Through chance, Yuan Zhao and the others rescued a villager’s son. After some struggle, the family came to the Shi household, profusely thanking them. Many villagers had gathered outside the Shi home to watch.
The woman, wiping tears, handed a basket filled with dried vegetables, eggs, and even a palm-sized piece of meat—an extraordinarily generous gift.
Shi Zhangshi, slightly embarrassed, reminded Yuan Zhao, “These were made by my son-in-law and the children, but it’s too valuable.”
“Don’t be polite. There’s only one child in the family. If anything happened, I wouldn’t know what to do. I know it’s not easy for you either—just accept this. If you need anything, just say so. Neighbors help each other!” The woman firmly placed the basket into Yuan Zhao’s hands.
“Exactly! We’re all neighbors; helping each other is normal,” Yuan Zhao said without hesitation. They had done good, and receiving gratitude was natural—plus, eggs were valuable for nourishment.
Shi Zhangshi smiled helplessly, saying nothing further. Indeed, these gifts were a timely relief for her family.
The woman didn’t linger any longer, instructing them that if anything came up, they could find her at the eastern end of the village, then hurried back to check on her son. In that moment, the two families seemed to share a quiet sense of mutual sympathy.
The villagers who had come to watch were surprised that the Shi family had done such a kind deed. Their expressions softened, and a few of them even offered a few polite words as they left, showing they were inclined to get along with the Shi family.
Shi Zhangshi couldn’t help but glance at Yuan Zhao. The thin, dark-skinned little boy wore a smile, and yet his eyes shone with an unusual brightness. He had only been there half a day, and already he had helped ease tensions between them and the villagers.
“This really is a good child!” she thought.
“So many eggs. Tonight, we’ll make egg soup for Axiang,” Yuan Zhao said with a smile, knowing that the household’s best ingredients should be saved for the patient for now.
“Cook extra. You all should have some too,” Shi Zhangshi said softly. “It’s a gift to thank you. Others haven’t been served yet.”
Yuan Zhao couldn’t help but laugh aloud. Finally, he could eat eggs openly; back at his second uncle’s house, he had always sneaked extra portions to feed Yuan Yuan!
After putting everything away, Yuan Zhao stacked the firewood neatly along the wall. There were also some dried mushrooms and tender wild vegetables in the baskets, enough to feed them for one meal.
It was still cold, and dusk fell quickly.
As night came, the chill deepened. Yuan Zhao hurried to light the fire and cook. They were already running low on food, but thanks to the good deed he had done that day, they even had eggs to eat!
He made coarse flour pancakes and then boiled a pot of egg and vegetable soup. Though each portion had only a little egg, it was still nourishing, and the hot soup warmed them through.
Because they were used to drinking only soup daily, Shi Wuxiang’s complexion was poor and he had grown thinner. With the three daily doses of medicine, if he didn’t wake, it would be a matter of life and death.
Pooh, pooh, pooh!
Yuan Zhao smacked his own face vigorously—how could he think such bad thoughts!
He efficiently fed the warm soup to the patient, tidied everything up, and carefully crawled into bed. The warm kang (heated platform bed) was spacious, no need to squeeze, and although he shared the quilt with the patient, at least they had something to cover themselves with.
“I’m going to sleep,” he whispered to the person beside him.
Though only a single day had passed, Yuan Zhao felt as if an eternity had gone by. Exhaustion overtook him, and he fell asleep the moment his head tilted.
The next morning.
At dawn, Yuan Zhao quickly got up to cook. The household had little to do in the morning; a sip of hot soup was enough, no need to fill their stomachs entirely.
“Zhao-ge’er, why are you up so early?” Shi Zhangshi asked, rubbing her hands as she stepped out. “There’s nothing to do; you don’t need to get up this early.”
Yuan Zhao smiled slightly. “I thought I’d make a pot of hot soup, and also go into the mountains to chop more firewood, then check with the village head about where the fallow fields are. Once it’s warmer, we’ll need to plant crops.”
If they didn’t plant, there would still be nothing to eat—they’d go hungry.
Hearing this, Shi Zhangshi frowned. “When I left home years ago, I sold all our fields. We didn’t leave ourselves any backup at all.”
Yuan Zhao was more relaxed. “Back then, no one knew what the future would hold. If the fields are gone, we can reclaim new ones. There’s plenty of unclaimed land; if we cultivate it, it will be ours!”
“You’re right. I’ll help you light the fire,” Shi Zhangshi said.
“All right!”
Lighting the fire would make things warmer, and Yuan Zhao naturally wouldn’t refuse.
Soon, a steaming pot of noodle soup was ready. Yuan Zhao served a large bowl to cool, then went inside to call Yuan Yuan and the others for breakfast. Once they finished, he hurried to feed Shi Wuxiang.
The room had become lively. He placed the bowl by the kang as usual, ready to lift Shi Wuxiang’s face to feed him, as it made the task much easier.
But as his hand touched Shi Wuxiang’s face, he heard a voice!
“Don’t touch—”
“What? Who? Who’s speaking?” Yuan Zhao shouted in surprise, almost spilling the bowl of soup.
He quickly realized there was only himself and Shi Wuxiang in the room. If it wasn’t him speaking, it had to be the patient!
He leaned closer and saw that Shi Wuxiang’s eyes were already open.
“Ah!” Yuan Zhao yelled. “He’s awake! He’s awake! Someone come quick!”
His cry immediately drew the Shi family to the room. Upon hearing his words, Shi Zhangshi instantly understood. Tears welled in her eyes, her voice choked with emotion.
“My son, my son!”
“Brother, you’re finally awake… sob sob…”
Yuan Zhao stepped back, letting them near, watching from the side. It was a joyous moment—enough to bring anyone to tears.
Shi Wuxiang’s tired eyes took in everything. He felt bewildered. Where was he? How had he ended up here? And why were unfamiliar people crying around him?
“Should we call the village doctor?” Yuan Zhao had to interrupt the crying.
“Yes, yes, call the doctor!” Shi Zhangshi turned to her second son. “Axiang, go quickly! Heaven’s blessing has truly worked!”
The doctor arrived soon after, taking his pulse. Even he was astonished. “Aside from a weak pulse that needs strengthening, there’s nothing major. This is practically a miracle…”
When the Shi family had returned to the village before, his pulse had been frail, as withered as dead wood, showing no sign of life. Yet now, it had changed completely.
Shi Zhangshi was even more convinced that Yuan Zhao’s efforts had brought the luck. She held his hand, tears streaming, whispering, “Good child…”
Yuan Zhao, however, forced a tight-lipped smile, unable to speak.
“Continue the previous medicine. I’ll prepare a prescription to nourish blood and boost energy. After a few days, he can go outside, breathe some fresh air, and he will fully recover!” the doctor said, satisfied. He hadn’t expected a patient like this to actually survive.
“Thank you, doctor!” Shi Zhangshi wiped her tears, but when she tried to give the coins, she froze. She had already given all her silver to Yuan Zhao.
He didn’t think much, immediately handing the silver over. “Buy medicine.”
Shi Wuxiang recovered so quickly that even without Yuan Zhao’s ritual, he likely would have woken up soon. It was only fortunate timing that made it seem the ritual was effective.
If the truth about him being a trickster were ever revealed, life would not be easy.
Shi Wuxiang blinked, trying to process everything. He felt a helpless emptiness, like lying in a void.
Where was this place?
Who were these people?
“Son, you’re finally awake! If I had known this ritual worked, you would have married Zhao-ge’er sooner. It’s all my fault for letting you wake up so late,” Shi Zhangshi said, tears in her eyes, her gaze full of affection.
Son?
Shi Wuxiang had been orphaned young, never remembering his parents’ faces. They shouldn’t even be alive.
And married to Zhao-ge’er?
Zhao-ge’er?
Oh—this boy in front of him.
His eyes went blank. The unfamiliar surroundings, the old, dilapidated house, and the archaic clothing forced him to accept that he had somehow ended up in a strange place.
Worse, he vaguely remembered an accident, but somehow had arrived here, facing the risk of never returning. He couldn’t resist and fainted again.
“Son! Axiang!”
“Perhaps he’s just too tired?” Yuan Zhao gently soothed. “A patient needs rest. He’ll sleep more. Didn’t the doctor say he’s fine?”
Shi Zhangshi held Yuan Zhao’s hand tightly, smiling upon hearing him. “Yes, you’re right. Good child, you’ve done a great favor! I don’t know how to thank you!”
Yuan Zhao shook his head frantically. “Please, don’t say that…”
He only hoped that when the truth came out later, no one would blame him.
While unconscious, Shi Wuxiang had a dream. He wore a scholar’s robe and argued endlessly with a fellow student over a girl—the daughter of a teacher. Many scholars in the academy had the same intentions. The disputes escalated into fights.
Shi Wuxiang thought it absurd.
How could a living girl be fought over as if she were a prize?
“Ridiculous…” he murmured as he awoke. His eyes met a pair of bright, shining ones, and his heart skipped a beat.
Yuan Zhao tilted his head, smiling brightly. “You’re awake! It’s almost lunchtime. Are you hungry? Need to go to the bathroom? Shall I bring the chamber pot?”
Shi Wuxiang, who had never wet the bed, fainted again upon hearing this.