AFMUH Ch 146

Chapter 146 

 

If the family finds out about tonight’s events, considering their greed, they might peel away Xiaozhuang’s family’s skin.

 

Xiaozhuang was clever and understood immediately.

 

Without hesitation, he said, “Shiniang, let’s give him the medicine. After he wakes up, I’ll immediately take him back.”

 

Qingyan nodded.

 

Qiu Henian glanced at the door of the consultation room and whispered, “We must be cautious. After he returns tonight, if he keeps quiet, we’ll deal with things as they come. But if he betrays you, this relationship can’t proceed under any circumstances.”

 

Xiaozhuang looked serious, “I understand, Master.”

 

Thus, the decision was made. After boiling the medicine and giving it to him, as the old doctor had said, the person woke up in less than half an hour.

 

Xiaozhuang explained the situation to him. Without anyone urging him, he struggled to sit up.

 

Once Xiaozhuang left, the person changed back into the damp clothes he had taken off earlier. 

 

Then, holding the clothes he changed from, he walked up to Qingyan, bowed, and said, “I can’t wash and dry these properly now. I will repay you in the future.”

 

Qingyan held his arm, took the bundle of clothes, and said, “It’s nothing.” 

 

He paused and added, “Xiaozhuang is very kind. Don’t let him down.”

 

The person looked at Qingyan, determination showing on his thin face, “Rest assured, I won’t.”

 

With everything prepared, Xiaozhuang hurriedly walked towards that family with the person.

 

The carriage was too conspicuous, so Qiu Henian and Qingyan had agreed to wait for him at the village entrance.

 

The village wasn’t large, and Xiaozhuang arrived at the family’s door with the person shortly after.

 

It was pitch dark all around, with only faint moonlight illuminating the ground and rooftops.

 

Xiaozhuang looked at the person and whispered, “I can’t come early tomorrow morning. Otherwise, your father will suspect. Try to delay it as much as possible.”

 

The person nodded, then, before Xiaozhuang could react, he suddenly knelt down with a thud and kowtowed to him.

 

Xiaozhuang was stunned for a moment before rushing to help him up.

 

The person stubbornly kowtowed three times before getting up.

 

After rising, he looked at Xiaozhuang and said, “You saved my life. I will do anything you ask of me in the future.”

 

Xiaozhuang’s lips moved as if to say something, but the person suddenly leaned in unexpectedly and lightly brushed his lips against Xiaozhuang’s. 

 

It was a fleeting touch.

 

Xiaozhuang was dumbfounded. He felt a warmth on his lips, and the blister that had started to heal over the past few days was suddenly stung. 

 

Before he could comprehend what had happened, his wrist was grabbed, and the person was very close to him, saying, “I’ll bear as many children as you want, until I can’t anymore.”

 

After saying that, the person released Xiaozhuang’s wrist, skillfully reached through a gap in the fence, and used a small wooden stick to manipulate the latch inside the main gate.

 

He glanced at Xiaozhuang once more, then proceeded to open the gate.

 

Xiaozhuang was overwhelmed by the consecutive shocks. His brain was overloaded, and though he hadn’t fully processed everything yet, he remembered an important question he hadn’t asked the person.

 

He hurriedly spoke up, “Wait.”

 

The person turned to look at him.

 

Xiaozhuang asked, “What’s your name?”

 

The person replied, “Wu Shuang.”

 

After saying that, he quickly entered the gate and closed it as before.

 

Xiaozhuang repeated the name in his mind several times. After listening for any unusual sounds and hearing none, he left to meet up with his master and master’s wife at the village entrance.

 

…

 

The next morning, Wu Shuang’s head was pounding, and he felt cold all over. He knew he still had a fever, but he was used to discomfort. Even when he was sick before, he still had to work, and today was no exception.

 

After getting up, he went to the outer room to light a fire and cook. By the time it was almost done, his mother came out from the inner room, adjusting her hair bun.

 

Her eyes were swollen, indicating she had been crying again over their daughter who had been sent to the county last night. Originally, she had disagreed, but she didn’t dare defy her husband.

 

Seeing Wu Shuang, her gaze swept over the bloodstains on his neck, and she sneered, “Inauspicious thing, if you want to die, die outside, not in our house!”

 

Wu Shuang kept his eyes lowered and said nothing.

 

    The woman went to fetch bowls and chopsticks. There was a sound from the inner room, and her husband walked out.

 

Seeing the empty table, he walked up and slapped the woman, “You lazy thing, I feed you both for nothing, unlucky!”

 

As he spoke, he moved to kick Wu Shuang, who was squatting on the ground tending the fire. But then he suddenly remembered something and stopped. He said sharply, “After you finish eating, I’ll send you to the kiln. I’ve already arranged it with the madam there. You better behave properly when the time comes!”

 

Wu Shuang remained silent as usual, and the man didn’t care about his reaction.

 

During the meal, Wu Shuang’s bowl was returned to its place. The woman said, “Since you’re going to be sold, eat in the kiln from now on to save food at home.”

 

The man laughed heartily at the table.

 

Wu Shuang glanced at them and said, “Give me some time. I need to pack my things.”

 

His father narrowed his eyes, his face turning stern. “What things do you need to pack? You’re not allowed to take anything from this house. Just having clothes to wear is good enough. Don’t push your luck!”

 

Wu Shuang said nothing and lowered his head, returning to his own room.

 

After a while, they finished eating.

 

His father came over and knocked on the door. Wu Shuang patted the worn-out robe on his body and got up to open the door.

 

His father’s eyes glared. “Let’s go, don’t delay.”

 

Wu Shuang said, “I can’t leave yet.”

 

“Why can’t you leave?” His father’s eyebrows shot up. “How long do you plan to stay?”

 

Wu Shuang pointed under his bed, “I secretly buried some copper coins there. I need to dig them up.”

 

Upon hearing this, his father slapped him, then his face lit up with excitement. He turned and ran to the courtyard, bringing back a shovel and throwing it in front of Wu Shuang, saying, “Here, I’ll watch you dig. If you can’t find them, you’ll see!”

 

He stared at Wu Shuang as he held the shovel and dug one shovel at a time.

 

The pit grew larger and deeper, but there was nothing inside.

 

His father stood up, growing impatient. “Are you lying to me?”

 

Cold sweat ran down Wu Shuang’s back, but he remained calm. “They were left by my mother. They’ve been buried for many years and aren’t easy to find.”

 

His father sat back down on the stool, staring coldly at him.

 

Wu Shuang continued to dig.

 

After digging for a while longer, there was still nothing in the ground.

 

Wu Shuang heard the person behind him stand up again and approach. Then, he felt a sudden pain in his arm and was dragged outside.

 

His father cursed harshly as he dragged him out of the house. “Dare to trick me? I’ll send you away right now!”

 

Wu Shuang struggled desperately, but he was no match for the man at all. He was dragged all the way outside.

 

When he was dragged into the courtyard, he looked up at the sky. The sun was about to reach its zenith. His gaze dimmed, his body relaxed, and he lowered his head, no longer struggling.

 

Just then, there was a knock on the courtyard door. A voice familiar to him from outside asked, “Excuse me, is anyone home?”