Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Someone’s Going to Die
Zhao Nuanyue’s heart fluttered with joy at Hua Yusen’s approval.
"Okay, then goodnight, Hua," Zhao Nuanyue said softly. "I want to say it one more time: even though I have my own little schemes, I truly don’t have it in me to harm anyone. As for dealing with Wang Dadan and Liu Lanhua from Nianqiao Village, that was only because they came after us first. I only retaliated to protect myself."
"I understand," Hua Yusen said with a smile. "You really are a smart and decisive young woman."
"Thank you." A warmth spread through Zhao Nuanyue’s heart. At least for now, Hua Yusen still trusted her. ’His earlier sternness was probably just because he was upset I didn’t tell him.’
’Maybe he was just worried about me.’
Zhao Nuanyue returned to her room but couldn’t fall asleep for a long time.
She recalled every little moment since she’d met Hua Yusen in this life. Though their circumstances were difficult, their interactions were at least pure and sincere. They had met in the prime of their lives, not after becoming jaded and world-weary.
’This is actually really nice.’
Zhao Nuanyue was very content with the way things were now. As for what the future held, she didn’t dare to think about it.
The moment she remembered Hua Yusen had a fiancée, she would become incredibly conflicted and pained.
Although she didn’t understand why Hua Yusen and his fiancée never ended up getting married, she didn’t want to be the one to come between them.
In truth, while Zhao Nuanyue was hesitating, caught in her dilemma, she was already finding her way into Hua Yusen’s heart. It was just that both of them were silently resisting, fighting against it, unwilling to admit it.
When Hua Yusen woke up at four the next morning and looked in the mirror, he saw he looked even more convincingly ill. His eyes, nose, and face were all red.
He looked a mess, but the effect was perfect.
After eating the Dragon Beard Grass, Hua Yusen waited for it to take effect.
Amazingly, before Zhao Nuanyue had even finished making the cabbage and fish ball soup, all of Hua Yusen’s cold-like symptoms had vanished. He felt perfectly fine.
"Well, what do you know. It’s a miracle," Hua Yusen marveled. "This stuff is incredible!"
Zhao Nuanyue smiled, saying proudly, "It is, isn’t it? I was surprised too when I first found it! But don’t worry, it has no side effects on your body. I’ve tried it before. The weather’s getting colder, so we should hurry."
The two of them went to deliver food to the old men in the shack. Hua Yusen gave Gu Qingyu a subtle nod, letting him know the herbs were safe to use. Then, he turned to the others and said, "This is the Dragon Beard Grass and Dragon Tail Grass that Nuanyue told you about. I tried them last night, and they work very well."
Forgetting all about the fish balls, Sun Haoran picked up the Dragon Beard Grass and Dragon Tail Grass. He held them to his nose for a sniff, then placed a small piece in his mouth to taste.
"Old Sun, Mr. Hua wouldn’t harm us," said He Qiang. He had already finished his fish balls and soup, and a pleasant warmth spread through him. If it weren’t for Hua Yusen, his leg would probably be crippled, and he might have even died by now. "Which one do we take first? Let’s see the effects quickly so we can leave this godforsaken place sooner! Even a run-down house would be better than this shack!"
"Take the red one first. It’s the one that makes you look sick," Zhao Nuanyue answered. "The weather is only going to get colder, and you really can’t stay here any longer. I hope this works so you can all move out of this freezing place."
"That’s for sure." He Qiang nodded, then took the red Dragon Tail Grass and ate it.
Zhao Nuanyue and Hua Yusen left only after all the old men had taken the herb.
Back at the Dragon King Temple, though they were exhausted, neither Zhao Nuanyue nor Hua Yusen had any intention of going back to sleep. Instead, they waited.
It wasn’t until Zhao Nuan Yang woke up and said he was hungry that Zhao Nuanyue went to make some congee and stir-fry radishes with fish balls. After they ate, they went back to waiting.
Meanwhile, Ma Po, the woman in charge of bringing food to the old men, arrived at the shack carrying an earthenware pot full of thin rice congee. When she opened the lid and looked inside, she saw five men with flushed red faces. It was clear at a glance that they were burning up with fever.
Ma Po jumped in fright. If these men died, she would surely be blamed.
She may have skimped on their rations from time to time, but she certainly never gave them little enough to starve. Recalling Miao Dahai’s earlier instructions, Ma Po hurried to his house.
"Dahai! Those men have fallen ill! It must be from the cold and the heavy snow these past couple of days," Ma Po said urgently. "They’re just sprawled out on the ground. If we don’t do something, they won’t make it through the winter!"
As an old woman herself, Ma Po didn’t understand lofty political principles, but she couldn’t just stand by and watch these men die.
Miao Dahai was shocked. He hadn’t been able to sleep the previous night, worried that the men might fall ill. He never thought it would actually happen.
"Let’s go. Come with me to see," Miao Dahai said, rushing out the door.
Seeing Miao Dahai’s reaction, others dropped their brooms and ran after him.
When they reached the shack, they saw the men, delirious with fever. The thin congee was spilled all over the floor.
"Hurry and get the doctor!" Miao Dahai ordered Ma Po. "Have the doctor take a look and prescribe something. We can’t let them die!"
’Sigh, it’s just one thing after another this year.’
If even the famous Dr. Sun Haoran couldn’t diagnose it, there was no way the village’s barefoot doctor, who only knew how to prescribe a few common fever-reducing and detoxifying remedies, could figure it out.
"Miao Dahai, we can’t leave them in this shack. It’s too cold," Doctor Wan said with a sigh. "I can only prescribe some medicine to reduce fever and clear toxins, but first, you have to move them somewhere with proper shelter from the elements."
Miao Dahai had wanted to do this for a while but never had the right opportunity.
Now that the opportunity had presented itself, his priority was to get the men settled first.
"Alright then. I’ll call a meeting and we’ll discuss where to put them," Miao Dahai nodded. "Doctor Wan, could I trouble you to watch over them? I’ll be right back."
"Alright, Dahai. Please be quick!" Doctor Wan said, his face etched with worry. He then remembered to send for his wife to start brewing the medicine.
Miao Dahai called the other officials for a meeting and also gathered some villagers to discuss the matter.
Big Pillar heard the compassion in Miao Dahai’s voice and plucked up the courage to say, "The higher-ups said that come next spring, they’re supposed to start working in the fields for labor reform. But for that to happen, they have to survive until next spring. We were also ordered not to let anyone die, and we have to follow that order!"
"That’s right, that’s the logic of it!" said the newly appointed accountant, Dong Sanshu. "They can’t stay in that shack. If they do, they probably won’t last long."
The other villagers chimed in with their agreement.
"All those in favor of moving them out of the shack, please raise your hands," Miao Dahai said. "We’re being democratic about this. If the whole village agrees, the higher-ups can’t blame us."
Upon hearing this, everyone raised their hands.
Seeing this, Li Guihua smiled. "Alright then, majority rules. The decision to move them out of the shack is passed. The only question is, where do we put them? None of our homes are very spacious."
