Chapter 27: No Ordinary Baby
Yuan Langzhong’s real name is Yuan Musheng. Shang Wan thought the group didn’t know each other, so she introduced them to one another.
“Sister, back when Young Master was recovering from illness in the village, there were several times when his high fever wouldn’t break. It was always Brother Yuan who came up with solutions.” Shi Tou scratched his head and smiled at Yuan Musheng. “Brother Yuan, long time no see.”
“It’s been five years, right? You’ve grown so tall, kid.” Yuan Musheng patted Shi Tou’s shoulder and looked at Lu Chengjing. “How’d you get so skinny like a monkey? No blood color on your face at all. Doesn’t the Lu Family feed you?”
Nine years ago, Lu Chengjing was ten. Because Madam Lu drew an extremely bad lot at the temple, the lot poem meant that Lu Chengjing had offended the God of Literature, which would hinder Big Brother Lu Chengyuan’s imperial examination.
While still running a high fever, Lu Chengjing was hastily packed up by Madam Lu, who had returned home, and sent to Elm Tree Village—under the pretext that Elm Tree Village had beautiful scenery, beneficial for rest.
The only ones accompanying to serve him were Shi Tou and Lu Chengjing’s wet nurse Qin Momo.
Suddenly sent to an unfamiliar place, Shi Tou and Qin Momo had no time to adapt before facing the problem of no medicine in the luggage, with Lu Chengjing’s high fever unrelenting, on the verge of burning into an idiot.
Yuan Musheng at the time was just an apprentice at a small pharmacy in the county town, living and eating there, going home every three days to check on his parents.
When Shi Tou came begging at his door, he was sleeping soundly on the kang. When he opened the door, there was still sleep in the corner of his eye.
He was just a pharmacy apprentice, having studied only a month. How could he dare treat someone?
But the kid who came begging cried as if the sky had fallen. Unable to bear it, he gritted his teeth, took the few symptomatic medicines available at home, and went. Astonishingly, using well water to reduce the fever and forcing down several large bowls of bitter medicine, he brought down Lu Chengjing’s fever, nearly saving Lu Chengjing’s life.
Seeing something off with this family’s situation, Yuan Musheng took the chance while Qin Momo was cooking rice to pry information from Shi Tou. Shi Tou was not yet ten then and unwittingly spilled everything to Yuan Musheng.
After learning of Lu Chengjing’s ordeal, Yuan Musheng felt great sympathy for the child. Every time he returned from the county town, he had to come see him. Whatever things the three needed, he helped bring them back.
After going back and forth like that, they became familiar.
After a year, Qin Momo’s son died. She rushed back to attend a funeral and never returned, leaving the two half-grown boys to depend on each other.
Shi Tou’s cooking was always half-raw. Lu Chengjing ate half a month of undercooked rice and half-raw mushy vegetables, and directly fell ill. If Yuan Musheng hadn’t happened to return, Lu Chengjing probably would have died under Shi Tou’s dark cuisine.
Another year later, the Lu Family suddenly sent people to pick up Lu Chengjing. Yuan Musheng thought perhaps Lu Father and Lu Mother had a change of heart and were taking Lu Chengjing back to enjoy good fortune. He even spent his own money to treat the two kids to a good meal, happily sending them off.
After parting for five years, he hadn’t expected the two to return to Elm Tree Village, and at a glance, it was clear they hadn’t had it good at the Lu Family.
Yuan Musheng asked why the two had returned. Shi Tou was close to him, and Lu Chengjing didn’t stop him, so he spilled everything straightforwardly like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.
Yuan Musheng listened, seething with anger.
Were there parents like that? When the child got into trouble, instead of thinking to save him, they hurried to strike him from the family tree to cut ties. Those who didn’t know would think Lu Chengjing was picked up from somewhere.
He couldn’t help cursing, “The Lu Family really isn’t human. I knew you shouldn’t have gone back. Your brain is sharp. Stay in the village and study medicine with me—you wouldn’t starve to death that way.”
Lu Chengjing pursed his lips, his eyes darkening slightly.
Shang Wan glanced at him and changed the subject. “Doctor Yuan, first check Yuan Yuan’s injury.”
Little Friend Yuan Yuan had already nestled in her own dad’s arms and fallen asleep. Yuan Musheng pulled over her arm, cleaned the wound, sprinkled on golden wound medicine. The pain jolted the little one awake with an “ow,” her little arm flailing wildly, nearly knocking over the medicine box.
Lu Chengjing hurriedly grabbed her wrist, but unexpectedly Yuan Yuan was strong. Not only did he fail to hold on, he even took a fist from his own daughter.
Lu Chengjing, with two streams of nosebleed, doubted life.
Though he was somewhat sickly, there was no reason he couldn’t hold even a one-year-old baby.
Shang Wan laughed inwardly. Yuan Yuan was young, but the spiritual spring water seemed to have changed her constitution, causing her to unexpectedly awaken a beast-taming ability at a critical moment. Her physical qualities had skyrocketed; she was no ordinary baby now.
“Shi Tou, help wipe the nosebleed.” Shang Wan bent down to take Yuan Yuan from Lu Chengjing’s arms, easily restraining her flailing arms, letting Yuan Musheng continue bandaging.
If they didn’t bandage soon, the wound would heal on its own.
“Wah wah wah… no… medicine!” Yuan Yuan wailed in her little voice, but her mom wasn’t her weak dad. That bit of strength was nothing in front of her mom. She was forced to have two layers of gauze wrapped on her arm.
Yuan Musheng noticed nothing unusual and chuckled, “This doll has quite some strength.”
Shang Wan thought to herself, this was nothing—as her ability improved, a three-year-old kid pulling up willows by the roots wasn’t impossible.
“All bandaged, good girl, no more pain.” Shang Wan leaned down and kissed the little one.
Yuan Yuan’s eyes brimmed with tears, her little red nose sniffling, and she fell asleep again against Shang Wan.
Xiao Huan came over and carried her to the bedroom to rest.
Yuan Musheng began to treat Lu Chengjing.
After checking Lu Chengjing’s injuries, he furrowed his brows tightly and sighed. “The one who tortured you intended to ruin you.”
Shi Tou anxiously said, “Brother Yuan, Young Master’s injuries can’t be treated?”
“Hand tendons completely severed, delayed several days. Even if Hua Tuo were alive, it couldn’t be cured.” Yuan Musheng’s face was grim, hating the viciousness of the one who struck. “The whip wounds on his back and chest are no hindrance, but the ones on his legs are bone-deep, already damaging tendons and bones. Even if the skin and flesh heal, walking will be difficult in the future.”
What he didn’t say was that Lu Chengjing was already weak, with depleted qi and blood. Surviving such heavy injuries was simply a miracle.
Shi Tou’s tears fell in an instant. His Young Master still had to take the top scholar exam—now this was like digging out Young Master’s heart.
Shang Wan glanced at the silent Lu Chengjing and asked Yuan Musheng to talk outside the side room.
“Since you’re Chengjing’s wife, I’ll presumptuously call you younger brother’s wife.” Yuan Musheng looked at Shang Wan, worry in his eyes. “Chengjing’s injuries are severe. He probably can’t support the family in the future. Yuan Yuan is still so small. What are your plans now, younger brother’s wife?”
“As long as he’s alive, it’s no big deal.” Shang Wan smiled. “There will always be a way.”
She had spiritual spring water; no matter how severed the tendons and bones, she could reconnect them.
Before, when Lu Chengjing was in prison needing that body full of injuries, Shang Wan had only preserved his life. Now back home, naturally she would put treating the wounds on the agenda.
Yuan Musheng felt moved hearing this.
As the saying goes, husband and wife are birds of the same forest—when disaster strikes, they fly separately. With younger brother’s wife’s looks and temperament, even divorce wouldn’t leave her worried about remarrying. Yet she was willing to stick by Chengjing through thick and thin—this loyalty was truly rare.
He couldn’t help sighing, “Marrying you is Chengjing’s good fortune.”
Shang Wan raised her brows inwardly. She didn’t know if Lu Chengjing had good fortune, but he was truly good-looking.
