FMT 37

Chapter 37 Invitation

A few days later, when someone from the village went to town, Liandan sent several eggs with him, asking him to check on his sister’s family.

When the man returned, he told him, “Don’t worry. Your sister’s family is doing well. Her in-laws are fully recovered, and your brother-in-law can already work in the fields. He’s almost healed.”

Lianye also sent back a packet of white sugar. Holding the oiled paper packet, Liandan felt sour. “Her life is hard, yet she still sends me things.”

The man then said, “Oh, I almost forgot. Your sister told me to tell you this. The money your husband brought to her a couple of days ago saved their urgent need. She told me to thank you both. Once she saves enough, she will repay it as soon as possible.”

Liandan froze, then realized what had happened. His heart churned. After thanking the man and sending him off, Liandan went back inside. While playing with Xiaodan, he sat in a daze. After a long time, he let out a faint sigh.

A few days later, Tang Hua came and said he wanted to go with Liandan to visit his sister.

Liandan was glad and grateful. He had worried about his sister’s family all this time, anxious day and night.

Even though they had recovered and had money for now, the Zheng family bullies might still come to harass them.

The two young men went together to that village. Before they reached his sister’s house, they saw that, despite the cold weather, many villagers stood in the street in small groups, gesturing as they talked, with faint joy on their faces.

Perplexed, Liandan and Tang Hua went to Lianye’s door. Just as they were about to knock, the door opened from inside.

Lianye froze when she saw them, then grabbed both their wrists, pulled them into the courtyard, and said happily, “What a coincidence. I was just about to send someone with a message for you.”

They went inside, greeted the two elders, and his brother-in-law also came out to talk.

Lianye poured them water and brought out corn flour and jujube steamed cakes she had made.

Liandan asked, “Sister, what happened?”

Lianye smiled faintly. “The Wei Tiger Band collapsed. I heard someone came for revenge. Their people are either dead or scattered. The three Zheng sons fled overnight. Your brother-in-law and several other villagers went to the Zhengs to question them about the missing money. The old man didn’t dare offend the villagers anymore and told the truth, clearing your brother-in-law’s name.”

Liandan’s eyes brightened. “So what about the missing money? What really happened?”

Lianye said, “The purse was indeed swapped, but it wasn’t by an outsider. It was their third son.”

Liandan and Tang Hua looked at each other in shock.

Lianye continued, “The third son lost money gambling and couldn’t pay. He set his sights on his brother’s wedding gifts and then blamed Qingyi. After the Zhengs first made a scene at our home, they figured out it was the third son’s doing. They knew they had wronged him, but the money was already gone, not a coin left. The creditor was powerful. They didn’t dare provoke him. So they went along with the lie, hoping to seize our land to cover the loss.”

Tang Hua cursed angrily. “The Zhengs are truly vile. They got what they deserved.”

Liandan sat frowning, silent for a while.

Tang Hua nudged him. “What are you thinking?”

Liandan came back to himself. “I was thinking, how is it such a coincidence that the Wei Tiger Band fell right now?”

Tang Hua said, “Bah, who cares. It’s good they’re gone. At least the Zhengs can’t bully anyone again.”

Lianye also smiled. “The whole village is rejoicing. They too suffered under the Zhengs. Because of them, gang members often came here and did evil. At last there can be peace.”

“Now we can live peacefully.” Lianye wiped her eyes, her voice emotional.

Liandan hugged his sister happily, pushing aside his doubts for the time being.

When sending them off, Lianye told him, “Our family only got through this thanks to your husband. Without him, even if the Zhengs had fallen, without money for medicine, the three of them might not have survived.”

Hearing her mention Chen Shuangning, Liandan felt sour again. Words he had long held back pressed against him like a stone, making his heart ache, guilty, and faintly expectant.

He didn’t want his sister to worry, he smiled lightly. “Everyone has hard times. You and I are closest. Someday I may need your help too.”

Lianye hugged her brother again. They talked for a while at the door, then Liandan left with Tang Hua.

After returning, Liandan steamed a large pot of jujube cakes and gave some to the Li family. A few days later, he made a pair of small cotton shoes for Tang Hua’s daughter and sent them over.

Tang Hua said he didn’t need them, but his smile was bright.

Although the two young men had grown closer and Li Fu was easygoing, Tang Hua lived with his in-laws. When he accompanied Liandan to visit his sister, his child and other chores had to be left with his in-laws. When Liandan later brought gifts, his in-laws saw it with their own eyes and enjoyed it. Naturally they were pleased.

This way, if something similar happened again, Tang Hua could speak more easily with his family.

….

Lingyun Mountain, Lingyun Temple.

Faint coughing sounds could be heard from inside a meditation room.

A beautiful girl in a light yellow robe stood at the door holding a tray. “Lord, it’s time for dinner.”

Inside, after a moment, a hoarse voice answered slowly, “Come in.”

Xue Ming stepped softly into the room and set the tray on a low table by the bed. On the tray was a bowl of delicate meat porridge and four small dishes of plain vegetables.

Chen Shuangning was badly injured and needed careful recovery. He could not continue using fasting pills.

To avoid poisoning again, every meal was cooked by Xue Ming herself in the kitchen, with the whole process watched closely. She never left it unattended. If something urgent forced her away, she asked Liu Shuqi to guard it, or else discarded everything and remade it.

When the tray touched the table, it made a light sound.

The man on the bed leaned slightly, resting against soft pillows at the headboard. One hand lay on the quilt, the other supported his forehead. His soft robe outlined his figure. His long hair hung loosely, smooth against his cheek, covering most of his face. From outside the bed, only his pale chin was visible, delicate and fragile in appearance.

The hoarse voice asked in a low tone, “Where is Liu Shuqi, has everything been settled?”

Xue Ming replied, “It’s settled. He’s still handling the aftermath, but he already sent word back. In the martial world, the Wei Tiger Band no longer exists.”

Chen Shuangning gave a satisfied “Mm.”

Xue Ming still didn’t move her feet, her eyes fixed on the food on the small table. Chen Shuangning didn’t look at her, but seemed to know what she was thinking.

He sighed. “Go out. I’ll eat.”

Xue Ming bowed, then left the meditation room. She knew that during these days, he had no appetite. At first, he barely touched food. Later, probably because he realized she cooked it herself, even if he didn’t want to eat, he forced himself to take a little.

Xue Ming didn’t want to pressure him, but she was a physician, and a skilled one at that. She knew too well the state of Chen Shuangning’s body.

Winter days in the north were very short. In the morning, the sky was still dim and gray. At noon, when the sun came out, it felt comfortable, but the precious sunlight barely lasted before tilting west. By then, the outside grew especially cold.

The sun set quickly. Walking on the road, a few glances back showed the sunset already lower each time. By the time it disappeared completely, the sky was dark.

When it was fully dark, it still wasn’t time for supper. Inside the house, too dark to see, Liandan lit the oil lamp. A small flame leapt up, then weakened, burning slowly.

Xiaodan was not as easy to care for as before. He crawled quickly, could already stand by holding onto things and walk a little. With the slightest carelessness, he might fall or stuff random objects into his mouth.

Caring for him made Liandan both happy and exhausted.

That moment, millet porridge was simmering on the stove. The vegetables were cut, waiting to go into the pot. Xiaodan, tired of playing by himself, held onto the bed edge and toddled toward the outer room. Liandan stopped him and carried him back.

Xiaodan bounced in his arms. The chubby baby was heavy, nearly toppling his dad. Liandan quickly steadied himself against the wall and gave the child’s bottom a pat. Xiaodan didn’t cry. Instead, he giggled loudly.

Liandan had no way to handle him, so he laughed and kissed his face, then placed him in a tall wooden tub in the outer room. He put a toy inside and then cooked while keeping watch.

That was how he managed to finish the meal.

Xiaodan, long out of patience, had been thumping in the tub. Liandan quickly set the food on the table, lifted him out, and fed him.

After dinner and cleaning up, Liandan held Xiaodan’s hand, walking him around the room. When tired, they sat at the table looking at picture books. When Xiaodan yawned, he gave him goat milk, then a bit of water to rinse his mouth, and put him to bed.

Once the child slept, Liandan put on shoes, looked out the window. It was an overcast day. The full moon could not be seen. The water on the stove boiled, rattling the lid.

Liandan returned to himself, poured hot water into a tub, mixed in cold water, and bathed.

After, he towel-dried his hair half dry, coiled it atop his head, washed his underclothes, and hung them by the heated wall.

With nothing left to do, he sat at the bed’s edge, tucked the blanket around the child, and from under the pillow, took out the half tiger tally, rubbing it in his palm while listening to the night outside.

But it stayed quiet.

Until he was nearly dozing, he heard a faint sound. Startled, he opened his eyes and saw someone was already in the room.

“You… you came.”

….

About half an hour later, Liandan turned over weakly with the quilt around him, raised one limp arm to cover half his face, and half-closed his eyes to rest.

Behind him came the rustle of clothing. Footsteps left, then quickly returned.

A basin was set on a chair with a soft clack. Then the sound of cloth dipped in water, then wrung dry.

The bed shook slightly, someone climbing on.

A slender, fair hand held the wrung cloth. The young man’s hoarse voice said, “Let me wipe you.”

Perhaps because tonight wasn’t the first time, or perhaps because his tone was so ordinary, though embarrassed, Liandan still pushed the quilt down.

When the warm cloth wiped across him, he shut his eyes tightly. Chen Shuangning’s strength was not great, but his movements were quick and neat, without hesitation, and without avoidance. Soon, he was clean.

Then he fetched Liandan’s underclothes, dressing him piece by piece.

On the stove, porridge boiled as usual. He fed Liandan half a bowl. When Liandan refused more, he tipped back his head and drank it himself.

Liandan, face flushed, leaned against the headboard. His voice was hoarse. With some worry, he said hesitantly, “You… seem thinner.”

Chen Shuangning set down the bowl, glanced at him, and said lightly, “Maybe.”

The topic ended there.

After clearing the bowl, he went to fetch Xiaodan from the next room and laid him beside Liandan.

He himself sat at the bed’s edge, watching the two. Liandan felt he wanted to speak. Though tired, he forced himself to stay awake.

He too had things he wanted to ask.

They looked at each other for a while. Liandan dropped his eyes, bit his lip, and asked softly, “Half a month till New Year. Can you stay until after the holiday this time?”

Chen Shuangning didn’t answer at once. Only when Liandan looked up at him did he say slowly, “Sorry. I have to leave tomorrow night. The Spring Festival… I may not be able to come.”

Liandan’s eyes first showed surprise, then an awkward, disappointed look. But he quickly lowered his eyes, hiding it all.

His heart was shallow. He couldn’t mask his feelings well. His reddened eyes betrayed him.

Chen Shuangning noticed, but said nothing. His eyes flickered with thoughts. Words he had meant to say turned hesitant.

Liandan turned his face aside, his body trembling slightly.

Chen Shuangning’s lips moved. “Recently, someone saw Yuanjing in the nearby mountains.”

Liandan wiped his face with his hand, turned back in surprise. “He returned?”

Chen Shuangning shook his head. “Not certain yet. But I worry it’s dangerous for you to stay here.”

Liandan blinked. The young man before him asked, “Tomorrow night, will you come back with me?”

“Back where?” Liandan asked.

Chen Shuangning hesitated and weighed his words. Finally, he said, “Back to my home.”