
Soon, a strong vinegar scent permeated the room.
Xu Yi frowned slightly, thinking to use a handkerchief to make a temporary mask. He reached into his sleeve but came up empty.
Tsk, nothing there.
Xu Yi blinked, remembering he’d given his handkerchief to the child during the day.
Without a handkerchief, Xu Yi could only endure it temporarily. After finishing pouring the vinegar, he immediately covered it with the ceramic lid.
In the room was a water clock for keeping time. The Xu family’s water clock was made of wood, with a small hole drilled in the bottom of the pot. Below the hole was a container for collecting water. When all the water had dripped through, twelve shichen would have passed. Those using the water clock calculated the corresponding time by utilizing the water flow through the hole opening and the resulting changes in water level inside the pot.
Xu Yi observed for a while. Seeing that the time was about right, he fished out the herbs soaking in vinegar and drained them.
Having done all this, it was getting late.
Xu Yi carried water into his room and closed the door, about to undress and wash up, when he suddenly heard a groan like that of a ghost.
Xu Yi’s hand paused as he was undoing his buttons: “……”
He listened carefully and discovered this sound was coming through the wall from next door. Thinking it over, Xu Yi knew who was making this sound.
It was Accountant Chen’s family on the other side of the wall.
Hearing these intermittent groans of pain, it seemed Accountant Chen’s illness hadn’t improved yet. He didn’t know how Doctor Chen had diagnosed it or what prescription he’d written. He’d gone out quite early during the day and returned late at night, so he hadn’t smelled any medicine being brewed next door.
What he didn’t know was that next door, Accountant Chen was currently very resentful of Madam Chen.
He’d originally thought that after being scolded by his wife, if he went to that young Xu to get a prescription, his illness would be cured and he wouldn’t have to continue suffering like this.
Who would have thought that Madam Chen would go once and return empty-handed, telling him that young Xu had refused.
Accountant Chen’s expression immediately changed: “Did you say something offensive? Weren’t you the one who said that youngster was better than Doctor Sun and insisted on going to call him? How is it you couldn’t get him to come? That youngster is arrogant and prideful, definitely unwilling to come see me. I said not to let him look at me, but you insisted on going to invite him. Now you’ve been sent back, haven’t you? You woman, you only know how to embarrass me!”
Madam Chen was furious hearing this and shouted at him: “I embarrassed you? Chen Erwang, listen to yourself. Is that something a conscientious person would say? If it weren’t for me rushing about serving you, do you think you’d still have the strength to scold me?”
Accountant Chen shrank his shoulders, both intimidated yet indignant: “Then tell me what I should do now. Aiyo, I, I don’t want to die yet.”
“You won’t die!” Madam Chen glared at him. Her peach blossom eyes that were usually full of charm now only showed gritted teeth. “I’ll go invite Doctor Chen for you.”
“……” Accountant Chen fell silent.
He pursed his lips and muttered quietly: “Doctor Chen’s consultation fee is so expensive……”
Madam Chen clutched her chest, gasping for breath, so angry she cursed: “Is money more important or is your life more important? Choose one! Anyway, if you die, I’ll take my dowry and remarry far away from your Chen family.”
Accountant Chen was too frightened to talk back anymore.
After that day, having drunk the prescription Doctor Chen prescribed for two days now, Accountant Chen felt his stomach was somewhat better, but he still wasn’t improving.
He couldn’t help but become suspicious again, doubting Doctor Chen’s ability. Otherwise, why hadn’t he recovered after drinking medicine for two days?
His eyes looked gloomily at Madam Chen sitting under the kerosene lamp sewing clothes. In his heart, he resentfully thought that if his wife hadn’t failed to get young Xu to come see him back then, would he still need to continue suffering like this?
“Why aren’t you sleeping yet?” Madam Chen found his burning gaze somewhat annoying. She put down her work and asked him.
Accountant Chen’s mouth twitched: “I’m uncomfortable. Can’t sleep.”
Madam Chen stared at his complexion. Compared to before, Chen Erwang’s color had improved somewhat these past two days. At the time, Doctor Chen had said it had been dragged out too long and they should have invited him over earlier.
She said unhurriedly: “You still need to drink medicine for another ten days.”
Accountant Chen was unhappy. If he continued lying down, his employer would dismiss him. How could they keep him on: “That won’t do. I’ve already been lying down for nearly ten days. If I don’t return to the teahouse, will there still be a position for me there?”
Madam Chen was momentarily speechless: “……”
Should she tell Chen Erwang that three days ago, an errand boy from the teahouse had come by to relay the employer’s message that Chen Erwang didn’t need to come anymore, along with bringing two strings of cash as severance pay?
Knowing this news couldn’t be hidden, Madam Chen stopped concealing it and told him word for word what the teahouse errand boy had said.
After hearing this, Chen Erwang’s face turned completely white.
He raised his trembling finger, his eyes wide with fury: “You… you woman, why didn’t you stop him? And why didn’t you tell me about this? Are you trying to harm me? The accountant position I worked so hard to get has been ruined by you.”
As he spoke, tears and snot ran down his face. His expression was both grief-stricken and resentful, as if the person before him wasn’t his wife but a mortal enemy.
Madam Chen was stunned by his unexpected reaction, eyes wide, somewhat unable to believe it.
But looking at Chen Erwang crying like an ugly clown, she knew he truly resented her now. It wasn’t just a momentary misperception on her part.
“You actually blame me?” Madam Chen bit her teeth and shouted back defiantly, “What right do you have to accuse me? The teahouse errand boy made it crystal clear. He was just there to relay a message. Do you think that by stopping him, you’d be able to return to the teahouse as their accountant? Let me tell you, Chen Erwang, if you were a man who could stand tall, you should get well, take gifts to the employer’s house, and beg for the grace to let you continue as accountant, instead of blaming me here.”
By the end, her tone gradually grew cold. Looking at him like this, what was the point of saying more?
Back then, Father must have been blind to arrange such a worrisome and exhausting marriage for her. In the end, it was her bad fortune to be matched with such a useless man who blamed his own wife.
……
The sounds of quarreling from next door came in waves.
The night dew was heavy, yet it couldn’t block out those unpleasant crying sounds. After a while, it seemed someone outside had opened a window to investigate, and then the crying sounds from next door died down.
Presumably, Accountant Chen also knew that crying so unpleasantly was shameful.
Xu Yi thought drowsily, turned over, and continued sleeping without any burden.
Back in the day, he could sleep sprawled out in his family’s medicine warehouse with people coming and going. This bit of noise couldn’t affect him.
……
The next day, as the morning sun rose, drum sounds rang out at the lane entrance.
The first thing Xu Yi did upon waking was practice the Five Animal Exercises and Thunderclap Tai Chi.
This body hadn’t yet formed the conditioned reflex. After completing one set of Five Animal Exercises, he’d only just warmed up.
Next, he threw punches forcefully. His fist strength was no longer soft. Bending his waist and lifting his legs, tiger pouncing, spreading his arms like wings… after finishing one set nimbly and powerfully, his back was already covered in sweat.
Xu Yi took a towel to wipe his forehead, then continued to diligently practice Thunderclap Tai Chi.
Practicing martial arts wasn’t something achieved overnight. To pick up his former skills, he needed to get up every morning and train on an empty stomach for an hour.
In earlier years, Xu Yi hadn’t thought about practicing martial arts and learning kung fu. It was originally that Father Xu had hired two masters to teach his older brother at home, and he found it interesting and learned along with them.
This learning lasted over ten years. In middle school, he’d even won first place in the provincial youth martial arts competition.
The reason he was so eager to pick up this Thunderclap Tai Chi was because, being in ancient times, given his nature, he would definitely travel around everywhere in the future. He couldn’t do without some martial arts skills for self-defense.