Chapter 15: If You’re Not Ah Lang, Then Who Are You?

Though she had such thoughts, Yu Tingwan couldn’t exactly examine someone’s clothes when they weren’t looking—she’d be called a pervert.

If any other young woman had heard such words, her face would have been burning red by now.

But not Yu Tingwan.

She was naturally unfamiliar with the concept of embarrassment and listened very attentively.

The young lady was diligently seeking knowledge.

After making the house barely livable, the villagers didn’t linger. As they left the courtyard, some began shaking their heads.

“If we hadn’t rushed over earlier, and if the village chief hadn’t backed her up, a girl like her would’ve probably been forced to submit to the Wang family and the Xu family’s demands.”

“Poor child, look at those frostbite marks on her hands. Earlier she kept thanking us so softly—you’d never guess she was the same person who first arrived in Xilin Village.”

A young wife who had recently married into Xilin Village couldn’t help but ask, “What was she like back then?”

“Her father was an escort guard, skilled in his craft. She was his only daughter, and he doted on her terribly. The young miss wore gold and silver since childhood.”

“Back then, the young lady had a proud temperament, all thorns and edges. When she was in a bad mood, she’d even stop to scold any dog she saw on the road.”

Someone chuckled and added, “She used to quarrel with Madam Wang every day.”

“Whenever Hu Dazhu wasn’t around, Madam Wang would speak to her sarcastically, and with that temper of hers, she wouldn’t tolerate it at all.”

“Madam Wang was helpless against her and would stamp her feet in frustration, which only made her more arrogant.”

That person thought for a moment, then imitated Yu Tingwan’s willful yet troubled tone, raising their head high.

“Auntie, please calm down. What if I anger you to death?”

Someone in the crowd burst out laughing.

“I know, I know, she said something else after that.”

“What was it?”

“‘It’d be fine if you died from anger, then I’d get a new aunt!'”

An elderly woman sighed, “Tingwan has suffered quite a bit; that’s why her temperament gradually steadied. In the end, she learned to read people’s faces.”

Li Lian was the last to leave.

She spoke gently to the now-docile young lady before her.

“No need to see me out.”

“The quilt you brought from the Hu household looks thin. It gets cold at night, so make sure to burn more firewood.”

Speaking in a lowered voice, she continued, “Our family’s been busy these past days, so I haven’t gone out. But I’ve kept your situation in mind. Tomorrow I’ll go to Butcher Wu’s place to get pork, and I’ll mention you to him.”

“It’s almost year-end, and several nearby villages will be sending people over. He’s bound to be busy.”

“If he’s willing, I’ll ask him to make time to meet you soon.”

Hearing these words, Yu Tingwan felt reassured.

After bidding farewell to Li Lian, she returned to the room and secured the door bolt. Only then did she have a chance to properly examine this old house.

After everything that had happened, Yu Tingwan was exhausted.

Tonight had been frightening enough, and she had moved to a new place. She thought she might have trouble settling down, but once she lay down, she fell into a deep sleep before long.

As time passed, light crawled up the walls, and daylight replaced the night.

Since she would be living in this old house for some time, Yu Tingwan cleaned it thoroughly inside and out.

The scrapes on her legs hadn’t scabbed over yet, and the slightest careless movement would pull at them painfully. She moved slowly, but fortunately, there was no rush.

Someone had lived here before, and although there was no kitchen set up, Yu Tingwan found a simple pot in the corner.

It was damaged but the bottom was intact—it would suffice for now.

She cleaned it and boiled some water.

By the time she finished cleaning, it was already noon, and Yu Tingwan had worked up quite a sweat.

“Tingwan! Tingwan!”

Someone called from outside.

Aunt Wu stood outside with a basket.

“Auntie, what brings you here?”

“I’ve brought you some food.”

Aunt Wu lifted the cloth covering her basket to show her several coarse grain buns inside.

Yu Tingwan guessed her real intention.

Sure enough, Aunt Wu anxiously grabbed her hand: “Thanks to your warning about my daughter-in-law, or something terrible would have happened.”

Without Yu Tingwan even asking, she continued angrily.

“That Xu family boy is nothing but trouble!”

Yu Tingwan was startled.

“Didn’t the village chief drive them away?”

How did something still happen?

“Yes, they were driven away, but they dawdled and refused to leave. They even wanted your aunt to pay for fixing their roof.”

Yu Tingwan: …

As if Madam Wang, that penny-pincher, would agree.

“I was in a hurry to leave, so I didn’t pay much attention.”

“Everything was fine at first, but before they left the village, someone suddenly darted out from Widow Shi’s house. They tried to crash right into Xiufen!”

Yu Tingwan: “That could have been disastrous if they’d succeeded!”

Indeed! Thankfully she was there—if not for her strength and quick reaction…

She spat in disgust: “Those scoundrels! The whole Xu family is rotten to the core. So young and already turning to thievery, stealing Widow Shi’s money pouch! If anything had happened to the baby in Xiufen’s belly, I would have beaten him to death!”

After this incident, the village chief flew into a rage and had people chase the Xu family out of the village.

She pushed the coarse buns into Yu Tingwan’s arms.

“Don’t be polite with your aunt. Living out here alone, what will you eat without food? I make the best buns in the village, try them.”

“After Xiufen gives birth, we must have you over for a meal.”

Yu Tingwan smiled faintly.

By that time, she would have already married herself off.

She was indeed hungry. Just as she was about to take a bite after expressing her thanks, there was movement next door, and a woman in coarse clothing came out carrying a food box.

When Yu Tingwan saw who it was, her heart immediately sank.

Wasn’t this Wei Shen’s mother?

After all that moving around, she had ended up at the village’s end?

Aunt Wu greeted her with a smile. “Hui Niang, delivering food again?”

She asked with concern: “How is your Ah Lang doing?”

Hui Niang’s face showed a rare glimpse of joy. “Doctor Qian says once he’s more stable in a few days, he can move back home to recover.”

Staying at the Qian household was indeed inconvenient.

Old Qian’s medical skills were limited; all he could do each day was write prescriptions and apply medicine.

“That’s wonderful news.”

Aunt Wu added, “If he pulls through this time, you can send him to the town clinic. Once he recovers, you’ll have something to rely on.”

She then introduced them, “This is Tingwan, Hu Dazhu’s niece. She just moved here yesterday. I know you’re busy, but once Ah Lang moves back and you have more free time, you must visit each other often.”

She turned to Yu Tingwan and said, “Everyone knows about the capabilities of the Wei family’s Ah Lang. He’s been on the battlefield. With him as your neighbor, who would dare cause you trouble?”

Yu Tingwan: …

“Wouldn’t that be inconvenient?”

Hui Niang: “It’s no inconvenience, it’s just…”

Her face filled with worry. “It’s just that this child keeps saying he’s not Ah Lang.”

Aunt Wu was shocked: “What?”

“I asked him, if you’re not Ah Lang, then who are you?”

“What did he say?”

“He fell silent.”

Aunt Wu slapped her thigh. “See? He couldn’t answer!”

“He doesn’t recognize us either.”

Aunt Wu felt sorry for the couple.

“But then he turned around and hung the safety talisman from his pillow around his neck!”

And after that, no amount of coaxing could make him smile.

Most importantly! He wanted to leave.

However, before he could even get out of bed, Old Qian pushed him back down.

Hui Niang was very distressed: “It must be from falling down the mountain that day—it damaged his mind.”