Chapter 38: You Hit My Wound

Even though Yu Tingwan had spoken the truth, she still managed to offend Wei Zhao. He refused to speak another word to her, yanking the quilt from her hands and pressing it beneath himself as he closed his eyes to ignore her.

This was a serious matter.

But Yu Tingwan didn’t care. She sat at the head of the bed and poked Wei Zhao’s back with her fingertip.

“How many times have you coughed up blood?”

Wei Zhao let out a muffled groan. Opening his eyes just slightly, his expression unreadable, he said, “You…”

The last time he mentioned her poverty, he had worn that same expression! It wasn’t a pleasant memory, and thinking back now still made her heart ache.

Yu Tingwan frowned and interrupted, “If it’s something unpleasant, don’t say it.”

She continued, “Coughing up blood isn’t a small matter. How could you hide this from Aunt and Uncle?”

Wei Zhao stayed silent.

Yu Tingwan, lost in thought, guessed that Wei Shen didn’t want to frighten his parents. With the mountain roads impassable, what could Hui Niang and Wei Shouzhong do even if they knew? They would only worry needlessly. He was being considerate in his way.

“I understand,” Yu Tingwan said.

“You’re not hiding anything from me for two reasons: either you don’t want to burden me and hope I’ll give up, or you don’t see me as an outsider.”

Wei Zhao wished he could disappear. No, you don’t understand.

Yu Tingwan, ever empathetic, said, “If I were you, I’d do the same.”

“But you were careless earlier. Blood dripped into the courtyard. If they see it, won’t your secret be exposed?” Her tone was calm as she continued, “But don’t worry—I covered for you. I buried it in the snow before coming in.”

Thank you so much, Wei Zhao thought sarcastically, resolutely refusing to engage.

Seeing his reaction, Yu Tingwan wasn’t disappointed.

When Xiao Xu first married into the family, Hu Dalang had despised her for being unattractive. Yet the nightly noises from their room were always quite loud, and now they even had children. Her situation with Wei Shen was different from that couple’s.

She wasn’t bad-looking. If anything, Wei Shen was the lucky one. Even if they didn’t share deep love, they could at least maintain mutual respect.

Yu Tingwan poked Wei Zhao again. “All couples start as strangers; you’ll get used to it.”

“This is my first time being someone’s wife. I don’t have much experience. If I do something that makes you uncomfortable, then…”

She paused. Always reasonable, she rarely argued unless truly provoked. Unless Wei Shen did something to anger her, she would absolutely never cause him discomfort. In a soft voice, she continued, “Then reflect on it yourself.”

No one had ever spoken to Wei Zhao like this before. He had a hundred ways to make someone’s life miserable, and those who feared him were as numerous as fish crossing a river. Every word Yu Tingwan spoke tested his patience.

It was… refreshing.

The young woman was even magnanimous. “I know you’re unwell, so some moodiness is unavoidable. I won’t hold it against you.”

She poked him again.

As she did so, she noticed something felt wrong beneath her finger. Looking down at Wei Zhao’s back, she found wetness where her finger had touched. Her voice trembled. “Why… why are you bleeding?”

Only then did Wei Zhao speak faintly, “You… hit my wound.”

The Cloud-Breaking Spear had pierced straight through from his chest to his back. Though the bleeding had stopped, it hadn’t fully scabbed over, and due to Wei Zhao’s negligence, the wound had become inflamed and swollen.

Yu Tingwan’s eyes suddenly widened in alarm. “Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

Wei Zhao replied weakly: “I… wanted to.”

“I’m sorry, but how could you be so…”

..fragile!

Wei Zhao’s tone was flat: “Don’t you know your own strength?”

Yu Tingwan felt deeply guilty. “Let me treat your wound.”

“No need,” Wei Zhao replied. “I won’t die just yet.”

*

Hui Niang, wanting them to spend time together and grow familiar with each other, felt reassured leaving Yu Tingwan to watch over him. After brief consideration, she said goodbye and left.

The snow was thick on the ground, making crunching sounds with each step. After leaving home, Hui Niang walked westward. It was cold, and she didn’t encounter anyone along the way.

When she knocked on the village chief’s door, Li Lian answered. Seeing Hui Niang, she showed surprise. “What brings you here? Is something wrong? Your uncle isn’t home right now, but I can go find him right away.”

Hui Niang quickly stopped her: “I’m not looking for Uncle—I need to speak with you, Auntie.”

Li Lian was somewhat surprised and hurriedly invited her in to talk. “Whatever it is, just tell me. I’ll help if I can.”

She guessed: “I heard about yesterday’s events. Are you and your husband looking to find a wife for your son? Are you short on money?”

“It’s not about borrowing money.”

Hui Niang seemed awkward: “Wasn’t your third daughter supposed to get married six months ago, but the groom’s elder relative passed away at a critical time, so they had to observe mourning and postpone the wedding?”

“I remember you mentioned buying red fabric for her wedding clothes, but because of what happened, and worrying that a young girl’s figure might change, you were afraid it wouldn’t fit later, so you just put it away. I wanted to ask if you would be willing to sell it to me.”

Li Lian was stunned. “Your son is getting married?”

Hui Niang smiled: “The date is set for the next few days. Auntie must come and have a drink at the wedding.”

Li Lian understood—this rush must be because Shouzhong and his wife wanted to bring some joy to Wei Shen.

She immediately agreed. “I can decide this myself. It’s just collecting dust anyway. Wait here, I’ll fetch it right now.”

After accepting Hui Niang’s payment, she added hot water to the tea and went to her granddaughter’s room, quickly returning with the red fabric.

The fabric was a beautiful red—with Miss Wan’s fair complexion, she would look lovely in it.

Hui Niang took it and prepared to leave.

Li Lian said, “I need to go out too, let me walk with you.”

As they walked together, she couldn’t help saying, “Such joyous events, one after another. Your son is getting married, and I’ve been matchmaking for a girl these days, which should work out soon.”

She was particularly confident! “I finally found another good young man, from the Chu family in Sandun village.”

Hui Niang was shocked. “The Chu family? Their son is indeed good, but Auntie, don’t you know his mother is famous for being dif toficult?”

“I know.” Li Lian waved dismissively. “But that Madam Chu is very ill now, nearly at death’s door.”

“I need to tell that girl the news soon. If she agrees, I’ll make a trip to Sandun.”

Strike while the iron is hot—just waiting for the person to pass away.

Hui Niang: …

Since it wasn’t finalized yet, Li Lian didn’t want to reveal too much, so she quickly changed the subject. “I’ve seen all the girls the matchmaker has, but I don’t know which one will be your son’s wife. But you and your husband wouldn’t choose poorly.”

“You misunderstand, Auntie.”

Hui Niang said directly, “The girl is from our village, you should know her.”

Li Lian: ??

Who in the village would be willing to marry into the Wei family?

Could it be the simple-minded girl?

Li Lian was shocked.

But Hui Niang’s eyes showed joy: “It’s Miss Wan.”

Hearing it wasn’t the simple-minded girl, Li Lian quickly patted her chest in relief. “That’s good, that’s good, I thought…”

Suddenly her voice stopped…

She stared: “Wait, who?”