Chapter 29

Seeing Yu Nian come out, the Village Chief asked, “How is Yao Ge’er?”

“The blade wound is somewhat severe. But the bleeding has stopped now. I’ll brew a dose of medicine for him shortly. Tomorrow, I’ll go to town and invite a physician to take another look.” Yu Nian glanced back toward the room with every word.

The Village Chief also knew their night had been terribly dangerous. They needed to rest properly now. “I’ll take these men back first and lock them up. Tomorrow, we’ll send them to the County Yamen. However, I fear they might have reinforcements still out there. If we all leave, you’ll still be in danger. So I’ll leave a few men here to stand guard.”

Yu Nian nodded. Nobody knew exactly how many more refugees were wandering about. Maybe these were just the scouts. If they didn’t return after a long time, more might come.

Tian Yao had fallen. Right now, Yu Nian was the head of this household. So after the Village Chief and the other men left with the captured refugees, Yu Nian went into the kitchen. First, he started brewing Tian Yao’s medicine. Then, using the large pot, he boiled a huge vat of ginger broth.

The rain tonight had been too heavy. Most of the villagers who had rushed to help were drenched through; they might contract a cold.

He had just finished brewing the medicine and was stepping out of the kitchen when Aunt Shun arrived, escorted by Tian Yusheng. Aunt Shun looked as if she had just been crying; her eyes were very red. “With just you alone in your household, caring for him is bound to have its inconveniences. I came to help you.”

Yu Nian nodded. “Thank you, Auntie. I just finished some ginger broth. Would you please give each person a bowl?”

“Yes, yes.” Aunt Shun nodded. “You just focus on him. I’ll take care of everything else.”

With one hand holding the medicine bowl and the other turning his wheelchair wheel, Yu Nian returned to the room.

Liu Zhi, after all, was pregnant and his energy was flagging. He already looked tired. “I just checked; he doesn’t have a fever.”

“Thank you. Aunt Shun just arrived. Your body is heavy now; you should go back and rest first.”

Liu Zhi stood up. He looked at Yu Nian’s face, where the anxiety and worry could not be hidden at all. He sat back down. “A while ago, Yao Ge’er… was always troubled.”

The rain outside had lessened by now. The medicine Yu Nian had brought was still too hot to drink; he placed it on the bedside table. Hearing Liu Zhi’s words, he fell silent.

“I imagine you also know what was troubling him. We once thought… since your heart belongs to him, but you’re so duplicitous and won’t admit it, we should find someone to provoke you a bit. But Yao Ge’er disagreed. He said feelings are a matter between two people. Adding someone else would be disrespectful to you. So he wouldn’t allow it.”

“I wonder sometimes, just how much does he like you? But today I understand. He likes you enough to die for you. And you? You couldn’t even bring yourself to say one word of ‘like.'”

Liu Zhi sighed. “Yu Nian, a person’s life is very short. If you don’t seize the moment, when you miss it, it will truly be too late for regret.”

After speaking, Liu Zhi walked to the door. Chen Xu, seeing him, quickly came over to support him. “Now that Aunt Shun is here, you can rest assured, right? I’ll take you home to sleep.”

Liu Zhi gave an “mm.” At the doorway, he turned back to glimpse into the room once more. Yu Nian was using a handkerchief, wiping Tian Yao’s hand.

Little Gray, after the villagers arrived, had stayed by Tian Yao’s side. Only now did Yu Nian notice it. He urgently needed something else to distract his own attention, so he called Little Gray over.

Little Gray limped to him, then lay down again. Yu Nian had it lift its paw, which it did, resting its injured paw on Yu Nian’s foot.

There was still some of the wound-healing ointment left from treating Tian Yao. Yu Nian applied it to Little Gray as well.

When the powdered medicine touched the wound, Little Gray also panted heavily, hot air gusting from its muzzle.

“You worked hard.” After applying the medicine, Yu Nian stroked its head. As if exhausted, it lay down right there beside Yu Nian’s leg and slept.

That chaotic night finally passed. The next day dawned clear. Morning sunlight fell on Tian Yao’s eyelids. His lashes fluttered, and he slowly woke.

His back was still searing with fiery pain. He felt his throat was dry. He wanted to call out, then realized his hand was being held. Yu Nian hadn’t gone to bed; he sat in his wheelchair, both hands clasping Tian Yao’s hand, his head slumped on the bedside, asleep.

The moment Tian Yao’s hand moved, Yu Nian woke. He exhaled in relief. “You’re awake?”

Tian Yao pulled at the corners of his mouth. “I’m awake. I’m fine. Just… my back hurts a bit.”

Truthfully, it wasn’t a “bit” of pain. It was agony. Even speaking carelessly and pulling the muscles on his back made his face turn ghastly pale.

“Thankfully you didn’t develop a fever last night. That would have been truly dangerous.” Yu Nian reached out and touched Tian Yao’s forehead again. “I already troubled the Village Chief last night. I asked him to go to town today and bring a physician back to check on you.”

Tian Yao, however, frowned. “Don’t you know how? Why spend that money?”

“My knowledge is only half-baked. There are still many medicinal ingredients we don’t have at home. It’s more convenient to have a physician.”

Tian Yao sighed. “Going to cost money again…”

Yu Nian gently stroked his face. “It’s fine. Regarding this refugee incident, I believe the Yamen won’t remain inactive.”

Indeed, as Yu Nian said, that very morning, the Village Chief and some villagers escorted those men to town. From there, people from the town would escort them to the County Yamen. The remaining matters, presumably, would all be handled by the Village Chief.

The medicine Yu Nian gave him had a sedative component. After only a few words, Tian Yao felt drowsy again and yawned. “You haven’t eaten anything this morning, have you?”

“Don’t worry about me.” Yu Nian covered Tian Yao’s eyes with his hand. “If you’re tired, sleep.”

With his eyes covered by Yu Nian’s hand, Tian Yao’s eyelashes fluttered against his palm. Yu Nian’s fingers curled slightly. “Sleep.”

Once Tian Yao was asleep, Yu Nian, imitating his usual routine, steered his wheelchair to the kitchen. Tian Yao could be very careless sometimes, but most of the time he was meticulous. Everything in the kitchen was arranged neatly and orderly.

In the first twenty years of Yu Nian’s life, he had never set foot in a kitchen. And now… he could skillfully light a fire. After watching Tian Yao cook for so long, he felt he could also make a meal for him. Overly complicated dishes might be beyond him, but cooking a pot of congee shouldn’t be a difficulty.

He imitated Tian Yao’s actions—starting the fire, washing the rice, putting it in the pot, controlling the heat—then waiting for it to boil and the rice to cook.

Just as the pot began to emit the faint aroma of rice, the courtyard gate was pushed open. The person arriving was Chen Xu.

“Xiao Zhi had me go to town early this morning to fetch a physician. Well, I just got back, and I’ve brought the physician to you.”

Only then did Yu Nian see the old man behind Chen Xu. Hair and beard all white, but he was brimming with energy.

He quickly said, “Yao Ge’er is in the room. He just fell asleep again. Please, would you examine his injury once more?”

The old man, looking at Yu Nian sitting in his wheelchair, a ladle in his hand, commented, “Not bad. Knows his wife is hurt and manages to cook something.” As he walked toward the room, he suddenly found this person somewhat familiar. He glanced back a couple more times but couldn’t place where he’d seen him before. When one got old, the memory really was terrible.

Chen Xu left after escorting him here. The old physician followed Yu Nian into the bedroom. The first thing he saw was the handbook on the bedside table. His gaze then traveled downward, landing on Tian Yao, who was lying on his stomach on the bed, sleeping soundly. Indeed, it was an acquaintance.

He said nothing for the moment, simply sitting down to check the pulse and then examine the wounds on Tian Yao’s body.

“The treatment was very appropriate,” the old physician said. “So you’re this Ger’s husband. No wonder he treats you so well.”

“To him, ‘food and sex are but human nature.’ Your face is exceptionally handsome.”

On the exceptionally handsome face of Yu Nian, there happened to be a smear of stove ash at the moment, but it still couldn’t mask his striking features. He and this little Ger were well-matched indeed. Just that leg… was somewhat ruinous to the scene.

“Are you then… the physician Yao Ge’er ran into in town last time?” Yu Nian had also come to his side. “Your handbook… after reading it, one benefits immensely.”

The old physician snorted. “What ingredients did you use for the medicine you brewed for him?”

Yu Nian paused, then recounted the medicinal ingredients he’d used last night.

“Only one ingredient was inappropriate. Know which one?”

“Fumingzi.”

“You have some innate talent. Although Fumingzi can stop bleeding, its nature is harsh. It’s acceptable for a short-term emergency, but not for prolonged use.”

Yu Nian humbly accepted the teaching. “At the time, we had no other remedies at home. I could only find these few ingredients. It was used out of desperation. He hasn’t taken his medicine yet this morning; I’ll re-brew it shortly.”

The old physician nodded. “I’ve brought medicinal ingredients, already measured out in the correct dosages. Go brew the medicine.”

Yu Nian gratefully accepted them. As he took them, the physician held his hand in place. “One patient is being treated, two are the same. Might as well.”

“Your pulse is strong and thick. Your body is healthy. It’s just the matter of your legs. Let me see.”

Yu Nian sat stunned in place. The physician rolled up his trouser legs, revealing his feet. The wound at the ankle had long since scabbed over and healed. Only the internal injuries… had now completely failed to heal.

“Can you move them? Do you have any sensation?”

“Cannot move. There is a little sensation.”

“How about on rainy or snowy days?”

“Actually quite well. No pain.”

The old physician understood in his heart. The reason he felt no pain during rain or snow… was likely thanks to his little husband’s efforts.

“Yao Ge’er soaks my legs in a medicated bath every night. He also regularly massages the acupoints on my feet.” Yu Nian paused. “Is there… any possibility of standing again?”

The old physician shook his head. “This injury of yours missed the optimal treatment window. Those two tendons are completely severed. There is fundamentally no possibility of natural healing. Everything he did afterward… only ensured it wouldn’t worsen.”

Hearing him say this, Yu Nian was actually not surprised at all. From the moment his legs were broken, he had never considered that he could stand up again.

“Of course, an ordinary physician could definitely never make you stand again. But I can.”

Yu Nian’s eyes widened. Before he could speak, Tian Yao, who was lying on the bed, cut in, “You mean it? You can heal his legs? He can stand up?!”

If not for the injury on his back, Tian Yao might have leaped right up. When Tian Yao finally registered the visitor’s face, he cried out, “Ah! Old man?! It’s you!”

His cry of “old man” slipped out so naturally, Yu Nian didn’t even have time to stop him.

“You little Ger! A few days ago, I said you were sturdy as an ox. How is it you’re lying flat today?”

Tian Yao touched his fingertips together. “I’ll be better very soon!” Dissatisfied that the old man had diverted the topic, he pressed, “Didn’t you just say you could make him stand up?”

The old man surveyed their entire room. “Want to heal his legs? Can you afford my fee?”

Tian Yao choked for a moment, then declared, “We still have to treat them! I’ll sell everything, melt down the pots—we’ll still treat them!”

“Heal yourself first,” the old physician said to Yu Nian. “You, go brew his medicine first.”

Only then did Yu Nian push his wheelchair out of the room, leaving the old man and the youth to talk.

“I say, are you stupid, Ger?” The old physician tapped Tian Yao’s head. “This husband of yours… clearly doesn’t look like someone who belongs here in the wilderness. You don’t take advantage of his leg injury to keep him tied down, yet you want to heal his legs? Are you not afraid he’ll just run off?”

Tian Yao frowned. “He’s a person, not my possession. He has the right to choose to leave or stay. If he wants to leave, a leg injury won’t stop him. If he doesn’t want to leave, then nothing will make him go.”

The old man sneered. “Do you know how much silver it will cost to heal his legs?”

Tian Yao asked, “How much?”

“At least this much.” The old man made a gesture toward Tian Yao.

“Five taels?” Tian Yao then realized, if he was asking like that, it was definitely more than five. “Fifty taels?”

The old man nodded.

Tian Yao just thought for a brief moment, then his resolve became absolute. “Then we still have to treat them! When I’m better, I’ll go out and earn money. Fifty taels… I’ll go up the mountain a few more times, hunt bigger game. I’ll make enough quickly.”

The old physician knocked his head again. “You have absolutely no deportment of a Ger!”

Tian Yao’s voice was never particularly small. As if afraid the old man was hard of hearing, he leaned closer to his face, his voice also rising a bit. Outside the door, Yu Nian sat in his wheelchair, pausing, listening to their entire conversation clearly.

His heart felt as if it were placed in warm water. A current, long absent, like warmth itself, flowed from his heart outward to his very limbs and bones.

Tian Yao was right. He was a coward. So much so that he had overlooked so many things right before his eyes.

The moment he saw Tian Yao’s face, he had felt a closeness in his heart. The first time Tian Yao leaned close to him, his heartbeat had quickened uncontrollably. Seeing Tian Yao sleep in his arms made him feel flustered… followed by a sense of fulfillment he’d never felt before.

That first kiss Tian Yao had leaned in and given him made him toss and turn the entire night.

Every single one of these things… could be summed up with that one word. Like.

Meeting Tian Yao, spending time with Tian Yao—his heart had long since been leaning toward him.