Font Size:
After a short while, they arrived at a small courtyard. With reddened eyes, Yun Cuihe knocked on the gate.
“Father, Mother, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, I’m back.”
Hearing her voice, the people inside hurried out. Yun Dabao quickly opened the gate and, seeing it was indeed Yun Cuihe, was filled with excitement.
“Little sister, what brings you back today? Mother was just saying that in a few days, she would have me bring some rice to you.”
“I missed home, so I came back,” Yun Cuihe said, glancing inside. “Eldest Brother, where’s Mother?”
“Mother’s inside,” Yun Dabao replied, looking her over with concern. “It’s a long journey; are you holding up okay?”
“Don’t worry, Eldest Brother. I’m much better now.” Turning to the family members emerging from the house, Yun Cuihe wiped her tears. “Father, Sister-in-law, Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, I’m back.”
Both sisters-in-law remained silent but had tears in their eyes.
Yun Zhengping looked at his long-absent daughter, tears welling up as he spoke with a trembling voice, “Good, it’s good that you’re back. Go inside and see your mother.”
Yun Cuihe responded affirmatively and went inside.
“Mother, I’m back.”
Hearing her voice, Li Qiulian struggled to sit up from the bed. “My dear, you’re finally back.”
The mother and daughter embraced, crying for a while before letting go. Yun Cuihe touched Li Qiulian’s leg.
“Mother, what’s wrong with your leg?”
Li Qiulian sighed. “This old cold leg isn’t a recent issue. Don’t worry; as long as you’re well, I’ll be fine.”
Seeing her mother’s aged face, Yun Cuihe felt both heartache and guilt, and tears flowed again.
“It’s my fault for causing you worry.”
Li Qiulian lovingly patted her back.
“When we married you off to Banpo Village, we heard the Lu family was kind-hearted, and Jia Hui was a scholar. We thought you’d have a good life. I never expected him to…” Fearing to touch on Yun Cuihe’s sorrow, Li Qiulian sighed heavily. “You’ve suffered.”
Yun Cuihe shook her head. “Mother, I haven’t suffered. Though he’s been gone all these years, the three children are obedient and filial. I don’t regret it and have never blamed you and Father.”
Li Qiulian wiped her tears and patted Yun Cuihe’s hand.
“You’ve traveled half a day; are you holding up okay?”
Yun Cuihe sniffled, a slight smile on her face. “Mother, I’m much better. Not long ago, Yueyue got a doctor for me, bought medicine, and many things to nurse my health. If I hadn’t improved, I couldn’t have made such a long journey.”
Li Qiulian sat up straighter. “I heard Xinghe got married?”
Yun Cuihe nodded. “Yes, her name is Chu Yue. She’s a kind and filial child. I’ll have the children come in to meet you later.”
Li Qiulian, full of relief, said “Good” three times.
Outside, Lu Xinghe handed the fish and the rice and red dates from his basket to Yun Dabao.
“Uncle, my mother sent these. Please take them to the kitchen.”
Yun Dabao frowned. “Your own life is hard enough; why bring things here? Such a big fish must have cost a lot.”
Lu Xinghe placed the empty basket under the eaves. “We caught the fish in the river; it didn’t cost anything. Uncle, please take care of these. We’ll go inside to see Grandma.”
With that, he led Chu Yue and his brothers, Lu Xingping and Lu Xing’an, inside.
Yun Zhengping looked at his daughters-in-law nearby. “Eldest son’s wife, second son’s wife, go cook. Chop up that fish for lunch; we’ll all eat together.”
“Okay, Father.”
The two quickly took the fish from Yun Dabao and went to the kitchen.
Lu Xinghe and the others entered the house, each greeting their grandmother.
Li Qiulian responded with a smile, then lovingly beckoned Chu Yue. “Child, come let Grandma have a look.”
Chu Yue glanced at Yun Cuihe and then walked over gracefully.
Since Lu Xinghe and his brothers were men, after greeting Li Qiulian, they went outside.
Li Qiulian took Chu Yue’s hand, retrieved a delicate silver bracelet from under her pillow, and placed it on Chu Yue’s wrist, a hint of nostalgia on her face.
“This bracelet was given to me at my coming-of-age ceremony. Later, with all the work, my wrists thickened, and it no longer fit. Recently, hearing about your marriage to Xinghe, I had your uncle take it to town for cleaning. It looks lovely on you.”
Looking at the now shiny bracelet on her wrist, Chu Yue felt a bit overwhelmed and glanced at Yun Cuihe.
Yun Cuihe had seen this bracelet before; her mother treasured it dearly. Even when the family was struggling, she couldn’t bear to sell it for food.
“Since it’s from your grandmother, just keep it.”
Li Qiulian pulled Chu Yue’s sleeve down, covering the thin silver bracelet. “Take it, it’s a little token of affection from your grandmother.”
Chu Yue stroked the thin silver bracelet under her sleeve, a warmth spreading through her heart.
Her family on her mother’s side would have been happy to skin her alive, but after marrying Lu Xinghe, the relatives on this side seemed to treat her with kindness.
Yun Cuihe looked at Chu Yue, “Yueyue, did you ever hear your neighbor, that uncle, talk about how to treat old cold legs?”
Chu Yue then looked at Li Qiulian’s legs.
“Is grandmother’s old cold legs very serious? Can I take a look first?”
This ailment of old cold legs can be serious or minor. Mild cases can be treated actively to alleviate the symptoms, but severe cases can even lead to amputation or life-threatening conditions.
She needed to see just how severe her grandmother’s “old cold legs” had become.
Before Li Qiulian could respond, Yun Cuihe had already lifted the thin blanket off the bed, helping Li Qiulian to expose her legs.
“Mother, when Yueyue was still living with her family, there was a traveling doctor next door. She learned quite a bit from him. Let her take a look for you.”
Hearing that Chu Yue had some skills, Li Qiulian sighed and nodded.
“My knees have been unbearably sore, numb, and swollen these past few years. It’s been slightly better during the recent dry months, allowing me to get out of bed and take a few steps. But on rainy days, it hurts so much I can’t even let my feet touch the ground. Winter is the worst; I don’t dare get out of bed at all.”
The thought of the upcoming cold weather filled her heart with worry.
Chu Yue examined Li Qiulian’s leg. She noticed a slight swelling in her grandmother’s knees. She then placed her hands on her kneecaps to feel around and lifted one of her legs to test its range of motion. Seeing the painful expression on her grandmother’s face, Chu Yue gently placed the leg back down, pulled her pants leg back over it, and tucked the blanket in.
“Grandmother’s old cold legs are severe, but it’s treatable. With proper care, at least her daily life can return to normal.”