Chapter 241: Falling Ill

Chapter 241: Falling Ill

"How did you get here? Did you come alone?" Sui Yu asked.

"Yes," came the affirmative reply. Relief washed over Sui Hui, her tone lightening with a hint of joy. She pulled her cloak tighter to shield herself from the weak flame of the lantern and said, "I'll head back now. My maid is still waiting for me at the door."

Sui Yu felt a mix of annoyance and restlessness. She sighed heavily and said, "It's the middle of the night, and you're out here alone. Aren't you worried something could happen? If something happens to you, what good would it do even if your brother was found? Forget it. I'll take you back."

Turning to Zhao Xiping, Sui Yu said, "Take Sui Liang back first and bring everyone else back as well. Then bring two camels to meet me. I'll stay here with her."

It was nearly the latter half of the night. Although there weren't many people outside at this hour, Zhao Xiping was uneasy about leaving Sui Yu out there alone. He hesitated, not moving.

"Sister, I'll stay here with you and wait for my brother-in-law," Sui Liang said.

"No, I'll go back by myself," Sui Hui said, feeling embarrassed. "You should all head back. It's fine. I know this road well; I've walked it before."

Sui Yu dismounted, instructed Aqiang to hold the reins firmly, and said decisively, "Just do as I say. No arguing. When I was riding through the night beyond the pass, you were all still fast asleep. So, stop overthinking things."

"Alright, wait for us here," Zhao Xiping said, flicking the reins. "Let's go."

The group rode off on their camels, the sound of hooves lingering in the wind, leaving the wilderness quiet and desolate.

Sui Yu didn't feel there was much need for pleasantries between the two sisters. She walked a few steps away and squatted behind a slightly wind-sheltered tree.

Sui Hui coughed lightly. There were so many things she wanted to say, but what was significant to her might be trivial to Sui Yu. She opened her mouth to speak but then closed it again.

The two cousins had made different choices in life, and their circumstances had become vastly different.

The hoofbeats faded but soon returned, growing louder. Sui Yu stood up as Zhao Xiping approached, leading two camels.

"Here!" she called out.

As they drew nearer, the camels slowed and stopped in front of them. Sui Yu took one of the camels by the reins and asked, "Can you ride a camel?"

Sui Hui's face flushed with embarrassment. "I've never ridden one," she admitted.

Sui Yu led the camel to her and urged it to kneel down. "Sit between the two humps, yes, like that. Hold the reins and steady yourself. Don't lean back. If you feel unstable, you can lean forward onto the humps," she instructed.

Sui Hui repeatedly agreed and, as the camel stood up, she gasped in surprise, her view suddenly much higher. Frightened of falling, she hunched over the humps.

Sui Yu took the lantern from her hand and, once she was sure Sui Hui was secure, walked to the other camel, grabbed the reins, and mounted it.

"Are we leaving?" Zhao Xiping asked.

"Yes."

The three camels trotted towards the city, the only sounds being the howling wind.

As they neared the Inspectorate, Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping reined in their camels. The camel carrying Sui Hui slowed as well.

"I'll see you off here," Sui Yu said. "Camel, kneel down."

The camel bent its legs with a thud, and Sui Hui dismounted, her frozen legs barely moving. She stepped back, and the camel immediately stood up.

Before she could thank them, Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping rode off with the camels.

Sui Hui watched them for a while, then picked up the extinguished lantern and walked slowly towards the back door.

The ride back was quiet, and it took about the time to brew a cup of tea. Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping returned to the guest house, where Sui Liang came out upon hearing them but didn't ask any questions.

"The little one is with me, he's sleeping with me tonight and has already fallen asleep," he said.

Zhao Xiping was still worried. The child had sweated while playing in the evening, and he was afraid that the little one might catch a cold if exposed to the cold wind, which would make him uncomfortable at night. After washing up, he took a blanket and went to the next room to carry the child back.

"Asleep?" Sui Yu whispered.

"Yes, asleep. Let's sleep too," he replied.

Sui Yu responded and took the child in her arms, closing her eyes to sleep.

In the middle of the night, Zhao Xiping and Sui Yu were awakened by the sound of the child coughing. The little one was still sleeping when Sui Yu checked his forehead. "No fever," she said.

"Should I go make a bowl of ginger and scallion tea to help him sweat it out?" Zhao Xiping sat up.

This was the first time the little one had fallen ill since birth, and since this was their first time dealing with a sick child, they tried everything they could think of.

Sui Yu brought over the spicy ginger and scallion tea, and woke the little one, coaxing him to drink a few sips.

"Too spicy," the little one said, making a bitter face and refusing to drink more.

Sui Yu took a sip herself and then offered the bowl to him again, saying, "If you don’t behave next year, I won’t take you out for New Year’s. You got sick after playing too much."

The little one looked up at her, then turned his head and coughed a few times as his throat tickled.

"Drink up quickly, then you won't cough. You'll catch a cold if you don't," Zhao Xiping said.

"Be a good boy and listen," Sui Yu offered the bowl again.

This time, he gulped down half the bowl before pushing it away, saying his stomach was full.

Sui Yu finished the remaining ginger and scallion tea and handed the bowl to Zhao Xiping. She cuddled the child and lay back down.

"Mom."

"Hmm?"

"Next year, I still want to go to the city to play the drums," the little one said in a muffled voice.

"Okay, next year you can practice martial arts with your dad. If you grow strong, you won't be afraid of getting sick," Sui Yu gently patted his back. "Look at your dad, your uncle, and me. None of us get sick."

The little one nodded and said, "Okay."

Zhao Xiping pushed the door open and came in. He took off his sheepskin coat and lay down. Only after the chill from outside had worn off did he move closer to the mother and child.

"Asleep?" Sui Yu said in a hushed voice.

Zhao Xiping felt the child's forehead and thought it was probably nothing serious. He tucked the quilt in and closed his eyes to sleep.

After drinking half a bowl of ginger tea, dawn was breaking when the little one started sweating. In his sleep, he stretched out his arm, and Sui Yu gently tucked it back under the covers.

He fidgeted and whined, unable to find a comfortable position, and Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping dozed off and on intermittently.

It wasn’t until morning that the little one woke up needing to use the bathroom. Zhao Xiping got up and dressed.

"It's snowing again outside. Don't come out, both of you. I’ll bring breakfast to bed in a bit," Zhao Xiping said as he set the chamber pot down and went out.

Sui Yu agreed and reminded him, "Later, go check on the other children."

"Okay," Zhao Xiping said, tucking the little one back into bed. He set the chamber pot down and went out.

"Mom, my throat hurts." The little one pointed to his throat.

"Let your dad bring a bag of hot water later, drinking more water should help." Sui Yu hugged him and kissed him. "Oh, my son is so handsome."

The little one giggled and cupped Sui Yu's face, kissing her back, saying, "My mom is pretty too."

The old couple next door had gotten up, and Zhao's mother walked to the door and asked, "Third Sister-in-law, I heard the little one coughing at night. Did he catch a cold from the cold?"

"He's a bit chilled, but he's much better now and full of energy." Sui Yu said through the door.

Zhao's mother sighed and muttered, "I said not to let him run around outside. The night wind is so cold. Sigh, you never listen to advice. If he coughs again tonight, you can rub some saliva on his neck and massage it in."

Sui Yu glanced at the little one and smiled in agreement.

This remedy has been used for generations. She remembered when she was sick, her grandma used this trick on her.

Zhao Xiping came over with porridge, egg custard, and meat buns. He told his parents to go eat and not worry about them.

"No egg custard or meat today. Just have half a bowl of porridge and a half-bun." Sui Yu sat up in her thick coat, with the little one sitting in her arms, his neck tucked under the quilt, wrapped up like a cocoon.

Both adults felt guilty for the little one's illness and treated him like a baby. Sui Yu held him while Zhao Xiping fed him porridge spoon by spoon standing by the bed.

The little one was happy, eating the bland porridge like it was candy.

"Dad—" he called.

"Hmm." Zhao Xiping broke a piece of bun and fed him, saying, "Drink another half bowl of ginger and scallion tea later."

With his mouth full, the little one nodded quickly.

Zhao Xiping smiled, "Such a good boy."

"I'm very good, very good." The little one unconsciously acted spoiled.

Zhao Xiping looked at Sui Yu, and the little one's manner was just like hers when she acted coquettish.

"Sister, how's the little one?" Sui Liang pushed the door open and said, "Huaniu is fine, but Da Zhuang and Aqiang are both coughing, and Ashui is okay. What about the little one? Is he coughing?"

"He coughed at night, but he's much better now." Sui Yu said, "Go get some big red dates and ask Yin Po to fry them with sesame seed oil in the kitchen. The dates should be crispy but not burnt, drain the oil, and while they're still hot, let Da Zhuang, Aqiang, and Huaniu eat some. It's for stopping coughs. Bring three or five over for the little one too."

"Okay." Sui Liang left again.

After the little one was full, Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping began to eat.

The little one still sat in Sui Yu's arms, looking up at her eating or staring intently at his dad eating. He coughed twice, and both their gazes fell on him.

After breakfast, Zhao Xiping cleaned up the dishes and left. Sui Yu dressed the little one in woolen pants and jacket, leaned against the head of the bed, and held him, telling stories.

After two stories, Sui Liang brought the dates. Since the dates were oily, he didn't let the little one touch them, feeding his nephew by hand.

"Keep an eye on Aqiang and Da Zhuang. If they develop a fever, send someone to take them to the doctor in town." Sui Yu instructed.

"Okay, sister, don't worry."

After eating five dates, the little one wanted to sleep, and Sui Yu lay down with him.

On the first day of the new year, Sui Yu stayed in bed with her child except for going to the toilet. After finishing the stories she remembered from before, when there were no more stories, she talked about life beyond the pass, how vast the desert was, how vengeful wolves were, what an eagle looked like and how it sounded, and stories about old Jin's family in the deep mountains...

Zhao Xiping and Sui Liang returned after settling things in the guest house. They washed their feet, took off their outer clothes, and climbed into bed, and the family of four spent the whole day chatting and laughing in the room.

On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, the little rascal woke up without a hoarse voice; his wind-cold was gone.

"Sigh," stepping out the door, the little rascal stood in the snow and sighed heavily.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Xiping asked.

"Dad, I still feel sick, listen—" he pretended to cough a few times.

"Stop talking," Sui Yu came out, "Go wash your face and eat breakfast."

The little rascal pouted and muttered, "I'm still coughing."

No one paid attention to him, and Zhao Xiping picked him up to go outside.

"Dad, I want to build a snowman." The next moment, the little rascal had a new idea.

"Maybe in a couple of days, today your aunt's family is coming over, don't cause trouble."

The little rascal felt disappointed; it was better when he was sick. Yesterday, he got whatever he wanted.

Around noon, Zhao Xiaomi and Huang Lianzheng, carrying their child wrapped in a quilt, walked back to Zhao Xiaomi's parents' home. Neither of them mentioned the argument they had on New Year's Eve. They happily had dinner at the guest house before returning home.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Sui Yu's family of six rode camels to Zhao Xiaomi's house to pay New Year's visits. Song Xian and Huang Ancheng's family were also there. The three families together ate a whole sheep, filling their stomachs and warming their bodies. After the meal, they laughed and chatted for a while before heading home.

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Song Xian and Huang Ancheng's family visited Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping to pay New Year's respects.

On the fifth day, Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping took the little rascal and Sui Liang to visit the Song family for New Year's greetings.

Before the meal, Sui Yu found an excuse to leave and made a detour to see Sui Hui. Knocking on the door, she received three rolls of bamboo slips.

"Madam, my mistress has caught a cold. She's only been able to write these few over the past few days. She said that once she's better, she'll find time to write more for you." The maid relayed, "We can't go out. Could you come by the middle of each month? I'll wait for you around noon."

Sui Yu nodded and said, "Tell her to focus on recovering. If she coughs a lot, have her eat jujubes fried in sesame oil."

"Yes," the maid agreed, "Then I'll close the door. I need to go back to take care of my mistress."

Sui Yu nodded and left with the bamboo slips.

For the following days, Sui Yu stayed at the guest house, spending her time playing with the children and busy learning and practicing characters. She asked Master Shen to help her read the text on the bamboo slips, marking unknown characters with simplified versions for further practice.

From the first to the second lunar month, Sui Yu gradually received eight rolls of bamboo slips from Sui Hui. Later on, the writing on the slips became fragmented, lacking structure or coherence, clearly indicating that Sui Hui had run out of content and was writing whatever came to mind.

By the end of February, Sui Yu spent seven days drafting a personal chronicle for Qin Wenshan. After the ink dried, she placed it in a box and told Sui Liang to give it to Qin Wenshan when he saw him.

As the snow melted and spring arrived, the merchant caravans, which had rested all winter, now dispersed in different directions, and it was time for her to set off on her journey.