RMCF: Chapter 8

 

Chapter 8

“He Ger, why are you back so late?”

“If it's raining and there's nothing to do, we should cook dinner early.”

“I hurt my leg gathering firewood on the mountain. Getting caught in the rain gave me a chill. I need to wash up.”

Xu's mother looked at the person returning with a limp, carrying a half-empty basket, clothes soaked through. He'd been out for most of the day but had only brought back some palm bark. She didn't say anything, but her eyes kept sweeping over the basket, her meaning clearer than if she had spoken outright.

“Who doesn't have their share of aches and pains? It's easy to catch a chill in winter. Didn’t your Second Sister cough a bit the other day too? It's all normal, no need to worry.”

“Look at you, such a big child, and you still don't know how to chop wood properly? You even fell and hurt your knee, tore such a big hole in your pants. Our family isn't some wealthy, noble household. You should take better care of your clothes. Among the whole family's clothing, yours get damaged the fastest and the worst. Even your father's don't wear out as quickly as yours.”

Xu He listened to what sounded like a caring mother's concern, yet not a single word of it was truly directed at him. He thought about how if his second sister so much as scraped a bit of skin, his mother would be like an ant on a hot pan. In contrast, her calm attitude towards himself made him really not want to say more. He dragged his injured leg back to his room to tend to it.

Dinner was late that evening. Of the four family members, three voiced complaints and reproaches.

…

Over the years, he thought he had long since accepted his position in that household, his heart hardened and cold as iron. But even iron grows hot when heated.

Seated on a stool, he recalled the events following his injury. He bowed his head slightly, struggling to contain the tears welling up in his eyes.

“Is it that bad? The physician will be here soon.”

Zhang Fangyuan watched the young ger curled up, clutching his knees, his slender back trembling slightly. Knowing the person was emotionally unwell, he, who rarely spoke gently and wasn't good at comforting people, could only urge the medical apprentice again to hurry up and arrange things.

The medical apprentice, seeing his head lowered and speaking softly to the ger but turning fierce when looking up, sighed inwardly at how quickly his expression changed. Given the man’s financial standing and assertive manner, the attendant had no choice but to make another trip to check if the physician had finished attending to the previous patient.

“Physician is ready, Sir. You can bring the patient in for consultation now.”

Hearing this, Zhang Fangyuan bent down to help Xu He up. “Can you stand?”

Xu He hastily wiped his eyes and pushed himself up from the stool. Zhang Fangyuan still supported him by the wrist. Inside the consultation room, an elderly physician was writing a prescription; seeing them enter, he motioned for them to sit.

The physician glanced at the patient, then at the tall, sturdy Zhang Fangyuan. He seemed vaguely familiar, as if he had often seen him come to the clinic for injuries and bruises some time ago, and even to set a bone.

However, he didn't specialize in muscle and bone issues and didn't know the man's name. “What is your relation to the patient?” he asked Zhang Fangyuan, glancing at the ger.

“I'm his older brother. My younger brother injured his leg while chopping wood in the mountains recently, then got caught in the rain and got a chill. Please take a look, Physician.”

The old physician acknowledged this. Following procedure, he first checked the pulse, then asked the ger to roll up his trouser leg to see the wound on his knee.

“Ah, this wound is several days old. It wasn't properly bandaged or medicated, and you haven't been resting, have you? It's inflamed now. No wonder you have a chill. The rain is one thing, but an infected wound can also cause fever.”

Seeing the ger's pitiful state, the old physician understood the hardships of rural families. Having practiced medicine all his life, what suffering hadn't he seen or known? So, he turned to scold the tall, strong young man behind him, “No matter how much work there is at home, you shouldn't make an injured person do it! If you don't take good care of your health, you'll lose more than you gain. If it leaves a chronic problem, will you be able to work properly in the future?”

Zhang Fangyuan nodded. “The physician is right.”

Xu He frowned, surprised that Zhang Fangyuan would be so cooperative.

Noting Zhang Fangyuan's sincerity, the old physician ceased his nagging. “I'll prescribe some wound medicine first. This injury requires immediate re-treatment; apply the ointment at once and no more half-hearted efforts. I'll also prescribe some cold-medicine for the chill, take it twice a day when you go back. You’ll be well again in no time.”

After writing the prescription, the physician handed it to Zhang Fangyuan and told him to go out and get the medicine.

Only after watching him leave did Xu He voice his concerns, quietly inquiring about the consultation fee.

The old physician propped himself up. “Our Shencao Hall is a century-old pharmacy in Siyang City, not some small, fraudulent shop that cheats people. Our prices are fair; we won't charge you arbitrarily. Besides, don't trouble yourself. Your older brother is here, isn't he? No need for you to pay.”

This made Xu He even more uncomfortable. It would be awkward to explain that Zhang Fangyuan wasn't his brother, and potentially cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

Zhang Fangyuan was quick, perhaps because the medical apprentice, intimidated by him, handled things efficiently. In less than a quarter of an hour, he was back with the medicine—not only ointment for external application but also internal medicine for the chill, several large packets strung together with hemp rope.

The physician disinfected He Ger's wound, scraped away the rotten flesh that hadn't been properly treated over the past few days, and only then applied the medicine. The ger was very good at enduring pain, but the physician was old and his movements somewhat slow. The scraping of the rotten flesh caused waves of pain, making him gasp sharply. It was quite an ordeal before it was over. Fortunately, once the medicine was applied, his feverish leg felt cool and tingling, relieving some of the pain.

“Avoid getting the wound wet. After you return home, change the medicine daily. Your knee only injured the flesh, not the bones or tendons. As long as you use the medicine properly, it should scab over in a few days.”

“Yes.” Xu He replied obediently. “Thank you, Physician.”

The wound took the time it takes an incense stick to burn to bandage. During that time, Xu He didn't hear Zhang Fangyuan speak and thought he had already left. But when he stood up after the bandaging and turned around, he saw the butcher standing quietly by the door, like a door god poster during New Year.

As he walked over, the door god suddenly, as if by magic, pulled a stick of candied hawthorns from his chest.

Xu He was stunned, staring blankly at the sugar-coated hawthorns, their bright red color and crystal-clear sugar coating.

The old physician smiled. “Children clamor for their parents to buy sugar figures to coax them after a check-up. Your brother coaxes you without you even making a fuss.”

Xu He's face flushed red. He was too embarrassed to take something used to coax children, but the butcher shoved it into his hand anyway. “Thank you, Physician. We're leaving.”

“I'll pay you back for today's consultation fee later.”

Once outside the clinic, Xu He stated firmly.

Zhang Fangyuan didn't refuse. He knew Xu He had a strong sense of pride, and they weren't related anyway. This was the best way. “As you wish. It's sixty-five wen in total. No hurry to give it to me. You can pay when you have the money.”

Xu He felt a little twinge at the thought, but looking at the large and small packets of medicine, the physician's words were indeed fair; it couldn't be considered expensive. As long as it could cure his injury and illness, the money was well spent.

The two walked out in silence, heading straight for the city gate. Xu He decided not to push himself this time and was willing to spend a few wen to take the ox-cart back. Getting his injury healed was what truly mattered. Since no one else cared, he had to take care of himself.

The cart driver hadn't arrived yet. Zhang Fangyuan needed to wait at the tea pavilion for Chen Si anyway, so they waited together.

The ger noticed the many items Zhang Fangyuan was carrying and, for once, initiated conversation. “I heard you're to be married?”

Zhang Fangyuan was a bit surprised that Xu He knew, but recalling Chen Si's words, it seemed plausible. “It's not settled yet. Just preparing some things to go meet them first. Many meetings don't lead to anything. For someone like me, it's even harder to succeed.”

“You have sincerity. It won't be.”

Zhang Fangyuan glanced at Xu He, with a careless chuckle, “Is that so?”

On a sudden impulse, he took out the box and pushed it towards Xu He. “Take a look, would a young lady like it?”

Xu He lowered his gaze to the exquisitely crafted jewelry box, feeling a hint of anticipation. As the lid lifted, four large, round, brilliantly red flowers immediately assaulted his vision. The corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. “Quite... quite festive.”

Zhang Fangyuan seemed very pleased upon hearing this. “Festive, right! I had the shop assistant to pick them.”

Xu He hesitated whether to gently hint that a young lady might not particularly like these, when a shout came from afar, “Ox-cart! Ox-cart! Anyone leaving?”

He quickly stood up. “I should go back now.”

Zhang Fangyuan nodded. “Go on.”

Xu He waved to the ox-cart driver and walked over step by step. Halfway there, he turned back. “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 tea shed. Chen Si returned with the items his family had asked him to buy, and the two headed back to the village together.

It wasn't too late when they returned to the village, just past lunchtime. When Zhang Fangyuan got home, He Shi was already waiting at the door. Seeing him return, she hurried to meet him. “Did you get everything ready?”

Zhang Fangyuan nodded. He Shi beamed, “Then let's go this afternoon. The timing is just right.”

Zhang Fangyuan was slightly taken aback. “So urgent?”

“Silly boy, isn't settling things earlier better?”

Zhang Fangyuan chuckled.

He Shi had done her hair and put on clean clothes, so Zhang Fangyuan also went inside to change. The two got ready, picked up the gifts, and set off for the Guang family on the village border.

The Guang family had only moved to Jijiu Village a few years ago. They lived far out, on the border between two villages, and weren't close to any people from either community. When families had weddings or funerals, they seldom invited this household.

The villagers knew little about the Guang family. The couple seemed honest and quiet when meeting people, so they held no particular hostility or exclusion towards these newcomers. They would still exchange a few polite greetings when they met.

As Zhang Fangyuan's elders, He Shi and Zhang Shicheng felt that since they couldn't find a better match in the village, the Guang family was a good option. After all, they were from the same village, lived relatively close, making interaction easier. It was quite suitable and more convenient than a family from a distant village.

As they walked along the path, He Shi said happily, “Your Fourth Uncle's idea is that if the meeting goes well, we should hold a big celebration, make it lively, and invite the whole village to the feast.”

“Mhm.”

The pair were dreaming of good fortune when, scarcely half an hour later, they spotted the Guang family residence in the distance on the village edge. Rural houses were mostly made of mud with thatched roofs. Those better off had tiled roofs, while the wealthiest families had stone walls, blue-brick tiled houses. In the whole of Jijiu Village, only two or three families possessed such means.

The Zhang family actually had several uncles and was a well-known family in the village. His eldest uncle's and sixth uncle's families, for instance, both had tiled-roof houses, placing them in the upper-middle class of households.

If Zhang Fangyuan hadn't been idle and engaged in disreputable work in the city, spending money as soon as he earned it, but instead settled down early and worked steadily in the village, he might have been able to squeeze into the upper-middle class. Yet now he had nothing, like a drowned dog.

However, now that he has devoted himself to making amends and repeatedly assured his fourth uncle, the latter said the future looked promising.

This Guang family, by contrast, was clearly a lower-tier household, as evident from their small, dilapidated house. They had many children, but none were heard to have great prospects. Life was very difficult for them. It was precisely because of their poverty that they would even consider a meeting with someone as disliked in the village as Zhang Fangyuan.

“They're here! They're here! The ones for the meeting are here!”

The Guang family's youngest son was playing with grasshoppers by the fence. Seeing the two people coming along the mountain path, he shouted and ran into the house.

Hearing the noise, Madam Guang came out to open the courtyard gate. The fifth daughter, who was the subject of this meeting, felt both quite nervous and eager, half-hiding by the door to sneak a look.

She had already heard from the matchmaker that he was a butcher, strong, healthy, tall, and big. Her mother had talked to her half the night, saying that even though the butcher was fierce, he had a skilled trade, which was a very good choice. So, she had mentally prepared herself somewhat.

But when she actually saw the man with his thick eyebrows and piercing eyes, broad shoulders, and head held high, the young woman still felt a bit timid in her heart.

The man was actually quite handsome, even good-looking, but he was just too robust. If his temper was bad, couldn't he just kill someone with two punches?

She felt somewhat like retreating. Yet, seeing the man's clothes were of good material, and many gifts he had brought just for this meeting, her heart felt conflicted and unsettled.

The Zhang clan was one of the prominent families in the village, their financial situation much better than her own family's. Marrying into such a household would certainly mean she wouldn't have to continue eating chaff and bitter herbs at home. This point made her genuinely tempted.

Furthermore, her family was currently in dire straits. Her second brother was already quite old and hadn't found a wife or husband. Some time ago, he got injured while working and still needed money for medicine. If they didn't get a sum of money soon, the family might not be able to carry on.

Her getting married was the best option. She could live a better life herself, and the family would also get some silver.

 

<< ToC >>