Chapter 274: They’re Back
by 小辫子Chapter 274: They're Back
If Wei Pozi had just left to search for Shuanglian at the mountain's base, the person buried there now might have been...
Bai Xiaofeng immediately clasped her hands together and prayed, "Please, let the gods protect us!"
Wei Pozi's mouth twitched at the corner as she looked at Xingxing, who was playing with Bang Geer on the couch nearby, her eyes suddenly softening. "It's not the gods who blessed us, it's our Xingxing. Xingxing has always been well-behaved and never stubborn, but just now she insisted I shouldn't go out..."
Bai Xiaofeng said, "I always say Xingxing is our family's little lucky star!"
Wei Pozi had escaped this disaster, but some villagers were not so lucky and were buried in the snow. Wei Pozi was deeply shaken and went to see if there was anything she could do to help.
Many nearby villagers brought tools to help dig out the people. Fortunately, the snow wasn't too deep, and they soon managed to dig someone out.
The person buried in the snow turned out to be Zhao Youcai, Zhao Meng's father.
When Zhao Youcai was dug out by the villagers, he was barely breathing, his face frozen to a ghastly purple, looking terrifying.
The villagers hurriedly went to fetch a doctor.
Regardless of the grudges between Zhao Youcai and the Yujia family, seeing Zhao Youcai in such a state was quite distressing.
Zhao Meng's mother, upon hearing the news, stumbled over. Seeing Zhao Youcai like this, she wailed "My husband!" and then collapsed to the ground, fainting.
The villagers were once again thrown into disarray.
Seeing this tragic scene, Li Chunhua and Bai Xiaofeng thought of their own men who had gone into the mountains, their faces turning a shade paler.
"They must be okay," Bai Xiaofeng reassured herself. "Xingxing said they'd be okay, and she's our family's little lucky star. If she says so, then it must be true."
Bai Xiaofeng anxiously asked Xingxing, "...Xingxing, everyone in our family will be safe and sound, right?!"
Xingxing nodded her little head vigorously, "Yes! Everyone will be fine!"
Bai Xiaofeng repeated, "Yes, yes, everyone will be fine, definitely fine!"
Though she said so, it was impossible not to worry at all.
Fortunately, the Yujia family returned safely.
When Shuangyun came in to report the news, the Yujia family couldn't sit still and rushed out.
They saw Yu Daniu and Yu Erhu supporting Yu Sanbao as they walked towards the main courtyard, with Yu Laotou leading the horse, followed closely by Shuanglian.
Everyone was too preoccupied to care about Shuanglian following behind and gathered around them.
Wei Pozi looked at Yu Sanbao with excitement and anxiety, "...Were you really trapped in the mountains? Are you okay?"
Before Yu Sanbao could answer, Wei Pozi quickly instructed Shuangyun, "Quick, quick, go to the kitchen and make a big pot of ginger soup, strong, to warm them up."
Shuangyun smiled and replied, "Don't worry, Madam Wei! The ginger soup in the kitchen is already prepared and ready to serve. I'll bring it to the master and the three gentlemen right away!"
Shuangyun managed this excellently, earning an approving glance from Wei Pozi.
Shuanglian quickly glanced at Shuangyun and then lowered her eyes.
Yu Sanbao coughed a couple of times. Although he looked a bit pale, he was in good spirits. "Mother, I'm fine. When the heavy snow started yesterday, I was in the mountains. The snow was too heavy, making travel dangerous, so I found a cave and hid inside with the horse. I thought I'd wait until the snow stopped, but it kept snowing for so long."
He coughed again and smiled, "When Father and my brothers came into the mountains to find me, I was already leading the horse back towards us."
Wei Pozi kept saying, "It's good that everyone is unharmed, it's good that everyone is unharmed!"
No matter what, it's a relief that everyone is safe and sound!
Shuangyun swiftly brought over a pot of piping hot ginger soup.
She poured a bowl for each of the Yu Laotou and the others.
Finally, with an empty bowl in hand, Shuangyun glanced at Shuanglian and still served her a bowl.
Shuanglian didn't say anything, took the bowl of ginger soup but didn't drink it.
Her somewhat pale face managed a smile, "...It's too hot, I'll drink it later."
Shuangyun glanced at Shuanglian once more but remained silent.
Yu Sanbao gulped down a bowl of ginger soup, wiped his mouth, and declared, "Mom, I'll go back to see Rou'er first, she must be beside herself with worry."
Wei Pozi chided, "Of course!... If it weren't for the pills that Da Xi gave to Xingxing, your wife might have been so worried that she could have had a miscarriage. Go and see her quickly!"
Yu Sanbao didn't even respond to Wei Pozi and dashed off.
Yu Daniu and Yu Erhu also took their wives back to their rooms to rest.
Shuanglian, head bowed, carried the bowl of ginger soup back to her room in the third courtyard.
Yu Laotou sat in a chair, moving his shoulders.
Xingxing brought a small stool over and stood on it, "Grandpa, let me rub your shoulders."
Yu Laotou was amused and cooperatively turned his back, "Alright, this old body of mine will depend on Xingxing."
Xingxing earnestly massaged Yu Laotou's back.
Wei Pozi smiled as she watched for a moment, then suddenly remembered Shuanglian.
Shuanglian had returned with Yu Laotou and Yu Sanbao, and considering that she couldn't be found earlier, she must have gone with them.
Wei Pozi felt a headache coming on.
Wei Pozi couldn't help but ask Yu Laotou, "...What's the deal with Shuanglian? Why was she there as well?"
Yu Laotou, with his eyes closed, was enjoying Xingxing's earnest massage and didn't think much of it, not even opening his eyes, "Not long after we entered the mountains, Shuanglian caught up and said she was worried about the third master and wanted to come with us to look... By then, we were already in the mountains, and it wouldn't be safe for a young girl to return to Yujia alone, so we let her follow."
Wei Pozi frowned upon hearing this.
What was Shuanglian thinking?
If you punish her, she risked danger to follow her master into the mountains, which sounds like a loyal servant's behavior; if you don't punish her... it's quite audacious for a young girl to sneak into the mountains, didn't she see that Zhao Youcai was buried in the snow?
However, the safe return of Yu Sanbao and the others was a great joy, and for that reason, Wei Pozi decided not to make a big deal out of Shuanglian's actions.
The next day, Shuanglian developed a fever, her face flushed red, and she stumbled and fell in front of Yu Sanbao who was about to leave.
Yu Sanbao, who was not harsh to maids, quickly called Shuangqing who was passing by and asked her to help fetch a doctor.
While waiting for the doctor, it wasn't good to leave Shuanglian lying in the courtyard, so Yu Sanbao helped her back to her own room.
Shuanglian, with a flushed face and teary eyes, weakly said to Yu Sanbao, "...Thank you, Third Master, I'm just too useless. Yesterday, I went into the mountains to look for you, and while the old master and the other masters were fine, my weak body... I even troubled you to bring me back."