Chapter 27: Does he Think I’m a Garbage Collector?

When Yu Tingwan woke again, daylight filled the sky.

Rainy days were what she despised most. The damp cold clung to one’s body and wouldn’t go away, making it easy to catch a chill.

She lowered her eyelids halfway, her expression growing increasingly distant.

She wondered when this harsh winter would end.

“Miss Wan, Miss Wan.”

Someone called from outside.

The old house had no rain gear. Yu Tingwan looked around helplessly before ducking her head and running to open the door.

Though the distance wasn’t far, the heavy rain made it unbearable.

When Hui Niang saw her, she quickly held her umbrella over Yu Tingwan’s head.

“I brought you some vegetables.”

Seeing Yu Tingwan frown, she chuckled.

“Farm vegetables are cheap. If you don’t accept them, I’d have to return two coins to you. Besides, the weather has been strange lately—colder than previous years. You can’t keep going up the mountain every day.”

“By the way, we made tofu at home and prepared some tofu pudding. It’s still hot from the pot. I wasn’t sure if you preferred it sweet or savory, so I didn’t bring it over.”

Yu Tingwan couldn’t help but swallow. Living next door to the Wei family, she knew better than anyone how good Hui Niang’s cooking was.

Her tofu pudding must be delicious.

Hui Niang continued, “The savory one has green onions and our special sauce drizzled on top, with shredded wood ear mushrooms and pickled vegetables mixed in.”

“The sweet one is sprinkled with osmanthus honey—the honey that Ah Lang’s father gathered from the mountains six months ago.”

Since Wei Zhao rarely ate much, she tried different preparations.

Yu Tingwan felt herself wavering.

But she couldn’t just accept food from the Wei family—she couldn’t bear to spend any of her remaining six copper coins.

Suppressing her appetite, she mumbled, “No need.”

As if expecting her refusal, Hui Niang wasn’t surprised.

“There’s something else I’d like to discuss with you.”

Hui Niang said, “You’ve seen Ah Lang’s condition—he can’t stop taking medicine. Soon, his father will need to go out to earn money, but someone needs to stay with him. I heard from Doctor Qian that you can gather medicinal herbs.”

“Miss Wan, would this work for you?”

“Any herbs that Ah Lang can use, I’ll buy from you.”

Doctor Qian’s medicine was expensive, and it would only cost more in town. Since they had to spend the money anyway, Hui Niang wanted to help her.

Understanding the situation and knowing the Wei family needed money for many things, Yu Tingwan didn’t refuse: “Then I’ll give you a lower price, aunt.”

This way, they could help each other.

When Hui Niang mentioned the tofu pudding again, Yu Tingwan didn’t refuse this time.

The tofu was made in the kitchen.

The roof was leaking; they used a basin to catch the water and emptied it outside when full.

Wei Shouzhong looked at the basin, and in just a moment, noticed the person behind him had vanished from the chair.

Wei Zhao had gone out into the rain.

Realizing something was wrong, Wei Shouzhong chased after him. Seeing that persuasion was useless, he could only hold an umbrella over him.

Yu Tingwan entered with Hui Niang at that moment.

In the pouring rain, though he stood motionless in the courtyard, his expression distant and eyes cold, his figure appeared particularly lonely.

His long hair hung like ink, dripping water onto his clothes. Though disheveled, he maintained an unmistakable nobility.

He seemed utterly out of place in this remote countryside.

The fierce wind drove large raindrops against his body, striking his face heavily.

The sky was dark, with lightning flashing continuously.

Yet Wei Zhao gave a soft laugh, his voice hoarse.

“Surprisingly, it’s not as intense as blood splashing on one’s face.”

Rain was cold, but blood was scalding hot.

Hui Niang’s pupils constricted, as her voice trembled again: “Why do you always torment yourself like this!”

Wei Zhao looked over with calm eyes and patiently repeated once more.

“I…”

“Am truly not Wei Shen.”

There was an inherent coldness in his manner.

“You needn’t waste your care on me.”

“After all… no matter how much you give, nothing will be gained.”

Now he was merely a shell that could barely breathe, covered in wounds and blood.

What could Wei Shouzhong do? Even if Wei Zhao claimed to be his father, he would accept it: “Alright, alright, you’re not.”

Wei Zhao: …

He showed no intention of returning inside, nor did he mind Wei Shouzhong holding the umbrella behind him.

Wei Zhao seemed puzzled as he asked word by word: “If there’s a great injustice—a deep blood feud that cannot be avenged—would heaven rain blood?”

His voice was soft, as if asking himself, never expecting an answer.

But suddenly, someone spoke from ahead:

“No.”

Yu Tingwan’s tone was completely flat.

“In the twelfth year of Great Jin, during years of drought, nothing grew in the fields. The government relief was delayed, people couldn’t afford food, they became skeletal, and countless died of starvation.”

“Even if there are gods in heaven, they may not possess compassion.”

When Yu Tingwan was finally taken to the kitchen to warm herself while eating tofu pudding, she felt like crying for a moment.

This was real food!

Yu Tingwan ate carefully, taking one spoonful at a time. Though hungry and eating quickly, she still maintained her elegance.

Wei Zhao was made to sit across from her by the fire to warm up.

He had changed into dry clothes and appeared listless.

Hui Niang said, “We made extra tofu this time. Your father will take some to Doctor Qian—he worked hard for us these past days.”

Wei Shouzhong agreed, put on his rain gear, and left with some tofu.

Hui Niang boiled eggs for Wei Zhao every day, and today was no exception as she pressed one into his hand.

Wei Zhao immediately wanted to throw it away but knew Hui Niang would nag—just thinking about it annoyed him.

He looked across at Yu Tingwan, who was treating the tofu pudding like a delicacy.

She ate contentedly, her eyes bright.

While Hui Niang busied herself at the stove, suddenly an egg appeared before Yu Tingwan.

She felt a bit dazed and looked at Wei Zhao.

Seeing no reaction from her, Wei Zhao impatiently tossed the egg into the fire pit.

Yu Tingwan: !!!

This was precious food!

The Hu family’s chicken eggs were carefully saved—half for Hu Yaozhu’s health and half to sell in town.

She hurriedly used a stick to retrieve the egg from the fire.

Yu Tingwan thought his mind really wasn’t right.

She placed the egg on the table and went to find Hui Niang.

Hui Niang asked: “Would you like another bowl?”

“No need.”

She was already quite full.

“Remember to take the basket on the table when you leave.”

As she spoke, she turned around to look at Wei Zhao who had drooping eyelids and reminded him once again: “Ah Lang, quickly eat your egg, then you need to take your medicine.”

She then said to Yu Tingwan, “There isn’t much inside—just some tofu and my homemade pickled vegetables.”

Wei Zhao expressionlessly tossed the egg into the cloth-covered basket without a thought.

After considering for a moment, he also threw in the candy that Wei Shouzhong had forced on him.

Yu Tingwan felt the basket was particularly heavy.

After returning home, she looked through its contents.

She found white tender tofu, pickled vegetables in a clay jar, a cracked egg, candy in the corner, some stones, fallen roof tiles, and…

The young woman’s breath caught.

Why was there a bowl of medicine in the basket!

Without needing to think, she knew who had done this.

Was Wei Shen treating her like a garbage collector?!