“Brother He, why are you coming back so late?”
“It’s raining, and there’s nothing else to do, so you should have prepared dinner earlier.”
“I hurt my leg while gathering firewood on the mountain. I caught a chill from the rain, so I need to wash up and clean my wound.”
Mother Xu looked at the person limping home with a half-empty basket on his back. His entire body was soaked from the rain. He had been gone for most of the day, yet all he had brought back were a few strips of palm bark for making outer garments.
She didn’t say anything outright, but her eyes kept moving back and forth over the basket. Her meaning was even more obvious than if she had spoken directly.
“Who doesn’t suffer from the occasional illness or injury? It’s easy to catch a chill in winter. Your second older sister was coughing a little just the other day too. It’s perfectly normal. There’s no need to worry.”
“Look at you. You’re already such a grown man, yet you still don’t know how to chop firewood. You even injured your knee, and there’s such a big hole in your trousers. Our family isn’t particularly wealthy, so you should take better care of your clothes. Out of everyone’s clothes in this family, yours are always the most damaged and worn out. Even your father doesn’t ruin his clothes as badly as you do.”
Xu He listened to every sentence, each one sounding like a caring mother’s concern. Yet not a single word was truly concerned about him.
He thought about how his second older sister had only scraped off a little skin, and their mother had become so frantic that she was practically pacing like an ant on a hot pan. By contrast, her attitude toward him was so indifferent.
He really didn’t want to say anything more. Dragging his injured leg, he returned to his room to tend to himself.
Dinner was prepared rather late that night. In a family of four, three people were complaining and blaming him.
All these years, he had thought he had long since accepted his place in that family. He had thought his heart had become as hard and cold as iron.
But even iron could grow hot when exposed to heat.
Sitting on a stool, he recalled how he had gotten injured. His head hung slightly as he struggled to hold back the tears welling up in his eyes.
“Does it hurt that badly? The physician will be here soon.”
Zhang Fangyuan looked at the young man hugging his knees, almost curled into a ball. His thin back was trembling slightly. Knowing that his emotions were in a bad state, Zhang Fangyuan rarely spoke gently and wasn’t good at comforting others. All he could do was urge the medical apprentice again to hurry up and arrange for the physician.
The apprentice saw how gently Zhang Fangyuan lowered his head to speak to the young man, only to look fierce and intimidating whenever he raised it. He couldn’t help sighing at how quickly the man could change his expression.
Since Zhang Fangyuan was paying and was rather imposing, the apprentice had no choice but to make another trip to check whether the physician had finished treating the previous patient.
“The physician is ready. Sir, you can bring the patient in for a consultation now.”
Hearing this, Zhang Fangyuan bent down to help Xu He up.
“Can you still stand?”
Xu He hurriedly wiped his eyes and braced himself against the stool. Zhang Fangyuan nevertheless reached out and supported him by the wrist.
Inside the consultation room, an elderly physician was writing a prescription. Seeing the two enter, he invited them to sit down.
The physician looked at the patient, then at Zhang Fangyuan, who was as tall and sturdy as an ox. He found the man somewhat familiar. It seemed that he had often seen him coming to the clinic for medicine for bruises and injuries some time ago. He had even once come in to have a bone set.
However, the old physician didn’t specialize in bones and muscles, and he didn’t know the man’s name.
“What’s your relationship to the patient?”
He addressed Zhang Fangyuan while glancing at Brother He.
“I’m his older brother. My younger brother injured his leg while chopping firewood on the mountain a while ago, then got soaked in the rain and caught a chill. Please take a look at him, Doctor.”
The old physician acknowledged him and, as was customary, first took Xu He’s pulse. Then he asked Brother He to roll up his trouser leg so he could examine the wound on his knee.
“Oh! This wound is already several days old. You haven’t bandaged it properly or applied any medicine. Have you also failed to get enough rest? It’s become infected. No wonder you’ve caught a chill. Getting soaked in the rain is one thing, but an infected wound can also cause a fever.”
The old physician looked at the pitiful young man. Understanding the hardships faced by ordinary rural families, he had practiced medicine all his life and had seen every kind of suffering imaginable.
He turned his head and reprimanded the tall, sturdy young man standing behind them.
“No matter how much work there is at home, you shouldn’t make someone who’s injured do it! If you don’t take proper care of the body, you’ll only end up losing more than you gain. If he develops a lasting ailment, how will he be able to work properly in the future?”
Zhang Fangyuan nodded. “The physician is right.”
Xu He furrowed his brows. He hadn’t expected Zhang Fangyuan to cooperate so readily.
Seeing that Zhang Fangyuan seemed sincere enough, the old physician didn’t continue lecturing him. Instead, he said, “I’ll prescribe some medicine for the wound now. This injury needs to be properly cleaned and treated immediately. Apply the medicine without delay, and don’t be careless about it again. I’ll also prescribe some medicine for your cold. Take it twice a day after returning home, and you’ll recover before long.”
After finishing the prescription, the physician handed it to Zhang Fangyuan and told him to go outside to collect the medicine.
Xu He watched him leave before finally voicing the concern weighing on his mind. He quietly asked the physician how much the consultation would cost.
The old physician raised his eyelids.
“Our Shencaotang has been a reputable pharmacy in Siyang City for a hundred years. We’re not some little shop that cheats people. Our prices are fair, and we won’t arbitrarily overcharge you. Besides, don’t trouble yourself over the money. Isn’t your older brother right here? There’s no need for you to pay.”
Hearing this only made Xu He feel more troubled. It wasn’t convenient for him to explain that Zhang Fangyuan wasn’t actually his older brother. Wouldn’t that just create an unnecessary misunderstanding?
Zhang Fangyuan was quick. Perhaps the medical apprentice was intimidated by him and worked efficiently. In less than a quarter of an hour, he had returned with the medicine.
There were not only ointments for external application but also several packets of medicine for the cold, all tied together with hemp string.
The physician disinfected Brother He’s wound and scraped away the dead flesh that had accumulated because it hadn’t been properly treated these past few days. Only then did he apply the medicine and cover the wound.
Xu He was very good at enduring pain. However, the physician was advanced in age and moved rather slowly. Each time he scraped away the dead flesh, Xu He felt waves of pain. He couldn’t help sucking in sharp breaths.
Only after enduring this lengthy ordeal did the treatment finally end. Fortunately, once the medicine was applied, his previously feverish leg felt cool, relieving some of the pain.
“Be careful not to get the wound wet. After you return home, you must change the dressing every day. Your knee has only suffered damage to the flesh and skin; the muscles, tendons, and bones aren’t injured. As long as you apply the medicine properly, it should scab over in just a few days.”
“Yes.” Xu He obediently agreed. “Thank you, Doctor.”
The wound took the time of one incense stick to bandage. Throughout the entire process, Xu He hadn’t heard Zhang Fangyuan say a single word. He had assumed the man had already left. But when the bandaging was finished and he stood up and turned around, he saw the butcher still standing quietly by the doorway, looking just like one of those Door Gods pasted up during the New Year.
When Xu He walked over, the Door God suddenly performed a magic trick, pulling a string of candied hawthorns out from inside his clothes.
Xu He froze for a moment, staring blankly at the hawthorns coated in sugar. They were bright red, and the sugar coating was crystal clear.
The old physician smiled. “Children always fuss and ask their parents to buy them candied figures after seeing the doctor. Your older brother, on the other hand, doesn’t even need you to ask before he coaxes you with sweets.”
Xu He’s face turned red. He was embarrassed to accept something meant to coax a child, but the butcher simply stuffed it into his palm.
“Thank you, Doctor. We’re leaving.”
“I’m going to pay you back for today’s medical expenses later.”
Once they stepped outside the clinic, Xu He spoke firmly.
Zhang Fangyuan didn’t refuse. He knew Xu He was proud and independent, and besides, they weren’t related. This was the best way to handle things.
“Suit yourself. It comes to sixty-five coins in total. There’s no need to rush to pay me back. Give it to me when you have the money.”
Xu He felt a pang at the expense. But looking at the large and small packets of medicine, he had to admit that the physician’s prices had been reasonable. It wasn’t particularly expensive. As long as his injuries and illness could be cured, the money was well spent.
After leaving, the two walked in silence toward the city gate.
This time, Xu He didn’t intend to push himself too hard on the way back. He was willing to spend a few coins to take an ox cart home. Getting his injuries healed was what mattered most. Since no one else cared about him, he would have to take care of himself.
The ox-cart driver hadn’t arrived yet. Zhang Fangyuan happened to be waiting for Chen Si at the tea stall, so the two of them waited together.
Xu He looked at the considerable number of things Zhang Fangyuan was carrying. For once, he took the initiative to speak.
“I heard you’re getting married?”
Zhang Fangyuan was somewhat surprised that Xu He knew, but then he remembered what Chen Si had said and thought it was only natural.
“Nothing’s settled yet. I’ve just bought some things and am going over to meet the girl. Plenty of people meet and end up not getting married. Someone like me has an even harder time making things work.”
“You’re sincere about it. It won’t happen that way.”
Zhang Fangyuan glanced at Xu He, then suddenly smiled.
“Is that so?”
On a whim, he took out a box and pushed it toward Xu He.
“Take a look. Do you think a young lady would like these?”
Xu He lowered his eyes and looked at the exquisite, attractive jewelry box. He felt a little anticipation as he opened it.
Immediately, four large, round, brilliantly red flowers filled his view.
The corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
“They’re… quite festive.”
Zhang Fangyuan was delighted by his response.
“Festive, aren’t they? I had the shop assistant pick them out!”
Xu He wanted to tactfully remind him that a young girl might not necessarily like such things. But just then, a shout came from a distance.
“Ox cart! Ox cart! Is anyone going?”
He hurriedly stood up.
“I’ll head back first.”
Zhang Fangyuan nodded. “Go ahead.”
Xu He waved to the ox-cart driver and walked toward him step by step. When he had covered half the distance, he turned back once more.
“Thank you.”
Zhang Fangyuan smiled and shook his head.
Not long after the ox cart left, Zhang Fangyuan finished a cup of tea at the roadside stall. Chen Si returned carrying the things his family had asked him to buy, and the two headed back to the village together.
It wasn’t particularly late when they returned. Lunch had already been over for some time. When Zhang Fangyuan got home, Madam He was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing him return, she hurried forward.
“Have you got everything ready?”
Zhang Fangyuan nodded.
Madam He was beaming. “Then let’s go over this afternoon. The timing is just right.”
Zhang Fangyuan was slightly taken aback. “So soon?”
“You silly boy. Isn’t it better to get things settled sooner?”
Zhang Fangyuan chuckled.
Madam He had combed her hair and dressed herself neatly. Zhang Fangyuan also went inside and changed into clean clothes. After tidying everything up, the two picked up the gifts and headed toward the Guang family, which lived at the boundary of the village.
The Guang family had only moved to Jijiou Village a few years ago. Their home was also quite far away, situated at the boundary between two villages. They weren’t particularly close to the people of either village. Whenever someone held a wedding or funeral, this household was rarely invited.
The villagers didn’t know much about the Guang family. They only knew that the husband and wife seemed honest and simple, and neither talked much when meeting others. As a result, the villagers had no particular hostility or prejudice toward these newcomers. When they encountered them, they would still exchange a few polite words.
As Zhang Fangyuan’s elders, Madam He and Zhang Shicheng felt that since the village had few other suitable families to recommend, the Guang family wasn’t a bad choice. After all, they were residents of the same village and lived relatively close by. It would be convenient to visit one another, and there was nothing unsuitable about the match. It would certainly be less troublesome than marrying into a distant village.
As they walked along, Madam He said happily, “Your fourth uncle’s thinking is that if the meeting goes well, we’ll hold a grand wedding banquet and make a proper celebration of it. We’ll invite everyone in the village to come and drink the wedding wine.”
“Mm.”
The two chatted happily about the good things to come. In less than half an hour, they could already see the Guang family’s home in the distance at the village boundary.
Most rural houses were made of mud walls with thatched roofs. Families with slightly better means had tiled roofs, while the wealthiest households had stone walls and blue-brick houses with tiled roofs. In the entire sizable Jijiou Village, only two or three families had the means to build houses like that.
The Zhang family actually had several branches, and they were a fairly well-known clan in the village. For example, both his eldest uncle’s family and his sixth uncle’s family had tiled-roof houses. They were considered upper-middle-class households.
If Zhang Fangyuan hadn’t wasted his time on disreputable businesses in the city, spending whatever he earned each day as soon as he earned it, and had instead settled down and gotten married earlier while managing his affairs properly in the village, perhaps he could have worked his way into the ranks of the upper-middle-class households.
But now, he had nothing and was practically like a drowned dog.
However, he was now determined to turn over a new leaf. After repeatedly assuring his fourth uncle of his intentions, his fourth uncle had told him that his future was still promising.
The Guang family, on the other hand, was clearly a lower-class household. This was evident from their small, dilapidated house. They also had many children, yet none of them had achieved anything particularly noteworthy. Their life must have been quite difficult.
And precisely because they were poor, they had been willing to consider someone like Zhang Fangyuan, whom the villagers generally looked down upon as an unsuitable marriage prospect.
“They’re here! They’re here! The people coming for the marriage meeting are here!”
The Guang family’s youngest son had been playing with grass insects near the fence. When he spotted the two people approaching along the mountain path, he hurriedly shouted and ran into the house.
Hearing his voice, Madam Guang came out to open the courtyard gate. The fifth daughter, who was the subject of today’s marriage meeting, felt both nervous and eager. She hid partially behind the doorway, secretly peeking outside.
The matchmaker had told her long ago that the prospective groom was a butcher, a tall, strong, and healthy man. Her mother had talked to her for half the night, explaining that although butchers could be rough and fierce, they had a trade to rely on and made good marriage prospects. She had already prepared herself mentally.
However, when she actually saw the man with his thick eyebrows, large eyes, broad shoulders, and head held high, the young woman still felt a little intimidated.
The man was indeed handsome, even rather good-looking. It was just that he was too powerfully built. If he had a bad temper, wouldn’t two punches from him be enough to beat someone to death?
She felt somewhat hesitant and wanted to back out. But when she noticed how fine the fabric of his clothes was and how many gifts he had brought just for this meeting, she couldn’t quite bring herself to give up.
The Zhang clan was generally one of the wealthier families in the village, and their circumstances were much better than her own family’s. If she married into their household, she certainly wouldn’t have to keep eating coarse grain and plain vegetables like she did at home. This was something that greatly tempted her.
Besides, her family was currently in a truly difficult situation. Her second older brother was already quite old but still hadn’t found a girl or young man to marry. He had recently gone out to work and injured himself, and now the family also had to spend money on medicine. Without a quick influx of money, the family might not even be able to get by.
Her marriage was the best option. She could have a better life herself, while her family would also receive some money.