Chapter 58: Little Thoughts

Xu Xia was silent for a while before he said, “I don’t dare to take on a disciple. I truly don’t have the qualifications—it’s not that I think you’re stupid.

“How about this—if you’re willing, I can teach you a few moves…”

Before he could finish, Zhao Hu flipped over and knelt on the kang, about to kowtow.

Xu Xia hurriedly stopped him. “It’s just a few basic techniques, not worth such a big show of gratitude.

“But if you want to learn, you must be willing to put in the effort and endure hardships.”

“I’m willing!” Zhao Hu thumped his chest loudly. “Us farming folk fear nothing more than laziness!”

Xu Xia smiled and pulled him down to sit, carefully applying medicine to his injuries. “It’s good to teach you a few self-defense skills too—so you won’t be bullied like today again.

“But you must always remember one thing: when you become stronger in the future, you must never become someone who bullies others.

“Otherwise, one day, you’ll become the very kind of person you hate the most.

“And I won’t let you off.”

Zhao Hu raised three fingers solemnly. “I swear I’ll never become someone who bullies others!”

Xu Xia nodded slightly. “Alright then. Once you’ve healed, come find me. Ask Auntie to help you sew two sandbags. They don’t need to be heavy at first—start with one jin. Once you get used to that weight, gradually increase it.”

“What’s that for?” Zhao Hu asked, completely confused.

Xu Xia chuckled. “Tie them to your legs and run. Start with five li a day. I’ll first teach you how to breathe properly.”

Zhao Hu didn’t think five li was much, but he didn’t dare ask more.

After Xu Xia finished treating his injuries, he let Zhao Hu put on his clothes, then went outside. He wrapped two pieces of crushed ice in a handkerchief and came back to have Zhao Hu apply them to his eyes.

In the main room, he told Qin Ying again, “Miss Qin, have Auntie Zhao apply ice to her face first. Once the swelling goes down, then apply medicine.”

Qin Ying lifted the curtain and came out, her brows furrowed with concern. “Brother Xu, my mother twisted her foot… Do you know how to reset bones? If not, I’ll go call Uncle Da Niu over to take a look…”

“No big deal,” Xu Xia said, stepping inside. He saw that Auntie Zhao’s facial swelling had reduced a bit. She was holding a water pouch filled with ice water, pressing it to her face.

When Auntie Zhao saw him, she immediately began thanking him profusely.

Xu Xia waved her off with a smile. “It was just a coincidence we ran into you. Besides, we work under Lord Zhou. If we turned a blind eye to something like this, that would be neglect of duty!”

He bent down and picked up Auntie Zhao’s foot, feeling the bone. “It’s alright—just a twisted tendon, no broken bones. I’ll set it for you and apply some ice to reduce the swelling. After a few days of rest, you’ll be fine.

“If you’re still worried, you can ask someone for a medicinal patch.”

Auntie Zhao kept thanking him again and again.

Qin Ying brought over a bowl of hot water for Xu Xia and said, “I really don’t know how to thank you…”

Xu Xia waved his hand. “I already said—it’s our duty.”

So Qin Ying didn’t say more.

Seeing that there wasn’t much else to do here, Xu Xia took his leave.

After catching their breath, Zhao Hu and Auntie Zhao both felt like their bodies were falling apart.

Qin Ying told them to sleep first. She went and cut some vegetables, picked some mushrooms, and took some frozen dumplings, fried meatballs, and frozen tofu, packing a full basket before heading toward Uncle Chen Jiu’s house.

On the way, she ran into some villagers who came to check on them, all asking worriedly if something bad had happened.

This was the benefit of having helped the villagers before.

Qin Ying forced a slight smile, but her eyes reddened and her voice choked with emotion. “When we went to visit the graves today, Hu Da ambushed us with his men. We were almost beaten to death…

“If it hadn’t been for Lord Zhou returning just in time, we wouldn’t be here now!

“Now my mother and Huzi are still lying on the kang, unable to get up.

“Lord Zhou pitied us and took An’an with him first. I’m going to pick her up now.”

Several people immediately started cursing in the direction of Gaojiatun.

One auntie even offered warmly, “Yingzi, let Auntie go with you. Look at your little face—so pale! You must’ve been scared to death!”

When they arrived at Uncle Chen Jiu’s house, An’an was already asleep. Zhou Yu was chatting with Uncle Chen.

Qin Ying greeted them and set down the basket. “I figured Lord Zhou just returned and probably didn’t have time to prepare food, so I brought some dumplings.”

She glanced at Uncle Chen. “Uncle Jiu, I brought some for you too.”

“You little girl!” Uncle Chen looked at her with a heartache. “Sigh! You’ve suffered! Uncle Jiu isn’t short on food.

“Looking at you, you must’ve brought all the supplies from home, right? Your mother and brother aren’t well right now, and you’re caring for two adults and a child all by yourself—how hard must that be? Why bring so much? Quick, take some back!”

Zhou Yu added, “We also brought some rations with us. They’re not great, but they’re edible. You should take these dumplings back.”

“Um…” Auntie Feng, who came with Qin Ying, rubbed her hands nervously. “Lord, please keep them. I don’t have much to do right now—I can help Yingzi cook and watch the child later, no problem.”

Zhou Yu gave her a glance.

Uncle Chen laughed heartily. “Alright then!” He then proudly told Zhou Yu, “Lord, truth be told, the folks in our village get along so well! We’re practically like one big family!”

Zhou Yu said nothing more.

Qin Ying thanked them again, wrapped up the sleeping An’an, and took her home. Some of the villagers who came to check in were still around.

Auntie Feng helped cook and mentioned wanting to see the mushrooms.

Rural folks weren’t too particular. Zhao Hu wasn’t undressed or anything, so she went straight in.

Zhao Hu sat up and greeted her.

Auntie Feng asked about his health before saying, “How do you grow these mushrooms? Why are yours so good? We followed what you did, but ours are way worse!”

Zhao Hu chuckled. “We take good care of them! I almost treat these mushrooms like my sons!”

“You silly tiger boy!” Auntie Feng laughed. “Always talking nonsense!”

Qin Ying smiled at the doorway. “Auntie, it’s true. Huzi takes care of these mushrooms. He’s always checking that the soil doesn’t dry out and even changes the soil regularly.”

Auntie Feng widened her eyes. “You change the soil? You never told us that!”

Zhao Hu was unhappy. “Auntie Feng, that’s not fair! Even farmland can lose its nutrients over time, let alone a shallow wooden trough like this!

“You’re an old farming expert—shouldn’t need me to say this. You’re even better at tending crops than my sister and I!”

Auntie Feng looked a little embarrassed.

From the east room, Auntie Zhao called out. Auntie Feng quickly went over, chatted some more, and then left.

Auntie Zhao immediately told Qin Ying to go close the courtyard gate, then said to the siblings, “Don’t let people come in to look anymore. These folks are too nosy!”

Zhao Hu frowned. “We help people and still end up being the ones in the wrong?”