Chapter 3: Timid

Liu Shi cleared the bowls and utensils, while Jiang Mixia went to the kitchen and scraped the remaining cornmeal porridge from the pot, filling up most of a bowl.

After some thought, she also took two wild vegetable pancakes.

After all, he was a grown man. Drinking just the porridge probably wouldn’t satisfy him.

Song Jingyun had become proficient at using the wooden spoon to eat the porridge without spilling a drop.

“Well done, you’re learning quickly,” Jiang Mixia praised, handing him the wild vegetable pancakes. “Have some of this too, or you might get hungry again later.”

The wild vegetable pancakes were dark in color and didn’t look quite as appetizing as the cornmeal porridge, but since Jiang Mixia suggested it, Song Jingyun took them and started eating.

After a few bites, Song Jingyun furrowed his brow, looking gravely at the wild vegetable pancake in his hand and then at the bowl of cornmeal porridge.

Both were food, but the difference in taste was quite noticeable.

However, it was probably just his initial discomfort with the taste of this so-called food in this place.

Song Jingyun didn’t dwell on it, just ate slowly, one bite at a time.

“There are two other people in the house, my father and mother. My father went to get the doctor to check on your condition again and will be back later,” Jiang Mixia instructed. “When the doctor arrives, do whatever he asks of you, and don’t say anything unnecessary.”

“Okay,” Song Jingyun obediently nodded.

“If you truly don’t know how to answer, just stay silent. You’ve just hit your head, so it’s normal for others to think you’re not quite yourself. Just remember, don’t show any unusual behavior. If others find out you don’t belong here, they might take you and burn you alive.”

The consequences of being burned alive weren’t entirely clear to Song Jingyun, but he understood the word “death.”

“In our star system, killing someone without justification is a violation of the law and would result in imprisonment in the star system’s prison,” Song Jingyun said timidly.

“Here, the law allows for the burning of people like us,” Jiang Mixia said in a composed manner, giving him a sidelong glance.

Song Jingyun’s expression changed. “…I understand.”

He then continued to nibble on the wild vegetable pancake, though his movements were slower than before.

It seemed that despite coming from interstellar space, this son-in-law wasn’t particularly bold.

Jiang Mixia narrowed her eyes.

Before long, Jiang Youcheng brought the doctor over.

Doctor Yang, a man in his fifties, with graying hair and beard, saw Song Jingyun sitting calmly and composed. He clicked his tongue a few times and then sat down, carefully taking his pulse.

After examining him, the doctor checked Song Jingyun’s eyelids and the back of his head.

“Do you still feel a headache?” Doctor Yang asked.

Song Jingyun shook his head slightly.

Doctor Yang stroked his graying beard. “I’ve been practicing medicine for over thirty years, and this is the first time I’ve encountered something like this. Someone who seemed beyond hope, only to be sitting here alive and well. It’s truly unprecedented.”

“Is the doctor saying that he’s fine?” Jiang Youcheng asked.

“He’s fine. It seems the blood clot in his head has dispersed. However, he was in a coma for so many days and lost a lot of blood at the time. He needs some good rest and care to recover,” Doctor Yang explained. “The family might not have much, so don’t worry about the herbal soup. Apply this medicine powder to the wound behind his head daily for three to five days, and he should be fine.”

“For the next few days, prepare some good meals for him to regain his strength. I prepared this medicine powder myself, so it’s not expensive. Along with my visit, just give me eighty coins,” Doctor Yang added.

“Thank you, Doctor,” Liu Shi expressed her gratitude and went into the house to get the money box.

With recent wedding expenses and consecutive medical visits, the previously heavy money box now felt considerably lighter.

Liu Shi counted out eighty coins and sighed as she looked at the remaining coins, barely filling the bottom of the box. She closed the box gently.

After paying the doctor, Liu Shi and Jiang Youcheng saw Doctor Yang off.

“Rest well for the next few days. I’ll prepare some good food for you to recover,” Liu Shi said with a loving expression.

“Okay,” Jiang Youcheng nodded.

 “If you feel unwell or need anything, let me know.”

The elderly couple, whom Jiang Mixia referred to as father and mother, seemed very kind to him.

Song Jingyun nodded gently.

Jiang Youcheng and his wife noticed that although Song Jingyun seemed somewhat bewildered, he wasn’t entirely simple-minded. He seemed, as Jiang Mixia had mentioned, to be a bit slow but still salvageable.

“It’s getting late. You should go to bed early, and I’ll keep an eye on him tonight,” Jiang Mixia said. “If there’s anything, I’ll call for you.”

“Alright,” Jiang Youcheng and Liu Shi got up.

At that moment, Song Jingyun clutched his stomach again.

“Is your stomach hurting again?” Jiang Mixia frowned. “But you just ate.”

“It’s not hunger this time, it feels bloated,” Song Jingyun’s expression twisted in discomfort.

Bloated?

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Youcheng quickly reached out to support Song Jingyun. “Come, get off the bed. I’ll take you to the outhouse.”

“The outhouse?” Song Jingyun looked at Jiang Mixia.

Jiang Mixia cleared her throat, a bit embarrassed. “Go ahead, and follow father’s instructions when you get there.”

Seeing Jiang Mixia’s response, Song Jingyun, with Jiang Youcheng’s support, reluctantly got up from the bed.

Having spent three days lying in bed without food or water, his legs felt weak, and he walked unsteadily. Fortunately, with Jiang Youcheng’s help, Song Jingyun managed to walk.

The two of them walked unsteadily to the corner of the yard where the outhouse was and returned after a while.

When they returned, Jiang Youcheng seemed unfazed, but Song Jingyun’s face was slightly flushed as he quickly went back to bed.

After all, it was a private matter and inevitably a bit embarrassing.

Understanding the situation, Jiang Mixia urged her parents to rest early to spare the timid Song Jingyun from further embarrassment.

After tidying up and reminding Jiang Mixia to call them if anything came up during the night, Jiang Youcheng and Liu Shi finally returned to their room.

After a busy day, Jiang Youcheng was exhausted and soon began to snore heavily as soon as his head touched the pillow.

Liu Shi, on the other hand, tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Eventually, she sat up with a sigh.

Startled by the sigh, Jiang Youcheng woke up and saw Liu Shi sitting at the head of the bed. He quickly got up, concerned. “What’s wrong? You look worried.”

“Look at our son-in-law’s condition; we have to teach him everything, even the most basic things. It’s clear his head injury is quite serious. Oh, what have we brought upon ourselves? Our daughter is doing well, but our son-in-law is in such a state,” Liu Shi said, wiping away a tear.

“It’s okay, I can see he’s learning quickly. He’ll probably be fine after some time,” Jiang Youcheng reassured her.

“Besides, maybe it’s a good thing that he’s this way. If he had a more scheming mind, always thinking about this and that, it wouldn’t be good for our family,” Jiang Youcheng continued. “It’s better if he’s simple-minded and we’ve raised him, so he can be on the same page with Xia. That would be the best.”

Hearing her husband’s words, Liu Shi nodded after giving it some thought. “Well, that’s true. We’re not worried about others, we’re worried about our son-in-law being too cunning.”