Chapter 68: Benefactor ◇

◎ Intimacy? Admiration? ◇

Yu Lian and Mrs. Chen hurried over to investigate, discovering several people lying on stretchers. Among them were Brother Dashu, other villagers, and Yu Lian's father-in-law.

She clenched her fists and crouched down to examine him. His eyes were tightly shut, with a small abrasion on his forehead. Otherwise, he seemed unscathed, but out of concern for any internal injuries, she inquired, "Are you hurt?"

Hua Qiushou shook his head. "I'm not entirely sure. When we found the wood, they were already lying at the foot of the mountain. It seems we spent the whole night searching the mountain for nothing, as they had already descended on their own."

"But it is strange. If they could descend by themselves, why would they be unconscious?"

"I can't figure it out either. Could it be that they somehow managed to make it down the mountain on sheer willpower, then fell asleep from exhaustion once they reached the foot?"

Yu Lian reached out to touch her father-in-law's forehead, finding no fever. He was simply deeply unconscious. She instructed someone to quickly fetch a doctor.

At this moment, Mrs. Chen began to cry, dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief. Her tears triggered the other young wives to weep as well. Sanshu, the wife of Brother Dashu, and the other wives, who had been on edge all night, anxiously awaiting their husbands, broke down in heart-wrenching sobs upon seeing them in an unconscious state.

Yu Lian sighed and enlisted the help of a few young men to carry the injured into the courtyard. Since there were four or five unconscious victims, they decided to consult the doctor in one place to avoid wasting time.

Someone then asked, "Have they found Hua Tianqu?"

The others replied, "We haven't located him yet. We have no idea where he's gone. That boy has dragged so many people into this trouble. Once we find him, I'll make sure to teach him a lesson!"

The mention of Hua Tianqu cast a silence over the group. After a night of strenuous searching, braving the danger of being taken by wild beasts, they still couldn't find him. The chances for the child's survival seemed grim.

The barefoot doctor felt like he was having a rough day. He had been pulled out of sleep to attend to the woman earlier, and now, just as he was about to get some more rest, he was hastily summoned again.

He wore an unamused expression and grumpily examined the unconscious individuals. Frustrated, he huffed and puffed, "These few are fine. Why did you call me here?"

"Then why are they still unconscious?"

"Yes, we carried them back from the foot of the mountain. If they were just sleeping, they should have woken up by now, right?"

"Their heads must have hit something. They're completely fine. Just give them a bowl of water, and they'll wake up within an hour."

With that, the doctor stormed off, leaving the entire courtyard in a puzzled silence. Yu Lian, being quick on her feet, asked Aunt Mei to help prepare some water.

Madam Mei was also delighted that Master was unharmed, as it meant the household could enjoy some peace. She said cheerfully, "The water is ready; I boiled it early in the morning. Wash your hands and have some steamed buns first. Last night, Second Master and I prepared breakfast here, anticipating that you might be hungry when you came down."

Someone rubbed their belly. "I am indeed hungry. I almost didn't have the strength to climb down the mountain."

"After a night of worry and searching in the mountains, it's no wonder you're famished. Enough talking; go wash your hands."

Madam Mei and the other women promptly brought over the water. Yu Lian and Mrs. Chen worked together, pouring water into a bowl, then draining half of it. Mrs. Chen carefully wiped her husband clean with a handkerchief.

No one left the courtyard. They all ate breakfast there, sipping on thin porridge made from coarse grains while enjoying soft white steamed buns. Some devoured their buns hastily, finishing one in just a few bites, but they felt embarrassed to take more.

White flour steamed buns were expensive; how could they keep taking them without shame?

Those who brazenly ate several buns would shoot a disapproving glance at the others, urging them to restrain themselves and not overeat.

Seeing this, Yu Lian chuckled. "Please don't be shy. You've worked hard all night and helped me find my father. It's only right for you to eat something. These provisions aren't all from my family; everyone contributed food, which we cooked at my place. Eat to your heart's content."

Upon hearing this, the men finally felt at ease to indulge in the food.

By the time they finished, nearly an hour had passed, but still, no one had awakened. The family members began to grow anxious.

The village chief, hands clasped behind his back, paced anxiously with furrowed brows that could seemingly trap a fly. He pondered whether he should dispatch a few more, now that they had eaten, to search the mountain again, given that the children were still unaccounted for.

After all, they were the village's children. It would not do to have them vanish on the mountain without a trace or explanation.

Upon reaching this conclusion, he shared his thoughts with several energetic young men. Though it was a strenuous task to search the mountain, daylight offered better visibility than night. Moreover, it was a child they were looking for. The group readily agreed.

The crowd fell silent once more, waiting. Suddenly, someone glanced back and noticed a slender, small figure standing at the courtyard gate. The child's face was covered in scratches, their clothes torn, yet they clutched an odd, blood-red flower in their hand.

He stood there at the entrance, his dark eyes fixedly gazing inward, not uttering a word. He stood silently for what seemed like an eternity.

The man was taken aback, then, realizing the situation, he erupted in anger, "Hua Tianqu, when did you, this youngster, sneak down the mountain? Hurry up and come inside to speak!"

It was then that everyone reacted, turning their heads in unison. They saw the young man standing motionless with his lips compressed.

The village chief, fuming with anger, stormed over to drag the person in.

Pointing to the gentlemen lying on the ground, he explained, "They all went up the mountain to look for you. Last night, they encountered a wild boar and were injured. They've been unconscious ever since!"

The young man stumbled but regained his balance. He then bowed his head to look at the prostrate figures, his eyes reddening. Yet, he stood there in silence, not uttering a single word.

The village chief and the villagers, seeing no response or words from him, assumed that this child was heartless. Unrepentant even after witnessing someone injured and unconscious due to searching for him, they were furious and scolded him.

"Last night, half the village didn't sleep in search of you. We all, waiting and searching, couldn't close our eyes. Mu Tianqu and his friends were even chased by a pack of wild boars while looking for you, and they haven't woken up yet. How can you be so insensitive, Hua Tianqu?"

"At least show some reaction, apologize to the person lying on the ground. It would ease their pain to hear your apology. You can't be so unfeeling."

"What on earth did that heartless widow, Zhao, teach you to make you turn out like this?"

Everyone chimed in, their voices filled with confusion. Logically, any normal person, upon seeing so many people working tirelessly all night to find them, and someone getting hurt in the process, would at least offer some sort of response.

This child is cold-hearted and reticent, not revealing anything.

It wasn't until someone mentioned Widow Zhao that the youth stirred, clenching the small red flower in his hand. His hoarse voice rumbled low, "Don't mention my mother!"

"I'll repay their kindness in the future." He paused, then added three more words, "I'm sorry."

The crowd fell silent. The young boy spoke with sincerity, even though nobody truly believed that the ten-year-old son of a widow could achieve much or repay anyone. Still, he had made his stance clear, and what could the adults present do to him?

The village chief's tone softened as he asked, "Tell me, where did you go? How could no one find you, and how did you manage to safely descend the mountain?"

Despite the scratches on his face and hands, the young boy seemed unharmed, which was perplexing. How could a child be perfectly fine after spending the night alone in the mountains, when even the adults searching for him had encountered a wild boar? Was he just that fortunate?

Hua Tianqu clenched the flower in his hand. Only then did the crowd notice it as they lowered their heads.

Someone inquired, puzzled, "Why are you holding a flower? You still have the leisure to pick wildflowers?"

Yu Lian pondered for a moment before asking, "Is this a Red Yuzheng flower?"

The boy glanced at her and nodded, "Mm-hmm."

The crowd gasped, with a few curious souls approaching to take a closer look. The boy protectively guarded the flower from their touch.

"But... didn't that barefoot doctor say this flower grows on steep cliffs? How did you manage to pick it? You seem so delicate and thin, unable to even climb a cliff, let alone kill a chicken with your bare hands. How did you do it?"

"Wow, this is quite valuable! The doctor mentioned that with minimal processing, it could fetch hundreds of silver taels at a pharmacy, comparable to a hundred-year-old ginseng. It doesn't look particularly extraordinary, just a flower. What makes it different from other wildflowers on the mountain?"

The boy allowed the villagers to discuss as they wished. After a long silence, he spoke, "A man in black helped me pick it. He... he saved me, gathered the medicine, and then I descended the mountain."

Upon hearing his explanation, the crowd finally understood how a powerless child could have retrieved such a precious herb from a treacherous cliff. It turned out that a hero had come to his aid.

"Where is the valiant hero? Where did he go? Why didn't you invite him to our home for a visit? He's done so much to help you."

Hua Tianqu shook his head. "He left after gathering some herbs. He flew away very high and swiftly."

His words sparked endless speculation among the villagers, even those women who had been weeping fell silent. At this moment, Mrs. Chen interjected, "Could it be that my husband and the others were also saved by this hero?"

They had searched the mountain all night without finding anyone, only to discover them unharmed at the foot of the mountain when they descended. How else could one explain their unconscious state at the bottom of the mountain, unless a skilled expert had rescued them?

Hua Zhan and the others had fallen down the slope while driving away the wild boar. Logically, if they had fainted right away, they shouldn't have made it to the foot of the mountain on their own. If they hadn't been unconscious, they would have heard the others searching for them and would have gone to meet up with them.

Though the villagers lacked education, they weren't fools. They could sense something peculiar about the situation.

"It all makes sense now. There must have been a learned master, a righteous hero who happened to pass by and rescued them. Upon seeing Hua Tianqu, the lone child gathering herbs, compassion stirred within them, leading them to help him collect more medicine and escort him down the mountain."

The youth pressed his lips together, remaining silent. When he had fallen from the cliff, he believed it was the end for him. Recalling his aspirations and the mother who inspired both admiration and resentment in him, his heart was filled with a desperate sorrow.

Then, halfway down, someone swooped in to catch him.

The person was dressed in black, their face concealed by a mask, making it impossible to discern their appearance. However, they had a pair of exceptionally clear eyes that exuded the air of a youthful, chivalrous knight.

He inquired about the boy's name and his purpose.

The boy replied, "I am Hua Tianqu. I came to gather herbs because my mother is dying, and I want to save her."

Upon hearing this, the young man gently placed him on a flat area of the slope. He then ascended and swiftly returned with the crimson Hedyotis flower in hand.

He then led the boy to a safe location before bidding farewell.

Hua Tianqu called out to him, asking for his name and how he could repay his kindness.

The young man pondered for a moment before smiling and saying, "If you must repay me, credit your gratitude to the family by the river at the foot of the mountain. They... are my benefactors, especially that beautiful and youthful lady. She is my greatest benefactor." The master's wife, who has shown great favor to the master, is also showing great favor to me, Zhu Ying. No argument there!

With a hush, the young man emphasized that it was their secret and must not be shared with anyone else.

Hua Tianqu held the Hedyotis tightly and nodded solemnly.

He vowed not to tell anyone and would repay them for their kindness.

As the youth considered these thoughts, he glanced at Yu Lian before lowering his gaze.

One must be an extraordinary figure to be regarded as a benefactor by such a righteous and chivalrous person.

Yu Lian sensed that the solitary and gloomy young lad was looking at her with an oddity in his gaze, a hint of familiarity and admiration (or so it seemed)... She was absolutely meeting this child for the first time today, with no prior encounters or interactions, yet he had only just spoken to her a couple of times.

But there was no time to ponder on these thoughts, for her father-in-law soon blinked his eyes and woke up.

Mrs. Chen promptly brought a bowl of warm water, tenderly feeding it to him while expressing her concern and affection. Yu Lian also sighed in relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off her shoulders.

The young man's dark eyes also gleamed with added brightness. The hero's savior had awoken, and he no longer needed to bear the guilt of harming the one who had been kind to the hero. How wonderful.

Hua Tianqu, this young and charismatic figure, will prove to be of immense utility in the future.