Chapter 192: One Step Short
“Shi Tou, hang him up.” Shang Wan truly wasn’t afraid of tough nuts; she wanted to see just how tough Yu Er’s bones were.
Shi Tou obeyed the order, dragged Yu Er out, and hung the man upside down from a tree.
Yu Da pleaded, but Shang Wan didn’t even lift her eyelids. “Hang him up too.”
Seeing Yu Da also hung upside down, Yu Er angrily cursed, “One person does the deed, one person takes the blame. Punish me if you must, but why punish my brother?”
Shang Wan didn’t answer him. Shi Tou found him noisy and directly stuffed their mouths.
Shang Wan said, “Let them down after one hour.”
“Got it.”
Yuan Yuan raised her small hand and patted her. “Mom.”
The little baby girl pointed at the two uncles hanging upside down outside in a row, not understanding why they were hung up.
Shang Wan solemnly coaxed her, “Being picky about food is bad for the body. Mom is helping them develop good habits.”
The others: “…”
Yuan Yuan blinked her big eyes, understanding an important reason.
— Being picky about food would get her hung on a tree by Mom. She didn’t want to be hung on a tree, so she couldn’t be picky about food.
Chu Xu, who didn’t like eating vegetables, glanced at Shang Wan’s expression and proactively reached out his chopsticks toward the bok choy.
Shang Wan thought today’s parenting lesson had been very successful too.
One hour later, Yu Da and Yu Er were let down from the tree by Shi Tou.
Yu Er had already passed out, while Yu Da was barely awake, his stomach rumbling like thunder.
Xiao Huan said while collecting the hemp rope, “There’s leftover food in the kitchen.”
Hearing this, Yu Da quickly thanked her.
He was so hungry his vision blurred. Propping himself up unsteadily, he stumbled to the kitchen. Unable to wait to bring the food out, he grabbed a bowl and chopsticks and started eating right there.
The leftovers had both vegetables and meat. Though cold, to Yu Da at this moment, they were as delicious as the finest delicacies.
He also found two steamed buns in the steamer. He ate one himself and left one for his brother.
After eating until seventy percent full, he had finished most of the leftovers. Thinking of his brother, Yu Da quickly scraped the remaining leftovers into a big bowl and carried it to the side room to find Yu Er.
Yu Er was still unconscious, his forehead burning hot.
Yu Da fed him water but couldn’t wake him no matter what. Worried his brother would die if the fever continued, he gritted his teeth and ran to find Shang Wan.
Shang Wan was in the study watching Lu Chengjing paint a picture of two children playing on the couch by the window.
Chu Xu was miserably copying books, while Yuan Yuan was… making trouble—no, playing.
She was busy pressing her small hand onto the paper to make flower prints.
Chu Xu’s fair little face also got one printed on it.
The young master wasn’t angry and politely drew a little flower on Yuan Yuan’s forehead in return.
When Shang Wan came in and saw it, she laughed until her shoulders shook and gently refused Yuan Yuan’s request to print one on her too.
Lu Chengjing rarely got inspired, set down his book, and started painting the two children.
Yu Da came running. Even though anxious as fire, he cautiously knocked on the door first.
Shang Wan didn’t let him come in and disturb the fun of the one big and two small ones. She opened the door and went out.
Yu Da’s legs buckled as he knelt to her. “Madam, Yu Er’s whole body is burning like hot coals. If he burns into a fool, how can he work for Madam? Please ask a doctor for Yu Er.”
Shang Wan sneered, “A fool wouldn’t have so many crooked thoughts and would still do the work. What’s so bad about that?”
Yu Da was burning with anxiety and had no mind to spar words with Shang Wan. “Madam, as long as you’re willing to save Yu Er, whatever you want me to do, just say it.”
Shang Wan looked at his sweat-drenched anxious face and thought this man could bend and stretch; he was quite bold for his brother.
“From beginning to end, I’ve made it very clear. I kept you to work in the field, not to act like a master picking and choosing, and certainly not to cause trouble for me and my family.”
Yu Da buried his head lower. “Madam, rest assured. We will never offend again.”
Seeing him obedient, Shang Wan relented. “You’ve already signed the deed of sale, so you’re my people now. As long as you do your duty, I naturally won’t make things hard for you.”
Yu Da: “I will remember.”
“Go find Shi Tou. He’ll take you to get medicine from the doctor.” Shang Wan had no intention of feeding Yu Er spiritual spring water again.
Yu Da hurriedly thanked her. Only after getting permission did he stand and run off to find Shi Tou.
Shang Wan silently watched his retreating back.
Yu Da’s weakness was Yu Er. As long as she controlled Yu Er, Yu Da would have to obey.
Yu Er had a stubborn temper, but as long as he feared death, he couldn’t outstubborn the whip.
With the two mutually restraining each other, balance was achieved.
Now, just one step left.
·
Shi Tou took Yu Da to the Yuan Family and, after describing the symptoms, asked Yuan Musheng to prescribe medicine.
Yu Da was a stranger, tall and big, with a fierce frown between his brows. Rong Niangzi glanced at him a few extra times, feeling he didn’t seem like a good person.
She beckoned Shi Tou aside and asked quietly, “Who is he? Your relative?”
Lu Chengjing had already prepared identities for the two. Shi Tou repeated it, “He’s a distant relative from my sister’s side. His family offended someone, and the whole family died except for the two brothers. Forced to survive, they heard about my sister’s connection and came to seek refuge.”
Hearing he’d offended someone, Rong Niangzi’s fine brows furrowed as she asked curiously, “Who did he offend?”
“Seemed like some official.” Shi Tou spoke vaguely and winked at Rong Niangzi, letting her figure it out.
Rong Niangzi immediately thought crookedly, automatically imagining a story of an official persecuting good folk who couldn’t fight back. She couldn’t help sighing.
Then thinking of something, she pulled Shi Tou’s sleeve and walked a bit further aside, saying quietly, “We common folk can’t afford to provoke officials. Your younger brother’s wife is kind-hearted. Go back and advise her to think it over carefully, so she doesn’t get implicated.”
Shi Tou knew Rong Niangzi meant well for their family; otherwise, she wouldn’t say such offending words. He nodded repeatedly to show he understood.
The two got the medicine, paid, and took their leave.
On the way back, they ran into villagers, all curiously eyeing Yu Da.
Yu Da, worried about his brother’s illness, got annoyed at being stared at. His fierce eyes glared back, scaring the villagers badly. They didn’t dare ask questions.
Shi Tou was very satisfied with this effect. He smiled at the familiar villagers and quickened his steps home.
Xiao Huan had already gotten out the medicine pot and washed it clean. Yu Da gratefully thanked her, decocted the medicine, then went to the side room to check on Yu Er.
Yu Er was still unconscious, covered in sweat, but his forehead wasn’t as hot.
Yu Da breathed a sigh of relief and lifted Yu Er’s trouser leg to check the injury on his leg.
The wound was red and swollen, not yet pus-filled, but with the hot weather, if it stayed this swollen, that leg might be ruined.
He fetched well water to clean the wound again, then applied the ointment bought from the Yuan Family.
After doing everything, he hurried to watch the medicine on the stove.
Under the tree, Xiao Huan poked Shi Tou’s arm and jerked her chin toward the kitchen. “Hey, guess when he’ll run?”
“At least wait until the one on the bed heals his injury.” Shi Tou chewed on a blade of grass and muttered, “I’ve noted the medicine money; it’ll be deducted from their wages.”
Xiao Huan glanced at him. “You think sis will give them wages?”
