Chapter 35

The next day, Tian Yao took the wild ginseng they’d found and went to town. Yu Nian had also been writing more frequently lately, so he needed to buy more paper and writing brushes. He also wanted to see if there were any job postings in town. Spring was here, and he needed to start thinking about earning money. Even with their twenty-five taels of silver, they had so many things they wanted to do this year and couldn’t just rely on that.

Treating Yu Nian’s legs, building the kang, and one more thing: Tian Yao’s private wish. He wanted to take Yu Nian back to Yuancang Prefecture to retrieve his parents’ remains and bring them here. But this was something he couldn’t tell Yu Nian yet. He wanted to treat his legs first. He thought that if his parents could see Yu Nian’s legs as they were now, they wouldn’t be able to rest easy in heaven.

Going to town alone meant he wouldn’t borrow the Village Chief’s ox cart. Tian Yao was a fast walker, and traveling light made him even quicker. He soon reached the town’s clinic.

From outside, he could hear the Old Physician inside, scolding his apprentices. Tian Yao shrank his neck, his heart trembling.

“How many times have I taught you? Are my words just going in one ear and out the other?”

Standing at the clinic door, Tian Yao marveled that such an old man could still speak with such a strong, vigorous voice.

The apprentices stood in place, heads hung low. Tian Yao could see their shoulders trembling.

After scolding them enough, the old man dismissed them to go do their work. He looked up and spotted Tian Yao at the door. “Oh! The little ‘ger’, you’ve come.”

Tian Yao stepped forward. “A few days ago, I found a wild ginseng on the mountain. My husband says its quality is decent.”

The old doctor stroked his beard and took the ginseng to examine it. “It is indeed not bad.”

Tian Yao beamed. “That’s good.”

Having said that, Tian Yao was about to leave, but the old man grabbed his basket strap and stopped him. “We haven’t settled on a price yet.”

Tian Yao quickly waved his hands. “Consider this a return gift for the handwritten notes you lent my husband last time. You told me before to bring you any good mountain goods.”

The old doctor paused, then tapped Tian Yao on the head. “Don’t be so honest in the future.”

Tian Yao grinned sheepishly. “Well, you gave my husband those notes.”

The old doctor didn’t let him leave immediately. He had an apprentice pour tea and they chatted for a while.

Tian Yao learned that the original physician of this clinic and the current one were good friends. The original physician had to travel far away for a period and asked his friend to look after the clinic. This old physician was from Yuancang Prefecture, named Zhou Hezhi. The townspeople just called him Old Zhou.

Hearing “Yuancang Prefecture,” Tian Yao’s attention sharpened. “Old Zhou, are you really from Yuancang Prefecture?”

Old Zhou stroked his beard. “My ancestral home is Yuancang. I lived in the Capital City for many years, and only returned to Yuancang in recent years. But I’m not fond of the local customs there, and with my old friend’s request, I ended up here.”

Tian Yao blinked. “Then… do you know about the matter of the Yu Family in Yuancang Prefecture back then?”

Old Zhou looked up, frowning. “I thought your husband looked familiar. So he is the young lord of the Yu Family of Yuancang.”

Eager to hear the story from someone else’s mouth, Tian Yao stared at him with wide, eager eyes.

“I generally don’t care to pry into such matters. I only heard that the Yu Family deceived the Emperor and misappropriated tribute. The Imperial Envoy acted very quickly, and the entire Yu Family was arrested and thrown in jail. However, because the Feng Family at the time stated that Young Lord Yu knew nothing of the matter, and since our dynasty’s laws do not implicate children, Young Lord Yu was spared.”

“After this incident, everyone in Yuancang Prefecture sang praises of the righteous Young Lord Feng, who had pleaded for Young Lord Yu. He was the talk of the town. Later, when people asked Young Lord Feng about Young Lord Yu’s whereabouts, he only said that Young Lord Yu had left that sorrowful place and was wandering aimlessly.”

“And then?”

“Later, Young Lord Feng reported that Young Lord Yu had died in some unknown place. The government office canceled his household registration, treating the man as if he no longer existed in this world.”

Tian Yao slammed his palm down onto the chair he was sitting on. The already flimsy chair broke apart with a crack, and he tumbled to the floor, his face still filled with righteous anger. “What ‘righteous’ crap! It was Yu Nian’s leg that he broke! He was the one who brought Yu Nian here! And to humiliate him, he made him marry into my family as a live-in son-in-law, because my reputation is the worst in the entire Yunxi Town! That’s why he sent Yu Nian to me!”

Old Zhou looked mournfully at his broken chair. “Well, wasn’t it a blessing in disguise? You got a husband, and Yu Nian found the will to live.”

Tian Yao stood up from the floor. “But what if it hadn’t been me that Yu Nian met? What if Yu Nian hadn’t survived the journey?”

Old Zhou clicked his tongue. “The hardest thing in the world to explain is ‘what if.’ Everything is for the best.”

Tian Yao was still upset. He couldn’t understand how such a wicked person could be left with such a good reputation.

“You broke my chair. I’ll let it slide this time, for the ginseng’s sake. Next time, you fix it before you leave!”

Tian Yao scratched his head. “I’m very sorry. I was just too angry.”

After his anger subsided, he asked, “Do you know… after the execution, what happened to the remains of Yu Nian’s parents?”

Old Zhou thought for a moment. He actually did know about this. “Generally, after such an execution, the bodies are wrapped in a straw mat and thrown into the Mass Grave. However, the bodies of the Yu Family couple… they were first tossed in the Mass Grave, but then someone retrieved them and placed them in the Charity Mortuary.”

Tian Yao’s eyes widened. “Who?”

“The Yu Family was known as a great charitable family in Yuancang Prefecture. They were always helping others. It was probably someone who had received their kindness, unwilling to let them lie exposed in the wilderness, who took them back.”

Tian Yao’s heart became even more resolved to take a trip to Yuancang Prefecture. At least his parents-in-law’s remains were still intact. Bringing them back here would let them rest in peace.

“However… a body can’t be preserved that long. They’re probably just two handfuls of ashes by now.”

Ashes were fine too, Tian Yao thought.

Then a thought occurred to him. “How do you know this?”

“At that time, in Yuancang, I met two people who came to buy medicine. They asked me how to preserve a body for a longer period. I asked a few more questions, and I learned of this matter.”

Tian Yao grabbed Old Zhou’s hand. “Thank you so much! When I go to bring my parents-in-law’s ashes back, I will definitely come and thank you formally again.”

His chest felt like it was filled with a ball of fire, desperate to be released. He bowed deeply to Old Zhou. “Truly, thank you very much.”

After that, he dashed out of the clinic without looking back. Under the astonished gazes of everyone, he ran into a dark alley and finally stopped, gasping for air. Thankfully, thankfully, it wasn’t too late.

After calming his emotions, he went to the bookshop. He still remembered to buy paper and brushes for Yu Nian, and when he recalled the book he’d bought last time, his face burned.

“Ah, the young Fulang is back to buy writing supplies,” the Shopkeeper of the bookshop had long since recognized Tian Yao and gave him a teasing smile.

Tian Yao felt his irritation rise. He put his hands on his hips! “Shopkeeper! Last time I said I wanted to buy a medical book, but what did you sell me?!”

The Shopkeeper remembered, too. “Didn’t I sell you the most popular book for relieving boredom these days? It’s the best-selling book at the moment.”

Tian Yao’s face was still red. “That book… it’s… it’s a forbidden book!”

The Shopkeeper laughed. “I wouldn’t dare carry the name of selling forbidden books. It’s just a book to pass the time and relieve boredom. Did your husband find it to his liking? If so, I have others.”

Tian Yao remembered that night’s events, and felt his face was hot enough to fry an egg. He randomly grabbed some brushes and paper and fled the bookshop. It took a while for the heat on his face to fade.

When he got home, Yu Nian had already made dinner.

Since the last time Tian Yao was injured, Yu Nian had become proficient in cooking. Now, even if Tian Yao went out, he wouldn’t go hungry.

“I bought some meat from Butcher Zhang. How would you like it cooked?”

Tian Yao looked at the piece of pork collar, marbled with fat and lean meat. He thought for a moment. “How about braising it with some pickled cabbage?”

Yu Nian nodded in agreement.

Tian Yao couldn’t make pickled cabbage himself. This vat of pickled cabbage was a favor he’d asked from the Village Chief’s wife. Yu Nian had developed a taste for the sour cabbage stewed with meat ever since having the New Year feast at the Village Chief’s house, so Tian Yao often made it for him.

The dish was set to stew on the stove. Tian Yao sat by the hearth, chin in his hands, looking at Yu Nian. His eyes were full of thoughts.

“What’s wrong? Why are you staring at me?”

Tian Yao wanted to tell him about his parents, but didn’t want to burden him with more worries. If he gave him hope and then disappointed him, it would be a terrible blow.

“You’re handsome,” Tian Yao smiled. “I really liked your face back then.”

Yu Nian remembered himself from that time—covered in bedsores, hair matted, not knowing how long it had been since he’d washed. He was probably reeking. It was rare for Tian Yao to have such a soft heart, to bring him home.

“When I brought you home, it was because seeing you was like seeing myself. I know what it feels like to lose both parents.” Tian Yao sniffled. “But once I got you cleaned up, I thought I’d hit the jackpot. How could there be such a good thing in this world, and it landed right on me?”

Yu Nian maneuvered his wheelchair over to him, lightly tapped his nose, and then, like a dragonfly skimming the water, kissed Tian Yao’s lips.

Little Gray had just returned from checking on his chickens and saw his two dads being affectionate. He shoved his head in too, insisting on joining, a happy family of three.

The locust flowers had bloomed. Tian Yao remembered his promise to Liu Zhi to pick him the first batch of locust flowers and elm coins. After Liu Zhi got pregnant, he hadn’t experienced any pregnancy sickness or aversion to food. His appetite was excellent, and he’d gotten quite round. It was only when Tian Yao brought Yu Nian to visit his house last time and saw how much weight he’d gained that Tian Yao told him it was best not to overeat during pregnancy. If the baby got too big, childbirth would be very risky.

His words frightened both Chen Xu and Liu Zhi. Only Mother Chen grumbled a bit, saying that if you didn’t eat well, how could the baby grow well?

Ignoring her objections, Liu Zhi started reducing his food intake little by little, and walked around the village every day. Sometimes Chen Xu accompanied him, sometimes Tian Yao walked with him.

“Yu Nian, let’s go pick locust flowers later.” Tian Yao tidied himself up and pushed Yu Nian out the door.

People were already out picking locust flowers. When they saw Tian Yao, they pointed him in a direction. “Yao Ge’er, there are still several trees over there that haven’t been picked. Go that way.”

Tian Yao thanked them and headed over with Yu Nian.

The locust trees in Huailing Village were many years old. The largest ones required several people to wrap their arms around them. Tian Yao often played here as a child, climbing up and down the trees with the other village kids.

He had Yu Nian sit to the side and tied a cloth sack around his waist before slowly climbing the tree. Yu Nian’s heart leaped to his throat. “Be careful.”

Holding the tree, Tian Yao gave him a brilliant smile. “It’s fine. I used to climb trees all the time as a kid.”

He was very fast in the tree, and deliberately left the lower flowers alone, climbing higher to pick from the top, so those who came later would still have some to pick.

Yu Nian didn’t truly relax until Tian Yao was standing steadily on the ground again.

“Do you want to go home first? I have to give half of these locust flowers to Liu Zhi.” Tian Yao asked him, “And I still need to go pick elm coins.”

The elm trees were a bit far from their home. He didn’t want Yu Nian to get too tired.

“I’ll go with you. I can check on his pregnancy for him.” Yu Nian, however, did not do as Tian Yao wanted and insisted on going with him.

Tian Yao froze. He had planned to get some advice from Liu Zhi. If Yu Nian went with him, he wouldn’t be able to get a word out!